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Thursday, March 28, 2024

The Ibiza air catastrophe commemorates its 50th anniversary

The Iberia Caravelle crashed in the Serra de sa Talaia in Sant Josep, Ibiza, killing 104 persons, including the crew and passengers

“Control tower, requesting permission to descend from 10,200 feet to 5,500 feet.” With these words, the commander of the Iberia Caravelle, José Luis Ballester, who was flying flight IB602 between Valencia and Ibiza, was about to arrive on the island. “Permission granted,” he was told at the Ibiza airport. This dialogue, which took place on the morning of January 7, 1972, was the precursor to Spain’s worst air catastrophe. That day, a total of 104 individuals died, including crew and passengers. There was no one who survived. Tomorrow commemorates the 50th anniversary of the accident.

The communication between the Caravelle’s captain and the air traffic controller took place around twelve o’clock on January 7, 1972. There were only approximately five minutes until the jet landed safely at Ibiza Airport. Something that never happened.

The control tower became concerned when there was no news of the plane. There was no response from the plane after numerous attempts to reach it. After that, the Pitiusas airport notified the Air Force SAR, based in Palma, to look for any trace of the Iberia Caravelle. Two Gruman planes flew over the region, but they were unable to detect any evidence due to the dense fog.

The farmer Josep Ribas was tilling the field on his farm C’an Prim, at the foot of the Serra de sa Talaia, only seconds before the disaster. He became the disaster’s sole eyewitness. His attention was drawn to the Caravelle’s low altitude, which was significantly lower than any other aircraft in the sky at the time it began the landing manoeuvre.

The Ibiza Air Catastrophe Commemorates Its 50Th Anniversary
Ibiza air disaster

A loud bang and ensuing explosion alerted him to the fact that a terrible tragedy had just occurred. Following that, farmer Josep Ribas reported the disaster to the Guardia Civil post in Sant Josep. He then commanded the rescue operation and demonstrated his expertise of the terrain.

Pope Francis extends his condolences for the aircraft accident in Ibiza

The crash site of the Caravelle was known as ses Roques Altes. The wreckage was spread out over a one-kilometer radius. The head of the plance was not broken, and the collision was on its belly. It was the unmistakable evidence that the pilot attempted to correct by making a desperate manoeuvre to escape the collision at all costs. His attempts were futile.

For the full article, please visit Diario de Ibiza website here.

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