The Horrifying Tale of Saudia Flight 163: A Tragic Aviation Disaster

TLDRSaudia Flight 163, a Lockheed Tristar, experienced a devastating fire that led to the loss of 301 lives. The flight crew's poor decision-making and lack of training contributed to the tragedy. Despite the fire spreading and critical systems failing, the pilots managed to land the plane, but were hindered by reduced braking capabilities.

Key insights

🔥The fire in the cargo compartment quickly spread, causing panic among passengers and flight attendants.

🌪️Due to poor crew management and inadequate training, the flight crew delayed their response to the smoke detection, resulting in a delayed and improper diversion.

💔Passengers were injured and killed by the fire and smoke inhalation, highlighting the importance of quick and effective evacuation procedures.

✈️The Tristar's system failures and reduced braking capabilities hindered the pilots' efforts to bring the plane to a stop.

🔒The locked cargo doors further impeded the evacuation process, trapping passengers inside the burning plane.

Q&A

What caused the fire on Saudia Flight 163?

The fire originated in the cargo compartment and quickly spread, fueled by various materials onboard the plane.

How did the flight crew respond to the smoke detection?

The flight crew initially delayed their response and debated on whether to continue the flight or divert. This decision-making process wasted crucial time.

Were any passengers able to escape the burning plane?

Unfortunately, due to the fire's severity and the limited evacuation procedures, all 301 passengers onboard perished.

What role did poor crew management play in the disaster?

The flight crew's lack of training and poor decision-making contributed to the delay in diverting the plane and initiating emergency procedures.

What were the major system failures during the incident?

The fire destroyed critical aircraft systems, including the throttle control cable, hydraulic lines, and braking capabilities, making it difficult for the pilots to control the plane.

Timestamped Summary

00:02Saudia Flight 163 is one of the worst air disasters in history, resulting in the loss of 301 lives.

10:49The flight crew consisted of individuals with questionable training records, which would later be cited as a contributing factor to the disaster.

11:20A smoke detector alert and subsequent debate among the crew delayed the decision to divert the plane, allowing the fire to spread.

13:53Passengers and flight attendants reported smoke and fire in the cabin, causing panic and hindering evacuation efforts.

19:33Despite system failures and reduced braking capabilities, the pilots successfully landed the plane, but the fire and smoke inhalation resulted in the loss of all passengers.