Air New Zealand Flight 901 was a scheduled sightseeing flight that operated from Auckland, New Zealand, to McMurdo Station in Antarctica. Designed to showcase the majestic scenery of Antarctica, the DC-10 aircraft departed on a clear morning, packed with passengers eager to witness the frozen wilderness. Around midday, the plane began its descent over the Ross Island region, highlighted by the striking presence of Mount Erebus. This volcano is the southernmost active volcano on Earth and has a unique blue ice lava lake at its summit.

As the flight approached, visibility conditions worsened due to weather changes and the mountainous terrain. On board were 237 passengers and 20 crew members, all enraptured by the views outside. However, the aircraft was directed toward an altitude lower than intended, compounded by an error in communication with air traffic control. At approximately 12:49 PM, the plane collided directly with the snow-covered slopes of Mount Erebus, resulting in a catastrophic explosion that obliterated the aircraft.

In the aftermath, recovery operations faced significant challenges due to the remote location and severe weather conditions. Investigation uncovered that the flight was misled by the Flight Management System and that the controller had unknowingly guided the aircraft into danger. This disaster prompted extensive scrutiny of air traffic control practices and navigational methodologies in aviation, leading to reforms aimed at increasing safety standards in commercial aviation.