All heeding aside, here are the 10 most devastating plane crash videos we selected:
1. Terrorist Attack on the World Trade Center
One of the aircraft engine rotors at the Pentagon after the 9/11 attacks.
The terrorist attack on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001 is the most devastating plane crash video of all time. The final death toll, including airline passengers, crew, terrorists, and people on the ground numbered almost 3000.
American Airlines Flight 11 was a Boeing 767-223ER flying from Boston’s Logan international to Los Angeles. It crashed into the North Tower at 8:46 AM. United Airlines Flight 175 was a Boeing 767–222 flying from Logan international to Los Angeles International in California. It crashed into the South Tower at 9:03 AM.
At first, the impact of Flight 11 appeared to be an accident. However, when Flight 175 was seen live on TV impacting the South Tower, it confirmed that the crashes were being done deliberately by then unknown enemies. The jaw-dropping video from several angles by different people remains as shocking today as that fateful morning years ago.
2. “Pierced Heart” Routine Spills Blood of Hundreds Of Spectators
Chaos and pandemonium swept through the crowd during the Flugtag ‘88 air show in Ramstein, West Germany in 1988 when the Italian Air Force’s “Pierced Heart” routine ended in a midair collision. One of the aircraft crashed onto the runway and tumbled into the spectators in a giant fireball of aviation fuel.
The result was the second deadliest air show accident in history. Three of the pilots died along with 67 spectators. Over 340 spectators suffered serious burns and other major injuries. Things proceeded to get worse as the rescue efforts were hampered by differences in medical equipment between German and American medical teams, an initial lack of recognition of the seriousness of the crash by authorities, and a lack of planning for major disasters.
3. Hijacked Ethiopian Airliner Crashes Into Ocean
On November 23, 1996 three Ethiopian hijackers seeking political asylum hijacked Ethiopian Airlines flight 961. It was scheduled to travel from Addis Ababa to Nairobi and then on to Bombay. The hijackers wanted the pilot to fly them to Australia. The Boeing 767-200ER ran out of fuel and the pilot attempted a water landing near Grande Comore, Comoros Islands, in the Indian Ocean near Mozambique.
Traveling at over 200 miles per hour as it hit the water, the plane's left wing made contact first. The jet engine acted as a big scoop, jerking the entire aircraft to the left and breaking it apart. Of the 175 passengers and crew, 125 died along with the three hijackers. Many of the passengers died because they inflated their life jackets before they were able to extricate themselves from the cabin, pinning them against the ceiling as water flooded the plane.
4. Russian MiG-29's Collide During Royal International Air Show
Two MiG-29s collided in mid-air during the 1993 Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) air show at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, United Kingdom. The cockpit was cut completely off the first plane. Both pilots, representing the Russian Air Force, were able to eject and land safely.
Miraculously, they escaped with minor injuries. An investigation found that pilot error was at fault. As one pilot performed a reverse loop into a cloud bank, his comrade lost sight of him and decided to end his participation in the demonstration. Shortly after that, they collided.
5. Boeing B-52 Crashes at Fairchild Air Force Base
A perfect storm of pilot overconfidence, restricted air space and a “turning flight stall” led to the crash of a Boeing B-52 Stratofortress at a demonstration air show at Fairchild Air Force Base in the state of Washington on June 24, 1994. The pilot, “Bud” Holland, was known for taking risks, often breaking standard flight safety rules and procedures.
On that day he was attempting a low-speed 90° turn. The aircraft tipped pass 90°, descended quickly, snapped a grid of power lines, and exploded on the ground. All four crew members died. One crew member attempted to eject but was only partially able to complete the maneuver.
6. F-16 Thunderbird Crash At Mountain Home Airbase
Eject! Only a second before he smashed into the earth in a tumble of fire and molten steel, Air Force Captain Christopher Stricklin ejected from his F-16 Falcon during the Sept. 14, 2003 USAF Thunderbirds show at Mountain Home Air Force base in southwestern Idaho.
Stricklin was attempting to perform a difficult maneuver called a Reverse Half Cuban Eight. He climbed, rolled, and started to loop when he realized his calculations were off. He angled his aircraft away from the crowd of 60,000 and ejected. He was travelling at over 260 miles per hour and was only 140 feet off the ground when the ejection system released the canopy and his seat shot up. As it hit the airflow, it tore away from the crashing jet, saving his life.
7. Commuter Plane Crashes During High Performance Landing
Flight demonstrations are often used by manufacturers to give potential buyers a good idea of the capabilities of an aircraft. As a result, many of the maneuvers push aircraft up to and possibly beyond their limits.
The pilot of this commuter aircraft was apparently pushing the envelope too hard when he attempted a high performance landing that did not work out so well. The aircraft comes in hard, smashes into the ground, and skips along its belly as fire erupts and the wings break off completely.
8. Pilot Ejects From F-16 Fighting Falcon At 23,000 Feet
On a routine training mission at Kunsan Air Base in the Republic of Korea in 1982, Captain Jack Hower’s F-16A Fighting Falcon suddenly collided with a Marine Corp F-4 Phantom II. The wing of the Phantom sliced down the middle of the belly of the F-16.
