Atlas Air Flight 3591

Atlas Air Flight 3591
The aftermath of Flight 3591
Accident
DateFebruary 23, 2019 (2019-02-23)
SummaryCrashed following spatial disorientation on approach due to pilot error
SiteTrinity Bay; near Anahuac, Texas
29°45′50″N 94°42′53″W / 29.76389°N 94.71472°W / 29.76389; -94.71472
Aircraft

N1217A, the aircraft involved in the accident
Aircraft typeBoeing 767-375ER (BCF)
Aircraft nameCustomAir Obsession
OperatorAtlas Air
IATA flight No.5Y3591
ICAO flight No.GTI3591
Call signGIANT 3591 HEAVY
RegistrationN1217A
Flight originMiami International Airport, Miami, Florida, United States
DestinationGeorge Bush Intercontinental Airport, Houston, Texas, United States
Occupants3
Passengers1
Crew2
Fatalities3
Survivors0

Atlas Air Flight 3591 was a scheduled domestic cargo flight between Miami International Airport and George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston. On February 23, 2019, the Boeing 767-375ER(BCF) operating this flight crashed into Trinity Bay during approach into Houston, killing the two crew members and a single passenger on board. The accident occurred near Anahuac, Texas, east of Houston, shortly before 12:45 CST (18:45 UTC). This was the first fatal crash of a Boeing 767 freighter.

Investigators attributed the accident to pilot error, finding that the first officer experienced spatial disorientation and inadvertently placed the aircraft in an unrecoverable dive, while the captain failed to adequately monitor the first officer's actions and the flight path of the aircraft. Flight crew training issues at Atlas Air and across the U.S. commercial aviation industry were also implicated.