A Stormy Night's Lesson in Flight Safety

On April 14, 1993, American Airlines flight 102 was on its way from Honolulu to Dallas. It was a rough night with thunderstorms and heavy turbulence. The flight crew prepared for landing, but the weather made it difficult. Lightning hit the right wing, and the plane started to drift off course during landing. A fire broke out behind the left engine. The captain ordered an emergency evacuation, which was tough due to the plane's tilt, rain, and darkness. Despite these challenges, the flight attendants stayed calm and guided passengers safely out of the plane. In total, 40 people were injured, including three crew members. Investigators found that the pilot made a mistake by not controlling the plane well enough during landing. They praised the flight attendants for their professional handling of the emergency.