Alaska Airlines Flight 1282
A missing set of securing bolts let a door plug move out of position. The crew returned to Portland with everyone alive.
Incident date:
LEVEL 3 Final report
Causes
Structural failure in airline accidents
Official investigators identified structural failure in 5 of the incidents we cover, from 1974 to 2024. Each account explains how it arose in that case. A shared topic does not mean the same cause.
Last updated
| Date | Flight | Aircraft | Location | Fatalities | Report status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 January 2024 | Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 | Boeing 737-9, a member of the 737 MAX family | Climb after departure from Portland International Airport | 0 | LEVEL 3 Final report |
| 21 December 1988 | Pan Am Flight 103 | Boeing 747-121 | Breakup near Lockerbie, Scotland; debris extended far east | 270: 259 aboard and 11 on the ground | LEVEL 3 Final report |
| 28 April 1988 | Aloha Airlines Flight 243 | Boeing 737-297, in the 737-200 series | Near Maui; landing at Kahului Airport | One flight attendant lost in flight and presumed dead | LEVEL 3 Final report |
| 12 August 1985 | Japan Airlines Flight 123 | Boeing 747SR-100 | Mountainous terrain in Ueno, Gunma, Japan | 520 fatalities | LEVEL 3 Final report |
| 3 March 1974 | Turkish Airlines Flight 981 | McDonnell Douglas DC-10-10 | Ermenonville forest, France | 346 fatalities | LEVEL 3 Final report |
Pan Am Flight 103
An explosive device in a forward-hold baggage container destroyed the fuselage structure and initiated a rapid breakup over Scotland.
Incident date:
LEVEL 3 Final report
Aloha Airlines Flight 243
A large section of the upper fuselage separated during an interisland flight. The crew landed the damaged aircraft, while the investigation exposed failures in structural inspection and oversight.
Incident date:
LEVEL 3 Final report
Japan Airlines Flight 123
An improperly repaired pressure bulkhead failed in flight, damaging the tail and all four hydraulic systems. The crew struggled with severe oscillations before the aircraft struck mountainous terrain.
Incident date:
LEVEL 3 Final report
Turkish Airlines Flight 981
A cargo door that appeared secured opened during climb. Rapid depressurisation collapsed the cabin floor and disabled controls routed beneath it, leaving the crew unable to recover.
Incident date:
LEVEL 3 Final report