List of accidents and incidents involving commercial aircraft 1960 – 1989 facts for kids

This page lists some important accidents and incidents involving large passenger planes from 1960 to 1989. These events helped improve airplane safety over the years.

1960: Early Jet Age Challenges

• January 6 – National Airlines Flight 2511, a Douglas DC-6B, crashed in North Carolina. A device exploded on board, killing all 34 people.
• January 18 – Capital Airlines Flight 20, a Vickers Viscount, crashed in Virginia due to engine failure in icy conditions. All 50 people on board died.
• March 17 – Northwest Orient Airlines Flight 710, a Lockheed L-188 Super Electra, broke apart in the air and crashed in Indiana. All 63 people on board were killed.
• June 10 – Trans Australia Airlines Flight 538, a Fokker F-27, crashed into the ocean in Australia, killing all 29 people. This crash led to cockpit voice recorders becoming a must-have on airliners worldwide.
• October 4 – Eastern Air Lines Flight 375, a Lockheed L-188 Super Electra, crashed during takeoff from Boston after hitting many birds. 62 of 72 people died.
• December 16 – The 1960 New York mid-air collision: Two planes, United Airlines Flight 826 (a Douglas DC-8) and TWA Flight 266 (a Lockheed Super Constellation), crashed into each other over Staten Island. All 128 people on both planes and 6 people on the ground were killed. This was the first time a flight recorder helped investigate a crash.

1961: New Safety Lessons

• February 15 – Sabena Flight 548, a Boeing 707, crashed in Belgium, killing 73 people, including the entire United States figure skating team. A problem with a part of the plane's tail was thought to be the cause.
• May 10 – Air France Flight 406, a Lockheed Starliner, crashed in the Sahara Desert after a device exploded on board. All 78 people were killed.
• September 1 – TWA Flight 529, a Lockheed Constellation, crashed shortly after takeoff from Chicago. A small bolt that fell out of the elevator control system was blamed. All 78 people on board died.
• September 11 – A President Airlines Douglas DC-6 crashed after takeoff from Shannon Airport in Ireland, killing all 83 people. It was the worst crash in Ireland's history.
• November 8 – Imperial Airlines Flight 201/8, a Lockheed Constellation, crashed while landing in Virginia. Most of the 74 passengers, who were new US Army recruits, died from smoke.

1962: Bombs and Breakups

• March 1 – American Airlines Flight 1, a Boeing 707, crashed in New York due to a problem with its rudder, killing all 95 people on board.
• March 4 – Caledonian Airways Flight 153, a Douglas DC-7, crashed into a jungle swamp in Cameroon, killing all 111 people.
• May 22 – Continental Airlines Flight 11, a Boeing 707, broke apart in the air over Missouri after a passenger's bomb exploded. All 45 people on board were killed.
• June 3 – Air France Flight 007, a Boeing 707, crashed and burned after the pilot stopped the takeoff too late. 130 people died, making it the worst single-plane accident at that time.
• June 22 – Air France Flight 117, a Boeing 707, crashed into a forest in Guadeloupe, killing all 113 people. The cause was never found.
• July 7 – Alitalia Flight 771, a Douglas DC-8, hit a mountain in India due to a navigation mistake. All 94 people died.
• November 23 – United Airlines Flight 297, a Vickers Viscount, crashed in Maryland after hitting birds. All 17 people on board died.

1963: Storms and Fires

Aero Flight 217

• February 12 – Northwest Orient Airlines Flight 705, a Boeing 720, broke apart in a severe thunderstorm and crashed into the Everglades. All 43 people on board were killed.
• September 4 – Swissair Flight 306, a Sud Aviation Caravelle, crashed in Switzerland due to a fire during the flight. All 80 people on board died.
• November 29 – Trans-Canada Air Lines Flight 831, a Douglas DC-8, crashed shortly after takeoff from Montreal, killing all 118 people.
• December 8 – Pan Am Flight 214, a Boeing 707, was struck by lightning and crashed in Maryland, killing all 81 people.

1964: Strange Events and Collisions

• February 25 – Eastern Air Lines Flight 304, a Douglas DC-8, crashed into Lake Pontchartrain, killing all 58 people.
• May 7 – Pacific Air Lines Flight 773, a Fairchild F27, crashed in California after a passenger shot the pilots and then himself. All 44 people on board died.
• July 9 – United Airlines Flight 823, a Vickers Viscount, crashed in Tennessee after a fire on board. All 39 people died.
• November 23 – TWA Flight 800, a Boeing 707, crashed at an airport in Italy due to an engine problem. 50 of 73 people died.

