Summary Smoking in-flight led to a fire, killing 7 crew and 116 passengers, while survivors suffered smoke inhalation. The tragic incident sparked significant industry changes, including smoking bans and improved cabin safety equipment. The outcome of the accident influenced stricter safety regulations for all airlines, enhancing passenger and crew safety.
It was July 11, 1973. Varig flight 820 had completed the first leg of the trip from São Paulo to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. From there they would fly onwards to Orly Airport, Paris, France and finally onto London, England.
The Boeing 707 had 117 passengers and 17 crew members onboard. This was a flight that would change cabin safety regulations so much so, that such an event could not happen ever again. The flight crew The captain was Gilberto Araujo da Silva; assisting him were first officer Antonio Fuzimoto; relief pilots Alvio Basso and Ronald Utermoehl; engineers Carlos Diefenthaler Neto and Claunor Bello; and navigators Zilmar Gomes da Cunha and Salvador Ramos Heleno.
The relief crew would allow for a shift change during the flight. The cabin crew There were nine cabin crew : João Egidio Galetti (Chief Purser); stewards Edemar Goncalves Mascarenas, Carmelino Pires de Oliveira Jr., Sergio Carvalho Balbino, Luiz Edmundo Coelho Brandão, and Alain Henri Tersis; and stewardesses Andrea Piha, Elvira Strauss, and Hanelore Danzberg (chief stewardess).
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