THE HORROR CRASH OF THE PACIFIC SOUTHWEST AIRLINES BOEING 727 IN SEPTEMBER 1978 CLAIMED A TRAGIC 144 LIVES, AND THE FINAL RECORDED WORDS OF VICTIMS ARE JUST AS HAUNTING ALMOST 46 YEARS ON

LEIGH MCMANUS 22:56, 25 Apr 2024 A pilot's heartbreaking last words are as harrowing as ever, years after a fatal fireball crash killed 135 passengers and people on the ground. It has

been almost 46 years since the Pacific Southwest Airlines Flight 182 tragically took the lives of 144 people in total, on September 25, 1978. The accident, which was recorded as the

deadliest air crash in American history at the time, happened on a seemingly perfect day for flying, with calm winds and clear skies. But the Boeing 727 collided with another aircraft, the

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from football team to private jets Local flight controllers warned the Boeing 727 crew to stay aware of the Cessna that was also in the area – but a few minutes before the crash, they lost

sight of it. First Officer Robert Fox, 38, could be heard speculating with Captain James McFeron, 42, about the smaller plane's whereabouts. "Yeah... I don't see him

now," Fox says, then asks: "Are we clear of that Cessna?" Flight Engineer Martin Wahne replies: "Supposed to be." There seems to be laughter before Captain McFeron

says: "I saw him at one o'clock, he's probably behind us now." But the plane was actually just below. Seconds later, the 727 is hit and McFeron says: "What have we

got here?", to which Fox responds in panic: "We're hit man, we are hit." McFeron can then be heard talking to air traffic controllers, "Tower, we're going down,

this is PSA." And when he realises the catastrophe that is about to happen, he says: "This is it baby!" In the heartbreakingly moment that the plane comes crashing down on

the city, McFeron addresses the passengers, saying, "Brace yourself". An unidentified voice in the cockpit takes it as an opportunity to send a touching but heart-shattering

message to their mum. They can be heard saying, "Ma, I love you", as the plan hits the ground. Among the victims were passengers and all crew. But the crash was only America's

deadliest for eight months. It was surpassed when American Airlines Flight 191 crashed in Chicago on May 25, 1979, killing 258 passengers and 13 crew members. Article continues below _FOR

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