Pay attention as the contact happens within the first few seconds of the video. At the speeds they travel, it's amazing they didn't smash into a million small pieces instantaneously. You can hear the pilot call, "Mayday, mayday!” and "I'm on fire! I'm on fire!"
Immediately the F-16 caught fire and Capt. Hower began the ejection procedure. He launched out of aircraft strapped to his seat at approx. 23,000 feet. He fell face down for 9,000 feet and separated from the chair, parachuting the rest of the way down, landing safely on a strip of land.
9. Airbus A320 Crashes into Forest at Mulhouse-Habshiem
Crashing and killing three of the 130 passengers is not the way to demonstrate a new plane. That’s exactly what happened on June 26, 1988 when a brand new Airbus 320 was performing a low-speed fly-over for an air show at Mulhouse-Habsheim Airport near Habshiem, France.
The Airbus was supposed to come in at 100 feet above ground level but descended to 30 feet before crashing into trees at the end of the runway, causing a fireball. As passengers struggled to exit the plane, a young girl was trapped in her seat. A woman trying to help her was unsuccessful and both died from smoke inhalation. Another child, a boy, died when he was hit by part of the wreckage.
10. TNT Airways Boeing 737 Lands Without Landing Gear
A Belgian-owned TNT Airways Boeing 737–300 freighter attempted to land at Nottingham unsuccessfully. Originally scheduled to land at London Stansted, it was diverted to Nottingham due to poor weather.
As they prepared to land at Nottingham, the captain accidentally turned off the autopilot's while trying to answer air-traffic control communication. As they descended, the aircraft made contact with the grass near the runway, tearing off the right main landing gear, and damaging the right inboard flaps and hydraulic system. Amazingly, they were able to get airborne again. They declared an emergency and were sent to Birmingham where better weather welcomed them.
After a skidding, scraping landing in Birmingham, the plane settled onto its starboard engine due to the absence of any landing gear on the right side. There were two crewmembers on board and neither of them was injured.
As devastating as these videos are, some good did come about in the end. Each disaster resulted in improved safety procedures for pilots, crew, passengers, ground rescue crews and emergency personnel.
17 comments... read them below or add one
Nice list Ian. I don't mean to be a pedant but what is your source for the photo of the "9/11 engine"? This is a picture I have never seen before and i'm struggling to see how it relates to shanksville or the pentagon!
Stuart,
Thank you for your comment. You're right, I mistakenly used that image as I thought it was the wreckage from the Shanksville crash, however after doing some more in-depth research I realised it was from a crash here in the UK a number of years ago.
I've updated the image to now show the controversial engine rotor found at the pentagon.
Thanks for the information!
I'm surprised United Airlines Flight 232 DC-10 didn't make the list.
Interesting videos. Looks to me like an F-15 hit Captain Hower's F-16 though...
It's an incredible compilation... However, as a tip, next time use Youtube to embed the videos, you can't go wrong with that.. Videos streamed awfully slow with the host you chose..
As Diego said, the choice of video player was very frustrating. Stopped and skipped every 4 seconds. Youtube or Vimeo are a much better option.
Other than that, awesome compilation.
Amazing footage Ian. I was at the 1993 Fairford display and I was amazed to see parachutes, after the two Mig 29's collided.
Having worked on ejector seat design, I wrote to congatulate the two Russian Pilots. I received a reply from them with lovely Russian stamps on the envelope. The 380 display at Farnborough last Friday was mind blowing. Enjoyed seeing the Osprey.
I noticed that the picture from the Pentagon is supposed to be the wheel hub to hold the fan blades from a 757. The piece is actually the fan blade hum from E-A-66 B model Sky warrior made by McDonnell Douglas - that hub is too small to be from a Boeing 757 notice the size of that piece and plus the fact Boeing already said it did not come from a Boeing aircraft.
How was an engine rotor found at the Pentagon when clearly a missile penetrated the building. What a coincidence that "whatever" ah hum, hit the Pentagon, it took out the computers that held the answers to where trillions of dollars were that the Pentagon was being or was about to be investigated for.
Do these people in Washington actually think We The People are stupid? We Are Not!
I was there front and center at Flugtag in Ramstien Airforce Base, Germany. It was a hell of a day; I had nightmares for 6 months after that; I was then SGT Levine 5-3 ADA, 8th Inf Div, McCully Barracks Mainz Wackernheim.
Steve's correct, that was an F-15.
Amazing footage, thanks Ian.
No 7 in your list, just to be pedantic, was a De Havilland Buffalo, not a commuter aircraft, as you suggest.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIkv3outg7U
And in regards to the Rammstein crash, the medevac helicopter itself was destroyed by debris, and its pilot killed. We could also include (even though there is no direct footage of it), the 1977 Tenerife Disaster between KLM 4805 and Pan Am 1736...
Don't forget the Tenerife KLM / Panam crash named "The crash of the century"
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xa18wu_crash-of-the-century-flight-klm-480_shortfilms
With regards to 10. TNT Airways Boeing 737 Lands Without Landing Gear
Despite the error on the first landing attempt, You have to admit when it comes to emergency landings that has to be one of the best. A remarkable bit of flying..