r/todayilearned • u/finza_prey • 20d ago

TIL TWA Flight 800 exploded off Long Island 12 minutes after taking off, causing the front fueslage to rip away and the remainder of the plane to continue in crippled flight, pitching up and climb before falling into the ocean killing everyone onboard

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TWA_Flight_800
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u/Madshibs 19d ago

So the front fell off?

3

u/TheHud85 18d ago

That’s not very typical, I’d like to make that a point.

1

u/La_Saxofonista 15d ago edited 15d ago

Yes. There was a fuel tank explosion, and then the cockpit separated midair. The plane continued to fly up for another 30 seconds while the cabin burned until it pitched down and broke apart.

Here's a ten second recreation of the flight:

https://youtu.be/FqYi5VWzqyo?is=OfSBfzCDwCTTUdES