Date: February 24, 1989
Type: Boeing 747-122
Flight Number: 811
Operator: United Air Lines
Departure airport: Honolulu International Airport, USA
Destination airport: Auckland International Airport, New Zealand
Location: Pacific Ocean
Destination airport: Auckland International Airport, New Zealand
Location: Pacific Ocean
United Airlines flight 811 experienced an explosive decompression as it was climbing between 22,000 and 23,000 feet after taking off from Honolulu, Hawaii, en route to Auckland and Sydney. The airplane made a successful emergency landing at Honolulu and the occupants evacuated the airplane. Examination of the airplane revealed that the forward lower lobe cargo door had separated in flight and had caused extensive damage to the fuselage and cabin structure adjacent to the door. Nine of the passengers had been ejected from the airplane and lost at sea.
Crew: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 18
Passengers: Fatalities: 9 / Occupants: 337
Total: Fatalities: 9 / Occupants: 355
Airplane damage: Substantial
Probable cause:
"The sudden opening of the forward lower lobe cargo door in flight and the subsequent explosive decompression. The door opening was attributed to a faulty switch or wiring in the door control system which permitted electrical actuation of the door latches toward the unlatched position after initial door closure and before takeoff. Contributing to the cause of the accident was a deficiency in the design of the cargo door locking mechanisms, which made them susceptible to deformation, allowing the door to become unlatched after being properly latched and locked. Also contributing to the accident was a lack of timely corrective actions by Boeing and the FAA following a 1987 cargo door opening incident on a Pan Am B-747."
Passengers: Fatalities: 9 / Occupants: 337
Total: Fatalities: 9 / Occupants: 355
Airplane damage: Substantial
Probable cause:
"The sudden opening of the forward lower lobe cargo door in flight and the subsequent explosive decompression. The door opening was attributed to a faulty switch or wiring in the door control system which permitted electrical actuation of the door latches toward the unlatched position after initial door closure and before takeoff. Contributing to the cause of the accident was a deficiency in the design of the cargo door locking mechanisms, which made them susceptible to deformation, allowing the door to become unlatched after being properly latched and locked. Also contributing to the accident was a lack of timely corrective actions by Boeing and the FAA following a 1987 cargo door opening incident on a Pan Am B-747."
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