25 years ago, New York feared further terror. The forgotten tragedy of the Airbus claimed 265 lives

Two months after the September 11 tragedy, New York experienced another aviation disaster when American Airlines Flight 587 crashed shortly after takeoff. Initial fears of terrorism were dispelled as investigations revealed pilot error as the cause. The Airbus A300 crashed in Queens, killing all 260 on board and five on the ground, marking it as the second deadliest aviation accident in U.S. history. The NTSB attributed the crash to excessive rudder use in response to turbulence from a preceding flight. The incident had a significant impact on the Dominican community, as many passengers were returning home for the holidays. The airline and aircraft manufacturer disputed the findings regarding their roles in the accident.