Douglas DC-10 crash, Oct 31, 1979 (73 killed), Mexico Cit...
Douglas DC-10 accident on October 31, 1979 near Mexico City-Benito Juarez Federal District of Mexico City, Mexico with 73 fatalities. Cause: Crew...
- Date: October 31, 1979
- Aircraft: Douglas DC-10
- Location: Mexico City-Benito Juarez Federal District of Mexico City, Mexico
- Fatalities: 73
- Phase of flight: Approach and landing
- Cause: Crew error: confusion and miscommunication during the approach, inadequate approach procedures, and landing on a closed runway.
Western Airlines Flight 2605, a DC-10 from Los Angeles, approached Mexico City International Airport in fog and landed on a closed runway after flying below minimums. It struck a truck, a hangar and a building, and the aircraft broke up and burned. 72 occupants and one person on the ground were killed.