Air disasters that changed the course of cabin safety

?Photos in graphic from FAAThe history of flight is punctuated by tragic crashes that have claimed countless lives and reshaped the industry. But amidst the grief and loss, these incidents have also served as stark reminders of the need for continuous improvement and innovation in aviation safety. From the introduction of new safety features to changes in protocols and regulations, the lessons learned from past disasters have been instrumental in making air travel safer for all. Photos after Eastern Airlines Flight 401 crash from FAAEastern Airlines Flight 401 Eastern Airlines Flight 401 which crashed into the Florida Everglades in 1972, highlighted the importance of crew communication and situational awareness. The flight crew became fixated on a malfunctioning nose landing gear indicator light. This distracted them from noticing the plane's descent for several minutes, leading to a crash. The NTSB concluded that pilot error was the cause. The crew's preoccupation with the landing gear issue caused them to neglect monitoring flight instruments. This crash, along with others, led to the development of Crew Resource Management (CRM) training for pilots. CRM emphasizes communication, teamwork, and situational awareness in the cockpit. The Eastern Airlines Flight 401 accident also influenced cabin crew safety procedures. Flight attendant reports after the crash played a role in changes like requiring shoulder harnesses on all jump seats and including flashlights as standard equipment for flight attendants. Photos of Kegworth air disaster crash scene from FAA British Midland Airways Flight 092 The Kegworth air disaster, which happened in 1989, was a defining moment for many elements of cabin safety. The Boeing 737 flying from London to Belfast suffered an engine failure. The pilots mistakenly shut down the good engine instead of the faulty one. With no engine power, the plane crash-landed on a motorway near the village of Kegworth. The investigation revealed many passengers didn't adopt the recommended brace position during the crash. This led to a revision of the brace position, which is now widely used by airlines around the world. There was also a greater emphasis on preparing passengers for emergencies through clearer safety briefings and demonstrations. The crash highlighted the need for stronger passenger seats to better withstand an impact. Improvements were made to seat design and construction. Faulty overhead locker latches caused injuries from baggage falling out on impact. Improved latches and stronger lockers were implemented to prevent this. The crash highlighted the importance of clear communication between the cockpit and cabin crew. CRM training became a focus to improve teamwork and information sharing during emergencies. The terminology used onboard was also changed to improve communication between the flight deck and the cabin. British Airtours Flight 28M The British Airtours disaster of 1985 at Manchester Airport, UK, was a turning point for fire safety in the cabin after tragically 53 passengers and two crew members died. The Boeing 737 suffered an engine failure during take-off which led to an uncontrollable fire. Toxic fumes filled the cabin due to burning materials. The evacuation was hampered by the narrow aisles and galley design in proximation to the door and poor visibility in the cabin. Investigators found that the materials used in the cabin released toxic gases. New regulations mandated fire-retardent seat covers, carpets and wall and ceiling panels. Wider aisles were implemented to ease passenger flow during an emergency evacuation. Floor-mounted emergency lighting became standard to guide passengers in a smoke-filled cabin toward the exits. Passenger briefings were improved to emphasize the use of all exits including the overwings, in an emergency. Cabin crew would brief passengers on the overwing exits and there were rules on who could sit there. Baggage was no longer allowed on exit rows. The cabin crew received smoke hoods as part of their cabin crew equipment and training in how to use them as well as renewed evacuation training. United Airlines Flight 811 United Airlines Flight 811 was a passenger flight traveling from Los Angeles to Sydney with stopovers in Honolulu and Auckland on February 24, 1989. The seemingly routine flight took a terrifying turn due to a cargo door malfunction. The Boeing 747-122 departed Honolulu bound for Auckland, New Zealand. Shortly after takeoff, at around 22,000 to 23,000 feet, the crew heard a loud bang followed by a decompression alarm. There had been a failure in the latch mechanism of a cargo door which forced it to blow out. The explosive decompression ripped a large hole in the fuselage, damaging the cabin floor and causing several rows of seats to be ejected. Nine passengers seated near the area lost their lives after being ejected from the aircraft. Thirty-eight more people were injured. The investigation revealed that there was a design flaw in the cargo door latch. A faulty switch combined with worn wiring led to the door opening mid-flight. In terms of cabin safety, we learned that masks should be attached to crew oxygen masks, in preparation for a decompression. There was a review of how many life vests should be onboard and the number of megaphones needed. Photos of DC-9 after fire from FAAAir Canada Flight 797 On Air Canada Flight 797 in 1983 a DC-9 aircraft was destroyed following an inflight fire in one of the aircraft's lavatories. Twenty-three passengers died in the accident. During the flight, it is thought that an electrical fault started a fire in the rear lavatory. The flight crew underestimated the severity of the fire which delayed an emergency descent. Once landed, the cabin crew tried to evacuate the aircraft but a cabin flashover occurred due to the oxygen present in the cabin. This resulted in a rapid and intense fire that engulfed the aircraft. As a result of the investigation, several changes were implemented. Smoke detectors became mandatory in all aircraft lavatories, allowing for earlier detection and response to fires. Portable fire extinguishers were upgraded from CO2 to Halon offering better fire suppression. Automatic fire extinguishers were placed into all lavatory trash bins to stop any occurrence of hot cigarettes placed into a bin of paper towels and catching fire. Firefighting training was added to cabin crew training, to ensure a swift response when dealing with a fire in the cabin. Passenger briefings would highlight the importance of following the cabin crew's instructions in an emergency. There is no doubt that we continue to learn from every incident or accident. Aviation safety is always evolving and there will always be a lesson to learn from such tragic events. Cabin safety has improved considerably over the years and cabin crew and flight attendants receive specialized training to deal with any emergency onboard. They are also tested every year to check their proficiency in their work. Cabin safety has never been stronger and we will never stop learning.