1965: More Disasters and Lessons Learned

• February 8 – Eastern Air Lines Flight 663, a Douglas DC-7B, crashed into the ocean off New York, killing all 84 people. The pilots reacted too strongly to avoid another plane.
• May 20 – PIA Flight 705, a Boeing 720, crashed while landing in Cairo, killing 119 of 125 people. This was the worst accident ever for a Boeing 720.
• July 8 – Canadian Pacific Air Lines Flight 21, a Douglas DC-6, crashed in British Columbia after a device exploded in the bathroom. All 52 people died.
• August 16 – United Airlines Flight 389, a Boeing 727, crashed into Lake Michigan at night. The pilots likely misread their altimeters. All 30 people died in the first fatal crash of a Boeing 727.
• November 8 – American Airlines Flight 383, a Boeing 727, crashed while landing in Cincinnati. Only 4 of 62 people survived.
• December 4 – The 1965 Carmel mid-air collision: Eastern Air Lines Flight 853 (a Lockheed Super Constellation) and TWA Flight 42 (a Boeing 707) collided over New York. Flight 853 crashed, killing 4 people.

1966: Tragic Year for Japan

• January 24 – Air India Flight 101, a Boeing 707, crashed into Mont Blanc in France, killing all 117 people. Another Air India flight had crashed in almost the same spot 16 years earlier.
• February 4 – All Nippon Airways Flight 60, a Boeing 727, crashed into Tokyo Bay, Japan, killing all 133 people. It was Japan's worst air disaster at that time.
• March 5 – BOAC Flight 911, a Boeing 707, broke apart in the air and crashed near Mount Fuji, Japan, killing all 124 people.
• August 6 – Braniff Flight 250, a BAC One-Eleven, flew into a strong thunderstorm and broke apart in the air over Nebraska. All 42 people died.
• September 1 – Britannia Airways Flight 105, a Bristol Britannia, crashed while landing in Slovenia because the altimeter (which measures height) was set incorrectly. 98 of 117 people died.
• October 1 – West Coast Airlines Flight 956 crashed in Oregon, killing 18 people. This was the first time a Douglas DC-9 was lost in an accident.

1967: More Mid-Air Collisions

• March 5 – Lake Central Flight 527, a Convair 340, crashed in Ohio after a propeller broke off and cut through the plane. All 38 people died.
• March 9 – TWA Flight 553, a McDonnell Douglas DC-9, collided with a small plane near Dayton, Ohio, killing all 26 people on both planes.
• April 20 – The 1967 Nicosia Britannia disaster: A Bristol Britannia crashed in bad weather near Cyprus, killing 126 of 130 people.
• July 19 – Piedmont Airlines Flight 22, a Boeing 727, collided with a small Cessna plane shortly after takeoff in North Carolina. All 82 people on both aircraft died.
• October 12 – Cyprus Airways Flight 284, a De Havilland Comet, was destroyed by a bomb over the Mediterranean Sea. All 66 people died.

1968: Hijackings and Disappearances

• March 24 – Aer Lingus Flight 712, a Vickers Viscount, crashed off the Irish coast, killing all 61 people.
• April 8 – BOAC Flight 712, a Boeing 707, had an engine fire after takeoff from London. The plane landed safely, but 5 of 127 people died in the fire.
• April 20 – South African Airways Flight 228, a Boeing 707, crashed after takeoff in Namibia due to pilot error. Only 5 of 128 people survived.
• May 3 – Braniff Flight 352, a Lockheed L-188A Super Electra, broke apart in a thunderstorm and crashed in Texas, killing all 85 people.
• July 23 – El Al Flight 426 was hijacked by three people and forced to land in Algeria. All passengers and hijackers were eventually freed.
• September 11 – Air France Flight 1611, a Sud Aviation SE-210 Caravelle, was shot down by a missile near Nice, France, killing all 95 people.
• September 25 – PSA Flight 182, a Boeing 727, collided with a small Cessna plane over San Diego, California. All 135 people on the airliner, both pilots of the Cessna, and 7 people on the ground were killed. This was the deadliest mid-air collision in North America.
• November 22 – Japan Airlines Flight 2, a Douglas DC-8, landed in San Francisco Bay due to pilot error. All on board survived.

