On April 28, 1988, around 1 PM, Aloha Airlines Flight 243 was about to take off in Hawaii. It was a beautiful day, and most passengers had come to Hawaii for vacation. Hawaii, a group of islands in the Pacific Ocean, is part of the United States, with Honolulu as its capital. This flight was traveling from Hilo to Honolulu, a routine trip lasting just 35 minutes.
Aloha Airlines is a local airline that connects various islands in Hawaii. Due to the shorter distances, this plane had already completed eight flights, including three round trips, which was not unusual. It was normal for these planes to have such frequent flights. Everything was going according to plan, and at 1:25 PM, the flight took off. One passenger noticed a small crack in one of the riveted sheets that formed the plane’s body but decided not to mention it, thinking it wouldn’t make a difference. After all, this was a reputable airline, and the plane flew regularly. She assumed it was inspected often, and if there were any real issues, someone would have already noticed. It seemed insignificant at the time.
Aloha Airlines Flight 243 Blast
But no one could have predicted how devastating that crack would become. Just 10 to 15 minutes after takeoff, the flight attendants served the passengers drinks. The seatbelt sign hadn’t been turned off yet, as it typically stayed on until the plane reached cruising altitude, which for this flight was 24,000 feet. Then, just 20 minutes into the flight, there was a sudden and massive blast as the plane reached its cruising altitude.
The passengers heard a loud bang, followed by rapid decompression. They struggled to breathe as loose items flew around, creating chaos. No one could comprehend what was happening. Soon, they realized that part of the plane’s roof and walls were missing, exposing the sky above. Around 35 m² of the front section of the plane’s fuselage had disintegrated and blown away.
Why Airplane Cabin Pressurization is Essential for Passenger Safety
The cabin air in a plane is always pressurized so passengers can breathe easily. At 24,000 feet, the atmospheric pressure is very low, and the air is too thin to breathe normally. That’s why airplanes have their own pressurization systems, which regulate the air by continuously pumping it. If this system fails and the plane continues flying at the same altitude, oxygen masks will drop down automatically in case of an emergency.
In the event of loss of cabin pressure, oxygen masks will drop.
These oxygen masks typically provide an oxygen supply for 15-20 minutes. During that time, the pilot must descend the plane to an altitude below 10,000 feet, where people can breathe naturally.
The oxygen masks did drop, but the oxygen mask system was not functioning. With the plane’s roof blown away, the system was destroyed. Passengers began to worry about hypoxia, a condition where the body does not receive enough oxygen, leading to unconsciousness and, ultimately, death. Within seconds, people started to feel dizzy and confused. In such cases, it takes only 1 to 2 minutes to lose consciousness.
No Oxygen to Survive in Aloha Airlines Flight 243
Michelle Honda, a flight attendant, was near row 15 when the explosion occurred. She tried to contact the cockpit through the intercom, but there was no response. The second flight attendant, C.B. Lansing, was near row 5 when the plane’s roof blew apart, and she was pulled out of the aircraft. Their third colleague, Jane Sato, was near row 2 and fell to the floor after being struck by falling luggage. Chaos erupted all around.
When Michelle received no response from the pilots, she went to each passenger to ask if anyone knew how to fly a plane. This only scared the passengers further. She tried to look inside the cockpit but couldn’t see anything; the cockpit view was completely blocked. They had only a few precious minutes left before they would all lose consciousness and die.
In addition to the threat of hypoxia, passengers faced strong winds blowing at nearly 500 km/h. It was difficult to keep their eyes open, and the temperature was -45°C at that height. Even if they received oxygen, survival was impossible at such low temperatures.
Good News: Pilots Were Actually Alive
The pilots were alive and in better condition than the passengers, as their oxygen masks were thankfully working. Captain Robert Schomstheimer, a 44-year-old highly experienced pilot who had worked for Aloha Airlines for 11 years, was in command. Alongside him was the 36-year-old first officer, Mimi Tompkins. Both were in shock from the incident, seeing the plane’s roof blown away and the cockpit door missing. Understanding the gravity of the situation, they decided to make an emergency descent. They flew the plane at a speed of 500 km/h, descending at a rate of 4,100 feet per minute.
Second Issue Arose in Aloha Airlines Flight 243
The nose of the plane had dropped slightly, by about 1 meter, with the floor being the only thing holding the cockpit and cabin together. If they continued flying in this condition for too long, the sections could break apart. Mimi Tompkins contacted Honolulu to report the situation, and they were instructed to land in Maui instead of Honolulu, as it was closer. At 1:48, she contacted Maui Tower and provided an update.
The plane was now at 14,000 feet, where breathing wasn’t difficult for most passengers. Since it had descended within three minutes, most people didn’t lose consciousness, and the risk of hypoxia was averted. Mimi Tompkins informed Maui Airport to have all emergency services ready, as anything could happen.
Several firefighters and rescue vehicles were on standby on the runway, waiting for Aloha Airlines Flight 243 to land. As the plane approached, now at 10,000 feet, a new problem arose—there was a mountain in front of them, the Haleakala Summit. The mountain stood between the plane and Maui Airport. Captain Robert slowed the plane to 170 knots, maintaining that speed as he maneuvered the aircraft between two mountains. The plane successfully evaded the mountain and turned towards the airport.
Decision of Belly Landing
Passengers finally realized that the plane was being flown by the pilot. As the plane approached the runway, Mimi Tompkins deployed the landing gear. There should have been three sets of wheels—two in the rear and one in the front. The rear wheels, known as the main gear, deployed successfully; however, the nose gear failed to release. While it is technically possible to land without the front wheels in what is referred to as a belly landing, a maneuver typically reserved for emergencies, the situation with this particular flight was far more precarious. The middle section of the plane had been severely compromised, with significant structural damage and the roof entirely missing, which made the pilots extremely hesitant to attempt such a landing; they knew that, given the plane’s fragile state, a belly landing would almost certainly end in disaster.
Most of the passengers were terrified as the plane descended, swaying from side to side. The pilots realized that the left engine had failed. They attempted to restart it manually but were unsuccessful. All emergency services—firefighters, ambulances, and evacuation teams—were on standby at the runway. At 1:56 p.m., the pilot informed Maui Airport, “We will need all the equipment you’ve got.”
Safe Landing of Aloha Airlines Flight 243
At 1:58 p.m., exactly 13 minutes and 42 seconds after the explosion, Aloha Airlines Flight 243 touched down on the runway. In addition to braking, the captain used the thrust reverser of the remaining engine. Gradually, the plane came to a safe stop. The emergency team on the runway breathed a sigh of relief as passengers were deboarded through the emergency exit. Everyone applauded the pilots for saving their lives.
Many passengers were safe, but among them was an 84-year-old woman in seat 5A, who suffered a skull fracture. The passenger in seat 6A had a broken right arm, while those in 4A and 4F sustained serious injuries. Passengers in rows 4 to 7 were the most severely injured, as that was the section where the roof had blown away. Passengers in rows 8 to 11 suffered minor injuries, while 21 passengers were unharmed. One of the flight attendants was still unconscious from a concussion, while flight attendant Michelle was perfectly fine.
After landing, she immediately began counting the passengers to check if any were missing. Miraculously, everyone was alive except for one—the 58-year-old flight attendant, C.B. Lansing. Search teams made extensive efforts to find her, but her body was never recovered, as she disappeared into the depths of the sea forever.
