Good safety history for Boeing 737 800

Thursday, 26th February 2009

Since the 100-series first took to the air in 1967, over 5,000 Boeing 737s have been built. Of that number, more than 1,000 are the 800-series, which was launched in 1998.

This aircraft model forms the core of the fleet of carriers specializing in short- and medium-haul services. Ryanair’s fleet of 168 planes, for example, consists entirely of Boeing 737-800s.

The crash this week in Amsterdam was only the fourth “hull loss incident” that involved a 737-800; and it was just the third crash having fatalities for this aircraft, according to the Aviation Safety Network.

In May of 2007, a Kenya Airways 737-800 crashed shortly after taking off from Douala Airport in Cameroon, in a severe thunderstorm. All 114 people on board died in the crash. It was thought that a double engine failure was the cause of the incident, although the investigation report from the Canadian-led team looking into the crash was not released by authorities in Cameroon.

In September of 2006 a 737-800 operated by Gol of Brazil, was on route to Brasilia from Manaus when it collided mid-air with an Embraer Legacy 600 executive jet. All 154 people on board were killed.

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