Juliane Koepcke is a German-Peruvian biologist known for her incredible survival story after a plane crash in the Amazon rainforest.
On December 24, 1971, LANSA Flight 508, a Lockheed L-188 Electra turboprop, was flying from Lima to Pucallpa, Peru. The airline, LANSA (Lineas Aéreas Nacionales S.A.), already had a poor safety record, with two previous deadly crashes in the late 1960s. Despite this, Juliane Koepcke and her mother, Maria, boarded the flight to spend Christmas at their research station in the Amazon.
Shortly after takeoff, the aircraft entered a powerful thunderstorm over the Peruvian rainforest. The pilots had ignored warnings from other aircraft and air traffic control about dangerous weather conditions along their route. They pressed on, flying directly into a dense storm system with severe turbulence and intense lightning activity.
As the aircraft flew through the storm, it encountered strong updrafts, violent turbulence, and powerful lightning strikes. Then, at an altitude of approximately 12,000 feet (3,600 meters), a lightning bolt struck the right wing and ignited a fuel tank. This resulted in a massive explosion, causing the plane to break apart in mid-air. The fuselage disintegrated, scattering passengers, luggage, and wreckage throughout the sky. Juliane, still strapped into her seat, was ejected from the aircraft. She fell approximately 3,000 meters (10,000 feet), spinning through the air before crashing into the rainforest canopy.
Surviving in the Amazon
Using the survival skills she had learned from her parents, both of whom were biologists studying the rainforest, Juliane managed to find a small stream and follow it. She knew that this stream would eventually lead to a larger river and possibly to human settlements.
Surviving on candy she found in the wreckage and water from a nearby stream, she persevered. However, she faced a serious threat from a wound on her arm that had become infested with maggots. Remembering a method she had learned from her father, she poured gasoline on the wound. After 11 days of wandering through the jungle, she was finally rescued by local loggers who took her to safety.
Juliane Koepcke: Life After the Crash
Despite experiencing trauma, Juliane persevered with her studies and became a biologist, following in her parents’ footsteps. She specialized in mammalogy and later worked in both Peru and Germany. Juliane also authored a memoir about her experiences titled “When I Fell from the Sky” (originally “Als ich vom Himmel fiel,” published in 2011).
Her survival story is one of the most remarkable in aviation history, showcasing human resilience and the power of knowledge in extreme situations.
