Aero Caribbean Flight 883 facts for kids
Aero Caribbean Flight 883 was a passenger airplane trip that was supposed to go from Port-au-Prince, the capital of Haiti, to Havana, the capital of Cuba. The flight also had a planned stop in Santiago de Cuba. On November 4, 2010, the plane, an ATR-72-212, crashed near a place called Sancti Spíritus in Cuba. The main reason for the crash was something called icing. Sadly, all 68 people who were on the plane, including passengers and crew, lost their lives. This accident was the third deadliest airplane disaster in Cuba's history.
About the Flight
Aero Caribbean Flight 883 was a regular trip for people traveling between these cities. The plane used for this flight was an ATR-72-212. This is a type of airplane that uses propellers instead of jet engines, and it's often used for shorter flights.
What is Icing?
Icing happens when ice builds up on an airplane's wings or other parts while it's flying through cold, wet air. This can be very dangerous because ice changes the shape of the wings. When the wings change shape, they can't lift the plane as well. It also makes the plane heavier and can affect how the pilot controls it. Pilots are trained to deal with icing, and planes have special systems to prevent or remove ice.
People on Board
There were 68 people on Aero Caribbean Flight 883. This included 7 crew members who were flying and working on the plane, and 61 passengers. These people came from many different countries around the world.
| Nationality | Crew | Passengers | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
 Cuban |
7 | 33 | 40 |
 Argentine |
0 | 10 | 10 |
 Mexican |
0 | 7 | 7 |
 American |
0 | 4 | 4 |
 Dutch |
0 | 3 | 3 |
 Australian |
0 | 2 | 2 |
 British |
0 | 2 | 2 |
 Canadian |
0 | 1 | 1 |
 French |
0 | 1 | 1 |
 German |
0 | 1 | 1 |
 Italian |
0 | 1 | 1 |
 Brazilian |
0 | 1 | 1 |
 South African |
0 | 1 | 1 |
 Poland |
0 | 1 | 1 |
 Japanese |
0 | 1 | 1 |
 Spanish |
0 | 1 | 1 |
 Venezuelan |
0 | 1 | 1 |
| Total | 7 | 61 | 68 |
The Crash
The plane crashed in a mountainous area of Cuba. Investigations later showed that the ice buildup on the plane was a major factor. This made it very difficult for the pilots to control the aircraft, leading to the accident.
See also
In Spanish: Vuelo 883 de Aero Caribbean para niños
