R.I.P. AA191, a quarter century later
May 25, 2004, 9:50 am
#1
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R.I.P. AA191, a quarter century later
Tough to believe the most disasterous (single-aircraft) accident in United States history occurred 25 yrs ago today.
http://www.poisonoustouch.com/aa191.jpg
God bless them.
http://www.poisonoustouch.com/aa191.jpg
God bless them.
May 25, 2004, 10:12 am
#2
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I don't remember this one...where did it occur?
Just wondering...do airlines retire a flight number when that flight has crashed? There doesn't seem to be an AA191 any longer.
Just wondering...do airlines retire a flight number when that flight has crashed? There doesn't seem to be an AA191 any longer.
May 25, 2004, 10:21 am
#4
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I believe this was the DC-10 at ORD. Just minutes after take-off it came straight down. No survivors. According to some stories, the pilots were heroes as the plane was heading straight for the gasoline storage tanks and somehow they directed the plane to an open field. It could have been a lot worst.
I drove by next day, and it was a disaster area, but I can't imagine what the area would look like if the plane did hit the storage tanks.
It was a sad day, and I still think about what i saw the following day.
I drove by next day, and it was a disaster area, but I can't imagine what the area would look like if the plane did hit the storage tanks.
It was a sad day, and I still think about what i saw the following day.
May 25, 2004, 10:46 am
#5
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Originally Posted by Nanook
I don't remember this one...where did it occur?
Just wondering...do airlines retire a flight number when that flight has crashed? There doesn't seem to be an AA191 any longer.
Just wondering...do airlines retire a flight number when that flight has crashed? There doesn't seem to be an AA191 any longer.
May 25, 2004, 11:22 am
#6
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Originally Posted by Nanook
do airlines retire a flight number when that flight has crashed?
There was also a fatal crash of Prinair Flight 191 as well as the fatal X15 Flight 191 on November 15, 1967.
May 25, 2004, 11:29 am
#7
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But I remember it well... I was leaving on vacation on AA the next morning, and the front page of the morning paper was covered with pics, stories, etc. Not a great way to be greeted at the airport.
Re the second question, yes, airlines traditionally retire flight numbers after a fatal. I think some airlines re-use the numbers after a while. Sounds like AA takes a longer view.
BTW, IIRC, AA at the time showed live pics of the takeoff from a camera on the front carriage on the IFE screens, and the attorneys handling the inevitable suits demanded extra damages from AA for the cruelty the pax suffered from seeing the ground rush up at them on the screens. I don't know whether it worked or not.
Re the second question, yes, airlines traditionally retire flight numbers after a fatal. I think some airlines re-use the numbers after a while. Sounds like AA takes a longer view.
BTW, IIRC, AA at the time showed live pics of the takeoff from a camera on the front carriage on the IFE screens, and the attorneys handling the inevitable suits demanded extra damages from AA for the cruelty the pax suffered from seeing the ground rush up at them on the screens. I don't know whether it worked or not.
Originally Posted by Nanook
I don't remember this one...where did it occur?
Just wondering...do airlines retire a flight number when that flight has crashed? There doesn't seem to be an AA191 any longer.
Just wondering...do airlines retire a flight number when that flight has crashed? There doesn't seem to be an AA191 any longer.
May 25, 2004, 12:01 pm
#8
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This was during the time AA had live video feeds from inside the cockpit (remeber those day's?)---I am sure the crash was one of the major reasons they discontinued these feeds.
May 25, 2004, 12:22 pm
#9
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What was the destination of AA191?
May 25, 2004, 12:30 pm
#10
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Originally Posted by 1K-SFO
What was the destination of AA191?
May 25, 2004, 12:32 pm
#11
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The destination was LAX...
My parents lived in Elk Grove at the time a few miles away... I still had 3 months till I was born, but still hear about it today, and the huge plooms of smoke you could see from our house, and how the roads were all shut down.
My parents lived in Elk Grove at the time a few miles away... I still had 3 months till I was born, but still hear about it today, and the huge plooms of smoke you could see from our house, and how the roads were all shut down.
May 25, 2004, 12:33 pm
#12
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Originally Posted by 1K-SFO
What was the destination of AA191?
May 25, 2004, 12:34 pm
#13
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Originally Posted by andrzej
According to some stories, the pilots were heroes as the plane was heading straight for the gasoline storage tanks and somehow they directed the plane to an open field.
The plane came down on top of a trailer park
May 25, 2004, 12:40 pm
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May 25, 2004, 12:45 pm
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Originally Posted by ConcordeBoy
Romantic story... but it's probably just that.
The plane came down on top of a trailer park
The plane came down on top of a trailer park