Notso Fantastic and M.Mouse,
Because of several errors Varig 254 made an emergency landing in the jungle, however your opinions aren’t quite true.
Some facts, based on final report and informal talking with investigators:
PP-VMK, a Boeing 737-241, took-off from Maraba for a 40-minute flight to Belem. Unfortunately pilots made a mistake in setting a 270 degrees course instead of 027, basically due to a failure on Varig’s flight plan computer program that showed 4 digits for magnetic course (0270). To fly the correct course pilots had to disregard the last digit rather than the first one. That was the first error...
During approach preparation both pilots realized that something was wrong because they were unable to contact Belem Approach Control using VHF radios or receive any Belem navaid. Therefore, they didn’t have time to listening to a soccer game under that stressful situation. Additionally, when the airplane started its descent from cruise level, the 1st. half between Brazil x Chile had already finished.
The airplane flew for almost 2.5 hours until fuel exhaustion and the pilots tried to do everything as possible to find the correct way for a safe landing – yes they had also set ADFs using Belem broadcast, but do you really believe they were listening to that match lost in that dark night?
The airplane made its tragic landing almost 2 hours after the end of that game.
By the way, Bye-Bye England….
Brasiiiillll 2-1
