April 28, 1988 - Years before Captain Sully and the "Miracle on the Hudson," there was Captain Schornstheimer, and the miracle landing of Aloha Airlines flight 243, after part of the plane ripped off in mid-air. Aloha Airlines Flight 243 was a scheduled Aloha Airlines flight between Hilo and Honolulu in Hawaii. On April 28, 1988, a Boeing 737-297 serving the flight suffered extensive damage after an explosive decompression in flight, caused by part of the fuselage breaking due to poor maintenanc

The Open-Air Boeing: The Miracle of Aloha Flight 243 On April 28, 1988, Aloha Airlines Flight 243 was traveling at 24,000 feet between Hilo and Honolulu when a massive section of the upper fuselage suddenly disintegrated. The "explosive decompression" instantly transformed the Boeing 737 into an open-air convertible, exposing passengers to sub-zero temperatures and hurricane-force winds. In the chaos, veteran flight attendant Clarabelle “C.B.” Lansing was tragically swept out of the aircraft; he