Summary:
For passengers on the final leg of Varig Flight 254, they couldn't land in Belém, Brazil soon enough; their trip began moments after kickoff for an important football match, and everyone was anxious to know whether Brazil would win and advance to the 1990 World Cup. In this week's episode of Take to the Sky: The Air Disaster Podcast, Stephanie tells the story of why Flight 254 took hours longer than expected, how the plane went unthinkably and unbelievably off course, and how every life onboard was at risk even before the plane taxied to the runway.Listen, Review, and Subscribe on:
Sources consulted for this story:
- Ministério de Aeronáutica Estado; Official Accident Report
- Folha de So Paulo: Survivors Tell Their "Miracles"
- Globo: Varig plane crash in the jungle in 1989 'only happened because of arrogance', says co-pilot
- Folha de So. Paulo: 46 LIVE AND ONLY EIGHT DIE IN THE BOEING FOUND IN THE WOOD
- Los Angeles Times: Jet With 54 on Board Missing in Brazil : Disappears Over Amazon; Toll in Cuban Crash May Reach 150
- Houston Chronicle: Amazon crash survivors owe their lives to unemployed teen
- New York Times: After Trek From Brazil Crash, Survivor Says 46 of 54 Live
- Aviation Knowledge: Varig Flight 254: Downed by a decimal point
- Aviation Safety Network: Varig 254
- Los Angeles Times: Survivors Airlifted From Brazil Crash Site; Pilot, Teen-Ager Hailed
- Aeroflap: Co-pilot accuses commander of “arrogance” in Varig accident in 1989
- Washington Post: BRAZIL CRASH SURVIVORS TELL OF 'MIRACLE'
- AP: Paper: Pilot Set Wrong Course Before Crash
- UPI: Death count rises to 13 in Brazil plane crash
- Babagol: EL MARACANAZO OF 1989: THE SCANDALOUS MATCH AND ITS PLANE CRASH CONNECTION
Read the Story!
Expand the text below to read more about this episode. Varig Flight 254
Show Notes:
Watch Facebook every Friday for our weekly call for good news- we love to celebrate your big and small moments with you!Credits:
Written and produced by: Shelly Price and Stephanie HubkaDirected and engineered at: Snow Monster Studios
Sound editor: Podcast Engineers
Producer: Adam Hubka
Music by: Mike Dunn
The cockpit of Varig Flight 254's 737 after the crash. Source: Air Disasters (Twitter)
The intended flight path compared to the one the 737 eventually took. Source: Desastres Aéreos
Inside the main cabin. Source: Desastres Aéreos
A view of the 737 after the crash. Source: Admiral Cloudberg
