From Denver to Chicago suffered a catastrophic failure when the tail-mounted No. 2 engine exploded at 37,000 feet, sending shrapnel through all three hydraulic systems and leaving the DC-10 with no flight controls.
In an unprecedented display of airmanship, Captain Al Haynes and his crew - assisted by an off-duty DC-10 instructor who happened to be onboard - managed to steer the crippled aircraft for 44 minutes using only differential engine thrust, a technique never practiced in simulators.
The eventual crash landing at Sioux Gateway Airport in Iowa occurred at nearly three times the normal descent rate, causing the aircraft to cartwheel and break apart.
While 111 lives were lost, 185 passengers and crew survived what aviation experts had considered an un-survivable scenario.
The accident led to major safety improvements, including redundant hydraulic systems and enhanced crew training, cementing Flight 232’s legacy as both a tragic disaster and one of aviation’s most remarkable displays of skill under pressure.
The crew’s heroic efforts demonstrated that even in seemingly hopeless situations, exceptional training and teamwork could make the difference between total catastrophe and miraculous survival.
A video I found on YouTube with a lot more info:
4:19 Minutes
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