The incredible story of a plane that lost its roof in mid-flight and the light signal that saved 94 lives.
The Boeing 737-200 of Aloha Airlines, an American company with headquarters in Honolulu, Hawaii, was on the runway that Thursday at 1:20 pm finalizing the details of the positioning and getting ready for takeoff.
Five minutes later, on a traditional sightseeing flight, the co-pilot Madeleine Tompinks—one of the few women pilots in the US at the time—and the captain Robert Schornsteimer lift off from Hilo, Hawaii, bound for Honolulu, the state capital.
With 90 passengers and 5 crew, Flight 243 had taken off and was starting to ascend. It took off, reached a cruising altitude of 24,000 feet after 21 minutes of flight, and was getting ready to resume its regular route to Honolulu. But the reverse took place.
When the aircraft got to cruising altitude, it had an explosive decompression that blew off a lot of the side fuselage and part of the roof. A third of the passengers were left exposed, subject to furious winds and temperatures of 20 degrees (Celsius) below zero, as the plane began to move from the front to the wings.
Clarabelle Lansing, the cabin manager, was ejected from the aircraft automatically. Since his body was never discovered, it is likely that he perished when he fell into the water. In the midst of a string of miracles, there was a tragic death. because the light signal had not been turned off, and the rest of the passengers and cabin crew were still buckled up.
There were other miracles as well. Every effort was made to keep the aircraft’s metal from breaking under the strain. Only the lower racks of the cargo compartment connected the captain’s cabin to the rest of the aircraft, and it was tilted downward slightly. The 94 people who were still on board the Boeing 737-200 could have perished at any time if it had come off.
Despite the explosion’s noise and his confusion, Schornsteimer was able to call for an emergency landing at Kahului Airport in another Hawaiian city and start the descent of a plane that was in danger of collapsing at any moment.
Nevertheless, the commanders continued to descend for 13 minutes until they spotted the airport and began to prepare to land, all the while dozens of terrified passengers watched what was happening around them and waited to see if they would survive or not.
In spite of everything, the landing gear moved. The pilot and co-pilot successfully landed the damaged Boeing.
The commanders were forced to prepare for a high-speed landing because they were unable to slow down due to the damage to the aircraft, further jeopardizing the safety of the craft and those on board when they landed. However, despite all odds, the landing gear moved. Copilot Tompinks and Schornsteimer were able to safely land the damaged Boeing.
To see is to believe.
Images of a plane that had just landed on the runway with a third of its fuselage detached and passengers traveling inside it without a roof, as if it were an urban tourism bus, must have been shocking to the Kahului airport staff and the passengers who were in the terminal.
Lansing was the only person to have removed her seat belt prior to the explosion that ejected her into the air and into the water, likely to begin on-board duty. Lansing’s death was the only one accounted for by the accident.
A subsequent investigation found that metal fatigue was to blame for the aircraft’s failure. After 20 years of service, the aircraft had already experienced “unusual vibrations” during takeoff. The manufacturer had estimated a useful life of about 75,000 flights, but the aircraft had already flown 89,680.
The upper panels of the fuselage’s forward section undoubtedly cracked as a result of this excessive use. In fact, one of the survivors claimed to have noticed what she believed to be a surface crack near the gate.
The episode, one of the most famous in commercial aviation history, was reenacted in the first episode of Mayday: Air Disasters’ third season as well as in the 1,000 Ways to Die book series’ “Aspirated Stewardess” chapter. Additionally, it was explained in the CBS film Miracle Landing.
The true story of Annie Oakley, legendary sharpshooter
Anne Oakley was such a good shooter that she could split a playing card help edge-on, hit dimes thrown into the air, shoot cigarette from her husband's lips, and pierce a playing card thrown into the air before it hit the ground.
The Baltic Way: the longest unbroken human chain in history
On August 23, 1989, about 2 million people from Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania formed a human chain that united all 3 countries to show the world their desire to escape the Soviet Union and the communism that brought only suffering and poverty. This power stretched 600 km.
Man's Blood Helped Save Millions of Babies
Australian blood donor James Harrison has been one of our most impressive and valued donors, having donated for 60 years. Know his story, how he was a pioneer of our Anti-D program, and why this matters.
How Dmitri Mendeleev Developed the periodic table of the elements
1850 Dmitri Mendeleev walked almost a thousand miles to Moscow so he could apply for the University of Moscow. Although he was not accepted, he walked to St. Petersburg where he was accepted, And with that education, he developed the the periodic table of the elements
During the 1996 Olympic bombing, Richard Jewell falsely accused of committing the crime after saving dozens of people
Richard Jewell, an American security guard, discovered a bomb during the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta and assisted in the evacuation, but was later wrongfully accused and faced public scrutiny. He was cleared, but it had a lasting impact on him until his death in 2007 at the age of 44.
Ancient Jericho: The First Walled City In History
The ancient city of Jericho is the world's oldest walled city, with evidence of stone fortifications dating back nearly 9000 years.
The worst blizzard in recorded history: the 1972 Iran blizzard
The deadliest snowstorm ever recorded occurred in Iran in 1972. It lasted for a week, burying areas in 26 feet of snow and killing over 4,000 people, including the entire populations of three villages.
