MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay – Survivors of a harrowing plane crash in the Andes mountains were forced to resort to cannibalism to survive for 72 days before being rescued in October 1972. Uruguayan Flight 571, traveling from Carrasco International Airport in Uruguay to Pudahuel Airport in Chile, crashed into the Andes in Argentina, resulting in the deaths of 12 passengers initially and others succumbing to the cold temperatures later.
The crash’s ultimate cause was attributed to poor weather and an inexperienced co-pilot who failed to recognize incorrect readings on the internal navigation system. Shockwaves were sent around the world not only due to the tragedy of the crash, but also because the survivors were forced to eat raw flesh from their deceased companions in a desperate attempt to survive. Of the 45 passengers on board, only 16 were found to be alive 72 days later.
The survivors, including members of the Old Christians Club rugby union team, were eventually found after nearly three months, following a 10-day trek across the vast mountain range when it became clear that no one was coming to rescue them. A Catholic priest later heard their confessions of cannibalism and concluded that they were not “damned” for it, as it was considered an act of extreme survival.
The bodies and skeletal remains of the deceased passengers were buried in a grave near the crash site with a headstone that read “The world to its Uruguayan brothers – close, oh God, to you.” The story of their harrowing ordeal was later portrayed in the 1993 film “Alive,” narrated by acclaimed actor John Malkovich.
Overall, the survivors’ struggle in the aftermath of the crash serves as a poignant reminder of the extraordinary lengths people are willing to go to in order to survive against overwhelming odds.