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Top Ten Aviation Accidents

by Vishul Malik

Aviation accidents can be catastrophic and have a profound impact on the aviation industry and society as a whole. Here are ten of the most significant aviation accidents in history,…


Map of Aviation Accidents

Aviation accidents can be catastrophic and have a profound impact on the aviation industry and society as a whole. Here are ten of the most significant aviation accidents in history, listed in chronological order:

  • Tenerife Airport Disaster (1977): On March 27, 1977, two Boeing 747 planes collided on the runway of Tenerife Airport in the Canary Islands, killing 583 people in the deadliest aviation accident in history.
  • Japan Airlines Flight 123 (1985): On August 12, 1985, Japan Airlines Flight 123 crashed into a mountain in Japan, killing 520 people. The crash was caused by a faulty repair to the plane’s rear pressure bulkhead.
  • Chernobyl Helicopter Crash (1986): On April 26, 1986, a helicopter carrying technicians to the Chernobyl nuclear power plant crashed, killing all four crew members. The accident occurred during the cleanup of the Chernobyl disaster.
  • Lockerbie Bombing (1988): On December 21, 1988, Pan Am Flight 103 was blown up over Lockerbie, Scotland, killing all 259 people on board and 11 on the ground. The bombing was later found to have been carried out by Libyan intelligence.
  • United Airlines Flight 232 (1989): On July 19, 1989, United Airlines Flight 232 crashed in Sioux City, Iowa, killing 112 people. The crash was caused by the failure of the plane’s tail engine, leading to a loss of control.
  • Avianca Flight 52 (1990): On January 25, 1990, Avianca Flight 52 crashed in Cove Neck, New York, killing 73 people. The crash was caused by a fuel shortage, which led to a failed landing attempt.
  • KAL Flight 801 (1997): On August 6, 1997, Korean Air Flight 801 crashed into a mountain in Guam, killing 228 people. The crash was caused by the pilot’s failure to properly monitor the plane’s altitude.
  • EgyptAir Flight 990 (1999): On October 31, 1999, EgyptAir Flight 990 crashed into the Atlantic Ocean, killing all 217 people on board. The crash was caused by the pilot’s deliberate action to crash the plane.
  • American Airlines Flight 587 (2001): On November 12, 2001, American Airlines Flight 587 crashed in Belle Harbor, New York, killing 265 people. The crash was caused by the plane’s tail breaking off due to excessive stress.
  • Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 (2014): On March 8, 2014, Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 disappeared en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing, with 239 people on board. The wreckage has never been found, and the cause of the disappearance remains a mystery.

The world has seen many catastrophic plane crashes. Some of the major ones are discussed below: The worst aviation accident is believed to have occurred on March 27, 1977 when two Boeing 747s, operated by KLM and Pan Am, collided in Spain’s Canary Islands. Around 583 people casualties were reported. As the map shows, the second-most deadly air crash accident took place on August 12, 1985 when a Japan Air Lines 747 crashed near Mt. Fuji. The plane had taken off from Tokyo. Over 520 people were estimated dead besides many injured. Technical malfunction resulted in the disaster. The Top Ten Aviation Map also shows the location and the details of the other tragic air craft crashes. As shown in the map, the most recent air craft accident took place on November 12, 1996 in India near Delhi. The accident occurred when an Ilyushin IL-76 cargo plane from Kazakhstan collided in mid-air with a Saudi Arabian airline Boeing – 747. All the 349 passengers on board were killed; it is supposed to be the the world’s worst midair collision.

Top Ten Aviation Accidents 2016

Operator Aircraft Year Casualty Location
Pan American World Airways & KLM Royal Dutch Airlines Boeing 747–121 & Boeing 747-206B March 27, 1977 583 Tenerife, Canary Islands
Japan Airlines Boeing B-747-SR46-JB119 August 12, 1985 520 Ueno, Gunma Prefecture, Japan
Saudi Arabian Airlines & Kazakhstan Airlines Boeing 747-168B & Ilyushin Il-76 November 12, 1996 349 Charkhi Dadri, Haryana, India
Turkish Airlines McDonnell Douglas DC-10-10-TC-JAV March 3, 1974 346 Fontaine-Chaalis, Oise, France
Air India Boeing 747-237B June 23, 1985 329 Atlantic Ocean, south of Ireland
Iranian Revolutionary Guard Ilyushin Il-76 February 19, 2003 302 Kerman, Iran
Saudi Arabian Airlines Lockheed 1011-200 TriStar-HZ-AHK August 19, 1980 301 Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Moscow Airways (Air Africa) Antonov An-32B January 8, 1996 300* N’Dolo Airport Kinshasa, DRC
Iran Air Airbus A300B2-203-EP-IBU July 3, 1988 290 Persian Gulf
American Airlines McDonnell Douglas DC-10-10-N110AA May 25, 1979 273 Des Plaines, Illinois, United States

 

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