Step 1 : Introduction to the question "5. Tenerife ATC (air traffic control) gave the KLM plane the flight path that it was to follow after takeoff. What did the KLM captain mistake the message to mean?"
...1. Flight route is specific 2. Do not takeoff 3. Clear to takeoff 4. Abort takeoff KLM 4805 called the Air Traffic Control tower for permission to taxi. They were told to taxi to the end of the runway and then backtrack to prepare for takeoff. The KLM flight was to be the first plane to take off that day. It would be followed by the PanAm flight. The KLM flight taxied down the runway and then made its necessary 180 degree turn on the narrow runway to be facing the right way for take off. KLM flight 4805 waited for clearance for take off from the ATC (air traffic controller). The KLM plane was at the end of the runway ready to depart while the PanAm plane was told to taxi along the same runway as the KLM plane and turn off the runway at exit 3. PanAm flight 1736 was to take that exit and head to a parallel taxiway. Since the fog was so thick, the PanAm flight missed the exit. Realizing that they had missed exit 3 they headed forward to exit 4. The KLM flight captain mistook the message regarding the flight path, to mean that he was given the clearance to take off. The co-pilot, who had a heavy accent, made a response to the Air Traffic Control but the ATC did not understand whether he said "We are taking off" or "We are at take off". Because of this misunderstanding, the ATC ordered the KLM plane to stand by. At this same time the PanAm plane radioed the ATC with a message that they were not yet finished taxiing to exit 4 which led to the parallel taxiway. As a result, both messages were jumbled together. The KLM plane proceeded to take off in accordance with the captain's understanding of the message.
