The worst aviation accident in history happened today in 1977 when two Boeing 747s collided on a runway on the island of Tenerife, Canary Islands.

The disaster killed 583 people.

The accident involved Pan Am Flight 1736, under the command of Captain Victor Grubbs, and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines Flight 4805, named Rijn (Rhine River), under the command of Captain Jacob Veldhuyzen van Zanten.

KLM 4805, taking off on the only runway of the airport, crashed into the Pan Am aircraft which was taxiing on the same runway.