Tearful relatives head to Colombia

December 22, 1995
Web posted at: 1 a.m. EST (0600 GMT)

From Correspondent John Zarrella

MIAMI, Florida (CNN) -- Tearful family members of passengers on the ill-fated American Airlines aircraft flew to Colombia Thursday evening as thousands of miles away, rescuers continued to sift through the debris of the jetliner that crashed in the Andes.

American Airlines flight 965 was headed to Colombia, South America, from Miami, and crashed Wednesday night in a remote mountainous region shortly before its scheduled landing in Cali. There were 164 people aboard. The U.S. Embassy task force in Colombia said six people were pulled out alive, but only three survived.

As word of the crash spread, family and friends of those on board gathered in tears at Miami International Airport. American Airlines officials ushered them to a private room.

Angelica London, 14, and her mother were supposed to be on the flight but they missed connections. "I'm sad for the people," she said. "But I'm real lucky, really lucky." (51K AIFF sound or 51K WAV sound)

Her mother wasn't so composed. In a voice choked with emotion, Angelica's mother called her husband in Cali. He had heard about the crash and had thought his wife and daughter were among the victims.

Tearful relatives head to Colombia

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