Mexicana Flight 940 facts for kids
Mexicana Flight 940 was a flight from Mexico City to Los Angeles. On March 31, 1986, a Boeing 727 airplane carrying 159 passengers and 8 crew members crashed near Michoacán, Mexico. Sadly, all 167 people on board died. This was the worst airplane accident in Mexico's history.
| Nationality | Passengers | Crew | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
 Mexico |
139 | 8 | 147 |
 United States |
9 | 0 | 9 |
 France |
8 | 0 | 8 |
 Sweden |
4 | 0 | 4 |
 Canada |
2 | 0 | 2 |
| Total | 159 | 8 | 167 |
Contents
What Happened to Flight 940?
The flight was operated by Mexicana de Aviación, a Mexican airline. The plane was a Boeing 727, a popular type of jetliner. It was on a regular trip from Mexico City to Los Angeles. During the flight, something went wrong. The plane experienced a fire while it was in the air. This fire led to the plane crashing.
The Crash Site
The airplane crashed in a mountainous area. This area was near the town of Maravatío in the state of Michoacán. The crash happened on a Monday afternoon. Rescue teams faced a difficult challenge reaching the site. The remote location made it hard to get there quickly.
Why Did It Crash?
Investigators looked into what caused the crash. They found that the plane had a problem with its landing gear. The tires on the landing gear were over-inflated. This means they had too much air pressure. When the plane took off, the tires got very hot. One of the tires exploded due to the heat. This explosion caused a fire. The fire then spread to other parts of the plane. This made the plane impossible to control.
Investigation Findings
The investigation showed that the maintenance of the plane was not done correctly. The tires should have been checked more carefully. The mechanics did not follow the right procedures. This mistake led to the tragic accident. It was a very sad day for everyone involved.
Remembering Flight 940
The crash of Mexicana Flight 940 was a major event. It led to changes in how airplanes are maintained. Airlines learned important lessons from this disaster. They improved their safety checks. This helps prevent similar accidents from happening again. The memory of Flight 940 reminds us about the importance of air safety.
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Learn more about this topic in Spanish!
See Also
- In Spanish: Vuelo 940 de Mexicana de Aviación para niños
