Since the beginning of commercial aviation, thousands of planes have crashed all over the world, with tens of thousands of people injured or killed. When an air disaster strikes, sometimes pilots can’t react in time or do anything to prevent the final catastrophe despite heroic efforts to land their plane safely. Sometimes, though, pilots bring their stricken craft back to earth through a combination of skill and training and maybe some luck, with minimal or no casualties. The following is a selection of pilots and the disasters that they weathered under the most trying of circumstances. (Mistakes in terminology or crew names are my own.) If you know of a crash you feel should be listed, given the parameters outlined above (in other words, no crashes with complete destruction of the plane and total loss of life), please provide it in the comments.
Many of these examples are profiled on such shows as “Air Disaster” (also called “Mayday” and “Air Crash Investigation” and “Mayday: Catástrofes aéreas,” depending on the market) and “Seconds from Disaster.” Personally, I’ve been in one situation that could have been a disaster. My family and I were on a Japan-bound Northwest 747 leaving Minneapolis when one of the right engines flamed out on takeoff. The pilots circled the airport while dumping fuel to make the plane lighter and safe enough to land on three engines. I have a cool snapshot of the fuel dump.
Air crew: Pilot Min-Yuan Ho, Co-pilot Ju Yu Chang, Flight Engineer Kuo-Win Pei, Captain Chien-Yuan Liao, and Flight Engineer Shih Lung Su
During a late-night non-stop flight from Taipei to Los Angeles, the 747 lost power in one engine. The pilots, later found to be well past exhaustion from round-the-clock flying duties, made a series of minor mistakes that caused the jumbo jet to plunge 30,000 feet in 2 1/2 minutes. The g-forces of up to 5g caused serious damage to the aircraft and some injuries. Fortunately, the crew was able to right the heavily damaged plane and restart the faulty engine. They diverted to San Francisco and landed safely. The near-fatal plunge led to changes in the recommended rules governing how long a crew can fly without relief or rest.
Air crew: Captain Robert Pearson and First Officer Maurice Quintal
Another fuel-loss incident, this cross-Canada 767 ran out of fuel because of a series of front office bungling, a new type of fuel gage and other human errors, including failure to convert fuel equations with the metric system. With all power gone, the captain, an experienced glider, used every trick he could think of to bring the aircraft in for an emergency landing at an industrial airport in Gimli, Manitoba. The nose gear collapsed on touchdown, but none of the crew or passengers was seriously injured. The flight was later dubbed the “Gimli Glider.”
Air crew: Captain Eric Moody, Senior First Officer Roger Greaves and Senior Engineer Officer Barry Townley-Freeman
A 747 flight named The City of Edinburgh was en route from London to Auckland when the pilots inadvertently flew her through the ash cloud of Mount Galunggung, an Indonesian volcano. Lacking any moisture, the ash cloud did not show up on their radar screen. The ash shut down all four engines and the oxygen supply stopped working properly. With no engines, Moody put her in a steep, 6,000-foot dive to reach breathable air, then turned toward Jakarta for a possible water landing—all while gliding. Fortunately, after they cleared the ash cloud, the crew got the engines restarted and they landed safely in Jakarta. Fun fact: Captain Moody issued what’s justly called a “masterpiece of understatement” when he told passengers: “Ladies and Gentlemen, this is your Captain speaking. We have a small problem. All four engines have stopped. We are doing our damnedest to get them going again. I trust you are not in too much distress.”
Air crew: Captain Bryce McCormick and First Officer Peter Whitney
This DC-10 suffered explosive decompression when a cargo hatch blew out. Rapid decompression crumpled part of the cabin, damaged hydraulic controls, cut controls to the top engine and caused the rudder to stick at far right. Despite the severe damage to the aircraft, the pilots landed her safely with no loss of life. The cause of the accident was a faulty locking mechanism on the cargo bay door.
