Hanging By A Thread | Aloha Airlines Flight 243

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Aloha Airlines Flight 243 (IATA: AQ243, ICAO: AAH243) was a scheduled Aloha Airlines flight between Hilo and Honolulu in Hawaii. On April 28, 1988, a Boeing 737-297 serving the flight suffered extensive damage after an explosive decompression in flight, but was able to land safely at Kahului Airport on Maui. There was one fatality, flight attendant Clarabelle Lansing, who was ejected from the airplane. Another 65 passengers and crew were injured. Despite the substantial damage inflicted by the decompression, and the loss of one cabin crew member, the safe landing of the aircraft established the incident as a significant event in the history of aviation, with far-reaching effects on aviation safety policies and procedures.

Credits go to Mayday (Air Crash Investigation, Air Emergency, Air Disasters in other places) for the video clip of the roof separation.

Music: The Only Light Is Gone
Artist: Dalo Vian
Listen to the entire music here:

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[SpicyTexan]

I want to mention that another flight attendant Jane Sato-Tomita was injured by debris and was being pulled toward the hole. Passengers held onto her until the plane landed.

[georgeschierling]

Good example of why you should have your seat belt buckled in flight at all times

[blessOTMA]

It's amazing they got that plane down. RIP, Clarabelle Lansing.

[hrgiyzueghe]

The ATC guy still doesn't know the flight's name as of today.

[DrewJPS]

ATC: Say again? You're breaking up.

Pilot: Affirmative.

[ELCADAROSA]

Outstanding video, Allec.
For those who may not know, the 1990 television movie, “Miracle Landing”, starring the late Wayne Rogers and Connie Sellecca in the pilot roles, is based on this incredible incident.

[joepromedio]

I remember this. We had just returned from a trip to Honolulu. RIP FA Lansing.
The pilots did a great job getting the plane on the ground as soon as possible.

[jaimhaas]

Imagine being a passenger and seeing the clouds suddenly at 24000 feet and then for all those minutes thinking you were going to crash at some point....the view must have been stunning and frightening. Bet none of them ever go to an amusement park again.

[deadheadred]

That straight up made me cry, her body was never found, what a tragedy. Godspeed, fine lady

[tanksoldier]

ATC: Hey, I've got a flight declaring an emergency, depressurized and about to land on my doorstep. How about I spend forever making the pilot repeat their flight number... because I won't be able to get that later.

[muffsmercury]

One of those flights that by a miracle, had a safe landing. How the front end didn't break off either in flight or on final approach was truly a miracle. Totally professional crew on board.

[jm_spotting]

Oh, at last we have a reconstruction of this accident. The pilots were very brave. Gr8 video by the way

[angelamermaid]

I remember when this happened, I knew that one flight attendant was lost out of all the people on board, and I was still nervous when they were coming in for the landing, watching this.

[Bobrogers]

Aloha is guilty of criminal neglect for flying that plane so far beyond its useful life and for failing to perform inspections. They didn't deserve to have such skillful pilots, but thank God they did!

[BLACKMONGOOSE]

Legend has it that in an ATC tower in a far away land there is an ancient air traffic controller still going through the numbers to figure out this flight number to this day. He will not stop until he discovers what everyone else already knows.

[PBTomahawk]

I worked for Continental at this time; an Airworthiness Directive (AD) went out after the investigation
stating that at the time of manufacturing of this 737 a worker had used an automatic center punch where
he was drilling holes through the skin at this location which caused a stress point and as a result of
cabin pressurization depressurization cycling that stress grew into "S" shaped cracks over each hole
causing the skin to fail.
My inspection of our 737's revealed and confirmed these horizontal "S" cracks; repairs were made.

[comments]

I'd like to think that the high altitude and the fast rushing through air at 24000 ft would've made Lansing lose consciousness almost immediately, so that she had not have suffered the agony of the long fall, or even had a slight moment to realize what was happening when it was over. But what pain it must've been to her loved ones for the rest of their lives!

[birdnest]

I recall this flight. I also watched the movie about it. My most vivid memory is the people hanging on to the other flight attendant. And the roof of the plane gone. Rip to the flight attendant that lost her life. I always wear my seat belt since seeing this on the news in 1988. Great job, pilots.

[jackyclaiborne]

Asides from loosing the roof over the first class compartment, the plane's port engine ingested debris, and was disabled. On the approach, they had to fly solely on the starboard engine. During the ordeal, the starboard engine was overheating, and a passenger, seated on the starboard side noticed smoke coming out of the engine. That increased everyone's fear that they might not make it.

[cindysavage]

I remember this incident well. I honeymooned in HI and flew HAWAIIAN AIR for the island hops. Most of the hops last 30 minutes and the planes, since they are either taking off or landing, don't spend a lot of time flying with minimal structural stressors. Even at 10 degrees latitude, it is still below zero at 24K feet. I've always thought/hoped the flight attendant died instantly.