Planes have been a major form of transportation for decades, and while they have made travel easier and more efficient, they have also been the cause of some of the worst disasters in history. Throughout the years, there have been countless plane crashes, some of which have resulted in a devastating loss of life. In this article, we will be discussing the top ten worst plane crashes of all time. These crashes have resulted in the highest number of fatalities and have left a lasting impact on the aviation industry.
Tenerife Airport Disaster – 1977
The Tenerife Airport Disaster occurred on March 27, 1977, and remains the deadliest aviation accident in history. The crash involved two Boeing 747s, one operated by KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and the other by Pan Am. The KLM plane, which was taking off without clearance, collided with the Pan Am plane, which was waiting on the runway. The crash resulted in the deaths of 583 people, with only 61 survivors. The disaster was caused by a series of miscommunications between the air traffic controller and the KLM pilot, who had misunderstood the instructions given to him.
Charkhi Dadri Mid-Air Collision – 1996
The Charkhi Dadri Mid-Air Collision occurred on November 12, 1996, and resulted in the deaths of 349 people. The crash involved two planes, one operated by Saudi Arabian Airlines and the other by Kazakhstan Airlines. The Saudi Arabian plane, which was flying at a lower altitude, collided with the Kazakhstan Airlines plane, which was flying at a higher altitude. The crash was caused by a failure of the air traffic controller to properly communicate with the two planes and a lack of proper equipment to detect the collision.
Japan Airlines Flight 123 – 1985
The Japan Airlines Flight 123 crash occurred on August 12, 1985, and resulted in the deaths of 520 people. The crash involved a Boeing 747, which was on a domestic flight from Tokyo to Osaka. The plane suffered a mechanical failure in the rear pressure bulkhead, causing a loss of control and a subsequent crash. The disaster was caused by a maintenance error, in which a repair was not properly completed, leading to the mechanical failure.
American Airlines Flight 191 – 1979
The American Airlines Flight 191 crash occurred on May 25, 1979, and resulted in the deaths of 271 people. The crash involved a McDonnell Douglas DC-10, which was on a domestic flight from Chicago to Los Angeles. The plane suffered an engine failure and a subsequent crash, caused by a maintenance error in which the engine was not properly secured to the wing.
Turkish Airlines Flight 981 – 1974
The Turkish Airlines Flight 981 crash occurred on March 3, 1974, and resulted in the deaths of 346 people. The crash involved a McDonnell Douglas DC-10, which was on a domestic flight from Paris to London. The plane suffered a mechanical failure in the cargo hold, causing a loss of control and a subsequent crash. The disaster was caused by a design flaw in the cargo hold, which resulted in the failure.
Air India Flight 182 – 1985
The Air India Flight 182 crash occurred on June 23, 1985, and resulted in the deaths of 329 people. The crash involved a Boeing 747, which was on a flight from Montreal to London. The plane was brought down by a bomb planted by Sikh extremists, who were seeking revenge for the Indian government’s handling of the Golden Temple incident.
United Airlines Flight 232 – 1989
The United Airlines Flight 232 crash occurred on July 19, 1989, and resulted in the deaths of 111 people. The crash involved a McDonnell Douglas DC-10, which was on a flight from Denver to Chicago. The plane suffered a mechanical failure in the tail-mounted engine, causing a loss of control and a subsequent crash. The crew was able to make an emergency landing in Sioux City, Iowa, but the damage caused by the engine failure resulted in the deaths of 111 passengers.
Iran Air Flight 655 – 1988
The Iran Air Flight 655 crash occurred on July 3, 1988, and resulted in the deaths of 290 people. The crash involved an Airbus A300, which was on a flight from Tehran to Dubai. The plane was shot down by the USS Vincennes, a United States Navy guided missile cruiser, who mistook the civilian plane for an Iranian F-14 fighter jet. The incident caused a significant international incident and resulted in the deaths of 290 innocent civilians.
EgyptAir Flight 990 – 1999
The EgyptAir Flight 990 crash occurred on October 31, 1999, and resulted in the deaths of 217 people. The crash involved a Boeing 767, which was on a flight from New York to Cairo. The plane crashed into the Atlantic Ocean, and while the cause of the crash was never definitively determined, it is believed to have been caused by a deliberate act by the co-pilot.
Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 – 2014
The Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 crash occurred on March 8, 2014, and resulted in the deaths of 239 people. The crash involved a Boeing 777, which was on a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing. The plane disappeared without a trace, and despite an extensive search, no wreckage was ever found. The cause of the crash is still unknown, and it remains one of the most mysterious and tragic aviation disasters in history.
Conclusion:
The aviation industry has come a long way in terms of safety and technology, but as these crashes have shown, accidents can still happen, and they can have devastating consequences. These ten crashes are some of the worst in history, and they have resulted in the deaths of thousands of innocent people. They serve as a reminder of the importance of safety in the aviation industry and the need for constant vigilance in ensuring the safety of passengers and crew. The victims of these tragic events will never be forgotten, and the lessons learned from these disasters will continue to shape the aviation industry for years to come.