American Airlines Flight 191 was one of the deadliest aviation accidents in U.S. history. Here’s a clear breakdown of what happened:
📅 Date: May 25, 1979
📍 Location: Chicago O’Hare International Airport, Illinois
✈ Aircraft: McDonnell Douglas DC-10-10
👥 Occupants: 271 (258 passengers, 13 crew)
🔴 Fatalities: All 271 onboard + 2 people on the ground (273 total)
🟢 Survivors: 0
🔎 What Happened
- Flight 191 was a scheduled passenger flight from Chicago O’Hare to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).
- During takeoff, the left engine (No. 1) separated from the wing due to faulty maintenance procedures that damaged the pylon structure attaching the engine to the wing.
- When the engine detached, it caused hydraulic lines and electrical systems to fail, leading to:
- Retraction of the left wing’s slats (important for lift).
- Loss of key cockpit indicators.
- The plane rolled sharply to the left, stalled, and crashed into an open field near a trailer park less than a mile from the runway.
🚨 Cause
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) determined the probable cause was:
- Improper maintenance practices by American Airlines, specifically using a forklift to remove and reinstall the engine and pylon as a single unit, which caused hidden structural damage.
- Design flaws in the DC-10, where the failure of one component led to a catastrophic chain reaction.
📌 Aftermath & Impact
- It remains the deadliest aviation accident on U.S. soil.
- The DC-10 fleet was grounded temporarily until modifications and stricter inspection procedures were introduced.
- The crash highlighted the importance of:
- Proper maintenance procedures
- Redundancy in aircraft systems
- Independent oversight of airline maintenance
👉 Would you like me to also create a diagram showing how the engine separated from the wing and led to the crash?
