No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeLatin AmericaCentral AmericaRemembering Tan-Sahsa Flight 414, the deadliest plane crash in Central American history

Remembering Tan-Sahsa Flight 414, the deadliest plane crash in Central American history

On Oct. 21, 1989, Tan-Sahsa Flight 414 crashed while on approach to Toncontín International Airport in Tegucigalpa, Honduras.

One-hundred and thirty-one passengers died in the accident, making it the worst aviation disaster in Central American history, according to the Associated Press. Fifteen people survived the crash.

The flight, which had originated at Juan Santamaría International Airport near San José, Costa Rica, made a stopover in Managua, Nicaragua before its fatal final flight.

According to a 1999 report published by the Federal Aviation Administration of the United States, the plane “impacted a mountain known as Cerro de Hula […] approximately 800’ below the summit, 4.8 nautical miles from the Tegucigalpa Runway 01 threshold.”

The report placed responsibility on the pilots for failing to adhere to approach procedures for the airport.

“The aircraft’s descent profile was well below the published step-down course for the entire approach,” the report reads.

The victims included an aide to then-Costa Rican President Óscar Arias. There were 15 U.S. citizens aboard the flight, in addition to dozens of Costa Ricans and Nicaraguans.

Today, a monument near the crash site honors the 131 victims of Tan-Sahsa Flight 414.

 

Trending Now

Celso Gamboa Allegedly Ran Drug Ring with Costa Rican Government Ties

Celso Gamboa, once Costa Rica’s Security Minister and a Supreme Court judge, now faces extradition to the U.S. for leading a major cocaine trafficking...

Former Costa Rican Minister Arrested for Drug Trafficking, Faces U.S. Extradition

Costa Rica’s judicial police arrested Celso Gamboa, a former security minister and Supreme Court judge, on Monday, following a U.S. request for his extradition...

Costa Rica Surf Film Festival Honors ‘Pura Vida Bodysurfing’ with Top Audience Award

Pura Vida Bodysurfing is an award-winning short film that strips surfing back to its essence—riding waves without a surfboard. Filmed across Costa Rica’s legendary...

Panama Regains Control of Bocas del Toro After Violent Protests

Panama’s government has regained control of Bocas del Toro province after months of violent anti-government protests sparked by pension reforms, officials announced. The unrest,...

Costa Rica Pushes USA to the Brink but Falls in Penalty Heartbreak

If you just caught the end of the USA vs. Costa Rica Gold Cup quarterfinal, you probably feel like you need another cup of...

Costa Rica Green Hotels Lead Global Sustainable Tourism

Costa Rica’s reputation as a leader in sustainable tourism grows stronger every year, with our green hotels setting a high bar for eco-conscious hospitality...
spot_img
Costa Rica Tours
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Rocking Chait
Costa Rica Travel

Latest News from Costa Rica