On October 13, 1972, the Andes mountains witnessed the crash of Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571. Forty five passengers and crew, including 19 members of the Old Christians Club rugby union team, along with their families, supporters, and friends, were aboard the flight. Three crew members and nine passengers died in the Andes plane crash.
Several others soon passed away afterward due to the frigid temperatures and the seriousness of their injuries. The survivors kept on waiting for help, and throughout the subsequent 72 days, they endured extreme hardships. Reports indicate that people faced starvation, harsh weather conditions, and other problems while trying to survive. However, 13 more people died while waiting to be rescued.
Meanwhile, authorities initiated an investigation into the case and determined that an error by the pilot, which was classified as “controlled flight into terrain,” caused the crash. Almost two and a half months after the incident, rescuers saved the last of the 16 survivors. As soon as they came back, media didn’t leave any stone unturned to have them on their shows.
Andes Plane Crash: Did the survivors resort to cannibalism to stay alive?
The flight initially took off on October 12, 1972. However, bad weather forced the pilots to stop overnight in Mendoza, Argentina. The following day, the pilots took off in the afternoon and took a U-shaped route to fly lower through a mountain pass. The pilots commenced their descent after receiving clearance from air traffic control. However, unaware that it was too soon to land, they proceeded straight into the heart of the Andes. The Andes plane crash immediately killed some people, while others tried to survive harsh weather. Shockingly, they had to turn to cannibalism to stay alive.
According to statements, the survivors constructed a device using metal from the wreckage. This device was used to melt snow into water using sunlight. They maintained hope and waited for rescue. However, on the tenth day after the crash, they learned through the plane’s transistor radio that authorities had called off the search. Driven by desperation, the survivors decided to harvest the bodies of the deceased passengers for food. As such, they consumed the bodies of the deceased passengers and explored ways to return to the normal world.
On December 23, 1972, rescuers finally saved all 16 survivors after more than two months since the crash.
The entire case received much attention worldwide. Showtime series Yellowjackets is based on the Andes plane crash and highlighted how the survivors resorted to cannibalism. Meanwhile, Netflix’s upcoming film Society of the Snow also follows the story of the crash and the survivors.
