Flights Gone Wrong

Real stories. Deeper understanding.

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Every event we cover, by year.

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2 events

  1. Photo: Pete Macklin / CC BY-SA 2.0

    Air France Flight 447

    The Rio to Paris flight lost over the Atlantic

    Open event

    On 1 June 2009 Air France Flight 447, an Airbus A330 flying overnight from Rio de Janeiro to Paris, stalled at 38,000 feet over the Atlantic after ice crystals blocked its airspeed probes and the autopilot disconnected. It struck the ocean four and a half minutes later, and all 228 people on board were killed.

    2 video perspectives

  2. Photo: simon butler / CC BY 2.0

    Emery Worldwide Flight 17

    A disconnected elevator tab at Sacramento

    Open event

    Emery Worldwide Flight 17, a McDonnell Douglas DC-8 cargo jet, pitched up uncontrollably as it took off from Sacramento Mather Airport on 16 February 2000 because a bolt had come out of the right elevator control tab. The crew fought for about two minutes to fly back to the airport but crashed into an automobile salvage yard in Rancho Cordova, and all three crew members died.

    1 video perspective