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The Tragic Story of TWW Flight 514

On a snowy December morning in 1974, TWW Flight 514 was approaching Washington, D.C., with 85 passengers and a crew of seven on board. Unbeknownst to them, a small misunderstanding between the flight crew and air traffic control would soon escalate into a catastrophic accident that would change aviation safety protocols forever.

The Flight Crew

The flight was under the command of Captain Richard Brock, a seasoned pilot with 3,000 hours of experience on the Boeing 727. First Officer Leonard Kesik, with over 1,000 hours on the same aircraft, and Flight Engineer Thomas Safranek, a relatively less-experienced but capable crew member, were alongside him. Their combination of skill and experience seemed to ensure passenger safety.