Part 8/9:
In total, 47 passengers lost their lives, and over 60 were injured, illustrating the devastating consequences of the day’s events. Inquiries followed, resulting in the grounding of the 737-400 fleet and examining the underlying systemic issues that contributed to the disaster.
Lessons Learned and Industry Changes
The investigation revealed that the failure of the left engine was due to metal fatigue from excessive vibrations, a design flaw in the newer 737-400 engines. In response to this tragedy, sweeping changes were implemented in pilot training and emergency protocols, emphasizing Crew Resource Management (CRM) and rigorous training in engine failure scenarios.