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Clearly, Christmas was near. The first Northeaster of the season had just socked the coast. The usual irritated bustle of airports finally gave way to smiles, Christmas trees, and happy fuss. It seemed like the whole world was going home for holidays. Usually, a pilot's schedule is so harsh, but this year Donnie, that is American Airlines' First Officer Williams, got lucky: he traded his usual route to Caracas, Venezuela, for this Cali flight. Yeah, this year he'll make it home for Christmas, just like all good folks...
Nick Tafuri, Donnie's co-pilot, nodded his head in agreement: yes, a quiet couple days at home, just Tonya and himself. Okay, maybe some tennis or fishing with Claude and Monique, his next-door neighbors and best friends. And a little time to pamper his garden -- one of the advantages of living here, on Marco Island, is the-year-round warm Florida weather. On Christmas eve he will call, but of course, to New Jersey, to wish merry Christmas to Robert and Lucille, his brother and sister. Robert, already long time a prominent lawyer, still behaves like a kid and brags about the three Distinguished Flying Crosses Nick got in Nam... Well, Nick is not complaining: his family loves him, he has his dream job, he'll be at home for the holidays... what else can a man wish for?
...That Wednesday New Jersey planes got a bit delayed and Gonzalo Dussan was getting worried: New York planes were delayed so badly that forty three passengers would probably miss the connecting flight. What if the Dussans would also be unable to make the transfer? After all, it was their first vacation in eight years. Nancy and himself were taking the kids to see the home land for the holidays. He can bet his brother in Cali can't wait to see them! So who would want now to get stuck here, in Miami?
"Move it, move it!" Nancy was rushing the kids. Gonzalo Jr. and little Michelle were hurrying as much as they could. The family saw the expected addition: Gonzalo's relative and her two children. They got delayed as well! Oh, these holiday seasons! The pack kept running through Miami airport.
"Flight 965, now ...wah-wah-wah ... to Cali," shouted the airport announcer.
Phew, they made it! Just in time! The plane, American Airlines Flight 965, was still there, delayed, thank God!
"Here, here, the sixteenth row, three seats together and one aisle seat across." Gonzalo Jr. immediately grabbed the window seat: he wanted to see the lights of the valley when the plane would be landing -- his dad told him these lights are so beautiful. Michelle, disappointed, was whining trying to fight her brother for the seat. Alas, it was too late - the boy already got himself all comfy.
"We will be landing in Cali in three hours," Nick Tafuri, the captain, announced on the loudspeaker. Finally, Gonzalo Sr. could exhale and relax. The worst part of the travel was over and everything was turning out pretty great. The mood onboard was festive. Almost everybody was going to the homeland for the holidays. Gonzalo leaned back and ordered a shot of whiskey.
"When you go back to your native country, and the whole family is about to meet, this feels very good" he pondered with himself. "Especially on Christmas. We'll start the reunion with a prayer."
Next day the whole family was planning to go to Buga, a small town up in the mountains. The local church is a religious shrine, truly gorgeous, stained glass is incredible. Some Colombians believe it is a miraculous place...
Filled with snacks, drinks, naps, and happy thoughts, the three hours flew unnoticed.
"We are beginning our descent," the captain announced. "The crew and American Airlines would like to wish you all very happy holidays and prosperous new year."
"Fasten your seat belts," the sign lighted up. Gonzalo checked on the kids: better safe than sorry. Michelle, seated next to her brother, was stretching to the window. Both children peered into the darkness anxiously awaiting to see the valley lights. But all they could see were the inky clouds...
Suddenly, the plane started shaking. More, and more, and more. People began screaming. The lights blinked and went out. The absolute darkness, filled with hysterical cries, wrapped everyone for few seconds. Gonzalo felt a wind blow and went into oblivion...
He regain consciousness ten hours later. Mr. Dussan survived the crash but incurring severe back injuries. His daughter Michelle, with both legs broken, survived as well. Gonzalo Jr., an honor student, a future architect, and a major league hopeful, died of a cardiac arrest and injuries shortly after the rescue team brought him into the hospital. Nancy Delgado died at the crash. Little Michelle believed her mother still had a moment to tell her goodbye before dying. Gonzalo Sr.'s relative and her two kids parish in the crash. Nick Tafuri and Donnie Williams never made it home for the holidays.
Hundreds of newspaper and television reports covered the ordeal of Flight 965. The National Transportation and Safety Board as well as Colombian Aeronautica Civil both conducted independent investigations and issued lengthy reports. Technical press offered its own perception of the disaster. Surviving passengers, relatives of the deceased ones, as well as the families of the cabin crew members filed a suit with United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida against American Airlines, its parental corporation, AMR, and the estates of Nicholas Tafuri and Donnie Williams. On 11th of September, 1997, United States Judge Stanley Marcus entered the opinion of the court...
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