Aviation has transformed the way we travel and connect with the world, but it has also seen its share of tragic disasters. Throughout history, there have been plane crashes that have left indelible marks on the collective memory, reminding us of the importance of safety and vigilance in the skies. Here are the top 10 worst plane crashes in history, ranked by the number of casualties, each marked by its own unique set of circumstances and the loss of many lives.
Featured Image Credit: Frank-Peters /Depositphotos.com.
#1. Tenerife Airport Disaster (1977):
Casualties: 583 people killed.
Details: Two Boeing 747s, operated by KLM and Pan Am, collided on the runway of Los Rodeos Airport in Tenerife, Spain. The accident occurred due to miscommunications and heavy fog, making it the deadliest aviation accident in history.
#2. Japan Airlines Flight 123 (1985):
mproduction /Depositphotos.com.
Casualties: 520 people killed (only four survivors).
Details: This flight suffered an explosive decompression, leading to a crash in the mountains of Japan. It remains one of the highest death tolls in a single-aircraft accident.
#3. Charkhi Dadri Mid-Air Collision (1996):
Casualties: 349 people killed.
Details: A Saudi Arabian Airlines flight collided with a Kazakhstan Airlines flight over Charkhi Dadri, India. It remains the deadliest mid-air collision in history.
#4. American Airlines Flight 191 (1979):
Casualties: 273 people killed.
Details: This aircraft lost an engine during takeoff from Chicago’s O’Hare Airport and crashed, making it one of the deadliest aviation disasters in the United States.
#5. Turkish Airlines Flight 981 (1974):
Casualties: 346 people killed.
Details: A cargo door failure caused this DC-10 to crash in France, resulting in significant changes in aviation safety regulations.
#6. Air India Flight 182 (1985):
Casualties: 329 people killed.
Details: A bomb planted by Sikh extremists exploded on this flight, making it one of the deadliest terrorist attacks involving an aircraft in history.
#7. Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 (2014):
Casualties: 298 people killed.
Details: This flight was shot down by Russian troops over eastern Ukraine, leading to international outrage and ongoing investigations into the circumstances of the crash.
*Not to be confused with MH370, which disappeared on March 8, 2014, while en route from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to Beijing, China. It carried 239 people on board and is considered one of the greatest mysteries in aviation history.
#8. Lockerbie Bombing (1988):
Casualties: 270 people killed.
Details: Pan Am Flight 103 was destroyed by a terrorist bomb over Lockerbie, Scotland, in one of the deadliest acts of terrorism involving aircraft.
#9. TWA Flight 800 (1996):
Casualties: 230 people killed.
Details: TWA Flight 800, a Boeing 747, exploded shortly after takeoff from New York’s JFK Airport. The cause was determined to be a fuel tank explosion.
#10. China Airlines Flight 611 (2002):
Casualties: 225 people killed.
Details: A structural failure caused this Boeing 747 to break apart mid-flight, resulting in the deaths of all passengers and crew on board.
“10 Things That Will Fade Away as the Baby Boomer Generation Bows Out”
The winds of change are upon us, and as the baby boomer generation slowly makes its way into their senior years, many users agree that there are certain aspects of life that will inevitably fade into the past. The generational shift is bound to bring about transformations that might leave us both nostalgic and relieved.
10 Things That Will Fade Away as the Baby Boomer Generation Bows Out
“18 Things Millennials Do That Annoy Boomers”
Millennials, also known as Generation Y, are the demographic cohort born between 1981 and 1996. They have grown up in a world that is vastly different from that of their parents and grandparents, the Baby Boomers. As a result, there are certain behaviors and attitudes that Millennials exhibit that can be perceived as annoying by Boomers.
18 Things Millennials Do That Annoy Boomers
“13 Things That Were Once Highly Respected But Is Now a Complete Joke”
We scoured social media threads to bring you the most candid and honest responses from real people. From the mundane to the shocking, we have compiled a comprehensive list of the things that were once highly respected but is now a complete and utter joke.
13 Things That Were Once Highly Respected But Is Now a Complete Joke
“11 Old-School Etiquette Rules You Don’t Need To Follow Anymore (And 3 You Do)”
In a rapidly changing world, social norms and etiquette have evolved significantly over the years. What was once considered proper and polite may now seem outdated and unnecessary. While some old-school etiquette rules still hold value today, others have become obsolete.
11 Old-School Etiquette Rules You Don’t Need To Follow Anymore (And 3 You Do)
“22 Things Non-Boomers Share That Makes Them a Complete Boomer”
A social media post asked folks to share what makes them feel like total “boomers” even as they embrace the digital age. Their responses were both amusing and relatable, proving that no matter how advanced we become, some things will always have us shaking our heads.
22 Things Non-Boomers Share That Makes Them a Complete Boomer