Iberia Airlines Flight 602

The Iberia flight 602 on January 7, 1972 was fatal for all occupants. The accident was in the 1970s to the hitherto most devastating plane crashes in the history of the Spanish Air Force.

The machine of the Spanish airline Iberia launched in Madrid Barajas Airport and flew to a stopover in Valencia on towards Ibiza. The Tower in Ibiza lost radio contact as the plane turned the last loop on the island to the visual approach to runway 07. The visibility was hampered by rain, fog and low clouds. Therefore, the pilot over-estimated his altitude and crashed on landing about 30 meters below the summit from the highest mountain on the island. During the explosion, the aircraft was completely destroyed. The black box was recovered intact.

In the accident 98 passengers, including 9 children, and six crew members died. The victims were mainly Spaniards, who flew after the new year back to work on the island. In addition, an American and a German were on board.

With a machine of the type Sud Aviation SE 210 Caravelle normally have only 80 passengers transported. However, the airline had sent out two weeks before the accident, all the seats of the first class to make room for more seats in the second class.

The last radio contact with the tower, about twelve miles from the airport, the pilot for permission to 5,500 feet begged to decline. He also was quoted by Tower staff with the following words: "Get me a beer ready, we are here. "

At the crash site today reminds a chapel to the victims.