1969: More Tragedies and Hijackings

• January 5 – Ariana Afghan Airlines Flight 701, a Boeing 727, crashed into a house in dense fog near London Gatwick Airport, killing 48 of 62 people on board and 2 people in the house.
• March 16 – Viasa Flight 742, a McDonnell Douglas DC-9, crashed during takeoff from Venezuela. All 84 people on board, plus 71 people on the ground, were killed. With 155 deaths, it was the worst aviation disaster at that time.
• August 29 – In the TWA Flight 840 hijacking, two people forced a Boeing 707 to land in Syria. All passengers were released, but the plane's nose was blown up.
• September 9 – Allegheny Airlines Flight 853, a Douglas DC-9, collided in flight with a small Piper plane near Indiana, killing all 83 people on both aircraft.
• November 20 – Nigeria Airways Flight 825, a Vickers VC-10, crashed while landing at Lagos International Airport, killing all 87 people.

1970: Bombs and Football Teams

• February 21 – A bomb exploded in the cargo hold of Swissair Flight 330, a Convair CV-990, nine minutes after takeoff from Switzerland. All 47 people died.
• July 3 – The 1970 Dan-Air de Havilland Comet crash happened near Girona, Spain, due to a navigation mistake, killing all 112 people.
• July 5 – Air Canada Flight 621, a Douglas DC-8, exploded after a failed landing attempt in Toronto, killing 109 people.
• August 9 – LANSA Flight 502, a Lockheed L-188 Electra, crashed and burned shortly after takeoff in Peru, killing 99 people on the plane and 2 on the ground. Among the dead were 49 U.S. high school exchange students.
• September 6 – The Dawson's Field hijackings: Several planes were hijacked by a group, leading to international outrage. This event played a big part in making airport security checks common.
• November 14 – Southern Airways Flight 932, a chartered Douglas DC-9, crashed while landing in West Virginia, killing all 75 people, including 37 players from the Marshall University football team.

1971: Collisions and Corrosion

• June 6 – A United States Marine Corps fighter jet collided with Hughes Airwest Flight 706, a Douglas DC-9, over California. All 49 people on the DC-9 died, and the fighter pilot also died.
• July 30 – All Nippon Airways Flight 58, a Boeing 727, collided with a Japanese fighter jet near Morioka, Japan, killing all 162 people on the passenger plane. The fighter pilot survived.
• September 4 – Alaska Airlines Flight 1866, a Boeing 727, crashed into a mountain in Alaska, killing all 111 people.
• October 2 – British European Airways Flight 706, a Vickers Vanguard, broke apart in the air due to metal corrosion and crashed in Belgium, killing all 63 people.
• November 24 – A man known as D. B. Cooper hijacked Northwest Orient Airlines Flight 305, a Boeing 727. He parachuted from the plane with money and was never found.
• December 24 – LANSA Flight 508, a Lockheed L-188 Electra, broke apart in the air after being hit by lightning. It crashed in the Amazon Rainforest, and 91 people died. One teenage girl, Juliane Koepcke, survived after falling into the rainforest and walking for 10 days.

1972: Major Disasters and Hijackings

• January 26 – JAT Flight 367, a McDonnell Douglas DC-9, had a bomb explode in mid-air. 27 of 28 people died. The only survivor, Vesna Vulović, holds a world record for surviving the longest fall without a parachute.
• March 14 – Sterling Airways Flight 296, a Sud Caravelle, crashed near the United Arab Emirates due to pilot error. All 112 people died in the worst air disaster in the country's history.
• May 5 – Alitalia Flight 112, a Douglas DC-8, crashed into a mountain in Italy, killing all 115 people. It remains the deadliest single-plane disaster in Italy.
• June 15 – A bomb in a carry-on suitcase exploded on Cathay Pacific Flight 700Z, a Convair 880, over Vietnam. All 81 people died.
• June 18 – British European Airways Flight 548, a Hawker Siddeley Trident, crashed near Staines, United Kingdom, due to pilot error. All 118 people died.
• August 14 – The 1972 Königs Wusterhausen air disaster: An Ilyushin Il-62 crashed in Germany, killing all 156 people. It was Germany's worst air disaster.
• October 13 – Aeroflot Flight 217, an Ilyushin Il-62, crashed while landing in Moscow, Russia. All 174 people died.
• October 13 – Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571, a Fairchild F-27, crashed in the Andes mountains. Passengers survived for 72 days by eating from the dead.
• December 3 – Spantax Flight 275, a Convair 990 Coronado, crashed in Tenerife during takeoff in almost zero visibility. All 155 people died.
• December 8 – United Airlines Flight 553, a Boeing 737, crashed after stopping its landing attempt in Chicago, killing 43 of 60 people on board and 2 on the ground.
• December 29 – Eastern Air Lines Flight 401, a Lockheed L-1011 TriStar, crashed in the Florida Everglades, killing 103 of 176 people. The crew was distracted by a faulty light. This was the first crash of a large, wide-body airplane.

