When Low Fuel Becomes No Fuel

One of the most famous and tragic of fuel-exhaustion crashes occurred on Jan. 25, 1990. Upon arrival in the New York area after a flight from Bogot, the 707 was placed into a hold for an hour and 27 minutes due to fog at JFK. The pilots were not native English speakers and never used the actual word emergency in describing their fuel situation to ATC, using only minimum fuel instead and never stating their fuel state in minutes. During that time, they burned away all the fuel they needed to make Boston, their alternate.

Key Takeaways:

• The Avianca Flight 52 crash in 1990 highlighted the tragic consequences of fuel exhaustion, primarily due to miscommunication, language barriers, and pilots not explicitly declaring an emergency to air traffic control.
• In contrast, the 1983 "Gimli Glider" incident saw an Air Canada 767 successfully deadsticked after running out of fuel due to a metric-imperial conversion error, demonstrating how exceptional pilot skill can avert catastrophe.
• These incidents underscore the critical importance of clear communication regarding fuel states and accurate fuel management in aviation, while also showcasing the life-saving potential of expert airmanship in extreme emergencies.

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