What Happened
Lessons From Tragic Crash That Redefined Safety Standards
On September 2, 1998, Swissair Flight 111, an MD-11 aircraft, crashed into the Atlantic Ocean, killing all 229 people on board. The subsequent investigation revealed that a fire above the cockpit, caused by arcing in wiring connected to the in-flight entertainment network, was the primary cause of the crash. This incident led to significant changes in aircraft safety standards, including new requirements for material flammability testing and fire hardening. The crash of Swissair 111 was a major turning point in aviation safety, and its legacy continues to influence the industry today, as reported by MiGFlug.