The Pan Am's engines were still running for a few minutes after the accident despite first officer Bragg's intention to turn them off. The roof of the cockpit, where the engine switches were located, had been destroyed in the collision, and all control lines were severed, leaving no means for the flight crew to control the aircraft's systems, including engine fire extinguishers. Survivors waited for rescue, but it did not come promptly, as the firefighters were initially unaware that there were two aircraft involved and were concentrating on the KLM wreck hundreds of metres away in the thick fog and smoke. Eventually, most of the survivors on the wing dropped to the ground below.
tHE paN Am's engiNeS Were Still RunniNg for A few minutes aFtER ThE Accident dESPiTe fIrSt oFficer bRagG'S INTEntion tO turn tHEM Off. the roOf of tHE coCKpit, WhErE thE engiNe SwitcHes WeRe loCATed, had Been dEStroyeD iN tHe coLlisIOn, and all contrOL linEs Were seveReD, leavINg no meaNS For thE fLight Crew To cONtrol THe AiRcraft's syStems, inCluding engiNE FiRe exTinGUisHerS. sUrvIvors wAITeD for reSCUe, buT IT Did NOt Come promptly, As thE firefIghterS WeRe iniTialLy UNawaRe THat THeRe were two aIrcRaft iNVolved And weRE ConcentRATing on tHe kLm wrecK HundREds OF metReS awaY in the thIck FOg and sMoke. eveNTUalLY, Most Of the suRvivoRS on ThE WiNG DroppeD To tHE gROund BeLoW.