Pilot error remains one of the leading causes of aviation disasters, with several tragic examples over the years demonstrating how human negligence can have devastating consequences.

One of the most shocking cases occurred in 1994 when Aeroflot Flight 593 crashed in Siberia, killing all 75 people on board. The crash happened after the relief pilot allowed his children into the cockpit, where his son accidentally disabled the autopilot, causing the plane to descend uncontrollably.

In 2015, TransAsia Flight 235 crashed into a river in Taiwan after the pilot mistakenly shut down the functioning engine following an engine failure. His last words were, “Wow, pulled back the wrong side throttle.” Forty-eight people died.

Another tragedy involved a flight from Tunisia to Italy that ran out of fuel due to a mechanical failure. Instead of initiating emergency protocols, the pilots reportedly prayed, resulting in a crash that killed 16 people.

In 1977, a miscommunication at Tenerife Airport led to the deadliest aviation accident in history, where two Boeing 747s collided on the runway, killing 583 people.

Other fatal crashes involved disregarding weather warnings, interpersonal conflicts in the cockpit, or failing to monitor controls. The 2010 crash near Islamabad occurred after a co-pilot, intimidated by his superior, failed to speak up during critical errors. And in 1982, Air Florida Flight 90 crashed after takeoff in a snowstorm due to poor de-icing decisions.

These preventable disasters underscore the vital need for vigilance, clear communication, and strict adherence to protocol in aviation.