The story of a man who spent 72 hours with 72 venomous snakes to prove they only bite when provoked
In the 1980s, an Indian man spent 72 hours in a glass cabin with 72 snakes, some of which were extremely venomous. His aim was to prove that snakes only attack when provoked. Remarkably, he was not bitten once in those 72 hours and even set a Guinness World Record in the process.
Why was the Eiffel Tower almost demolished
The Eiffel Tower was intended to be a temporary structure for the World's Fair in 1889, but it was nearly dismantled and sold for scrap metal. It was saved because of its potential use as a radio antenna, and it now serves as a tourist attraction as well as a working broadcast tower.
The day Iceland's women went on strike
Icelandic women went on strike for equal rights on October 24, 1975. 90% of women walked out of their jobs and homes, effectively shutting down the entire country. The men were struggling to keep up. The following year, Parliament passed a law requiring equal pay. Iceland elected the world's first female President five years later. Iceland now has the highest gender equality rate in the world.
Max Headroom Incident: America’s Creepiest TV Hack
In 1987 a man hijacked a television station during an episode of Dr. Who and wore a Max Headroom mask and uttered nonsense, and he still hasn’t been caught
The 440-pound bear named Wojtek and his World War II battle against the Nazis
Polish troops raised an orphaned bear cub during WWII. He enjoyed drinking beer, and was trained to salute. He became officially enlisted as a member of the forces, and helped carry artillery during battle.
1972 Andes Plane Crash Survivor recall the terrifying Struggles to Stay Alive
On October 13, 1972, a plane carrying a rugby team from Uruguay crashed in the Andes between Chile and Argentina. The survivors were in brutal conditions - high altitude, bitter cold, and the lack of food—and faced the most terrible choice—eating the frozen flesh of their dead friends or starving to death themselves.
How a Total Lunar Eclipse Saved Christopher Columbus in 1504
In 1504, Christopher Columbus was stranded in Jamaica with natives who refused to give him food. But he knew the date and time of an upcoming lunar eclipse. So he told the natives that his gods were angry at their treatment of him, and would provide a clear sign. Once the eclipse started, the natives raced to give him food and begged for mercy.
Medieval Medicine: A 1,000-year-old onion and garlic salve kills modern bacterial superbugs
Scientists recreated an Anglo-Saxon manuscript-based 9th century onion and garlic eye remedy and discovered that it killed 90% of antibiotic-resistant staph bacteria (MRSA).
Iranian inmate dies from happiness after finding out he will not be executed
An Iranian man who was convicted of murder reportedly died from happiness after learning that his death sentence was being commuted.
The Assassination Of King Alexander
The assassination of King Alexander of Yugoslavia marked a pivotal moment in the country's history. This article delves into the rise and reign of King Alexander, exploring his early life and ascension to the throne. It also examines the political and social climate in interwar Yugoslavia, setting the stage for the tensions and challenges that ultimately culminated in his tragic assassination. By understanding the context in which this event unfolded, we can better grasp the significance and impact it had on the nation and its future.
The 1814 London beer flood
In 1814, there was a beer flood in London when a tank containing more than 300,000 gallons ruptured in which 8 people drowned.
15 interesting facts about Queen Elizabeth II
Queen Elizabeth II, who ruled Britain for 70 years, has away at the age of 96. She was the country's longest-reigning monarch. Here are some little-known facts about her.
Remembering the 1945 Empire State Building Disaster: When a Plane Met Skyscraper
An airplane crashed into the Empire State Building in 1945. Among other damage, plane parts severed the cables of an elevator and the woman inside fell over 70 stories. She lived and holds the world record for the longest survived elevator fall.
8 Interesting Facts About The Unsinkable Ship, TITANIC
If you ask your friends what's the most famous ship in history the answer in most cases will be the same, of course the legendary Titanic. Its history is full of mysteries, at first it was a source of hope and national pride as well as proof of the triumphs of mankind but it soon became a source of nostalgia and pain, the extent of which cannot be described in words.
The Day an Israeli F-15 Landed with One Wing: Zivi Nedivi’s Unbelievable Mid-Air Survival
Discover the astonishing true story of Israeli pilot Zivi Nedivi, who safely landed an F-15 after a mid-air collision tore off its entire right wing. Learn how skill, quick thinking, and the F-15’s unique design turned a disaster into a legendary feat in aviation history
Poto And Cabengo: The Secret Language Of Twins
Poto and Cabengo, as the two girls called each other, communicated in their own language. The twins were ignored by their parents and secluded from the outside world because their father felt they were developmentally retarded, and their unique language evolved as a result of that neglect.
10 world’s most destructive and dangerous volcanic eruptions in history
Volcanic eruptions can devastate cities, change the world's atmosphere, and devastate economic systems. They can create molten lava rivers, mudslides, suffocating ash, and poisonous gases that cause chaos around the world for years. A volcanic explosion's effects can be massive, from its size to its death toll to its economic cost. Here is ten world’s most destructive and dangerous volcanic eruptions in history.
Medals of Friendship: The Enduring Olympic Story of 1936
At the 1936 Summer Olympics, two Japanese pole vaulters named Sueo Oe and Shuhei Nishida tied for second, but they declined to compete against each other. As a result, Nishida was awarded the silver medal and Oe won a bronze medal. Upon returning to Japan, the athletes had their medals cut in half and spliced together to create new "friendship medals," which were half silver and half bronze.
