Cubana de Aviación Flight 1216 was a scheduled international passenger flight that originated from José Martí International Airport in Havana, Cuba, and was bound for La Aurora International Airport in Guatemala City. On the final approach to land on December 21, 1999, the aircraft, a McDonnell Douglas DC-10, encountered difficulties that led to it overshooting the runway upon landing. With 44 passengers and 8 crew members onboard, the situation escalated quickly as the aircraft failed to stop and ran off the end of the runway. The aircraft ultimately crashed into an embankment, resulting in the fatalities of 18 individuals, including both passengers and crew. In the aftermath of the incident, local authorities, together with aviation safety experts, initiated a thorough investigation to ascertain the factors contributing to the accident. Preliminary reports hinted at several potential causes ranging from adverse weather conditions affecting visibility and runway conditions, to pilot error and operational procedure failures. This tragic accident marked one of the more severe incidents involving Cubana de Aviación, a carrier that had faced scrutiny over safety practices in the past, and placed a spotlight on the airline’s operational standards, prompting calls for enhanced safety measures in the aviation sector in Latin America. The tragedy reverberated throughout the aviation community, ultimately influencing international regulations and safety protocols. Furthermore, it raised awareness concerning air travel safety in developing countries, leading to a renewed focus on addressing unsafe practices and conditions that could endanger passengers. Over the years, the grounding of aircraft types like the DC-10 has been part of evolving aviation standards, reflecting lessons learned from such tragic incidents.