Air crew: Captain Eric Gennotte, First Officer Steve Michielsen and Flight Engineer Mario Rofail
“Fedayeen” scum fired a missile at this Airbus A300 cargo plane doing a rapid-climb takeoff from Baghdad airport. The missile hit the left wing, destroyed an engine and irreparably damaged all hydraulic systems. Without hydraulics, they could use only differential throttles to control the A300, whereby pilots gain a measure of lateral control through running one engine faster than the other, and a smidgen of horizontal control by increasing/decreasing speed. After experimenting for 10 minutes, the three-person crew turned the damaged craft around for a landing. They veered off the runway into soft sand, using only reverse thrust to stop the craft. Fascinating note: Capt. Gennotte got the idea to use differential throttles after attending a seminar given by Capt. Al Haynes, the pilot of United Airlines Flight 232 (see #2 below), who used the techniques when his aircraft lost all hydraulics.
Air crew: Captain David Cronin, First Officer Gregory Slader and Flight Engineer Randal Thomas
A cargo door failed on this 747-122 bound for New Zealand, causing explosive decompression. Nine passengers were killed and several injured. The crew lost some flight controls and fires started in engines 3 and 4. They took the 747 down to breathable air—the accident also destroyed the oxygen equipment —and turned the plane back to Honolulu. With only partial flaps, they landed successfully.
Air crew: Captain Robert Schornstheimer and First Officer Madeline “Mimi” Tompkins
This is probably one of the most well-known air disasters. This 737, bound for Honolulu, suffered serious structural damage when the top portion of the passenger cabin literally ripped off. Metal fatigue and corrosion from continual operation near salt water caused hairline fractures that eventually led to catastrophic structural failure. One crewmember was killed and about 65 people were injured. The pilots brought the heavily damaged craft down safely, despite not knowing whether the front landing gear had deployed correctly. It is absolutely amazing that the 737 stayed in the air.
Air crew: Captain Eduardo “Ed” Reyes, First Officer Jaime Herrera and Systems Engineer Dexter Comendador
An al Qaeda member planted a bomb aboard a Japan-bound Philippine Airlines 747. The explosion killed the passenger sitting directly over the bomb and injured several others. The blast also severed aileron controls, making steering all but impossible, with or without autopilot. The skillful crew managed to turn the aircraft through changing the trust to each engine and land the stricken craft safely on Okinawa. Historical note: After the failure of this plot, AQ scum turned to hijacking commercial jets to fly them into buildings — 9/11, of course — then later attempted another version of the bomb plot with several liquid compounds on several flights leaving England. That plot fortunately was uncovered before it could be executed.
Air crew: Captain Alfred C. Haynes, First Officer William Records and Second Officer Dudley Dvorak, flight engineer and DC-10 flight instructor Dennis Fitch (who was a passenger)
This tragic and heroic story is one of the most famous air crashes of all time, partly because it was caught on film. The fan blade in the DC-10’s tail engine disintegrated and completely shredded all hydraulic controls, including the redundant hydraulics. The flight crew maintained the barest amount of control using differential throttles, which flight instructor Fitch suggested they use. Together, they brought the DC-10 in for a crash landing at the Sioux City airport. With almost no control, their rate of descent and airspeed were far too high, but they made it down. The craft hit hard; the left wing smacked the ground, spilling fuel, which immediate ignited. Of the 296 on board, 111 died. As horrific as that sounds, it would have been a lot worse if not for the tremendous abilities of Haynes and his crew, and the large numbers of rescue personnel and National Guardsmen who just happened to be on scene. The clip is actual footage of the crash. Note that the plane didn’t actually tumble; that’s the wing you see flipping over, not the fuselage. Second note: Like many crashes, this one changed air safety regulations. Previously, infants were not required to have their own seats; passengers were told to place “lap children” on the floor in front of them in the event of a crash landing. One child was killed because of this, and now all passengers, regardless of age, are required to have a seat.
