A Tropical Flight Turned Horror Story
The morning of April 28, 1988 dawned bright over Hilo International Airport as passengers boarded Aloha Airlines Flight 243 for the short hop to Honolulu. None realized they were about to become unwilling participants in what the NTSB would later call “the most extensive in-flight structural failure ever survived.” The Boeing 737-200, registration N73711, had spent its entire 19-year career flying the Hawaiian island routes – a service history that would prove fatally significant.
The Aircraft’s Hidden Time Bomb
- 89,680 flight cycles (takeoff/landing sequences)
- 35,496 flight hours – mostly short island hops
- Saltwater corrosion from ocean spray accelerating metal fatigue
- Multiple previous repairs to the fuselage skin
The 23 Minutes That Changed Aviation History
2:25 PM – Takeoff from Hilo
- Normal climb to cruising altitude
- Cabin pressure normal
- Flight attendants begin beverage service
2:48 PM – The Unthinkable Happens
At 24,000 feet near Maui’s north shore:
- Loud “explosive whooshing” sound
- First-class ceiling tears away like paper
- 18-foot section of fuselage disappears
- Flight attendant C.B. Lansing vanishes through the hole
- Oxygen masks deploy but are immediately ripped away
“It was like a scene from a disaster movie, except we were living it.”
- Survivor testimony to NTSB investigators
Cockpit Chaos
- Multiple system failures
- Loss of cabin pressure
- Damaged flight controls
- No radio communication
- Only basic flight instruments working
The Heroic Struggle to Survive
Captain Robert Schornsteimer’s Impossible Task
- Maintain control with damaged hydraulics
- Navigate without functioning instruments
- Execute emergency descent through turbulence
- Land a crippled plane at Kahului Airport
Passengers’ Harrowing Ordeal
- -45°F wind chill at 300+ mph
- Flying debris causing injuries
- Deafening noise making communication impossible
- Psychological trauma of seeing open sky where roof should be
The Aftermath: One Lost, Many Saved
Casualty Toll
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Fatalities | 1 (C.B. Lansing) |
| Serious Injuries | 8 |
| Minor Injuries | 57 |
| Uninjured | 38 |
The Investigation Revelations
- Multiple fatigue cracks missed in inspections
- Lap joint design flaw in 737-200 series
- Corrosion damage from saltwater exposure
- Inadequate maintenance procedures
Flight 243’s Lasting Legacy
Aviation Safety Improvements
- Enhanced inspection protocols for aging aircraft
- Structural modifications to 737 fleet
- New fatigue monitoring requirements
- Improved crew emergency training
Human Impact
- C.B. Lansing Memorial Scholarship established
- PTSD recognition in aviation professionals
- Survivor support group formed
Why This Tragedy Still Matters Today
The Aloha Airlines incident fundamentally changed how we:
- Design aircraft for durability
- Inspect and maintain commercial planes
- Train crews for extreme emergencies
- Understand metal fatigue in aviation
Every time you board a plane today, Flight 243’s lessons help keep you safe – a silver lining to one of aviation’s most terrifying ordeals.
