Malaysian Airline Flight MH370: Will It Be One Of History’s Worst Airline Tragedies?

By Staff Reporter | Aug 16, 2014 10:53 AM EDT

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Around thousands of flights worldwide that take off and land without any concerns whichever time every day. However, sometimes tragedies happened when you least expect them. After the disappearance of Malaysian Airline Flight MH370 last March, will it be one of history's worst airline tragedies to be revealed?

We will look back through history as we unravel the worst airline tragedies that occurred and reported then and now.

Almost three decades ago, one of history's worst airline disasters reported was the broke up in the air of Lauda Air Flight 004 from Bangkok to Vienna near the Burma Thailand border in May 26, 1991. Reports showed that there were no survivors. After several months, another airline tragedy followed. Nigeria Airways Flight 2120 reportedly crashed after a fire that burned through the floor that was caused by an overheated deflated tire during take-off. It was said that the plane was taking off from Jeddah, KSA towards Sokoto, Nigeria. 261 passengers died after falling from the bottom of the plane in July 11, 1991.

Last April 26, 1994, another plane crash was reported adding up to the list of the history's worst airline tragedies. China Airline Flight 140 from Taipei crashed when the pilot accidentally hit the take-off go around button just before landing leaving only 7 noted survivors and the death of 264 passengers on its wake. Two years after the reported crash, the world was once again shocked by the Swiss Air Flight 111 from New York going to Geneva that had crashed into the ocean near Nova Scotia due to cockpit fire causing the death of 229 passengers.

In June 2009, Air France Flight 447 was among the history's worst airline tragedies to have been revealed after the plane disappeared on its way to Paris from Rio de Janeiro. 228 passengers were reportedly dead. The black box was recovered two years later although the wreckage was found to five days after.

In all reported worst airline tragedies in history, the 9/11 flights were noted as the worst then and now. It was not a single air disaster. In commercial aviation history, the four 9/11 flights were accountable for the greatest single day loss of life. The American Airlines Flight 11 and United Airlines Flight 175 were accountable for thousands of casualties killing 1700 and 1000 people respectively.

Recently, another airline tragedy had been reported. Last July, Malaysian Airline Flight MH17 from Amsterdam was shot down over Eastern Ukraine. A total of 298 passengers and crew were reported dead.  

Today, after its mysterious disappearance carrying 227 passengers and 12 crews and bound to Beijing, will Malaysian Airlines Flight MH370 be one of history's worst airline tragedies to be revealed?  

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