A Cargo Plane's Descent into Hell

The crash of a 747 in Amsterdam leaves at least 51 dead

LIKE MOST TRAGEDIES, THE CRASH OF AN EL AL 747-200F cargo jet last week came without warning. Six minutes after taking off from Amsterdam's Schiphol airport bound for Tel Aviv, the pilot reported a fire in a right-wing engine. Seconds later another engine failed and the freighter hurtled into a 10-story apartment building just 10 miles from the airport. As rescue workers uncovered the remains of 51 victims on the ground -- many others were incinerated and will never be found -- investigators searched for an explanation. El Al says an engine fire on the same plane last July was unrelated...

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