Passengers still strapped into their seats were terrified. Standing crew members struggled to hold on, and unfortunately, Clarabelle Lansing was ejected from the plane. Michelle Honda, another crew member, managed to squeeze between the seats to help the passengers remain calm.
The pilots immediately donned oxygen masks and discovered that all controls had failed. As the plane began to roll dangerously from left to right, Tompkins switched the transponder to an emergency code, but his messages were inaudible. Using hand signals, they initiated a rapid emergency descent, at one point reaching a speed of over 1,200 meters per minute.
As the plane descended below 14,000 feet, Tompkins managed to contact Maui and request an emergency landing. Unfortunately, the passengers lacked oxygen masks and were running out of air. Below 10,000 feet, the passengers were able to breathe, and Captain Schornstheimer slowed the plane to 186 mph (300 km/h), although ideally, landing would have required a descent to 150 mph (240 km/h).
They lowered the landing gear, but the indicator light indicated that the nose gear was not extended. After several attempts, with no apparent results, they decided to land. Fortunately, the landing went smoothly, and the nose gear was not functioning properly, indicating that the indicators were faulty.
At Kahului Airport, emergency crews discovered a crashed plane with a large section of its roof ripped off. Of the 95 people on board, 65 were injured, eight of them seriously, and only one person, Clarabelle Lansing, died. The plane was damaged beyond repair.
Investigation and Lessons Learned:
The investigation revealed that the Boeing 737’s fuselage is made of metal panels the thickness of two credit cards, joined together with rivets. Rivet joints are particularly susceptible to damage, and the first crack noticed before takeoff was located there.
The crack went undetected during inspection because mandatory inspections focused on the most critical connections. Aloha Airlines did not deem it necessary to inspect every connection in the fuselage. This negligence, combined with the corrosive ocean environment, led to this tragic accident.
Following this crash, US regulators revised all inspection procedures for older aircraft. Corrosion control programs were implemented, and the discovery of a defect in one aircraft could trigger an inspection of the entire fleet. These measures, while costly, were intended to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
The heroic actions of the pilots and crew were praised, but this did not put an end to similar incidents caused by poor maintenance.
More Shocking Incidents
British Airways Flight 5390
On June 10, 1990, a similar incident occurred on a British Airways flight from Birmingham to Malaga. At an altitude of 5,000 meters, the left cockpit windshield blew out, and Captain Timothy Lancaster was pulled through the opening, hanging only by his feet on the control column.
First Officer Alastair Atchison performed emergency maneuvers while crew members restrained the captain. After a rapid descent, they landed safely in Southampton. Incredibly, despite freezing temperatures and strong winds, the captain survived with only frostbite and several broken bones.
An investigation revealed that incorrect screws were used during windshield replacement, which led to damage. Safety standards and inspections were tightened following the incident.
Delta Flight 1425
On June 8, 2019, Delta Flight 1425, flying from Atlanta to Baltimore, was involved in an incident in which an engine cowling separated, causing vibrations and smoke in the cabin. The pilot made an emergency landing in Raleigh, North Carolina. No passengers were injured.
An inspection revealed the cone was in poor condition. This incident prompted Delta to retire the MD-88 aircraft from its fleet in 2020.
Flybe Flight 1284
On February 23, 2017, Flybe flight 1284, flying from Edinburgh to Amsterdam, made a rough landing when the right landing gear collapsed. Passengers escaped unharmed, but the cause was a faulty proximity sensor.
Plane crashes into sea in Cocoa Beach.
In April 2021, a World War II-era plane participating in an air show in Cocoa Beach was forced to make an emergency landing due to catastrophic engine failure. The plane landed safely in shallow water without sustaining any injuries.
