The Incident
American Airlines Flight 191 was a regularly scheduled domestic passenger flight from O'Hare International Airport in Chicago to Los Angeles International Airport. On the afternoon of May 25, 1979, the McDonnell Douglas DC-10 operating this flight was taking off from then-existing runway 32R at O'Hare. During the takeoff roll, the left engine detached from the wing, causing a loss of control. The aircraft crashed approximately 4,600 feet (1,400 m) from the end of runway 32R.
Fatalities
All 271 occupants on board the aircraft were killed on impact. Additionally, two people on the ground were killed. With a total of 273 fatalities, this accident is the deadliest aviation accident to have occurred in the United States.