August 12th, 1985. Just twelve minutes after takeoff from Tokyo’s Haneda Airport, a deafening explosion ripped through the rear of Japan Airlines Flight 123. The force tore away part of the tail, destroyed all four hydraulic systems, and left the crew with no way to control their Boeing 747. For the next 32 minutes, passengers and crew endured a desperate struggle against the inevitable, as the massive jet bucked, rolled, and plunged through the skies of central Japan. When it finally struck the mountains of Gunma Prefecture, 520 people were gone. Only four would survive. This was the deadliest single-aircraft accident in aviation history, a tragedy born from a hidden flaw that went undetected for years. Let’s investigate The Flight Files of Japan Airlines Flight 123.

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Intro Music by Paschimee Studio from Pixabay

Japan Air Lines 123, JAL 123, Boeing 747SR, Aft Pressure Bulkhead, Fatigue Cracking, Improper Repair, Vertical Stabilizer Loss, Hydraulic Failure, Differential Thrust, Hypoxia, Gunma Prefecture, Aviation Disaster, Maintenance Error, Fail-Safe Design, NTSB, AAIC, Deadliest Single Aircraft Accident.

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