On April 28, 1988, Aloha Airlines Flight 243 experienced one of the most dramatic aviation disasters in history. Midway through its flight from Hilo to Honolulu, a section of the plane’s fuselage, including a large part of the roof, was torn away at an altitude of 24,000 feet, exposing passengers to the open sky.

The Disaster Unfolds

• Catastrophic Decompression: The sudden loss of the fuselage caused a rapid decompression, plunging the cabin into chaos. Passengers clung to their seats, with only their seatbelts preventing them from being sucked out of the aircraft.
• The Crew’s Heroism: Despite the devastation and deafening wind, Captain Robert Schornstheimer and First Officer Madeline “Mimi” Tompkins maintained remarkable composure. They managed to descend and safely land the severely damaged plane at Kahului Airport in Maui after 13 minutes of tense maneuvering.

Casualties and Survival

• Out of the 89 passengers and crew, all miraculously survived except for Clarabelle “C.B.” Lansing, a veteran flight attendant who was tragically swept out of the aircraft during the initial rupture.
• The survivors endured injuries ranging from minor abrasions to severe cases of decompression sickness.

The Investigation

An investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) revealed the root cause:

• Metal Fatigue: Repeated stress over the aircraft’s years of service caused undetected cracks in the fuselage.
• Inspection Failures: The airline’s maintenance inspections had failed to identify the signs of wear, leading to the catastrophic failure.

Legacy and Lessons

• Improved Safety Standards: The incident prompted sweeping changes in aviation maintenance protocols, including more rigorous inspections for aging aircraft.
• Crew Commendation: The extraordinary skill and courage of the flight crew were widely praised, with many considering their actions pivotal in preventing a far greater tragedy.

The story of Aloha Airlines Flight 243 is a sobering reminder of the importance of stringent maintenance standards in aviation and a testament to human resilience and professionalism in the face of overwhelming odds.