Far Eastern Air Transport Flight 103 facts for kids
A Far Eastern Air Transport Boeing 737-200 similar to the one that crashed
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| Accident summary | |
|---|---|
| Date | August 22, 1981 |
| Summary | Explosive decompression |
| Place | near Taipei |
| Passengers | 104 |
| Crew | 6 |
| Fatalities | 110 |
| Survivors | 0 |
| Aircraft type | Boeing 737-200 |
| Airline/user | Far Eastern Air Transport |
| Registration | B-2603 |
| Flew from | Taipei Songshan Airport |
| Flying to | Kaohsiung International Airport |
Far East Air Transport Flight 103 was a plane that crashed on August 22, 1981. It was a Boeing 737-200 aircraft, with the number B-2603. The plane had left Taipei Songshan Airport and was flying towards Kaohsiung. About fourteen minutes after taking off, the plane suddenly broke apart in the air.
What Happened?
This plane had faced problems before. On August 5, it had lost its cabin pressure. This means the air inside the plane became like the thin air outside, which is dangerous for people.
On the very day of the crash, the plane had tried to leave Taipei Songshan Airport earlier. But the crew had to turn back after ten minutes because of the same pressure problem. After some quick fixes were made, the aircraft took off again. Sadly, it broke apart shortly after.
Why Did It Happen?
At first, some people thought a bomb might have caused the crash. However, an investigation was done by the Republic of China Civil Aeronautics Board. They found that the crash was caused by a lot of corrosion (rust) on the plane. This rust caused the plane's body to break open.
The severe corrosion happened because the plane had flown many times. Each time a plane flies up and down, it puts stress on its body. This can cause tiny cracks that might not be seen. The wreckage of the plane was spread out over an area of about 4 miles (6.4 km). This area was about 94 miles (151 km) south of Taipei.
All 110 people on board died in the accident. This included 104 passengers and 6 crew members. Among them were eighteen people from Japan and two from the United States. At the time, this was the worst air disaster in Taiwan's history. Now, it is the second-worst, after China Airlines Flight 676.
Related Accidents
- Aloha Airlines Flight 243
- China Airlines Flight 611
- Japan Airlines Flight 123
- Accident description at the Aviation Safety Network
See also
In Spanish: Vuelo 103 de Far Eastern Air Transport para niños
