Uncontrolled Decompression - Notable Decompression Accidents and Incidents

Notable Decompression Accidents and Incidents

Decompression incidents are not uncommon on military and civilian aircraft, with approximately 40–50 rapid decompression events occurring worldwide annually. In the majority of cases the problem is relatively manageable for aircrew. Consequently where passengers and the aircraft do not suffer any ill-effects, the incidents tend not to be considered notable. Injuries resulting from decompression incidents are rare.

Decompression incidents do not occur solely in aircraft—the Byford Dolphin incident is an example of violent explosive decompression on an oil rig. A decompression event is an effect of a failure caused by another problem (such as an explosion or mid-air collision), but the decompression event may worsen the initial issue.

Event Date Pressure vessel Event type Fatalities/number on board Decompression type Cause
BOAC Flight 781 1954 de Havilland Comet Accident 35/35 Explosive decompression Metal fatigue
South African Airways Flight 201 1954 de Havilland Comet Accident 21/21 Explosive decompression Metal fatigue
TWA Flight 2 1956 Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation Accident 70/70 Explosive decompression Mid-air collision
1961 Yuba City B-52 crash 1961 B-52 Stratofortress Accident 0/8 Gradual or rapid decompression (Undetermined)
Apollo program space suit testing accident 1966 Apollo A7L spacesuit (or possibly a prototype of it) Accident 0/1 Rapid decompression Oxygen line coupling failure
Soyuz 11 re-entry 1971 Soyuz spacecraft Accident 3/3 Gradual decompression Damaged cabin ventilation valve
American Airlines Flight 96 1972 Douglas DC-10-10 Accident 0/67 Rapid decompression Cargo door failure
National Airlines Flight 27 1973 Douglas DC-10-10 Accident 1/116 Explosive decompression Crew tripping circuit breakers; engine overspeeding and disintegrating, pieces striking fuselage
Turkish Airlines Flight 981 1974 Douglas DC-10-10 Accident 346/346 Explosive decompression Cargo door failure
Tan Son Nhut C-5 accident 1975 C-5 Galaxy Accident 155/330 Explosive decompression Improper maintenance of rear doors, cargo door failure
Korean Air Lines Flight 902 1978 Boeing 707 Shootdown 2/109 Explosive decompression Shootdown after straying into prohibited airspace over the Soviet Union.
Saudia Flight 162 1980 Lockheed L-1011 TriStar Accident 2/292 Explosive decompression Tire blowout
Far Eastern Air Transport Flight 103 1981 Boeing 737 Accident 110/110 Explosive decompression Corrosion
Byford Dolphin accident 1983 Diving bell Accident 5/6 Explosive decompression Human error, no fail-safe in the design
Korean Air Lines Flight 007 1983 Boeing 747-230B Shootdown 269/269 Rapid decompression Intentionally fired air-to-air missile after aircraft strayed into prohibited airspace over the Soviet Union
Japan Airlines Flight 123 1985 Boeing 747-SR46 Accident 520/524 Explosive decompression Structural failure of rear pressure bulkhead
Air India Flight 182 1985 Boeing 747-237B Terrorist bombing 329/329 Explosive decompression Bomb explosion in cargo hold
1985 Alia incident 1985 Lockheed L-1011 TriStar Incident 0/? Rapid decompression Inflight fire which burnt though the rear pressure bulkhead
LOT Flight 5055 1987 Ilyushin Il-62M Accident 183/183 Rapid decompression Engine turbine failure
Aloha Airlines Flight 243 1988 Boeing 737-297 Accident 1/95 Explosive decompression Metal fatigue
Pan Am Flight 103 1988 Boeing 747-121 Terrorist bombing 259/259 Explosive decompression Bomb explosion in cargo hold
United Airlines Flight 811 1989 Boeing 747-122 Accident 9/355 Explosive decompression Cargo door failure
UTA Flight 772 1989 McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30 Terrorist bombing 170/170 Explosive decompression Bomb explosion in cargo hold
British Airways Flight 5390 1990 BAC One-Eleven Incident 0/87 Rapid decompression Incorrect windscreen fasteners used
TWA Flight 800 1996 Boeing 747-131 Accident 230/230 Explosive decompression Explosion in fuel tank
Progress M-34 1997 Spektr Accident 0/? Rapid decompression Collision while docking in orbit
Lionair Flight LN 602 1998 Antonov An-24RV Shootdown 55/55 Rapid decompression Probable MANPAD shootdown
South Dakota Learjet 1999 Learjet 35 Accident 6/6 Gradual or rapid decompression (Undetermined)
Australia “Ghost Flight” 2000 Beechcraft Super King Air Accident 8/8 Decompression suspected (Undetermined)
Hainan Island incident 2001 Lockheed EP-3 Accident 0/24 Rapid decompression Mid-air collision
TAM flight 9755 2001 Fokker 100 Accident 1/82 Rapid decompression Window ruptured by shrapnel after engine failure
China Airlines Flight 611 2002 Boeing 747-200B Accident 225/225 Explosive decompression Metal fatigue
Bashkirian Airlines Flight 2937 2002 Tupolev Tu-154M Accident 69/69 Explosive decompression Mid-air collision
Helios Airways Flight 522 2005 Boeing 737-31S Accident 121/121 Gradual decompression Pressurization system set to manual for the entire flight
Alaska Airlines Flight 536 2005 McDonnell Douglas MD-80 Incident 0/140 + crew Rapid decompression Failure of operator to report collision involving a baggage loading cart at the departure gate
Qantas Flight 30 2008 Boeing 747-438 Incident 0/365 Rapid decompression Fuselage ruptured by explosion of an oxygen cylinder
Southwest Airlines Flight 2294 2009 Boeing 737-300 Incident 0/126 + 5 crew Rapid decompression Metal fatigue
Southwest Airlines Flight 812 2011 Boeing 737-300 Incident 0/118 + crew Rapid decompression Metal fatigue

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