The Deadliest Aircraft Accident with 520 People Killed: JAL 123 Disaster

A huge explosion at the tail of the plane results in the plane crashing into the mountain. There are almost no survivors among the passengers inside.. This painful disaster is one of the most terrible accidents in world aviation history. But how could this accident happen?

One of the most interesting details about the accident is that the cause is not exactly related to the accident. It goes back 7 years to be. It sounds a bit surprising, but unfortunately the reviews show it. You will understand what we mean when you learn the details.

On the evening of August 12, 1985, an 11-year-old Boeing 747SR (JA8119) in Japan Airlines’ fleet took off from Tokyo Haneda Airport to go to Osaka.

This aircraft was specially configured by the airline to respond to high passenger demand for domestic flights. The plane took off without any problems and continued on its planned route. To Osaka Itami Airport would reach.

Originally on board Captain Pilot Masami Takahama and his assistant Yutaka Sasaki Everything seemed normal on the journey under his management. Until we approached Mount Osutaka…

12 minutes after takeoff, it became clear that something was wrong.

“Mayday” This animation, taken from the television show , approximates how a plane flies.

Those in the plane were startled by the sound of an explosion coming from the wing. From this moment on, nothing would be the same for passengers and flight crew.. While over Sagami Bay, there was an explosion in the aircraft’s rear pressure curtain. Cabin pressure dropped and all hydraulics of the plane were discharged. This meant that it was too late to do anything that could be done.

The plane that lost altitude began to turn and rise in the air, and the rising plane was losing altitude again. The plane, which was struggling in the air, started to descend with the landing gear opened and local time. It disappeared from radar at 18.56. It was later learned that the plane went completely out of control at 4,100 meters.

The plane approached a hill on Osutaka Mountain and crashed there.

The plane headed toward the Pacific Ocean and descended 2,100 meters. After descending, the plane managed to climb another 4,100 meters, but this move directed it towards the mountains. The plane suddenly crashed into Takamagahara Mountain and began to turn upside down due to the severe impact of the impact. The plane turned on its back and crashed upside down again.

The wreckage of the plane was found 18 minutes after the crash. America offered assistance to Japan to send a rescue team. However, Japan rejected this offer and organized a rescue operation with its own team. However, both the darkness and the forest area caused the wreckage to be reached after 14 hours. When it was found, it was only found through the rubble. 4 people alive was rescued. In this case, only one thing comes to mind: Could more people have been saved if America’s help had been accepted?

When the black box records are examined, it is revealed that two explosion sounds are heard in the plane’s records.

A photo taken by a witness on the ground shows that Flight 123 was missing its tail fin. (Japan Aircraft Accident Investigation Commission)

Japanese sailors had seen the plane’s vertical wing at sea in a photograph taken by a chance photographer. When looked at, an interesting detail emerges: The vertical wing of the plane is not visible in the photo. Team, He finds the rear pressure curtain of the plane at the foot of the mountain and examines it. In the examination, metal fatigue is detected in the pressure area.

Researchers are examining the history of the plane to understand why. As a result of the investigations, it was determined that damage occurred to the tail and rear pressure chamber in 1978 as a result of the aircraft lifting its nose too much during landing. This damage It was repaired due to a faulty repair made 7 years ago. According to mathematical calculations, the incorrectly repaired part would fail after 11,000 uses, but the plane had landed and taken off 12,319 times since the repair.

Photo taken by a passenger in the cabin of the plane. Everyone in this photo, including the cameraman, died in the accident. (Original photographer unknown)

This faulty repair caused the rear pressure chamber of the aircraft to explode, and the air entering the pressure chamber tore off the vertical wing of the aircraft with a second explosion.

However, the real disaster was that the hydraulic systems damaged in the explosion caused the aircraft to lose control. Japan Airlines lost a lot of confidence after the incident and started losing customers. Even though they did not take responsibility, they paid money as “condolence money” to the relatives of those who lost their lives in the accident. JAL President Yasumoto Takagi It was learned that a maintenance personnel working on behalf of the company, while resigning, also committed “suicide” in order to apologize.

Due to a maintenance error 520 people lost their lives and was engraved in memories as one of the greatest disasters.