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| Remembering the DC-10: End of an era or good riddance? | Remembering the DC-10: End of an era or good riddance? |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The DC-10, which makes its final passenger flight later, has been labelled a "death trap", hailed as a "workhorse" and even immortalised in a Clash song. | The DC-10, which makes its final passenger flight later, has been labelled a "death trap", hailed as a "workhorse" and even immortalised in a Clash song. |
| For some, the controversial aircraft's last landing at Birmingham Airport will mark the end of an era in consumer aviation. But how will the rest of the world remember it? | For some, the controversial aircraft's last landing at Birmingham Airport will mark the end of an era in consumer aviation. But how will the rest of the world remember it? |
| First put into service in 1971, the American-made "trijet" was one of several aircraft credited with shaping modern air travel. | First put into service in 1971, the American-made "trijet" was one of several aircraft credited with shaping modern air travel. |
| But its early history was marred by several high-profile crashes as the result of a fatal design flaw. | But its early history was marred by several high-profile crashes as the result of a fatal design flaw. |
| 'Horrific accidents' | 'Horrific accidents' |
| A new, outward-opening cargo door did not latch properly, leaving the cabin prone to depressurising. | |
| In 1974, a Turkish Airlines DC-10 crashed 10 minutes after taking off from Paris, killing 346 people. Modifications to all DC-10 cargo doors were ordered by the US Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) | In 1974, a Turkish Airlines DC-10 crashed 10 minutes after taking off from Paris, killing 346 people. Modifications to all DC-10 cargo doors were ordered by the US Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) |
| On 25 May 1979, 271 people died when an American Airlines DC-10 crashed on its way to Chicago. A short-cut maintenance procedure which damaged hydraulic lines was identified as the cause. | On 25 May 1979, 271 people died when an American Airlines DC-10 crashed on its way to Chicago. A short-cut maintenance procedure which damaged hydraulic lines was identified as the cause. |
| Six days later, the plane's poor safety reputation led the FAA to temporarily ground the aircraft while manufacturer McDonnell Douglas addressed issues with the plane's design. | |
| Even after it returned to the air, there were other high-profile incidents involving the DC-10. | Even after it returned to the air, there were other high-profile incidents involving the DC-10. |
| A Fedex employee attempted to hijack one of the company's cargo planes in 1994 while a French flight was blown up by terrorists over the Sahara desert in September 1989, killing 170 people. | A Fedex employee attempted to hijack one of the company's cargo planes in 1994 while a French flight was blown up by terrorists over the Sahara desert in September 1989, killing 170 people. |
| In total there have been 53 serious incidents - not all fatal - involving the aircraft. | In total there have been 53 serious incidents - not all fatal - involving the aircraft. |
| But the DC-10 has, until this week, continued to be used to carry passengers, and, in one case, been repurposed as an airborne operating theatre. It also remains popular as a cargo plane. | But the DC-10 has, until this week, continued to be used to carry passengers, and, in one case, been repurposed as an airborne operating theatre. It also remains popular as a cargo plane. |
| Its expensive three-engine design has seen it gradually disappear from passenger fleets, with the USA's Northwest Airlines, which dropped the DC-10 in 2007, the last major company to use the plane. | Its expensive three-engine design has seen it gradually disappear from passenger fleets, with the USA's Northwest Airlines, which dropped the DC-10 in 2007, the last major company to use the plane. |
| Biman Bangladesh Airlines - the only commercial carrier still using the DC-10 - will replace its remaining aircraft with a more fuel-efficient Boeing 777. | Biman Bangladesh Airlines - the only commercial carrier still using the DC-10 - will replace its remaining aircraft with a more fuel-efficient Boeing 777. |
| It made a final international journey from Dhaka, Bangladesh, on Thursday, and will carry passengers for the final time on a one-hour pleasure flight at 15:00 GMT. | It made a final international journey from Dhaka, Bangladesh, on Thursday, and will carry passengers for the final time on a one-hour pleasure flight at 15:00 GMT. |
| Plane enthusiast Gordon Stretch, from Solihull, travelled to Dhaka to travel on the Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight. | Plane enthusiast Gordon Stretch, from Solihull, travelled to Dhaka to travel on the Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight. |
| He pointed out that, of 446 DC-10 aircraft built, a relatively small number were involved in fatal crashes. | He pointed out that, of 446 DC-10 aircraft built, a relatively small number were involved in fatal crashes. |
| "There have been high-profile crashes for every type of aircraft," he said. | "There have been high-profile crashes for every type of aircraft," he said. |
| "They only built 20 Concordes and one of those crashed. | "They only built 20 Concordes and one of those crashed. |