Air crew: Captain Chelsey “Sully” Sullenberger and First Officer Jeffrey B. Skiles
I placed this one first not because it’s the most recent, but because it was one of the most amazing crash landings ever made in a commercial airliner. This Airbus 320 struck a flock of geese minutes after leaving La Guardia, knocking out both engines. Capt. Sullenberger searched for a safe landing spot, but was unable to return to La Guardia or reach an airfield in New Jersey. Instead, he aimed for the Hudson River. He brought her down successfully, touching down with so much skill the Airbus held together and no one was seriously injured. A National Transportation Safety Board spokesperson called it “the most successful ditching in aviation history.” The Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators gave the rare Masters Medal award to “Sully” and his crew. You can find actual video of the crash landing on YouTube and elsewhere (mainly taken from security cameras), but the above-linked CGI rendering is highly useful because it shows what happened synched with the actual conversations between Capt. Sully and traffic control.
Notable Extras: Air Transat Flight 236, Azores Islands, Aug. 24, 2001
A lot of these show the advantage of training and having highly skilled pilots. One thing I think about is that, for most of the flights, the pilots don’t do anything apart from watching the instruments.
OMG … terrifying, makes me scared of planes (though i love them).
Also, first for the first time
I literally just bought my flight ticket to Rome, and now I read this list…great.
Great list. Very topical
The pilot from British Airways Flight 9- fantastic just for his ability to produce something quotable all while attempting to save an aircraft. Also, the Hudson River flight still amazes me, even after I’ve watched it so many times. My aunt saw it land- well she saw where it was clearly going, but her view was blocked of the actual touchdown. She looked out her window, and apparently said “What the fu**” upon seeing it- in the middle of a board meeting. She was forgiven.
airplanes are still safer to travel in than automobiles … statistacly speaking
There was an incident I remember reading where a four engine aircraft lost an engine – it literally fell off the plane. As the pilot was trying to keep control; most of the control cabling had been severed, the co-pilot looked out the window and saw an engine had fallen off the other wing as well. He told the pilot who replied, “This isn’t time for joking!” They were in French airspace and the pilots had trouble persuading ATC to speak English and to believe that they’d lost two engines and all control.
Even airplanes are safer than other mode of transportation, it still makes me nervous every flight..
AQ scum, “Fedayeen” scum. Agreed.
Iran Air Flight 655 (IR655)?
noooooooooooooooooooooooo !!!!!!!!!!
How did you miss this flight?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Airways_Flight_5390
Windshield breakdown, Pilot sucked out & is caught at his ankles by the cabin crew. The inexperienced co-pilot then lands the plane.
Incredibly, the pilot returned to service within 6 months, as i recall ..
wow! i’m from the philippines but i never know about number 3!
Great going! The timing of the list could not be more off for me. I have to take a flight after 6 hours. All I’ll be thinking of is these crashes! Thanks!
@Tomo (13): As you think of crashes, keep in mind that the ratio of car crashes to pane crashes still favors you on your flight.
Thank heavens for the clearness of thinking to be recognized to these crews upon their job, and subsequent status as heroes.
A huge thank you to these crews for their clear thinking and a huge thank you for recognition brought to them for this list. Good work STLMo!!
whoops, that should read “plane”.
I have to say that in all of my many 30 hour flights back and forth from NZ to the UK and vice versa, I have never gotten used to flying and really hate it.
@joliver: I’ve seen that episode a couple of times already!
interesting list… thanks!
i disagree with number 1. surely landing on concrete and surviving is more amazing then landing on water and survivng
@jfrater (16):
But can’t you say the take-offs are a rush….
The quote for #8 reminds me of accounts that I’ve read of British fighter pilots over North Africa & mainland Europe during WWII. American pilots reported regularly hearing RAF pilots frequently sounded almost bored in dogfights. These men hardly ever lost their cool. Of course, these are the men who had won the Battle of Britain, so North Africa & mainland Europe must have seemed like a walk in the park.
how nice i am going on a 7 and a half hour flight next month
Cheaper, safer and more Kraftwerk… It’s train!
My neighbor will be boarding a plane in 2 1/2 days.
But as ListVerse is not a ***** site….Oh well…. what he doesn’t know…….
Great list, though I knew about them all already as I’m a big fan of the TV show Air Crash Investigation.
