The Tenerife crash
March 27th, 1977

At 16h55, the Dutch 747 reached the runway, the American 747 a few hundred meters behind it. The fog was becoming denser: the 747s could not see each other, and neither aircraft could be seen from the control tower. The visibility was less than 200 meters.

Photo copyright Bill Sheridan - Airliners.net

The KLM Boeing 747 involved in the crash

17 :01 :57 (PanAm first officer) – Tenerife the Clipper one seven three six.

17 :02 :01 (Tenerife control tower) – Clipper one seven three six Tenerife.

17 :02 :03 (PanAm first officer) – Ah. We were instructed to contact you and also to taxi down the runway, is that correct?

17 :02 :08 (Tenerife control tower) – Affirmative, taxi into the runway and -ah leave the runway third, third to your left.

17 :02 :16 (PanAm first officer) – Third to the left, OK.

 Background conversation in the control tower made it difficult for the crew to hear the instructions.

17 :02 :18 (Mecanician) – Third he said?

17 :02 :19 (Captain) – Three?

17 :02 :21 (Tenerife control tower) – -ird one to your left.

17 :02 :22 (Captain) – I think he said first.

<17 :02 :26 (First officer) – I'll ask him again.

17 :02 :32 (First officer) – Left turn.

17 :02 :33 (Captain) – I don't think they have take-off minimums anywhere right now.

17 :02 :39 (Captain) – What really happened over there today?

17 :02 :41 (PanAm employee) – They put a bomb (in) the terminal, Sir, right where the check-in counters are.

17 :02 :46 (Captain) – Well we asked them if we could hold and -uh- I guess you got the word, we landed here.

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