World · North America · 8 hrs ago
Aloha Airlines Flight 243 landed after cabin roof tore away; flight attendant died
Aloha Airlines Flight 243 was flying from Hilo to Honolulu on April 28, 1988, when the incident happened near Maui, Hawaii.
At 24,000 feet, explosive decompression tore away about 18 feet of the cabin roof and outer body.
The crew made an emergency descent, and the pilot landed safely at Kahului Airport on Maui.
The plane had 89 passengers and six crew members, but a flight attendant was thrown from the aircraft and declared missing or dead.
Investigators found fatigue damage and loss of adhesion in the aircraft’s structure, which contributed to the failure of a fuselage joint.
They also cited inadequate management oversight of Aloha Airlines’ maintenance team as a contributing factor; the sources give no further developments.
Aloha Airlines Flight 243 suffered explosive decompression and structural failure near Maui, Hawaii, on April 28, 1988.
About 18 feet of the cabin roof and fuselage skin tore away while the Boeing 737-200 was at 24,000 feet.
The pilots made an emergency descent and landed safely at Kahului Airport on Maui.
One flight attendant was swept out of the aircraft and was reported missing or dead.
Investigators found fatigue damage, disbonding and inadequate management oversight of the airline’s maintenance team.
- Who
- Aloha Airlines Flight 243, carrying 89 passengers and six crew members.
- What
- Explosive decompression tore away part of the cabin roof. One flight attendant was swept out and reported missing or dead.
- When
- April 28, 1988, at about 1:46 p.m. local time.
- Where
- Near Maui, Hawaii; the aircraft landed at Kahului Airport.
- Why
- Investigators identified fatigue damage, disbonding at lap joint S-10L and inadequate management oversight of the maintenance team.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Flight 243 experienced explosive decompression and structural failure near Maui while at 24,000 feet.
The crew made an emergency descent, and the pilots landed at Kahului Airport.
The NTSB identified maintenance damage and inadequate management oversight as contributing factors.
- Aircraft
- Boeing 737-200, registration N73711
- Route
- Hilo to Honolulu, Hawaii
- Altitude
- 24,000 feet
- Fuselage section lost
- About 18 feet
- People aboard
- 89 passengers and six crew members
- Landing site
- Kahului Airport, Maui, Hawaii