China Eastern Airlines Flight 583

China Eastern Airlines Flight 583

B-2171, the aircraft involved in this accident, at Beijing Capital Airport in 1995
Incident summary
Date April 6, 1993
Summary Pilot error, loss of control
Site near the Aleutian Islands
Passengers 235
Crew 20
Injuries (non-fatal) 156
Fatalities 2
Survivors 253
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

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 released 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 as Flight 583 with the flight being operated out of 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

  1. "ASN Aircraft accident McDonnell Douglas MD-11 B-2171 Shemya, AK." Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on June 15, 2009.
  2. Phillips, Don. "Article: Engineering Problem Or Crew Error Caused Jet to Pitch Violently." The Washington Post. April 14, 1993. Retrieved on June 15, 2009.
  3. 3.0 3.1 Enge, Marilee. "HOSPITALS SEE CHINA PAYING BILLS." Anchorage Daily News. April 24, 1993. B1. Retrieved on June 15, 2009.
  4. "Final Report." National Transportation Safety Board. 5. Retrieved on May 25, 2011.
  5. The McDonnell Douglas MD-11: What kind of accident/incident history does it have?]
  6. http://www.planespotters.net/Production_List/McDonnell-Douglas/MD-11/48495,N951AR-Sky-Lease-Cargo.php

External links