Cubana de Aviación Flight 1216
Encyclopedia
Cubana de Aviación
Flight 1216 was a McDonnell Douglas DC-10
that overran the runway at Guatemala City's
La Aurora International Airport
on 21 December 1999. Eight passengers and eight crew members on board were killed as well as two people on the ground.
. The aircraft was just under 27 years old and had flown 85,760 hours at the time of the accident.
transporting Guatemala
n students home from universities in Cuba. The aircraft took off from José Martí International Airport
in Cuba
with 296 passengers and 18 crew on board. After a two hour flight the aircraft was cleared to land on Runway 19 at La Aurora International Airport. On landing the pilots were unable to stop the aircraft and it ran off the end of the runway and down a slope, crashing into ten houses. The accident killed 18 people in all: eight passengers and eight crew members on board the aircraft, and two occupants of the houses. 298 passengers and crew survived, however 37 passengers and crew and another 20 on the ground were injured in the accident. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair in the accident.
Cubana de Aviación
Cubana de Aviación S.A., commonly known as Cubana, is Cuba's largest airline and flag carrier. The airline was founded on 8 October 1929, and has its corporate headquarters in Havana. Its main base is at José Martí International Airport...
Flight 1216 was a McDonnell Douglas DC-10
McDonnell Douglas DC-10
The McDonnell Douglas DC-10 is a three-engine widebody jet airliner manufactured by McDonnell Douglas. The DC-10 has range for medium- to long-haul flights, capable of carrying a maximum 380 passengers. Its most distinguishing feature is the two turbofan engines mounted on underwing pylons and a...
that overran the runway at Guatemala City's
Guatemala City
Guatemala City , is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Guatemala and Central America...
La Aurora International Airport
La Aurora International Airport
La Aurora International Airport serves Guatemala City, Guatemala. It is located south of Guatemala City's center and from Antigua. It is administered by the Dirección General de Aeronáutica Civil....
on 21 December 1999. Eight passengers and eight crew members on board were killed as well as two people on the ground.
Aircraft
The aircraft involved was a McDonnell Douglas DC-10, registration F-GTDI, leased by Cubana de Aviación from AOM French AirlinesAOM French Airlines
AOM French Airlines was the second largest airline in France from 1990 until 2001. Its head office was located in Building 363 at Orly Airport, Paray-Vieille-Poste.-History:...
. The aircraft was just under 27 years old and had flown 85,760 hours at the time of the accident.
Accident
Flight 1216 was a special charterAir charter
Air charter is the business of renting an entire aircraft as opposed to individual aircraft seats...
transporting Guatemala
Guatemala
Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
n students home from universities in Cuba. The aircraft took off from José Martí International Airport
José Martí International Airport
José Martí International Airport , sometimes known by its former name Rancho-Boyeros Airport, is located southwest of Havana, Cuba, and is a hub for Cubana de Aviación, Aerogaviota and Aero Caribbean, and former Latin American hub for Aeroflot Soviet Airlines...
in Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
with 296 passengers and 18 crew on board. After a two hour flight the aircraft was cleared to land on Runway 19 at La Aurora International Airport. On landing the pilots were unable to stop the aircraft and it ran off the end of the runway and down a slope, crashing into ten houses. The accident killed 18 people in all: eight passengers and eight crew members on board the aircraft, and two occupants of the houses. 298 passengers and crew survived, however 37 passengers and crew and another 20 on the ground were injured in the accident. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair in the accident.