1977: A Madman Turns 40: 2017- Day 86

  
 Today is another tragic 40th anniversary. In this date 2 Boeing 747 collided with each other on a runway at the Los Rodeos Airport on the Spanish island of Tenerife. 583 people died marking this the single most deadliest accident in aviation history.

    The whole incident was because of a bomb explosion planted by Spanish revolutionaries at another airport in the Canary Islands. With the threat of a second bomb, planes had to be diverted. The airport at Los Rodeos didn't have radar and as a result, the two 747s were sadly diverted into each other.

Aerial view of the Los Rodeos Airport on Tenerife, circa 1980.

     Some good came out of the tragedy in hopes of never repeating such a tragedy. Airports were now required to change how the communicated with planes. Radars were no longer an option, all airports: public, private, and commercial/ military  had to have a radar in order to operate. Also answering with 'OK' or 'Roger' was no longer allowed as both the pilot and air traffic control had to repeat all actions and duties being performed. 

The aftermath of the Tenerife crash.

   Well, that's my look at my favorite year. But before I go, a moment of silence for the victims.

    Until tomorrow...