Malien Diaz Almaguer was among the 113 passengers on a commercial flight that tragically crashed into flames seven years ago. Remarkably, she was the sole survivor.
On May 18, 2018, at the age of 19, Malien and her husband boarded Cubana de Aviación flight 0972. Shortly after departing from José Martí International Airport, the plane crashed into a farm near Havana, just two miles from the airport.
Malien, now 26, had traveled to the capital to complete some administrative tasks with her husband before heading back to Holguín, their hometown located a 10-hour drive from Havana on Cuba’s east side.
The disaster struck just 40 seconds after takeoff.
The flight was initially set to leave at 11am local time, but the aircraft was destined for failure before it even left the ground.
A miscalculation in the weight and balance distribution was a contributing factor. The center of gravity was mistakenly calculated at 17.4 percent, while in reality, it was 28.5 percent, dangerously close to the plane’s rear limit.
Additionally, the horizontal stabilizer trim was improperly set 2.5 units higher than needed, disrupting the flight’s stability.
By 12pm, the plane was cleared for takeoff. Yet almost immediately, it veered right and left erratically before losing speed, leading to a fatal descent and crash that claimed the lives of all on board except for Malien.
“For me, the accident and everything that followed has been the greatest test I’ve ever been through. It marked a before and after in my life,” Malien told UNILAD in an exclusive interview.
After the crash, it was revealed that the aircraft was a 39-year-old Boeing 737-201 Advanced, whereas the average lifespan of similar commercial planes is typically between 11 to 12 years.
Malien not only lost her husband in the crash, which was attributed to human error, but she also suffered a spinal cord injury at the C6 to C7 level, resulting in paralysis. She also lost her left leg below the knee and has endured immense psychological trauma.
She also deals with the heavy burden of survivor’s guilt.
“Looking at it from different perspectives, I can say that it wasn’t easy to realize one day that your health was very delicate, that you had to face multiple treatments and medical procedures daily to survive,” the defiant Cuban, who has lived in Havana since the accident, explained.
“Being very young at only 19 years old, my plans had literally been destroyed, and now it was time to escape from the seriousness.”
“From my point of view, now, after seven years, I don’t see life the same way I did before. I’m grateful for everything that happens in my life, even the things that don’t seem good. I enjoy every detail, no matter how small, and above all, I give thanks and glory to God for everything.”
“I don’t remember anything from that moment,” Malien told UNILAD. “My memories of that day are very limited. I remember some details inside the airport, but I don’t remember anything from when I was on board.”
Though she lacks recollection of the crash, Malien attributes her survival to divine intervention.
“God has had and still has plans for my life. He has been my driving force to overcome each of life’s challenges from the moment I met Him.”