Photo from open sources
Boeing 737-29 flying AQ 243 flight to Honolulu began lounging right in the air. Chances to survive in such a situation there was one in a million crew and passengers, not more.
04/28/1988, 13:58, airport Kahului about. Maui, Hawaii
Several airport employees, covering their eyes with their hands from the sun, looked at the approaching Boeing. This plane was not in schedule. “Somehow it’s strange landing, on the left wing collapses, “one said.” And for some reason, the speed does not reduce – is he crazy, to sit down at such a speed? “, he answered second. “Lord Jesus!” – someone whispered: a declining the plane was missing part of the fuselage! Like a giant monster grabbed his teeth into the body of a Boeing and pulled out a significant amount of it with meat part. A heart-rending female cry rang out over the flight.
Boeing 737-297 Aloha Airlines
Boeing with registration number N73711 was the oldest aircraft in Aloha Airlines Released in 1969, it succeeded several times. owner-airline and changed his name several times. Now it was called Queen Liliuokalani and worked as a shuttle bus flying between islands of the archipelago. Every day he made 8-10 flights, each lasting no more than 30-40 minutes.
April 28, the board was supposed to fly along the route about. Hawaii Honolulu. Flight time is 35 minutes. Crew Commander – Robert Schornsteinimer (10 years of service, 8.500 flying hours), co-pilot – Madeline L. Tompkins (8 years of experience, 8.000 flight hours) and three flight attendants. Boeing has passed pre-flight inspection (everything is fine, the plane is ready for flight). IN 13:25 Queen Liliuokalani, with 95 people on board, looked up runway and headed for Honolulu.
Meanwhile …
Meanwhile, by April 1988, the Boeing managed to fly over 35,400 hours, most of which occurred on short routes between Hawaiian airports. The most difficult and responsible part of each flight is take-off and landing, when the plane is experiencing heavy loads. Every take-off and every landing is the strongest a blow throughout the car, a “micro-heart attack” that never goes away without a trace.
Boeing Queen Liliuokalani, flying on domestic flights, suffered 15-20 such “micro-heart attacks” daily. For 19 years, he “jumped” almost 90,000 take-off and landing cycles in the Hawaiian Islands – the absolute record of the time for cars of this class. Salty sea air did not contribute to the health of the aircraft – it was very undermined. It was time for the car to retire, but there was a new day, and Queen Liliuokalani took off again.
Accident at an altitude of 7.500 meters
At 13:48, the Boeing reached FL240 (7.500m). At this height the pressure difference inside the aircraft and outside is three times. The slightest microcrack is enough for a catastrophe to become inevitable. At 13:48, a crack snake ran right along the ceiling of the cabin first class and under pressure from inside the plane began to unfold like a tin can.
In a split second, 35 sq. M. m. fuselage along with wiring, thermal insulation and luggage racks. Passengers were under open air at an altitude of 7.500m, with a free-stream speed 500 km / h and a temperature of minus 45 degrees.
Inside, a natural hurricane raged. Not enough air. Passengers could not wear oxygen masks – they simply were not there. Michelle Honda stewardess in this situation was one – partner Jane was injured and lay unconscious, Clara-Belle did not respond. Michelle didn’t even know if the pilots were alive, but she showed courage, acted quickly, decisively – grouped passengers, not made a panic.
In the cockpit – Commander, what will we do? – Sit down, and how as soon as possible. – The nearest airport is Kahului on about. Maui – We turn around on Kahului. Now it remains only to pray that Boeing didn’t fall apart before we land.
The plane began to reduce speed and altitude, seemed about. Maui
– Commander, when the speed drops below 315 km / h, the plane loses control. – Do not reduce the speed, we will sit at an increased speed. We produce the chassis. – Commander, output indication signal no front landing gear. – Kahului, what can you say about our front chassis? – Visually observe: the chassis is released.
But is it fixed in working position? This is not the pilots they knew. If not, the plane will have to land on its belly.
Extreme landing
Usually before an extreme landing the plane flies a few hours, burning fuel to the last liter. If during landing fuel explode – none of those on board will have a single a chance to survive. But how much longer lounging in the air to parts of a Boeing? Hour? Or a few minutes? Therefore Schornsteinimer decided to sit down with full tanks.
– Commander, we’re down. The left motor stalled. – no flaps release. – But how are we going to slow down? – Chassis and reverse engine. – Clear. Our Father in heaven …
At 13:58, the Boeing’s chassis touched the runway. Fire and ambulance cars rushed towards him with a howl.
A photo from open sources
When the pilots climbed out, they saw that the nose of the plane hanging out on several beams.
A photo from open sources
Thanks to the actions of the pilots, all passengers remained alive, escaped with injuries of varying severity. Gone missing flight attendant Clara-Belle Lansing – at the time of the accident, her airflow threw out. Her body was never found, but hardly anyone doubts that she died.
Posted by Klim Podkova
Time Aircraft
