Western Airlines Flight 2605

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Western Airlines Flight 2605
Summary
Date October 31, 1979
Type Pilot error
Site Benito Juarez Int'l Airport
Mexico City, Mexico
19°26′11″N, 99°04′20″W
Passengers 77
Crew 11
Fatalities 72
Survivors 16
Aircraft type McDonnell Douglas DC-10-10
Operator Western Airlines
Tail number N903WA
Flight origin Los Angeles
Destination Benito Juarez Int'l Airport

On October 31, 1979, Western Airlines Flight 2605, a McDonnell Douglas DC-10-10 flying from Los Angeles to Mexico City, landed on a closed runway at Benito Juarez International Airport in early morning fog and burst into flames after striking a parked automobile. 72 of the 89 people aboard, including 11 of 13 crew, were killed.[1][2]

The DC-10-10 had been assigned runway 23R but landed on the closed twin runway 23L.

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