1973: Shootdowns and Fires

• January 22 – In the Kano air disaster, a Boeing 707 crashed while landing in Nigeria, killing 176 of 202 people.
• February 21 – Libyan Arab Airlines Flight 114, a Boeing 727, went off course and was shot down by Israeli jets in a war zone. 108 of 113 people died.
• April 10 – Invicta International Airlines Flight 435, a Vickers Vanguard, flew into a hillside in Switzerland, killing 108 people.
• July 11 – Varig Flight 820, a Boeing 707, had a fire on board and crashed near Paris, France, killing 123 of 134 people.
• July 23 – Japan Air Lines Flight 404, a Boeing 747, was hijacked after takeoff from Amsterdam. After several days, passengers were released, and the plane was blown up on the ground.

1974: Cargo Door Failures and Bombs

• March 3 – Turkish Airlines Flight 981, a McDonnell Douglas DC-10, crashed in a forest in France after its rear cargo door opened during the flight. All 346 people on board died.
• September 8 – TWA Flight 841, a Boeing 707, broke up after a bomb exploded in its cargo hold and crashed into the Ionian Sea, killing all 88 people.
• November 20 – Lufthansa Flight 540 crashed shortly after takeoff in Kenya. 59 of 157 people died in the first crash of a Boeing 747.
• December 4 – Martinair Flight 138, a Douglas DC-8, crashed into a mountain while landing in Sri Lanka, killing all 191 people on board, who were pilgrims traveling to Mecca.

1975: Wind Shear and Hijackings

• June 24 – Eastern Air Lines Flight 66, a Boeing 727, crashed while landing at John F. Kennedy International Airport due to strong wind shear. 112 of 124 people died.
• August 3 – The Agadir air disaster: A Boeing 707 crashed while landing in Morocco due to pilot error. All 188 people died in the worst accident ever for a Boeing 707.
• August 20 – ČSA Flight 540, an Ilyushin Il-62, crashed while landing in Damascus, Syria. 126 of 128 people died.

1976: Mid-Air Collisions and Rescue Missions

Rescued passengers from Air France Flight 139 are welcomed at Ben Gurion Airport

• January 1 – Middle East Airlines Flight 438, a Boeing 720, crashed in Saudi Arabia when a bomb exploded, killing all 81 people.
• June 27 – Operation Entebbe: Air France Flight 139, an Airbus A300, was hijacked from Athens and forced to fly to Uganda. Israeli troops stormed the airport, freeing most of the hostages.
• September 10 – 1976 Zagreb mid-air collision between British Airways Flight 476 (a Hawker Siddeley Trident) and Inex-Adria Flight 330 (a McDonnell Douglas DC-9) near Yugoslavia. All 176 people on both planes were killed.
• October 6 – Cubana de Aviación Flight 455, a Douglas DC-8, was bombed by anti-Castro militants and crashed near Barbados, killing all 73 people.

1977: Deadliest Crash in History

Remains of Southern Airways Flight 242

• March 27 – The Tenerife airport disaster: KLM Flight 4805 and Pan Am Flight 1736, both Boeing 747s, collided on the runway at Los Rodeos Airport. 583 of 644 people on both planes were killed. This is the worst accident in the history of commercial aviation.
• April 4 – Southern Airways Flight 242, a McDonnell Douglas DC-9, crash-landed on a highway in Georgia after both engines failed in a thunderstorm. 63 of 85 people on board died, along with 9 people on the ground.
• October 13 – Lufthansa Flight 181, a Boeing 737, was hijacked. German police commandos stormed the plane, killing three hijackers and capturing one, with no other deaths.
• November 19 – TAP Portugal Flight 425, a Boeing 727, went off the end of the runway at Madeira Airport and crashed, killing 131 of 164 people.
• December 4 – Malaysian Airline System Flight 653, a Boeing 737, was hijacked and then crashed in Malaysia, killing all 100 people.

