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Andes Plane Crash

What is andes plane crash?

· Emily Grant

Key facts

date 13 October 1972[1]
aircraft Fairchild FH-227D[1]
origin Montevideo, Uruguay[1]
destination Santiago, Chile[1]
people aboard 45[1]
survivors 16[2]

The Andes plane crash refers to the 1972 crash of Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571 in the Andes Mountains, where 16 survivors endured extreme conditions and resorted to cannibalism to stay alive.

Context

The Andes plane crash, also known as the Miracle of the Andes, involved a Fairchild FH-227D aircraft carrying 45 people. The crash occurred on 13 October 1972, and the wreckage was not found for over two months. The survivors' ordeal, including acts of cannibalism, gained international attention [3].

Documented claims

  • The crash was caused by controlled flight into terrain due to pilot error. [1]
  • The wreckage was not located for more than two months. [3]
  • The incident received international attention after it was revealed that the survivors had resorted to cannibalism. [3]

Questions and answers

Are the Andes survivors still alive?

Yes, some of the survivors are still alive today [2].

How far did the survivors of the Andes plane crash walk?

The survivors walked approximately 60 miles (97 kilometers) to find help [1].

Sources

  1. Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571 crashes in the Andes | October 13, 1972 | HISTORY — history.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  2. Cannibalism: The Andes flight disaster, 50 years later | International — english.elpais.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  3. Society of the Snow: The horrifying story of the 1972 Andes plane crash is ... — bbc.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)

Sources last checked August 3, 2026. · More in History