They've called off the search.' Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571 crashes in the Andes - HISTORY And that first night was really impossible to describe. It was awful and long nights. Inside the crowded aircraft there was silence. The arrieros could not imagine that anyone could still be alive. [21], After the sleeping bag was completed and Numa Turcatti died, Canessa was still hesitant. pp. As they flew through the Andes, clouds obscured the mountains. From there, aircraft flew west via the G-17 (UB684) airway, crossing Planchn to the Curic radiobeacon in Chile, and from there north to Santiago.[3][4]. And nearly four and a half decades on, 16 of their number have lived to see Uruguay carry the spirit of the Andes survivors onto the world rugby stage. We wondered whether we were going mad even to contemplate such a thing. The wreck was located at an elevation of 3,570 metres (11,710ft) in the remote Andes of far western Argentina, just east of the border with Chile. There were 10 extra seats and the team members invited a few friends and family members to accompany them. The pilots were astounded at the difficult terrain the two men had crossed to reach help. After the Plane Crashand the Cannibalisma Life of Hope - Culture On Oct. 13, 1972, a plane carrying 45 passengers, including the Old Christians Uruguayan rugby team, crashed in the Andes between Chile and Argentina. Given the cloud cover, the pilots were flying under instrument meteorological conditions at an altitude of 18,000 feet (5,500m) (FL180), and could not visually confirm their location. Of the 45 passengers aboard, 16 survived by feeding on dead family members and friends preserved in the snow. En el avin quedan 14 personas heridas. He mistakenly believed the aircraft had reached Curic, where the flight would turn to descend into Pudahuel Airport. Parrado was lucky. [17][26], They relayed news of the survivors to the Army command in San Fernando, Chile, who contacted the Army in Santiago. 'Alive': Uruguay Plane Crash Survivors Savor Life 50 Years On [15] They saw three aircraft fly overhead, but were unable to attract their attention, and none of the aircraft crews spotted the white fuselage against the snow. Eduardo Strauch recalls eating friends after plane crash - New York Post Available for both RF and RM licensing. Director Ren Cardona Writers Charles Blair Jr. (book) Ren Cardona Jr. Stars Pablo Ferrel Hugo Stiglitz It was hard to put in your mouth, recalled Sabella, a successful businessman. The plane, traveling from Uruguay to Chile, went down over the Andes moun-tains after on October 13, 1972.