Buzz
Since commercial aviation began, thousands of planes have crashed globally, resulting in tens of thousands of injuries and fatalities. While some air disasters occur beyond the pilots' control, no matter how much they try to safely land, others see skilled pilots overcoming incredible challenges and bringing their planes to the ground with few or no casualties. The following stories highlight the heroic efforts of pilots during the most dire circumstances. (Any errors in terminology or crew names are mine.) If you know of a crash that fits this description but is not listed, feel free to share in the comments.
Many of these incidents have been featured on shows like 'Air Disaster' (also known as 'Mayday', 'Air Crash Investigation', or 'Mayday: Catástrofes aéreas' in various markets) and 'Seconds from Disaster.' Personally, I’ve experienced a situation that could have turned into a disaster. My family and I were aboard a Japan-bound Northwest 747 departing Minneapolis when one of the right engines failed during takeoff. The pilots circled the airport, dumping fuel to lighten the aircraft and make it safe to land on three engines. I even captured a cool snapshot of the fuel dump.
10. China Airlines Flight 006 Pacific Ocean, February 19, 1985
Air crew: Pilot Min-Yuan Ho, Co-pilot Ju Yu Chang, Flight Engineer Kuo-Win Pei, Captain Chien-Yuan Liao, and Flight Engineer Shih Lung Su
On a late-night non-stop flight from Taipei to Los Angeles, a 747 experienced engine failure. The pilots, who were severely fatigued from continuous flying duties, made a series of small mistakes that caused the plane to descend 30,000 feet in just 2 1/2 minutes. The extreme g-forces of up to 5g caused significant damage to the aircraft and some injuries. Fortunately, the crew was able to stabilize the damaged plane, restart the failed engine, and divert to San Francisco for a safe landing. This near-disaster led to new regulations on crew rest periods during flights.
9. Air Canada Flight 143 'The Gimli Glider,' Manitoba, July 23, 1983
Air crew: Captain Robert Pearson and First Officer Maurice Quintal
In another fuel-loss incident, a cross-Canada 767 ran out of fuel due to a series of errors from the front office, a new fuel gauge, and several human mistakes, including a failure to properly convert fuel measurements into the metric system. With all power lost, the captain, an experienced glider pilot, used every tactic he knew to perform an emergency landing at an industrial airport in Gimli, Manitoba. Although the nose gear collapsed on landing, no serious injuries occurred among the crew or passengers. This flight later became known as the 'Gimli Glider.'
8. British Airways Flight 9 Jakarta, June 24, 1982
Air crew: Captain Eric Moody, Senior First Officer Roger Greaves and Senior Engineer Officer Barry Townley-Freeman
The 747, named The City of Edinburgh, was flying from London to Auckland when the pilots unintentionally flew into the ash cloud of Mount Galunggung, an Indonesian volcano. The ash, devoid of moisture, was invisible on the radar. The eruption caused all four engines to fail, and the oxygen supply malfunctioned. In response, Captain Moody initiated a steep, 6,000-foot descent to find breathable air, then diverted towards Jakarta for a possible water landing—all while gliding. After clearing the ash cloud, the crew successfully restarted the engines and landed safely in Jakarta. Fun fact: Captain Moody's famous 'masterpiece of understatement' occurred when he addressed the passengers: 'Ladies and Gentlemen, this is your Captain speaking. We have a small problem. All four engines have stopped. We are doing our damnedest to get them going again. I trust you are not in too much distress.'
7. American Airlines Flight 96 Detroit, June 12, 1972
Air crew: Captain Bryce McCormick and First Officer Peter Whitney
A catastrophic decompression struck this DC-10 when a cargo hatch burst open mid-flight. The sudden drop in cabin pressure led to severe structural damage, affecting the hydraulic controls, disabling the top engine, and causing the rudder to become stuck in a fully rightward position. Despite the extensive damage, the crew managed to land the plane safely, avoiding any casualties. The incident was traced back to a malfunctioning locking mechanism on the cargo door.
6. DHL OO-DLL transport Baghdad, Nov. 22, 2003
Flight crew: Captain Eric Gennotte, First Officer Steve Michielsen, and Flight Engineer Mario Rofail
"Fedayeen" insurgents launched a missile at the Airbus A300 cargo plane during its rapid-climb takeoff from Baghdad airport. The missile struck the left wing, disabling an engine and severely damaging all hydraulic systems. With hydraulics out of service, the crew was limited to controlling the aircraft using differential throttles. This method allowed them to adjust speed and engine power to steer the plane, providing minimal lateral control. After about ten minutes of experimentation, the trio managed to reverse course and land the aircraft. They skidded off the runway into soft sand, relying solely on reverse thrust to halt the plane. An interesting tidbit: Captain Gennotte was inspired to try differential throttling after attending a seminar by Captain Al Haynes, who used the technique during the United Airlines Flight 232 disaster (see #2 below).
