Birgenair Flight 301 was a charter flight operated by the Turkish airline Birgenair, using a Boeing 757 aircraft. On February 6, 1996, it took off from Gregorio Luperón International Airport in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, en route to John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City. Soon after departure, the aircraft experienced a complete loss of thrust from both engines, primarily attributed to the presence of water contamination in the fuel system. The flight crew attempted to return to the airport but lost control of the aircraft within minutes, resulting in a crash into the Atlantic Ocean just a short distance from the shore.The crash was noted as the deadliest aviation accident involving a Boeing 757, killing all 189 individuals on board, including passengers and crew. Investigations revealed inadequacies in the airline’s safety protocols and maintenance practices, leading to calls for tighter regulations. The sheer scale of the disaster brought about greater scrutiny of the Dominican aviation safety standards, which were found to be lacking in various areas. Additionally, it created a push for improvement in pilot training programs in several airlines operating in the region.In the aftermath, the Aviation Safety Network and various aviation bodies highlighted the necessity of stringent fuel quality control measures and better training for airline personnel. The incident became a reference point in discussions around international aviation safety standards, prompting changes at both the organizational and regulatory levels aimed at preventing such tragedies in the future.