Plane Crashes That Changed the Skies Forever

An MD-11 flying from New York to Geneva caught fire in the cockpit due to faulty wiring near the in-flight entertainment system. The crew tried to divert to Halifax, but the fire spread too quickly. The aircraft crashed into the Atlantic Ocean, killing all 229 people onboard.

The tragedy was devastating for Switzerland, sometimes called the country’s “9/11.” Investigators discovered that flammable insulation materials fueled the fire. The disaster led to strict new rules on wiring and cabin materials. Swissair 111 became one of the most carefully studied aviation accidents of the late 20th century.