Part 5/8:
At 1:03 AM, approaching the airport, the first officer noted that they were descending below the minimum altitude. The captain, however, triggered the altitude hold button on the autopilot instead of pulling up—leading the aircraft to continue its rapid descent.
Just four seconds after the warning, Flight 1572 struck treetops, with the plane traveling at over 250 kilometers per hour. As chaos ensued within the cockpit, the crew quickly shifted focus to regain control and prepare for an emergency landing, calling for maximum thrust to regain altitude, albeit unsuccessfully.