Dear Mr J,

Loath though I am to contradict as esteemed a gentleman as yourself - are you not referring to the Windsor Incident? I well remember the terrible accident. I had landed at DFW on my BCAL flight and we got to the hotel and I heard about this. Knowing that there was a time difference of 6 hours with the UK, I guessed quite correctly that Mum and Dad would be sitting in front of the TV half asleep and they would have half heard a news flash. They would have missed where the incident happened or which airline and just hear that a DC10 had crashed. I called at once. Dad answered. I did not speak of the accident just to say that we had arrived safely and were at the hotel in Dallas. Mum knew exactly why I'd called as what I had thought was pretty much what had transpired. I understand that it was a short-cut mechanical process that caused the attachment of the engine to the wing to sheer off on take off. We were then stranded as the DC10 was then grounded (do you remember that?) for some while and it caused havoc to many airlines. We went back to flying the 707s - all of which were fit for a museum by then. It was an appalling tragedy with such a terrible loss of life. May they all rest in peace.

The aircraft had the design fault that you describe and it was only brilliant piloting by the crew that got is down safely. Those aboard the THY Ermenonville disaster in France were not so fortunate.

The DC10 went back into service and I worked aboard them until 1999 - I loved them.