Part 4/9:

As the aircraft approached Schiphol, it descended at a much steeper angle than usual—what's termed a "slam dunk approach." This sudden descent rate caused the autopilot to believe that the aircraft was just seconds away from landing, setting into motion a chain of events that would lead to disaster.

Misjudgements and Errors in the Cockpit

At 10:25 AM, just one minute before crash, the aircraft began to lose speed, dropping to a dangerously low airflow that activated a stick shaker—a warning system indicating an imminent stall. The first officer reacted quickly, advancing the thrust levers, but when the captain assumed control, the autopilot continued to throttle back, leading to a catastrophic stall seconds later.