1978: Collisions and Engine Problems

• January 1 – Air India Flight 855, a Boeing 747, crashed into the Arabian Sea due to instrument problems and pilot error. All 213 people died.
• March 1 – Continental Airlines Flight 603, a McDonnell Douglas DC-10, crashed during takeoff from Los Angeles after a tire blew out. 4 people died from their injuries.
• April 20 – Korean Air Lines Flight 902, a Boeing 707, was shot down by Soviet fighter planes. The plane crash-landed, and 2 of 109 people died.
• September 25 – PSA Flight 182, a Boeing 727, collided with a small Cessna plane over San Diego, California. All 135 people on the airliner, both pilots of the Cessna, and 7 people on the ground were killed. This was the deadliest mid-air collision in North America.
• December 28 – United Airlines Flight 173, a Douglas DC-8, ran out of fuel while circling near Portland, Oregon, as the crew investigated a landing gear light. The plane crashed, killing 10 and injuring 24 of 181 people.

1979: Disappearances and Explosions

• January 30 – Varig Flight 967, a Boeing 707, disappeared over the Pacific Ocean after takeoff from Japan. No trace of the plane or its 6 crew members was ever found.
• February 12 – Air Rhodesia Flight 827, a Vickers Viscount, was shot down by militants using a missile shortly after takeoff, killing all 59 people.
• May 25 – American Airlines Flight 191, a McDonnell Douglas DC-10, crashed during takeoff from O'Hare International Airport after its left engine broke off. All 271 people on board and 2 on the ground were killed. This is the worst single-plane accident on U.S. soil.
• July 19 – A Garuda Indonesia Fokker F28 hit a volcano while landing in Indonesia, killing all 61 people.
• August 11 – The 1979 Dniprodzerzhynsk mid-air collision between two Aeroflot Tupolev Tu-134s killed 178 people.
• November 26 – PIA Flight 740, a Boeing 707, crashed after a fire in the cabin in Saudi Arabia. All 145 passengers and 11 crew died.
• November 28 – Air New Zealand Flight 901, a McDonnell Douglas DC-10, crashed into Mount Erebus, Antarctica, during a sightseeing flight, killing all 257 people. This is known as the Mount Erebus Disaster.

1980: Fires and Crashes

• March 14 – LOT Flight 7, an Ilyushin Il-62, crashed near Warsaw, Poland, after an engine broke apart and cut the control lines. All 87 people died.
• April 25 – Dan-Air Flight 1008, a Boeing 727, crashed into a mountain near Tenerife, Spain, killing all 146 people.
• August 19 – Saudia Flight 163, a Lockheed L-1011 Tristar, landed safely in Saudi Arabia after a fire broke out on board. However, the evacuation was delayed, and all 301 people died.

1981: Structural Failures and Hijackings

• March 28 – Garuda Indonesia Flight 206, a Douglas DC-9, was hijacked. The pilot was killed, but everyone else survived.
• August 22 – Far Eastern Air Transport Flight 103, a Boeing 737, broke apart during flight near Taiwan. Severe rust in the plane's body caused it to break apart at high altitude. All 110 people died.
• August 24 – Aeroflot Flight 811, an Antonov An-24, collided in mid-air with a Soviet Air Force plane over Russia, killing 31 of 32 people on the An-24 and all 6 on the military plane.
• October 6 – NLM CityHopper Flight 431, a Fokker F28, was destroyed in flight by a tornado near Rotterdam, killing all 17 people.
• December 1 – Inex-Adria Aviopromet Flight 1308, a McDonnell Douglas MD-81, crashed into mountains while landing in Corsica, killing all 180 people.

1982: Famous Survivors and Volcanic Ash

• January 13 – Air Florida Flight 90, a Boeing 737, crashed into the frozen Potomac River after takeoff in Washington, D.C. 74 people on board and 4 on the ground died. Five people on board survived.
• January 26 – JAT Flight 367, a McDonnell Douglas DC-9, suffered a bomb explosion in mid-air; 27 of 28 on board were killed; Vesna Vulović, the only survivor, is in the Guinness Book of World Records for surviving the longest fall without a parachute.
• June 24 – British Airways Flight 9, a Boeing 747, flew through a cloud of volcanic ash. All engines failed, forcing the plane to glide. The crew managed to restart the engines and land safely.
• July 9 – Pan Am Flight 759, a Boeing 727, crashed in Louisiana shortly after takeoff. All 145 people on board and 8 people on the ground were killed.

