Remembering the plane fire that claimed 23 lives 40 years ago

Air Canada Flight 797 caught fire June 2, 1983

Air Canada Flight 797 caught fire June 2, 1983

23 people died on board an air Canada flight that caught fire on June 2nd, 1983 the Toronto bound flight was forced to make an emergency landing in Cincinnati after *** fire sparked in *** rear lavatory smoke filled the plane as it descended at the point where it was beginning to get difficult to breathe. I began to panic and that, that's when Randy told me to try and stay calm and it helped and there was definitely no screams or, uh, I don't know, I think it might have been in the same situation that *** lot of people didn't know how serious *** condition we were in the fire disabled virtually all cockpit instruments on the plane. It forced the pilots to land the plane while flying blind because we had these electrical faults, one upon the other. And you know, my, my airplane decayed from beneath me, I capability of flying it after it was all done after we were in our, in our rooms looking on television, looking at the airplane. It seemed unreal at that time as the plane touched down, four tires blew when it was stopped. Crews attempted to evacuate everyone. Pilots got out through emergency escape windows while three crew members and 18 passengers fled through forward exits. Less than two minutes after landing, the plane burst into flames killing the 23 people still on board. Fire was the worst in the middle of the airplane leaving gaping holes in the top of the aircraft. Some passengers died because they could not find the exits on the plane due to smoke. Fire was never, uh, really no flames until after the doors were open where you got oxygen and of course, that ignited, there was nothing that I could see that was any flames whatsoever. But there again, I could not tell, I feel like that the people that didn't get off due to the smoke inhalation that so dense that some of them might have passed out is why they didn't get off of the 23 surviving passengers. Three had serious injuries and 13 had minor injuries. The plane's crew and pilots were praised for their calm, quick thinking in total 21 Canadians and two Americans died. Well, obviously it's, it's going to affect the, in my day to day living, I don't think will change, but it's something I'll never forget.

Remembering the plane fire that claimed 23 lives 40 years ago

Air Canada Flight 797 caught fire June 2, 1983

On June 2, 1983, 23 passengers died in a fire onboard Air Canada Flight 797. The flight was coming from Dallas, Texas, and heading to Toronto, Canada, when the cabin crew discovered smoke in a rear lavatory. According to the aircraft accident report, the crew attempted to extinguish the hidden fire before contacting air traffic control and declaring an emergency.As smoke filled the plane, pilots made an emergency landing in Cincinnati, Ohio, at the Greater Cincinnati International Airport. The fire disabled virtually all cockpit instruments, forcing the pilots to land the plane while flying blind.The airport's fire department immediately began firefighting operations after the plane landed. Passengers and flight attendants quickly exited the forward doors while the captain and first officer exited through their cockpit sliding windows.The aircraft accident report said about 60 to 90 seconds after the exits were opened, a flash fire engulfed the plane's interior.In total, 21 Canadians and two Americans died in the fire.Watch the video above for the full story.Can't get enough history? Watch more clips below from other big events:Remember the Beverly Hills Supper Club fire that killed 165 in 1977?The Beverly Hills Supper Club, located just south of Cincinnati in Southgate, Kentucky, was once a staple of the entertainment scene. Big names like Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis and Sophie Tucker performed there. People traveled from miles around to witness the shows and enjoy themselves at the nightclub. On May 28, 1977, all of that changed. 'Laughter, dancing, excitement': Tina Turner gives exclusive interview at 1978 supper club showTina Turner toured the entire world during the many decades of her showstopping career. On May 29, 1978, she stopped in the Pittsburgh area to give a lively performance at the Holiday House 바카라 게임 웹사이트� a supper club that featured fine dining and star-studded entertainment. Turner then sat down to give an exclusive interview.Worst drunk driving accident in US history: Carroll County, Kentucky bus crash Dozens of people were killed on May 14, 1988, in the deadliest drunken driving crash in U.S. history. A church bus carrying 67 people was driving down Interstate 71 in Carroll County, Kentucky. A drunken driver, traveling on the wrong side of the interstate, struck the bus head-on.

CINCINNATI —

On June 2, 1983, 23 passengers died in a fire onboard Air Canada Flight 797.

The flight was coming from Dallas, Texas, and heading to Toronto, Canada, when the cabin crew discovered smoke in a rear lavatory. According to the aircraft accident report, the crew attempted to extinguish the hidden fire before contacting air traffic control and declaring an emergency.

As smoke filled the plane, pilots made an emergency landing in Cincinnati, Ohio, at the Greater Cincinnati International Airport. The fire disabled virtually all cockpit instruments, forcing the pilots to land the plane while flying blind.

The airport's fire department immediately began firefighting operations after the plane landed. Passengers and flight attendants quickly exited the forward doors while the captain and first officer exited through their cockpit sliding windows.

The aircraft accident report said about 60 to 90 seconds after the exits were opened, a flash fire engulfed the plane's interior.

In total, 21 Canadians and two Americans died in the fire.

Watch the video above for the full story.

Can't get enough history? Watch more clips below from other big events:

Remember the Beverly Hills Supper Club fire that killed 165 in 1977?

The Beverly Hills Supper Club, located just south of Cincinnati in Southgate, Kentucky, was once a staple of the entertainment scene. Big names like Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis and Sophie Tucker performed there. People traveled from miles around to witness the shows and enjoy themselves at the nightclub. On May 28, 1977, all of that changed.

'Laughter, dancing, excitement': Tina Turner gives exclusive interview at 1978 supper club show

Tina Turner toured the entire world during the many decades of her showstopping career. On May 29, 1978, she stopped in the Pittsburgh area to give a lively performance at the Holiday House 바카라 게임 웹사이트� a supper club that featured fine dining and star-studded entertainment. Turner then sat down to give an exclusive interview.

Worst drunk driving accident in US history: Carroll County, Kentucky bus crash

Dozens of people were killed on May 14, 1988, in the deadliest drunken driving crash in U.S. history. A church bus carrying 67 people was driving down Interstate 71 in Carroll County, Kentucky. A drunken driver, traveling on the wrong side of the interstate, struck the bus head-on.

Remembering the plane fire that claimed 23 lives 40 years ago

Air Canada Flight 797 caught fire June 2, 1983

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Remember the Beverly Hills Supper Club fire that killed 165 in 1977?

'Laughter, dancing, excitement': Tina Turner gives exclusive interview at 1978 supper club show

Worst drunk driving accident in US history: Carroll County, Kentucky bus crash

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