Aloha Airlines Flight 243

Aloha Airlines Flight 243
Federal Aviation Administration · Public domain · source
Occurred	28 April 1988
Site	near Maui
Aircraft type	Boeing 737-200
Operator	Aloha Airlines
Flight number	Flight 243
Origin	Hilo International Airport
Stopover	Kahului Airport
Destination	Daniel K. Inouye International Airport
Passengers	89
Survivors	89

Aloha Airlines Flight 243 was a scheduled interisland airline flight that suffered catastrophic structural failure on 28 April 1988, involving explosive decompression that resulted in a large section of fuselage being torn away during cruise. The event occurred on a Boeing 737-200 operated by Aloha Airlines, and the flight diverted to Kahului Airport on Maui where the airliner landed with one fatality among those onboard. The incident prompted extensive investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board and led to regulatory changes affecting airworthiness standards and inspection practices across the airline industry.

Flight and Aircraft

The aircraft was a Boeing 737-200 series jet built under a Boeing production certificate and operated by Aloha Airlines, an airline based in Honolulu. The route served interisland hops between Hilo International Airport, Kahului Airport, and Daniel K. Inouye International Airport on Oahu. The 737-200 had accumulated high flight cycles typical of short-haul turbofan service similar to patterns seen at Southwest Airlines and USAir fleets, contributing to multiple pressurization cycles comparable to aircraft in regional airline operations. Maintenance history involved routine inspections documented under Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) oversight and coordinated with Boeing Commercial Airplanes records and the operator’s maintenance control.

Accident Sequence

Shortly after reaching cruising altitude near Maui, the flight experienced an abrupt explosive decompression when a large portion of the forward fuselage crown separated, exposing the passenger cabin to the external environment. The flightcrew, which included a captain and first officer trained under Air Line Pilots Association procedures, declared an emergency and initiated an emergency descent from cruise altitude following Federal Aviation Regulations emergency protocols. The flight diverted to Kahului Airport, where air traffic controllers coordinated an emergency response with Federal Aviation Administration officials, Hawaii Department of Transportation responders, and National Transportation Safety Board investigators. The separated fuselage panel and debris field were later examined by teams from Boeing, FAA, and NTSB forensic units.

Investigation and Findings

The National Transportation Safety Board investigation focused on structural failure initiated by multi-site fatigue cracking and inadequate inspection practices for lap-joint fasteners on high-cycle airframes. Metallurgical analysis by NTSB laboratories and independent experts identified widespread corrosive fatigue and multiple preferential crack growth sites consistent with disbonding and rivet hole fatigue found in other high-cycle 737-200s. The final report cited maintenance inspection protocols, aging aircraft issues analogous to those examined in Airworthiness Directive actions, and the need for improved non-destructive inspection methods. The accident influenced technical advisories from Federal Aviation Administration and prompted collaborative research involving Boeing Commercial Airplanes, the Aerospace Industries Association, NASA materials scientists, and academic corrosion labs. The findings paralleled concerns raised in prior structural incidents involving lap-joint failures like those reviewed during Aging Aircraft Program studies and informed subsequent Airworthiness Directives and contractual maintenance practices with airframe repair stations.

Casualties and Survivors

Among the 96 persons onboard (89 passengers and 7 crew), one flight attendant was killed as a result of the explosive decompression and structural ejection. Several passengers and crew sustained injuries ranging from minor to severe; medical triage and treatment were conducted by Hawaii State Department of Health emergency services, Maui Memorial Medical Center, and transport coordinated with United States Coast Guard air units and local emergency medical services. Survivors included a cross-section of residents and visitors of Hawaii, and the aftermath involved victim support resources from American Red Cross chapters and Victim Assistance programs. Legal actions and claims were later filed and litigated in federal court with participation by the operator, manufacturers, insurers, and unions.

Safety Changes and Impact

The incident accelerated regulatory and industry changes addressing aging fleet inspections, mandating targeted inspections of lap joints and crown skin panels and updating Airworthiness Directive requirements for susceptible models. The FAA expanded oversight and revised inspection intervals, while Boeing issued service bulletins recommending repair and reinforcement procedures; operators implemented improved non-destructive evaluation techniques such as eddy current and ultrasonic testing. The event contributed to broader Aging Aircraft Program initiatives, influenced international standards via International Civil Aviation Organization guidance, and informed subsequent airline maintenance training curricula used by carriers worldwide. Long-term impacts included heightened awareness among carriers like Aloha Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and others operating older 737 fleets, changes in fleet renewal policies involving orders with Boeing Commercial Airplanes and Airbus, and sustained research into fracture mechanics at institutions collaborating with NASA and industrial laboratories.

Category:Aviation accidents and incidents in the United States Category:1988 in aviation Category:Airliner accidents and incidents in Hawaii