Aerolíneas Argentinas Flight 342
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 An Aerolíneas Argentinas Boeing 707-387B, similar to the one involved in the incident | |
| Incident | |
|---|---|
| Date | 20 February 1981 |
| Summary | Near crash into North Tower (WTC 1) due to unauthorized descent |
| Site | North Tower (WTC 1) of the original World Trade Center Complex, New York City, United States |
| Aircraft | |
| Aircraft type | Boeing 707-387B |
| Operator | Aerolíneas Argentinas |
| Call sign | Argentine 342[1] |
| Registration | Unknown |
| Flight origin | Ministro Pistarini International Airport, Buenos Aires, Argentina |
| 1st stopover | José Joaquín de Olmedo International Airport, Guayaquil, Ecuador |
| 2nd stopover | Miami International Airport, Miami, United States |
| Destination | John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York City, United States |
| Occupants | 58 |
| Passengers | 49 |
| Crew | 9 |
| Fatalities | 0 |
| Survivors | 58 |
On February 20, 1981, Aerolíneas Argentinas Flight 342, operated by a Boeing 707-387B, nearly hit the transmitting antenna of the North Tower of the World Trade Center in New York City during its approach to John F. Kennedy International Airport. The air traffic controller's intervention avoided the impact with less than 90 seconds of distance between the aircraft and the North Tower.
Incident
[edit]Flight 342 departed from Ministro Pistarini International Airport at 08:00 AM, with scheduled stopovers at José Joaquín de Olmedo International Airport and Miami International Airport. After taking off from Miami around 6:30 PM, the aircraft headed to New York City with an estimated arrival time of 9:00 PM (Eastern Time). However, due to adverse weather conditions – dense clouds and rain – visibility was limited.[2]
During the approach to John F. Kennedy International Airport, the crew was instructed to descend to 2,700 feet but misinterpreted the command and descended to 1,500 feet. At the time, the aircraft was on a collision course with the transmitting antenna located at the top of the North Tower of the World Trade Center, whose total height was 1,730 feet.[2][3]
Air traffic controller Donald Zimmerman of the TRACON center in New York detected on radar that the aircraft was descending to a dangerous altitude. The Ground proximity warning system (GPWS) was activated, and Zimmerman contacted the crew, asking for their altitude. Confirming that they were flying at 1,500 feet, he immediately ordered, "Argentine 342, turn right immediately and set course 180°." Seconds later, he added, "Argentine 342, ascend, ascend immediately, hold at 3,000 feet."[2][4][5]
The crew executed a sharp right turn and began a rapid ascent. The aircraft drove away from Manhattan and stabilized its altitude at 3,000 feet, averting disaster with a margin of less than 90 seconds. Subsequently, the crew completed a new approach and landed safely at John F. Kennedy International Airport.[2]
Aftermath
[edit]Following the incident, Zimmerman took trauma leave, a common practice after high-stress events. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) launched an investigation into what happened. Days later, The New York Times published an article highlighting Zimmerman's quick action and questioning the operational safety of Aerolíneas Argentinas. New York Congressman Jonathan B. Bingham called for a review of approach procedures at congested airports like John F. Kennedy International Airport.[1][2][4]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b "'Argentine 342 ... climb, climb immediately.'". UPI. 1981-02-27. Retrieved 2025-06-09.
- ^ a b c d e Diaz, Pablo (2025-02-20). "A 44 años de la noche en la que un Boeing 707 de Aerolíneas Argentinas casi choca el World Trade Center". Aviacionline (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-04-23.
- ^ Ranter, Harro. "Incident Boeing 707-300 , Friday 20 February 1981". asn.flightsafety.org. Retrieved 2025-04-23.
- ^ a b Witkin, Richard (February 27, 1981). "JET CREW TO BE ASKED ABOUT 'NEAR MISS'". The New York Times. Retrieved May 31, 2025.
- ^ "Aerolínas Argentinas Flight 342 Has Near Miss with World Trade Center | Archives & Special Collections". archives.law.virginia.edu. Retrieved 2025-04-23.