China Eastern Airlines Flight 583
 B-2171, the aircraft involved in this accident, at Beijing Capital Airport in 1995 | |
| Incident | |
|---|---|
| Date | April 6, 1993 |
| Summary | Pilot error, loss of control |
| Site | near the Aleutian Islands |
| Aircraft type | McDonnell-Douglas MD-11 |
| Operator | China Eastern Airlines |
| Registration | B-2171 |
| Flight origin | Hongqiao Airport, Shanghai, People's Republic of China |
| Destination | Los Angeles International Airport, Los Angeles, California, United States |
| Passengers | 235 |
| Crew | 20 |
| Fatalities | 2 |
| Injuries | 156 |
| Survivors | 253 |
China Eastern Airlines Flight 583 was a China Eastern Airlines flight from Hongqiao Airport, Shanghai, to Los Angeles International Airport, Los Angeles.
On April 6, 1993, the McDonnell-Douglas MD-11 was cruising above the Pacific Ocean at Mach 0.84 when a crew member accidentally deployed the slats near the Aleutian Islands. The plane then encountered severe oscillations[1] and made an emergency landing at Shemya Air Force Base in Shemya, Semichi Islands, Alaska, United States.[2]
Of the 255 passengers and crew, 60 were hospitalized. Two ultimately died; Sam Keung, an American, died of his injuries in hospital.[3] Of the cockpit crew, 5 received no injuries and 3 received serious injuries. Of the flight attendants, 8 received no injuries and 4 received serious injuries. Of the surviving passengers, 84 received no injuries, 96 received minor injuries, and 53 received serious injuries.[4] By April 24, 1993 all but three of the surviving passengers were discharged from the hospital.[3]
Michael Crichton's novel Airframe opens with a fatal incident based on Flight 583.[5]
China Eastern continues to operate the Shanghai-Los Angeles route under flight number 583, departing from Pudong instead of Hongqiao.
The airframe, redesignated as N951AR, now serves as a cargo freighter for Miami based Sky Lease Cargo.[6]
See also
References
- ^ "ASN Aircraft accident McDonnell Douglas MD-11 B-2171 Shemya, AK." Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on June 15, 2009.
- ^ Phillips, Don. "Article: Engineering Problem Or Crew Error Caused Jet to Pitch Violently." The Washington Post. April 14, 1993. Retrieved on June 15, 2009.
- ^ a b Enge, Marilee. "HOSPITALS SEE CHINA PAYING BILLS." Anchorage Daily News. April 24, 1993. B1. Retrieved on June 15, 2009.
- ^ "Final Report." National Transportation Safety Board. 5. Retrieved on May 25, 2011.
- ^ [1] The McDonnell Douglas MD-11: What kind of accident/incident history does it have?]
- ^ http://www.planespotters.net/Production_List/McDonnell-Douglas/MD-11/48495,N951AR-Sky-Lease-Cargo.php