1983: Shootdowns and Fuel Problems

• June 2 – Air Canada Flight 797, a McDonnell Douglas DC-9, caught fire during flight over Kentucky. 23 of 46 passengers died from smoke, even after the crew landed the plane safely.
• July 23 – Air Canada Flight 143, a Boeing 767, ran out of fuel in the air because of a mistake in calculating fuel. The crew successfully glided the plane to a safe landing at a former air force base. This plane became known as the Gimli Glider.
• September 1 – Korean Air Lines Flight 007, a Boeing 747, was shot down by Soviet fighter planes after flying into Soviet airspace. All 269 people on board were killed.
• September 23 – Gulf Air Flight 771, a Boeing 737, crashed after a bomb exploded on board. All 112 people died.
• November 8 – A TAAG Angola Airlines Boeing 737 was shot down just after takeoff, killing all 130 people.
• November 27 – Avianca Flight 011, a Boeing 747, hit a hill due to a navigation mistake while landing in Madrid, Spain. 11 of 192 people survived.
• December 7 – In the Madrid runway disaster, an Iberia Boeing 727 collided with an Aviaco McDonnell Douglas DC-9 on a runway. 51 people on the Boeing 727 and all 42 people on the DC-9 were killed.

1984: Engine Fires and Bad Weather

• March 22 – Pacific Western Airlines Flight 501, a Boeing 737, had an engine failure during takeoff. All passengers and crew were safely evacuated, but the plane burned down.
• August 5 – A Biman Bangladesh Airlines Fokker F27-600 crashed into a marsh while landing in bad weather, killing all 49 people. It was the deadliest aviation disaster in Bangladesh.
• October 11 – Aeroflot Flight 3352, a Tupolev Tu-154B, crashed while landing in Russia. 174 passengers and 4 people on the ground died.

1985: Worst Single-Plane Disaster

Remains just after the fire on British Airtours flight 28M

• February 19 – Iberia Airlines Flight 610, a Boeing 727, crashed into a television antenna on a mountain while landing in Spain, killing all 148 people.
• June 14 – TWA Flight 847, a Boeing 727, was hijacked by militants. One passenger was killed during the three-day event.
• June 23 – Air India Flight 182, a Boeing 747, was destroyed over the Atlantic Ocean by a bomb planted by extremists, killing all 329 people.
• July 10 – Aeroflot Flight 7425, a Tupolev Tu-154B, stalled in the air and crashed, killing all 200 people.
• August 2 – Delta Air Lines Flight 191, a Lockheed L-1011 TriStar, crashed while landing in Dallas due to strong wind shear from a thunderstorm. 26 of 163 people survived.
• August 12 – Japan Airlines Flight 123, a Boeing 747, crashed into Mount Osutaka after a major failure of its tail and hydraulic systems. 520 of 524 people died. To date, it is the worst single-aircraft disaster in history.
• August 22 – British Airtours Flight 28M, a Boeing 737, stopped its takeoff at Manchester Airport because of an engine fire. While 82 people escaped, 55 were killed.
• November 23 – EgyptAir Flight 648, a Boeing 737, was hijacked. Egyptian special forces stormed the plane, leading to 58 deaths among 90 passengers and crew.
• December 12 – Arrow Air Flight 1285, a Douglas DC-8, crashed shortly after takeoff from Gander, Newfoundland, killing all 256 people. This was the worst air disaster in Canada.

1986: More Collisions and Hijackings

AeroMéxico Flight 498 falling to the ground immediately after a mid-air collision with a Piper Cherokee.

• March 31 – Mexicana Flight 940, a Boeing 727, crashed into a mountain in Mexico. All 167 people died in the worst accident ever for a Boeing 727.
• April 2 – TWA Flight 840, a Boeing 727, was bombed by militants, killing 4 of 121 people. The plane landed safely.
• August 31 – In the 1986 Cerritos mid-air collision, Aeroméxico Flight 498 (a McDonnell Douglas DC-9) collided with a small Piper plane over California. All 67 people on both aircraft and 15 people on the ground were killed.
• September 5 – Pan Am Flight 73, a Boeing 747, was hijacked on the ground in Pakistan. 20 people died after a shootout inside the plane.
• October 20 – Aeroflot Flight 6502, a Tupolev Tu-134, crashed in Russia due to pilot error, killing 70 of 94 people.

