American Airlines Flight 444

American Airlines Flight 444 was a Boeing 727 flying from Chicago to Washington, D.C.'s National Airport piloted by captain Donald M. Tynan, which, on November 15, 1979, was attacked by the Unabomber Ted Kaczynski. The bomb planted in the cargo hold caused "a sucking explosion and a loss of pressure," which was then followed by large quantities of smoke filling the passenger cabin, forcing the pilots to make an emergency landing at Dulles International Airport.[1][2][3] Twelve passengers had to be treated afterward for smoke inhalation.[2] It was later determined that the bomb was powerful enough to have destroyed the aircraft if it had worked correctly.

American Airlines Flight 444
An American Airlines Boeing 727-223 identical to the one involved in the incident.
Occurrence
DateNovember 15, 1979
SummaryBombing (attempted)
Sitenear Washington Dulles International Airport
38.953°N 77.450°W / 38.953; -77.450
Aircraft
Aircraft typeBoeing 727-223
OperatorAmerican Airlines
RegistrationUnknown
Flight originChicago O'Hare International Airport
DestinationWashington National Airport
Occupants78
Passengers72
Crew6
Fatalities0
Injuries12
Survivors78 (all)

This was not the first Unabomber attack, but it was the attack which led to the FBI investigation into the Unabomber, as airliner bombing is a federal crime.

References

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