BA 781
10 Jan 1954 · Mechanical & Structural FailureBOAC FLIGHT 781
de Havilland Comet 1 · BOAC · Image: Wikimedia Commons
Why it happened
Metal fatigue broke the Comet apart
Fuselage fatigue
Square window frames
Pressurization cycling
Aircraft
de Havilland Comet 1
BOAC
Route
Rome–Ciampino (CIA), Italy
→ London–Heathrow (LHR), UK
People
35 on board
35 fatalities
Date
10 Jan 1954
Flight crew
Captain: Alan Gibson
Category
Mechanical & Structural Failure
Metal fatigue, broken parts, failed repairs.
THE STORY
The world's first jetliner broke apart from fatigue around its square windows. The investigation taught aviation how pressurization cycles kill airframes.