| "I wouldn't say the DC-10 was an unsafe aircraft, there was a specific problem and the maintenance procedures at the time weren't up to speed. | "I wouldn't say the DC-10 was an unsafe aircraft, there was a specific problem and the maintenance procedures at the time weren't up to speed. |
| "Sadly these things do happen and the only way is to learn from that." | "Sadly these things do happen and the only way is to learn from that." |
| Aviation expert Chris Yates agreed the DC-10 may have been unfairly maligned by some and too much focus placed on high-profile crashes. | Aviation expert Chris Yates agreed the DC-10 may have been unfairly maligned by some and too much focus placed on high-profile crashes. |
| "There were some pretty horrific accidents a number of years ago and ultimately it was grounded for a while," he said. | "There were some pretty horrific accidents a number of years ago and ultimately it was grounded for a while," he said. |
| "But then it got back in the air and it was all go really." | "But then it got back in the air and it was all go really." |
| Some say the DC-10, which was capable of carrying 250 to 380 passengers, paved the way for mass long-haul air travel. | Some say the DC-10, which was capable of carrying 250 to 380 passengers, paved the way for mass long-haul air travel. |
| Radio 2 presenter Janice Long worked as an air stewardess for British airline Laker Airways, whose flamboyant chairman Sir Freddie Laker introduced the DC-10 to Europe. | Radio 2 presenter Janice Long worked as an air stewardess for British airline Laker Airways, whose flamboyant chairman Sir Freddie Laker introduced the DC-10 to Europe. |
| She remembers a luxurious plane where passengers had their every need attended to. | She remembers a luxurious plane where passengers had their every need attended to. |
| "It had a bad press at the time but I had just turned 19 when I started on the DC-10 so I had no fear," she said. | "It had a bad press at the time but I had just turned 19 when I started on the DC-10 so I had no fear," she said. |
| "It was fantastic; there were 345 passengers and and 10 stewardesses. | "It was fantastic; there were 345 passengers and and 10 stewardesses. |
| "For a girl from Bootle who had never been abroad to suddenly be flying on this huge plane was just amazing." | "For a girl from Bootle who had never been abroad to suddenly be flying on this huge plane was just amazing." |
| "Laker was bringing flying to the masses, you just bought your ticket and got on the plane. | "Laker was bringing flying to the masses, you just bought your ticket and got on the plane. |
| "The passengers got everything, breakfast, lunch and liqueurs and they didn't pay any extra for it." | "The passengers got everything, breakfast, lunch and liqueurs and they didn't pay any extra for it." |
| Long is not the only person who remembers the DC-10 fondly. | Long is not the only person who remembers the DC-10 fondly. |
| When the plane made its last international flight on Thursday, dozens of enthusiasts turned up at Birmingham Airport to watch its final landing. | When the plane made its last international flight on Thursday, dozens of enthusiasts turned up at Birmingham Airport to watch its final landing. |
| University Student Nicholas Chiu, 21, originally from Hong Kong, travelled from Edinburgh. | University Student Nicholas Chiu, 21, originally from Hong Kong, travelled from Edinburgh. |
| "It's the last scheduled flight, so that's historic," he said. | "It's the last scheduled flight, so that's historic," he said. |
| "I remember this plane used to fly out of Hong Kong a lot. I last flew on one a few years ago and I didn't want to miss the last chance to see it." | "I remember this plane used to fly out of Hong Kong a lot. I last flew on one a few years ago and I didn't want to miss the last chance to see it." |
| Airline operations manager Rob Edson, 34, also turned up in the hope of spotting the DC-10. | Airline operations manager Rob Edson, 34, also turned up in the hope of spotting the DC-10. |
| "I thought it was worth coming to see it," he said. | "I thought it was worth coming to see it," he said. |
| "It's another old [aircraft] type disappearing to be replaced with a modern one. | "It's another old [aircraft] type disappearing to be replaced with a modern one. |
| "It's sad that they're going; they've got a bit more character than the new ones." | "It's sad that they're going; they've got a bit more character than the new ones." |
| Gordon Stretch said he hoped the DC-10 would be remembered as paving the way for modern distance flight. | Gordon Stretch said he hoped the DC-10 would be remembered as paving the way for modern distance flight. |
| "It's an airliner of the first age of long-haul travel," he said. | "It's an airliner of the first age of long-haul travel," he said. |
| Chris Yates said, despite its history, he believed the DC-10 would leave behind a "hell of a legacy". | Chris Yates said, despite its history, he believed the DC-10 would leave behind a "hell of a legacy". |
| "It was one of the big jets which did essentially open up long haul markets to the masses," he said. | "It was one of the big jets which did essentially open up long haul markets to the masses," he said. |
| "Without them I guess we'd be a lot further back than we are now." | "Without them I guess we'd be a lot further back than we are now." |