AA191 25May 1979 Chicago 28Years Ago Today

[Parche]

At 3:02PM CDT on May 25, 1979, AA 191, a DC-10, started its takeoff roll down runway 32R at ORD. Seconds later engine 1 separated from the aircraft. The plane continued its takeoff roll, but after only a few seconds in the air the plane crashed northwest of the airport.

The crash claimed 258 pax, 13 crew members, and 2 people on the ground.

Although MD was around another 18 years, until merging with Boeing in 1997, the die had been cast. MD would never completely recover

[KharmaTrain]

1. It Was Like Yesterday

I drive past that crash site almost every day...unless you knew where to look, you'd never know such a tragedy had ever taken place in the area.

That day I was chatting with a buddy on a CB radio who was driving the around the paremeter of O'Hare that afternoon and had a birds-eye view of the engine falling off and then the crash. I can still hear his horrified voice, then running outside and seeing the smoke in the sky.

It was a tremendous tragedy that hasn't been forgotten. Rest in Peace Flight 191.

[Mind_your_head]

2. One of my bosses back then was booked on that flight

His meeting ran late and he missed the flight (although he considered jumping out of the meeting early anyway but decided against it). He was visibly shaken for a long time after that about it all. Couldn't blame him - it freaked us all out.

[Neecy]

3. I remember that day vividly

I worked for AA at the time...it was shocking, horrible.