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The MD11 is a descendent of the DC10 which did have some problems that involved loss
of cargo doors causing rapid depreasurization and resulted in the loss of more then
one aircraft. One spectacular event involved the loss of an engine on departure where
the engine actually came off the aircraft but that terrible fatal incident was caused
by bad mechanical procedures by American Airlines. The DC10 has established
itself as an outstanding cargo hauler and now fills the role for the US airforce
as a long range in-air refuel (KC-10) aircraft and duels as a cargo plane.
The MD11 has had an excellent safety record and the aircraft lost last night was
seven years old, the one that overturned and was lost last year was owned by Fed
Express similar |
to the aircraft seen below was four years old when it burned on the runway but did
not result in a large loss of life.
In general, civilian aircraft of all kinds, have to meet rigid standards and are
as safe as they can be made. But as with everything, there is always the possibility
of mishaps, but rarely are these related to technical or even mechanical causes.
The only other passenger MD11 to be involved in loss of life, other then the one
last night, was one in 1993 that flipped in midair when a crew member inadvertently
deployed the |
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aircraft's landing wing spoilers and there were several fatalities aboard that aircraft
as it tumbled through the sky but the aircraft landed safely, despite the way it
was flown.
On the next page is a simulation describing of the sequence of events that involve
a crippled aircraft that might be forced to ditch at night over the Atlantic ocean.
As a pilot who has personally made a black hole night landing and survived, no one
can contemplate willingly, ditching at sea with waves of six to nine feet. |