Sometimes enough warning to dump fuel. Almost all mechanical failure or human error. Rest are bombings, weather, misc. Same approach to train wrecks, bus wrecks, ferry boats, fires, earthquakes, storms, etc. Always keep key news values in mind.
News is read by people.
Story should focus on what happened to people. How get information on survivors, etc. People sleeping on tennis court during LA quake. Resist temptation to write flowery, overblown junk. Stick to the facts.