Cubana de Aviación Flight 972 facts for kids

Cubana de Aviación Flight 972 (CU972/CUB972) was a flight that took off from Havana, Cuba, heading to Holguín. On May 18, 2018, a Boeing 737 airplane crashed right after leaving the airport. It burst into flames near Santiago de las Vegas, which is about 19 kilometers (12 miles) from Havana.

Out of everyone on board, 108 people sadly died. Three people survived with very serious injuries, but one of them passed away later in the hospital.

Cuba's President, Miguel Díaz-Canel, announced that a special group was created. This group's job was to find out why the plane crashed.

What Happened to Flight 972?

The flight was a regular trip within Cuba. It was supposed to go from the capital city, Havana, to Holguín, a city in the east. The plane was a Boeing 737-200, a type of passenger jet.

The Crash Details

The accident happened very quickly after the plane left the ground. It crashed close to the airport. When it hit the ground, it caught fire. This made the situation very serious.

Who Was Affected?

There were many people on the plane. Most of them did not survive the crash. A few people were found alive but were badly hurt. They were taken to the hospital right away for urgent care.

The Investigation Begins

After such a serious event, it is very important to find out what went wrong. The Cuban government quickly started an investigation.

Why Investigations Are Important

When a plane crashes, experts need to study everything. They look at the plane's parts, the weather, and what the pilots did. This helps them understand the cause. Finding the cause helps prevent similar accidents in the future. It makes flying safer for everyone.

The Role of the President

President Miguel Díaz-Canel made sure an official team was put together. This team included experts who could carefully examine all the evidence. Their goal was to discover exactly why Flight 972 crashed.

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