United Airlines Flight 811

Steven Meyer • Jan 24, 2024

United Airlines Flight 811 was a tragic incident that occurred on February 24, 1989. The flight was a scheduled domestic flight from Honolulu, Hawaii to Auckland, New Zealand, with a stopover in Honolulu. The aircraft involved was a Boeing 747-122, with registration N4713U.

The incident began shortly after takeoff from Honolulu International Airport. As the aircraft climbed through an altitude of approximately 22,000 feet, a cargo door located on the right side of the aircraft suddenly failed, causing a rapid decompression inside the cabin. The force of the decompression was so strong that it blew out several rows of seats, resulting in nine passengers being ejected from the aircraft.

Despite the severe damage, the flight crew managed to successfully divert the aircraft back to Honolulu for an emergency landing. Tragically, seven of the nine passengers who were ejected from the aircraft died as a result of the incident. The other two passengers who were ejected, along with the rest of the passengers and crew, survived the incident.

The subsequent investigation revealed that the cause of the cargo door failure was a faulty design in the locking mechanism. Specifically, the handle on the cargo door had been improperly designed, making it prone to unintentional movement. This design flaw allowed the cargo door to unlatch mid-flight, leading to the explosive decompression.

As a response to the incident, United Airlines, as well as other airlines operating Boeing 747 aircraft, implemented various safety measures to prevent similar accidents from occurring in the future. These measures included improved cargo door designs, enhanced inspections, and additional crew training on handling emergency situations.

The tragic events of United Airlines Flight 811 highlighted the importance of proper aircraft maintenance and the need to continuously improve safety protocols in the aviation industry. Airline companies and regulatory authorities around the world continually strive to learn from past incidents to ensure the safety of passengers and crew members on every flight.

Sources: Mayday Episodes, The Sun, BBC

Images: admiralcloudberg, The Sun, confessionsofatrolleydolly