Air Safety

Aerobatics in a Jumbo

In February 1985 a Boeing 747SP was flying 300nm NW of San Francisco on a transpacific flight from Taipei to Los Angeles, when its number four engine lost power.

In the next four and half minutes, as the crew attempted to relight the engine, the aircraft went into an uncontrolled rolling descent from cruising level at 41,000ft to 9,500ft before the captain managed to regain control and restore the aircraft to stable flight. After diverting to San Francisco International Airport, the captain landed the aircraft safely.

Although the aircraft suffered major structural damage during the incident, only two persons among the 274 passengers and crew on board were seriously injured.

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