1987: Pilot Errors and Bird Strikes

• January 3 – Varig Flight 797, a Boeing 707, crashed near Abidjan because of engine failure. Only 1 of 52 people survived.
• May 9 – LOT Flight 5055, an Ilyushin Il-62M, crashed near Warsaw during landing because of engine failure. All 183 people died.
• August 16 – Northwest Airlines Flight 255, a McDonnell Douglas MD-82, crashed on takeoff from Detroit due to pilot error. Of 155 people, a 4-year-old girl was the only survivor. 2 people on the ground were also killed.
• August 31 – Thai Airways Flight 365, a Boeing 737, crashed into the ocean off Thailand due to pilot error. All 83 people died.
• November 29 – Korean Air Flight 858, a Boeing 707, crashed into the Andaman Sea after a bomb exploded on board. All 115 people were killed.
• December 7 – Pacific Southwest Airlines Flight 1771, a BAe 146, was hijacked and deliberately crashed in California by an angry airline employee. All 43 people, including the hijacker, were killed.

1988: Explosive Decompression and Shootdowns

The remains of the nose section of Pan Am Flight 103.

• April 28 – Aloha Airlines Flight 243, a Boeing 737, had a large part of its roof tear off during flight, but managed to land safely. One flight attendant was blown out of the plane and killed.
• July 3 – Iran Air Flight 655, an Airbus A300, was shot down over Iranian waters by a missile from a US Navy ship. All 290 people on board were killed.
• August 31 – Delta Air Lines Flight 1141, a Boeing 727, crashed on takeoff from Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport due to pilot error. 14 of 108 people died.
• September 15 – Ethiopian Airlines Flight 604, a Boeing 737, crashed on takeoff after hitting many birds. 35 of 98 passengers died.
• December 21 – Pan Am Flight 103, a Boeing 747, broke apart in the air over Lockerbie, Scotland, after a terrorist bomb exploded on board. All 259 people on board and 11 on the ground were killed. This is known as the Lockerbie air disaster.

1989: Hydraulic Failures and Ice on Wings

• January 8 – British Midland Flight 92, a Boeing 737, crashed near Kegworth, United Kingdom, after one of its engines failed. 79 of 126 people survived. This was the first crash of a Boeing 737-400.
• February 24 – United Airlines Flight 811, a Boeing 747, had its cargo door burst open during flight, causing a sudden loss of air pressure. 9 passengers were pulled out of the plane, but the crew managed to land safely.
• March 10 – Air Ontario Flight 1363, a Fokker F28, crashed immediately after takeoff from Dryden, Ontario, Canada, because of ice on its wings. 24 of 69 people died.
• July 19 – United Airlines Flight 232, a McDonnell Douglas DC-10, lost all its hydraulic systems (which control the plane) after an engine broke apart. The crew managed to crash-land the plane using only engine power. Of 296 people, 111 died.
• September 3 – Cubana de Aviación Flight 9646, an Ilyushin Il-62M, crashed while trying to take off in Havana, Cuba. All 126 people on board and 45 people on the ground were killed.
• September 3 – Varig Flight 254, a Boeing 737, ran out of fuel because of incorrect navigation and crashed in the Brazilian jungle. 13 of 54 people died.
• September 8 – Partnair Flight 394, a Convair 580, crashed into the North Sea after its tail section fell off. All 55 people died. The crash was blamed on fake airplane parts.
• September 19 – UTA Flight 772, a McDonnell Douglas DC-10, exploded in mid-air over the Sahara desert when a bomb hidden in its cargo hold went off. All 170 people were killed.
• November 27 – Avianca Flight 203, a Boeing 727, exploded in mid-air over Colombia, killing all 107 people on board and 3 on the ground. A criminal group claimed responsibility.
• December 15 – KLM Flight 867, a Boeing 747, flew through a cloud of volcanic ash, losing power from all four engines. The crew was able to restart the engines and land safely.

Related pages

• List of accidents and incidents involving commercial aircraft 1919 – 1959
• List of accidents and incidents involving commercial aircraft 1990 – 2019

Images for kids

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  Damage to United Airlines Flight 811 after the cargo door blew open mid-flight. 9 passengers were ejected through the hole.