“Captain Chelsey “Sully” Sullenberger” first name is actually spelled “Chesley”. Very interesting list.
@NoE (6) and deeeziner (14) and anyone else who alleges that air transport is the safest mode of transport: safety is relative to the number of journeys taken. Most of us would travel in a car just about every day, but only make a handful of flights each year. So the chance of being in a car accident is higher than being in a flight accident. However, if you fly regularly, your chances of being in an accident greatly increase, especially if you journey starts or finishes in some of the countries whose air traffic regulations are not as strict as you might find in more developed countries. I’m thinking the African and Asian cotenants here. I fly a lot on these continents and have personally been involved in 6 potentially fatal incidents. I reckon I’ve got three lives left…
i hereby nominate the passengers and crew of United 93 for striking the first blow against the throat cutters on 9/11
There was a movie made about #2 called “A Thousand Heroes” (also known as The Rescue of Flight 232). I wouldn’t exactly recommend watching before boarding a plane, but it’s a great little movie.
@18, depending on speed velocity and altitude, landing on water can be just like landing on concrete.
@Tom (27):
Thank you for enlightenment upon the subject of air travel and mortality rate.. I will freely admit that my knowledge upon the subject comes from ratios quoted upon public broadcast. The details and statistics are not a subject to which I presume authority.
My goal upon post was to help Tomo gain some confidence upon their upcoming flight, and perhaps make their flight less traumatic.
I’m sure your post will help enlighten others.
Landing a plane on water is easy??! I might be wrong but i think i read about water being as hard as concrete if impacted at a given velocity. Sully got some skill…
50 bucks sais this is gonna rock the “most popular lists” soon
I have heard of all of these crashes and agree that it’s amazing that they weren’t worse then what they were. Saw number 2 when it happened. Very scary stuff.
@jfrater (16): Same here. Hate flying…if I could walk there, I would. Just haven’t figured how to do that over water.
It’s been a strange year for planes. First that crash in the Hudson, that US plane causing uproar in NY, the French jet that’s just gone missing, not to mention about a dozen other crashes.
PS. When I try to register it won’t let me. WTF? Just a blank screen.
How the hell do you miss United 93 man?
I just love how calm Sullenburgers voice is during the whole incident. He made landing a plane in the Hudson river sound like someone ordering pizza.
I feel a little weird about this coming on the heels of such an airline tragedy with the AirFrance flight…
It was informative though.
During the video for number one, its amazing how calm the pilot seems. Even with all the training I think I would still be freaking out.
Former world traveler here….
Airplanes are scarier than yesterday’s movie list.
Beautiful day here in vermont.
Mooooo!
#35 Tyler – PLEASE read the introduction and you will answer your own question.
From #1- “The near-fatal plunge led to changes in the recommended rules governing how long a crew can fly without relief or rest.”
I cannot believe it took something like this to get those rules. It’s plain ol’ common sense and should have been in effect all along!
omg., i didn’t expect the Philippine Airlines will be here.. one of my friends was on board!!
romerozombie (34) that’s whats happening too when i clicked on register,, i want to register!!!!!!!!
frushka (39) i agree… this list is scarier than the last list.. ( disturbing movies) .
It would be so interesting to see how it feels to be on that flight in no. 4, dangling above groud in mid air with nothing holding you down but your seat. Awesome list!
STLMo, i think you left out very valuable information on #2 the pilot (Hayes) did less than 1/2 the flying after hydraulics had been lost, it was mostly Fitch who flew the plane. He was deadheading on the plane, and noticed how the plane was in phugoid motion, and offered to help. He had looked into a Japanese disaster where the hydraulics were lost and got the idea, so he had a little practice on the flight sim’s doing this. However, he was never trained as a pilot, just ran the simulators…
gives hope to all us flight sim players…
You forgot Air Transat Flight 236, the longest non-powered glide performed by a commercial airliner.From Wikipedia:
“..Air Transat Flight 236 was an Air Transat route between Toronto, Canada and Lisbon, Portugal flown by Captain Robert Piché and First Officer Dirk DeJager. On August 24, 2001, the flight ran out of fuel over the Atlantic Ocean with 306 people (293 passengers and 13 crew) aboard. The flight crew successfully landed the plane in the Azores with no loss of life.”
