Aerolíneas Argentinas Flight 342

Aerolíneas Argentinas Flight 342
An Aerolíneas Argentinas Boeing 707-387B, similar to the one involved in the incident
Incident
Date20 February 1981
SummaryNear crash into North Tower (WTC 1) due to unauthorized descent
SiteNorth Tower (WTC 1), New York City, United States
Aircraft
Aircraft typeBoeing 707-387B
OperatorAerolíneas Argentinas
Call signArgentine 342
RegistrationUnknown
Flight originMinistro Pistarini International Airport, Buenos Aires, Argentina
1st stopoverJosé Joaquín de Olmedo International Airport, Guayaquil, Ecuador
2nd stopoverMiami International Airport, Miami, United States
DestinationJohn F. Kennedy International Airport, New York City, United States
Occupants58
Passengers49
Crew9
Fatalities0
Survivors58

On February 20, 1981, Aerolíneas Argentinas Flight 342, operated by a Boeing 707-387B, nearly hit the transmitting antenna of the North Tower of the World Trade Center in New York City during its approach to John F. Kennedy International Airport. The air traffic controller's intervention avoided the impact with less than 90 seconds of distance between the aircraft and the North Tower.