A survivor’s story of the worst aircraft accident in world history
The staggering death toll was 544 upon impact. Only 75 survivors.
I was one of those survivors.
“Please remember this. If you are on an airplane on the ground and you see smoke in the cabin, whip off that seat belt, get up and MOVE.
Don’t wait for instructions. Head for the nearest exit, if it is a safe one, or find a new one like I did. But most of all, NEVER WAIT FOR THE FIRE TRUCK.
It may be too late for you. How could the biggest jetliners in the world run into each other on the ground? It seems impossible but it did happen. I want to do what I can to ensure that this type of aircraft accident never happens again. By reading this book you will help me reach this goal.
Thank you for your support.”
David Alexander, Author
Canary Island Crash Survivor
There are few who can claim to have survived the horrors of an airliner crash, but David Alexander is one of those few. He recounts the worst aviation disaster in history with his first hand experience as a survivor of the Canary Island disaster where the initial death toll included 544 people with only 75 initial survivors.
The number of lives lost due to this horrific crash rose to 583. David’s story does more than recount the horrors of that fateful event. He also provides the reader with an understanding that the accident that befell him and so many others is likely not to happen again due to changes in the industry after the crash on Tenerife.
This is a survivor’s story
On March 27, 1977, two 747’s collided on the ground in fog on the island of Tenerife, Canary Islands. The author was among a subgroup of 14 walking survivors and 1 of 2 photographers that Sunday afternoon. This is his story of survival, recovery and return to flight.
The book also provides details of improvements to aircraft interior safety. Many of those improvements were the result of an in-flight cabin fire on Air Canada flight 979 in 1983. Non-flammable materials for the interior and stronger seats make a hard landing more survivable. In addition, you will read about the improvements to runway safety and the new technology, ADSB, which replaces radar to greatly improve safety on the ground. The technology allows controllers and pilots to know where every aircraft is on the ground and in the sky.
Reviews
Triumph over adversity
A riveting story of survival and a compelling tale of triumph over unfathomable adversity. The author’s story will have you on the edge of your seat as you follow his life before the disaster, his detailed account of the accident and his inspiring life post disaster. A considerable portion of the book includes interesting details and back stories of new airline regulations which will serve to reassure the reader of the future of aviation safety.
worlds worst aviation accidents
I was worried I wouldn’t be able to take another flight after reading this book, but it wasn’t like that at all. If anything, it is comforting to know all the ways the airlines takes precautions for our safety. This book tells the story of a mans experience and survival in one of worlds worst aviation accidents. Not only his experience is chronicled, but what has be changed and corrected in aviation to ensure safety.