@timmar68 (41):
when you’re flying, your not doing that much up there… Think of being a trucker, on cruise, with no turns (autopilot takes care of turning) for hours on end. It’s very common for the pilots to sleep while the plane’s flying cause it gets really boring. Its now also possible for a plane to take off, fly, and land via autopilot, therefore the pilot is becoming outdated, only reason he’s there is people feel safer and incase something goes wrong…
I’ll bet 100,000,000,000,000 that we’ll have planes w/o pilots before we have cars without drivers… think how much an airline would charge ‘platinum first class’ if the passengers got a view out the front of the plane
#47 Artme – actually, I didn’t forget it. It was #11 on the original list but JF made it a notable extra instead. (See right under the vid for #1.)
#46 Andy – thanks for adding that.
Andy – in some places, we have trains without engineers. One of the RR crossings near my house has signs posted that essentially tell people not to freak out if they see a train rumbling by with no engineer.
Artem, not Artme (sorry about that!)
Nice list!!! I’ve never been on a plane
and never will after reading this list!!
lol
Oh, and I’m new to the site. Nice to meet
everyone!!!
Good list. As a 747 pilot, I am familiar with all these flights. One thing springs to mind. Number ten, the first on the list, differs from all the others. Nine through one illustrate excellent airmanship, that is skill and knowledge in operating the aircraft, saved the day. Number ten, the Air China incident, illustrates poor airmanship turning a minor incident into a near catastrophe. A single engine failure in a 4 engine aircraft is normally a minor event.
#2. Children under 2 years are not required to have their own seat for domestic or international flights.
Way awesome list. Like Jamie, I have flown often and hated it each and every time. My flights weren’t near as long – not so sure whether that is better or worse. It just means that there is less time between the scary take-off and the even scarier landing.
The worst flight I ever had was a Halifax to Toronto flight with a stop-over in Dorval (Montreal) at Christmas. We experienced wind shear and icing. The flight while approaching the airport (not on final decent, thank god) hit a patch of air that caused the plane to go into a near vertical dive. The buzzers and alarms went off and the flight attendant actually had to use the back of the seats to climb to her spot in front of the tail cabin. The pilot managed to regain control, obviously, but that didn’t end the horror of that particular flight. The icing on the plane when we finally did land caused the plane to shake and vibrate so bad I thought for sure it was going to fall apart. The pilot and crew received a great round of applause when we finally came to a stop. BTW I had to get right on another plane for the rest of my trip. Scary *****.
aleoper – I almost didn’t include #10 for that very reason, but decided to because they turned things around after the initial mistakes. Perhaps I could have left it off and put Air Transat Flight 236 in its place.
My dad is a flight instructor, and he has had so many things so wrong, but survived them all because he keeps his cool. He’s had an older plane catch on fire while in the air, stalled engines, etc. One time, he was flying and his plane’s landing gear wouldn’t come down. He had to land the plane on it’s belly. As soon as he got it stopped, we see the door pop open, and he jumps out and rolls like a ninja across the runway… He was fine and went right back to flying.
Hey! The video for no.1 was just brilliant! I’m not one to gawp at tragedy, but that was heroic.
I love flying, it’s the landing that scares me. Oh, and I get painful ears from the pressure; so bad that I’m in agony. Sucky sweets don’t help.
Very well researched and thought provoking list STLMO!
I find that many people are afraid of flying in small aircraft, but I prefer them to flying commercial. I think (as do a lot of pilots) that they are actually safer and less hassle. The pilot has more control of the craft, and you have more landing options should an emergency arise. And they are way more fun
I think the Gimli Glider should’ve been first. It’s pretty hard to glide a jumbo-jet.
Good list and I knew Gimli Glider was going to be on it!