13 Notable Airplane Crashes That Redefined Aviation Forever

Air travel is incredibly safe today, but it wasn’t always this way. It took many years and some tragic events to make flying the reliable mode of transport it is now. Every airplane crash has taught us something important, leading to better and safer ways to fly. These 13 notable crashes have led to major changes that ensure the safety of passengers and crew members.

Grand Canyon — TWA Flight 2 and United Airlines Flight 718

In 1956, two planes collided above the Grand Canyon, killing all 128 people on board. This horrible event made everyone realize that our system for managing the flight paths of airplanes needed significant improvements. So, a huge amount of money was spent to upgrade how we control and track flights, leading to the creation of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). This organization now makes sure that flying is as safe as possible.

Another important change came after a tragic accident in 1986, where a small plane hit a bigger one, causing 86 deaths. To prevent such accidents, small planes now need special equipment to let air traffic controllers know where they are. Big planes also got new tech to avoid crashes, and these changes have worked really well.

Portland — United Airlines Flight 173

In 1978, a plane ran out of fuel and crashed because the crew spent too much time trying to fix a landing gear issue, leading to 10 deaths. This event showed the importance of teamwork and clear communication among the crew. United Airlines introduced a new training that focused on these skills. This training has made flying safer because crew members now work better together, especially during emergencies.

A good example of this was in 1989, when a crew used what they learned to land a damaged plane, saving many lives. This teamwork approach is now used everywhere in the aviation industry.

Cincinnati — Air Canada Flight 797

In 1983, a fire in a plane’s bathroom caused a disaster that took 23 lives. After this, the FAA made it a rule for planes to have smoke detectors and fire extinguishers in bathrooms. This wasn’t the end, though. Planes also had to have better fireproof seats, lights on the floor to guide you to exits, and materials inside the cabin that don’t catch fire easily. These changes made sure that a tragedy like this is much less likely to happen again.

Dallas/Fort Worth — Delta Air Lines Flight 191

A plane crashed in 1985 after running into a very sudden and strong wind called a microburst, killing 134 people. This freak weather event led to a big study on how pilots could detect dangerous winds before it’s too late. Now, planes have special radar to help pilots stay clear of these dangerous winds, making flying much safer during storms.

Sioux City — United Airlines Flight 232

In 1989, an emergency happened when an airplane lost all its hydraulic systems, making it almost impossible to control. The pilots managed to land, but the crash led to 112 deaths. The investigation showed that the crash was partly caused by a tiny crack in an engine part. Since then, there have been new rules to check engines more carefully and to have backup systems in place. These changes have made it unlikely for such a crash to happen again.

Maui — Aloha Airlines Flight 243

In 1988, the roof of a plane flying from one Hawaiian island to another ripped off, leading to one death. The plane was old and had been flown many times, which caused parts of it to wear out. After this, there were stricter rules about checking older planes for wear and tear. This has helped make sure that all planes are safe, no matter how much they have flown.

Pittsburgh — US Airways Flight 427

A crash in 1994, killing all 132 people on board, was caused by a problem with the plane’s rudder. Initially, there was a lot of back-and-forth about what went wrong. Eventually, it was discovered that a part of the rudder system could get stuck. The design was fixed on many planes, making sure this type of crash wouldn’t happen again.

Miami — ValuJet Flight 592

In 1996, a plane crashed in the Everglades, killing 110 people. The cause was a fire that started with improperly stored chemicals. This led to stricter rules about what can be brought on planes and how things need to be stored. Also, planes now must have smoke detectors and fire extinguishers in the cargo area, which helps prevent fires from getting out of control.

Long Island — TWA Flight 800

This plane exploded in mid-air in 1996, killing 230 people. It was found that a spark in the fuel tank caused the explosion. Since then, there have been new rules to prevent sparks in planes’ fuel tanks. This has made flying much safer by reducing the risk of a similar explosion.

Nova Scotia — Swissair Flight 111

On September 2, 1998, Swissair Flight 111, a McDonnell Douglas MD-11, crashed into the Atlantic Ocean off Nova Scotia after a fire broke out in the cockpit. Investigators found that the fire was caused by faulty installation in the plane’s in-flight entertainment network, leading to arcing in the vulnerable Kapton wires. Flammable Mylar fuselage insulation further exacerbated the fire’s rapid spread. Following this, the FAA mandated the replacement of the Mylar insulation with fire-resistant materials in about 700 McDonnell Douglas jets to prevent such disasters.

Rio to Paris — Air France 447

Air France Flight 447 tragically met its end in the Atlantic Ocean on June 1, 2009, after entering an aerodynamic stall from which recovery wasn’t achieved. The Airbus A330-200 faced severe thunderstorm activity, and the pitot tubes used for measuring speed froze and malfunctioned. This fatal chain of events led to the stall. Post-crash, there was an increased emphasis on pilot training to handle manual flight operations effectively, regardless of computer outputs, to enhance pilot response to similar adverse conditions in the future.

Exact Location Unknown — Malaysia Airlines 370

The disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 on March 8, 2014, remains one of the most profound mysteries in aviation history. The Boeing 777 deviated from its planned route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing, and its transponders were switched off, making it difficult to track. Following this incident, the International Civil Aviation Organization mandated the installation of real-time tracking systems in aircraft, especially those flying over oceans, to prevent such mysteries in the future. Moreover, developments in technology could see future black boxes designed to eject and float, aiding quicker recovery and investigation.

Indonesia and Ethiopia — Lion Air 610 and Ethiopian Airlines 302

The crashes of Lion Air Flight 610 on October 29, 2018, and Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 on March 10, 2019, both involving Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft, were attributed to malfunctions in the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS). This system erroneously forced the aircrafts’ noses down despite pilot efforts to correct the flight path. The tragedies resulted in a worldwide grounding of all 737 MAX 8 jets. Extensive investigations led to modifications in the aircraft’s flight control systems, wiring corrections, and enhanced pilot training. The FAA lifted the flying ban in November 2020 after these crucial updates, though further issues led to additional groundings, highlighting ongoing challenges in aviation safety and regulation.