Analysis of the CVR transcript showed that the KLM pilot thought that that he had been cleared for takeoff, while the Tenerife control tower believed that the KLM 747 was stationary at the end of the runway, awaiting takeoff clearance.
As análises da transcrición da gravadora de voces de cabina (CVR) mostraron que o piloto do KLM estaba convencido de que tiña autorización para a engalaxe, mentres que a torre de control de Tenerife pensaba que o 747 neerlandés estaba parado ao final da pista agardando pola autorización.