helios airways flight 522 crash pictures

The plane continued to rise, and as it reached an altitude of approximately 18,000 feet, the oxygen masks in the passenger cabin automatically deployed. This alert sound, which indicated a pressure loss, was identical to the take-off configuration warning, which the pilots assumed to be the cause.

As it passed through an altitude of 12,040 feet, the cabin altitude warning horn sounded. A Helios Airways Boeing 737-31S at Ruzyne Airport (PRG / LKPR).Īs the aircraft climbed, the pressure inside the cabin gradually decreased. All three times, the flight crew overlooked the system, not noticing the incorrect setting. However, the engineer failed to reset to “auto” on completion of the test.īefore every flight, the pressurisation system is checked on three separate occasions: during the pre-flight procedure, the after-start check, and the after take-off check. In order to carry out this check without requiring the aircraft’s engines, the pressurisation system was set to “manual”. The plane was scheduled to fly from Larnaca, Cyprus to Prague, Czech Republic, with a stopover at Athens International Airport.Īccording to an Aircraft Accident Report published in 2006, a ground engineer was sent to the plane prior to the flight to perform a pressurisation leak check.

Remembered as the deadliest aviation accident in Greek history, Helios Airways Flight 522 crashed near Grammatiko, Greece, on August 14, 2005, killing 121 passengers and crew.

Helios airways flight 522 crash pictures