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: Stuart Jessup / CC BY-SA 2.0

    American Airlines Flight 191

    The DC-10 that lost an engine on takeoff at O'Hare

    Open event

    On 25 May 1979 the left engine and pylon of American Airlines Flight 191, a DC-10 bound for Los Angeles, tore away from the wing as it lifted off from Chicago O'Hare, damage that maintenance work had caused weeks earlier. The aircraft rolled over and crashed just beyond the airport 31 seconds later, killing all 271 people on board and two people on the ground.

    2 video perspectives

  2. Photo: Aero Icarus from Zürich, Switzerland / CC BY-SA 2.0

    Delta Air Lines Flight 1080

    A jammed elevator, flown on thrust

    Open event

    On 12 April 1977 a Delta Air Lines Lockheed L-1011 TriStar pitched up uncontrollably after take-off from San Diego, because its left elevator had jammed fully up. Captain Jack McMahan controlled it with engine thrust and landed safely at Los Angeles, and all 52 people on board were unhurt.

    1 video perspective