Brazilian soccer team killed in plane crash...

[Josquius]

I hope the Colombian team does offer them the cup as has been mooted

[grumbler]

Looks like the plane ran out of fuel :

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-38165757

It was only about 10 miles from Medellin airport when it went down 

That's one of those "wow!  How fucked up is THAT!" stories.  How did that pilot get a license without understanding the need for fuel reserves?

[Maladict]

That's one of those "wow!  How fucked up is THAT!" stories.  How did that pilot get a license without understanding the need for fuel reserves?

Might have been the airline pressuring pilots to take the bare minimum of fuel.
Ryanair has been known to do it

[Richard Hakluyt]

They certainly don't take off with full fuel tanks, unless the flight requires it. But I had supposed that there was a substantial safety margin built in 

[CountDeMoney]

Pretty sure it's international law to have enough extra fuel to loiter for a certain amount of time if necessary.

[grumbler]

Pretty sure it's international law to have enough extra fuel to loiter for a certain amount of time if necessary.

And to bingo when fuel reaches a certain state that still has reserves built in.  No way this plane didn't reach bingo state at least 30 minutes before it crashed.  The pilot must have just ignored his state.

[The Brain]

Maybe it was perfect?

[frunk]

The flight's usual refueling stop closed at night and the flight was late leaving.  Instead of refueling elsewhere they pushed straight to the destination, which was just within the range of the airplane.  The only real question is why, whether they were being cheapskates on fuel or the passengers pushed for getting there asap since they were running late.

[grumbler]

The flight's usual refueling stop closed at night and the flight was late leaving.  Instead of refueling elsewhere they pushed straight to the destination, which was just within the range of the airplane.  The only real question is why, whether they were being cheapskates on fuel or the passengers pushed for getting there asap since they were running late.

The pilot is responsible for the safety of his passengers.  If he doesn't have the fuel, plus reserves, he is required to decline to take off.  Others may also be culpable, but unless the pilot was kept in ignorance of the true state of affairs, he is directly responsible for all those deaths, including his own.