Aloha Airlines Flight 243 Incident - April 28, 1988

On April 28, 1988, Aloha Airlines Flight 243, a Boeing 737-297, experienced a catastrophic event that would become a significant case study in aviation safety. The flight was en route from Hilo to Honolulu, Hawaii, when it suffered an explosive decompression at an altitude of approximately 24,000 feet.

Background

• Aircraft: The aircraft involved was a Boeing 737-297, tail number N73711, which had been in service since 1969.
• Route: The flight was a routine inter-island service, a common route for Aloha Airlines, connecting Hilo and Honolulu.
• Passengers and Crew: The flight carried 89 passengers and 5 crew members.

The Incident

• Time of Incident: The decompression occurred at approximately 1:48 PM local time.
• Cause: A section of the fuselage, measuring about 18 feet in length, tore away from the aircraft. This was later attributed to metal fatigue and corrosion exacerbated by the aircraft’s frequent short-haul flights and the humid, salty environment of the Hawaiian islands.
• Immediate Effects: The explosive decompression resulted in the loss of a flight attendant, Clarabelle “C.B.” Lansing, who was ejected from the aircraft. Remarkably, despite the severity of the incident, the pilots, Captain Robert Schornstheimer and First Officer Mimi Tompkins, managed to maintain control of the aircraft.

Emergency Landing

• Landing Site: The pilots executed an emergency landing at Kahului Airport on the island of Maui.
• Outcome: The landing was successful, and all remaining passengers and crew survived, although 65 people sustained injuries, eight of which were serious.

Aftermath and Investigation

• Investigation: The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) conducted a thorough investigation. The final report highlighted the importance of regular and rigorous maintenance checks, particularly for aircraft operating in challenging environments.
• Safety Improvements: The incident led to significant changes in aviation safety standards, including more stringent inspection protocols for older aircraft and improvements in the design and materials used in aircraft construction.

Historical Significance

The Aloha Airlines Flight 243 incident is a pivotal moment in aviation history, underscoring the critical importance of aircraft maintenance and inspection. It also highlighted the resilience and skill of the flight crew, whose actions prevented a greater tragedy. The lessons learned from this event have contributed to the enhancement of safety measures that continue to protect passengers and crew in the aviation industry today.