American Airlines Flight 587

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American Airlines Flight 587

On November 12, 2001, American Airlines Flight 587, an Airbus A300, crashed into Belle Harbor, Queens, shortly after taking off from JFK Airport bound for Santo Domingo. All 251 passengers and 9 crew members on board died, along with five people on the ground.

What happened
The jet climbed after takeoff but encountered wake turbulence from a preceding Japan Airlines 747. The first officer repeatedly moved the rudder hard left and right in response, causing the aircraft to slide sideways. The extreme rudder movements put enormous stress on the vertical stabilizer, which ripped away from the fuselage. The plane then lost speed and control, its engines separated, and it crashed.

Why it happened
The National Transportation Safety Board concluded that the crash was caused by the first officer’s unnecessary and excessive rudder inputs. The A300-600’s rudder system was very sensitive, and American Airlines’ training program at the time may have encouraged aggressive rudder use in response to wake turbulence. The combination of pilot actions, aircraft design characteristics, and training led to loads beyond the tail’s design limits. Investigators found no evidence of a terrorist attack.

About the aircraft and crew
The aircraft was N14053, an Airbus A300B4-605R. There were 251 passengers and 9 crew members on board. The crew included Captain Edward States and First Officer Sten Molin.

Aftermath
The crash happened just two months after the September 11 attacks, which initially caused fears of terrorism. The investigation ruled out terrorism and led to changes in American Airlines’ pilot training. A memorial called Flight 587 Way stands in Washington Heights, and another memorial was built in Rockaway Park to honor the victims. Annual ceremonies are held on November 12 each year.

Legacy
Flight 587 was the second-deadliest aviation accident in U.S. history at the time and the second-deadliest Airbus A300 incident. The accident prompted ongoing discussions about rudder design, pilot training, and flight safety.