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Apocalypse on the Runway: Revisiting the Tenerife Airport Disaster
- jakzurr 4y agoWhew, long; but one of the most detailed and objective descriptions of this 1977 disaster.
- BXLE_1-1-BitIs1 4y agoHaving one plane at a time backtrack takes a lot of time; so, ATC decided to have one plane backtrack to do a 180 while having another follow and turn off for the parallel taxiway. Hindsight suggests lining up all the planes on the taxiway to the reciprocal runway before allowing any takeoff. It would have been quicker for everybody. Initially send the widebodies to the fourth exit and the narrow bodies to the third exit where they can manage the 135° turn. As the taxiway on the other end empties, earlier exits could be used. Also many planes could have turned on the ramp.