Part 7/8:
At a horrific descent rate, Flight 123 crashed into the mountains of Gunma Prefecture, bursting into flames upon impact. Witnesses on the ground reported that the aircraft had been flying erratically before disappearing into the mountainside. Emergency response teams arrived at the crash site too late; of the 524 people on board, only four survived.
The disaster became one of the deadliest aviation accidents in history, pointing to numerous systemic failures in maintenance procedures and oversight. Investigations revealed shortcomings in Boeing’s engineering practices and Japan Airlines’ inspection protocols that contributed to the tragedy.