Facts over perception: World #QuranConvention 2025 highlights timeless lessons from aviation’s deadliest crash
The tragedy taught society never to rely on assumptions without verification, particularly when lives or critical decisions were at stake.
KUALA LUMPUR – The 1977 Tenerife airport disaster serves as a stark reminder of the importance of fact-based decision-making, clear communication and principled leadership in moments of crisis.
Former Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB) chief executive officer Raja Azmi Raja Nazuddin said the collision between the KLM Flight 4805 and Pan Am Flight 1736 remained the deadliest aviation accident in history, claiming 583 lives.
He stressed that the tragedy taught society never to rely on assumptions without verification, particularly when lives or critical decisions were at stake.
“The message from Surah Al-Hujurat, Verse 6 is very relevant. It reminds us to verify information before acting, so we do not end up regretting the consequences.
“The same applies in business. An organisation’s value is shaped not only by facts and data, but also by perception and that perception must be managed with integrity,” he said.
Azmi shared the insights during the Finance and The Quran session at the World #QuranConvention 2025, held at the Perdana Hall of the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry, here, on Saturday.
The Tenerife tragedy, which occurred on March 27, 1977, involved two Boeing 747 aircraft, one belonging to KLM and the other to Pan Am colliding on the runway of Los Rodeos Airport in the Canary Islands, resulting in 583 fatalities.
The incident, he said highlighted how planning, discipline and systematic problem-solving were crucial in managing risks and overcoming challenges of any kind.
He said the Tenerife case happened 48 years ago, yet its lessons remained highly relevant today.
Many decisions were still made based on emotions, assumptions or perceptions rather than facts, he said.
He added that in organisations, families and businesses, a small mistake can quickly escalate when it combines with other contributing factors and for this reason, verification, patience and clear communication are essential.
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