What happened
On the scheduled flight from Mexico City-Benito Juárez Airport to Los Angeles, via Puerto Vallarta and Mazatlán, a three-engine aircraft experienced a critical failure while cruising at 31,000 feet. The incident began when a tire burst within the left main gear wheel well, triggering an explosion. This event resulted in the rupture of hydraulic and fuel lines, as well as the severing of electrical cables, which led to a loss of cabin pressure.
Following the explosion, ignited fuel caused a fire on the aircraft. The pilot declared an emergency and began a descent to lower altitude; however, the aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent. The plane struck the slope of Mt San Andrés, located approximately 18 km southwest of Maravatio in the State of Michoacán. The impact caused the aircraft to disintegrate, resulting in 167 fatalities among the passengers and crew.
Findings
Investigations revealed that the left main gear brake had become overheated during the takeoff roll. This overheating led to the tire explosion because the tire had been inflated with compressed air instead of nitrogen, making it susceptible to high temperature and pressure levels.