Several people were killed when a US (American) Airlines plane carrying 60 passengers and four crew members collided with an Army helicopter on Wednesday as it was making a descent at Ronald Reagan National Airport outside of Washington.
In the United States, fatal crashes involving commercial aircraft have become rare. The most deadly recent collision occurred close to Buffalo, New York, in 2009. The Bombardier DHC-8 propeller plane crashed into a house, killing all 45 passengers and the four crew members. There was also one fatality on the ground.
The UH-60 Blackhawk and Bombardier CRJ-701 twin-engine plane collided Wednesday over the Potomac River, causing the aircraft to plummet into the water. 78 people were murdered when an Air Florida plane crashed into the Potomac in 1982.
While it is thought to be one of the safest ways to travel, horrific plane crashes throughout history have permanently changed aviation. Here are a few of the most deadly aircraft accidents in American history.
1. US September 11, 2001 Attacks
Four planes were hijacked during the 9/11 attacks, one of the most devastating incidents in US history. After passengers tried to retake control, United Airlines Flight 93 crashed into a Pennsylvanian field, two slammed into the World Trade Center towers in New York City, and one struck the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. It was the deadliest aviation-related incident ever, with around 3,000 people killed.
2. US Airlines Flight 191 (May 25, 1979)
The McDonnell Douglas DC-10 aircraft lost control and crashed shortly after takeoff from Chicago O’Hare International Airport due to an engine that disconnected. It was the deadliest single-aircraft disaster in US history, with all 273 people on board dying.
3. US Airlines Flight 587 (November 12, 2001)
This Airbus A300 crashed shortly after takeoff in Queens, New York, just two months after 9/11. The plane crashed when the vertical stabilizer broke off. There were 265 fatalities, including five on the ground.
4. TWA Flight 800 (July 17, 1996)
This Boeing 747 fell into the Atlantic Ocean after exploding in air close to Long Island, New York, when it was traveling from New York to Paris. 230 crew members and passengers perished. Later, investigations found that a malfunctioning fuel tank was the cause of the explosion.
5. US Eagle Flight 4184 (October 31, 1994)
A turboprop ATR 72 crashed at Roselawn, Indiana, due to ice buildup on the wings. Every one of the 68 passengers died. As a result of this tragedy, airplane de-icing regulations were improved.
6. US Air Flight 427 (September 8, 1994)
This Boeing 737 experienced a rudder system failure while approaching Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, which led to the aircraft going out of control and crashing. Every one of the 132 passengers and crew perished.
7. Pan Am Flight 759 (July 9, 1982)
A Boeing 727 taking off from New Orleans crashed into a residential area due to a microburst (a sudden downdraft of air). The crash killed 145 people onboard and 8 people on the ground.
8. US Airlines Flight 77 (September 11, 2001)
One of the 9/11 hijacked flights, this Boeing 757 crashed into the Pentagon, killing 64 people onboard and 125 at the Pentagon.
9. Delta Airlines Flight 191 (August 2, 1985)
This Lockheed L-1011 Tristar crashed while landing at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport due to wind shear (a sudden change in wind speed or direction). 137 people lost their lives.
10. Northwest Airlines Flight 255 (August 16, 1987)
A McDonnell Douglas MD-80 crashed just beyond the runway after mishandling flap settings on takeoff from Detroit Metropolitan Airport. A 4-year-old child was the only survivor out of 156 persons who died.
Aviation Safety Measures and Lessons Learned
Each of these tragic crashes led to major safety reforms, including:
✔ Improved aircraft maintenance standards
✔ Stronger pilot training programs
✔ Enhanced air traffic control and communication systems
✔ Advanced flight safety technologies
Conclusion
Even though these events were life-threatening, they were essential in making flying safer than it has ever been. To guarantee that such disasters are minimized in the future, the aviation industry keeps improving by learning from its experiences.
We can appreciate the ongoing advancements in airline safety that make flying one of the safest forms of transportation available today by comprehending these historic situations.
