The History of Flight 571 of the Uruguayan Air Force that crashed in the Andes in 1972 tells stories of crucial decisions and changed fates. Among them, that of Alfredo Cibils, whose last-minute change of plans prevented him from becoming one of the passengers on this tragic expedition. His insistence that his friend Numa Turcatti join the trip to Chile before recanting hours before departure reveals a conspiracy of friendship and happiness linked to one of the most moving episodes in Latin American aviation.
The narrative of Numa Turcatti, a Uruguayan citizen who is not part of the rugby team and who flew to Chile in search of new adventures before studying law, offers a compelling story that highlights human resistance and the will to survive in the face of adversity. extreme. This story offers valuable lessons about ethics, leadership, and decision-making in extreme situations.
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Who is Alfredo Cibils and how did he convince Numa to travel?
Alfredo Cibils, then a young Uruguayan of 24, shared a close friendship with Numa Turcatti, bound together by youthful adventures and sporting passions. The idea of reliving a previous comradeship trip to Santiago de Chile represented an unmissable opportunity for Cibils, who did not hesitate to persuade Turcatti to accompany him.
Alfredo “Pancho” Delgado, Alfredo Cibils and Numa Turcatti at a dinner in 1972. Photo: BBC
“I don’t have any ‘handle’ (money),” Numa told Alfredo.
“Ask your father, your mother,” replied Alfredo, who knew about the good economic situation of the Turcatti family. The young Uruguayan was also shy, which is why parties and meetings with girls did not encourage him.
With the prospect of attending an Old Christians rugby match, Cibils managed to persuade Turcatti to take part in the adventure. “He was a guy with a big heart and enormous physical strength,” Alfredo recalled about Numa in an interview with BBC Mundo.
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Why didn't Cibils travel to Chile with the team?
Cibils' decision not to board the flight to Santiago was due to an academic dilemma: A university exam was postponed at the last minute. After trying to balance his student responsibilities with his love of travel, he realized what he was risking.
The survivors of the Andes tragedy. Photo: BBC recording
The night before the flight, Cibils backed down and prioritized his academic future over escape. This moment of introspection and final decision excluded him from impending tragedy and marked his life with a “what if.”
Passenger list for Flight 571 in 1972. Photo: Clarín
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Who was Numa Turcatti?
The moving story of Numa, a 25-year-old law student's struggle for survival in the mountains after the plane crash, reached a tragic climax after 61 days when he lost his life weighing just 25 kilos.
This heartbreaking moment, witnessed by his friend “Pancho” Delgado praying a rosary to him on his deathbed, marked a crucial turning point in the odyssey of the Andean survivors. Numa's death on December 11, 1972 was the catalyst for Roberto Canessa to undertake the final expedition, a courageous decision that ultimately led to the rescue of the 16 survivors.