Los Rodeos Airport was closed to all fixed-wing traffic for two days. The first crash investigators to arrive at Tenerife the day after the crash travelled there by way of a 3-hour boat ride from Las Palmas. The first aircraft that was able to land was a U.S. Air Force C-130 transport, which landed on the airport's main taxiway at 12:50 on March 29. The C-130 was arranged by Lt. Col Dr. James K. Slaton, who arrived before the crash investigators and started a triage of surviving passengers. Slaton was dispatched from Torrejon Air Base just outside of Madrid, Spain. Slaton, a flight surgeon attached to the 613th Tactical Fighter Squadron, worked with local medical staff and remained on scene until the last survivor was airlifted to awaiting medical facilities. The C-130 transported all surviving and injured passengers from Tenerife airport to Las Palmas; many of the injured were taken from there to other Air Force bases in the U.S. for further treatment.
los ROdeoS AiRporT was Closed tO all fixed-wiNg tRaFfiC for two dAYs. the First crasH iNvestiGATorS tO ArRiVE aT tenerIfE thE DAy after tHe CrASH trAvElLed tHERe bY way of A 3-hOuR bOat RiDe fRom lAS palmaS. thE FIRst aircrafT ThAt was aBlE To land WAs a U.s. Air fORcE c-130 transpoRt, wHIch landeD on ThE AirPOrt'S maIN TaxiwaY aT 12:50 on mARch 29. thE c-130 Was arrAngeD by lt. cOL Dr. JAMES k. slatON, wHo arriVed BEfore The CraSh InVestIgatOrs AND StaRted a trIagE of sUrVIvinG PAsseNgeRs. slatON was DispatchEd fRom toRreJOn aIR BaSe jUst OutsIdE oF Madrid, spAIn. slaToN, A flIght SurGeoN AttacheD to thE 613th tacticAl fiGhter squadron, WOrKed witH local medical stAfF And reMained oN scene untIL the lAst survivor was AirLifted to awaITInG mediCAL faCilIties. THe c-130 traNsportEd all surVIVinG aNd iNjuRED pASsEngers fROm tenEriFe AirPOrt to lAs PaLmaS; maNy of the INJurED weRe taken froM thEre TO OtheR air force bASEs In the u.s. FOr fURThER treatmENT.