savaster

Terrain, Terrain....2

Added 2023-08-09 13:00:04 +0000 UTC

(Continued) Personally, one of the notable features of this accident was the very treacherous terrain it happened to take place. Just prior to the crash, one of the plane's wings scraped off a mountain ridge into a U-shaped groove (which is still visible today, a grim reminder) before pounding on a steep slope beneath the 1,600 meter high spur. While the first half of the Boeing 747 was pretty much gone upon impact, the second half broke off and skidded down a few hundred meters, thus letting go of some of its kinetic force and resulting in the four young survivors that were seated in this part of the fuselage.

Certain people question why it took so long for the first responders team to reach the site (late next morning) while it was up in flames all night, but we again need to remember that this all took place high up in a forested mountain range, with no roads at all leading up to the site. You could try this too see for yourself - and most likely give up after a few meters after the body getting stranded in the undergrowth and fallen branches. Nowadays there is an unpaved road for the visiting families, but it is notoriously slippery, leading to a fatal accident since.

Life is frail, and we might but be living in the small safe zones amidst the massif of dangers and death. :-) Another summer - and again prayers to those who perished on Flight JA123.