5. United Airlines Flight 811 Honolulu, Feb. 24, 1989
Flight crew: Captain David Cronin, First Officer Gregory Slader, and Flight Engineer Randal Thomas
A cargo door malfunction occurred on this 747-122 en route to New Zealand, resulting in explosive decompression. Nine passengers lost their lives, and several others were injured. The crew experienced loss of some flight controls, and fires broke out in engines 3 and 4. The crew descended the aircraft to a breathable altitude, though the explosion had destroyed the oxygen systems. They then turned the plane back toward Honolulu. With only partial flaps functioning, the crew was able to safely land the aircraft.
4. Aloha Airlines Flight 243 Maui, April 28, 1988
Flight crew: Captain Robert Schornstheimer and First Officer Madeline “Mimi” Tompkins
This is likely one of the most infamous aviation disasters. The 737, en route to Honolulu, suffered catastrophic structural damage when the upper section of the passenger cabin was torn away. Continuous operation near saltwater led to metal fatigue and corrosion, causing microscopic fractures that ultimately triggered a massive structural failure. One crew member lost their life, and around 65 passengers were injured. Despite not knowing whether the front landing gear had deployed properly, the pilots managed to bring the severely damaged aircraft down safely. It's truly remarkable that the 737 remained airborne at all.
3. US Airways Flight 1549 New York City, Jan. 15, 2009
Flight crew: Captain Chelsey “Sully” Sullenberger and First Officer Jeffrey B. Skiles
This incident ranks first not because it is the most recent, but because it involved one of the most extraordinary emergency landings in commercial aviation. Just moments after taking off from LaGuardia, the Airbus A320 collided with a flock of geese, disabling both engines. Captain Sullenberger quickly searched for a safe place to land but could neither return to LaGuardia nor reach an airfield in New Jersey. He instead set his sights on the Hudson River, executing a flawless water landing. Remarkably, the Airbus remained intact, and no one sustained serious injuries. A National Transportation Safety Board representative called it "the most successful ditching in aviation history." The Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators awarded “Sully” and his crew with the prestigious Masters Medal. You can find actual footage of the crash landing on YouTube, typically filmed by security cameras, but the linked CGI video provides a detailed and synchronized account of the event along with the radio exchanges between Captain Sully and air traffic control.
Notable Extras: Air Transat Flight 236, Azores Islands, Aug. 24, 2001
2. United Airlines Flight 232 Sioux City, Iowa, July 19, 1989
Flight crew: Captain Alfred C. Haynes, First Officer William Records, Second Officer Dudley Dvorak, flight engineer and DC-10 flight instructor Dennis Fitch (who was a passenger)
This tragic yet heroic story remains one of the most infamous air disasters in history, partly because it was captured on film. A fan blade in the DC-10's tail engine shattered, severing all hydraulic controls, including the backup systems. The flight crew was left with minimal control, relying on differential throttles, a technique suggested by flight instructor Fitch, who was also a passenger. Despite the odds, they managed to bring the DC-10 in for a crash landing at Sioux City airport. With barely any control, the aircraft’s descent rate and speed were too high, but they managed to land. The impact was severe; the left wing struck the ground, rupturing the fuel tank, which ignited immediately. Of the 296 people on board, 111 perished. While the death toll is tragic, it could have been much higher if not for the incredible skill of Captain Haynes and his crew, and the swift actions of rescue teams and National Guardsmen who were fortuitously nearby. The crash footage is real, and contrary to what many think, the plane didn't actually tumble; it was the wing flipping, not the fuselage. Another important note: this crash led to significant changes in aviation safety rules. Before, infants didn’t require a seat and were instructed to sit on the floor during a crash. Tragically, one child died in this way, and now every passenger, no matter their age, must have a seat.
1. Philippine Airlines Flight 434 Okinawa, Dec. 11, 1994
Flight crew: Captain Eduardo “Ed” Reyes, First Officer Jaime Herrera, and Systems Engineer Dexter Comendador
An al Qaeda operative planted a bomb on a Philippine Airlines 747 flying to Japan. The explosion tragically killed the passenger seated directly above the bomb and left several others injured. The blast also destroyed the aileron controls, rendering the plane nearly impossible to steer, even with the autopilot engaged. Despite this, the highly skilled crew managed to control the aircraft by adjusting the thrust on each engine and safely landed the damaged plane on Okinawa. Historical note: After the failure of this bombing attempt, al Qaeda shifted to hijacking commercial airplanes, eventually leading to the devastating 9/11 attacks. They later tried a similar bomb plot using liquid explosives on multiple flights departing from England, though this plot was fortunately foiled before it could be carried out.
