What happened
On January 23, 1982, a McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30CF aircraft operated by World Airways was conducting a flight from Newark International Airport to Logan International Airport in Boston. Upon arrival at the destination, the aircraft experienced a catastrophic failure during the landing sequence. Instead of remaining on the runway or taxiways, the plane veered off the paved surface and plunged into the adjacent waters of Boston Harbor.
The impact with the water was severe. While some individuals managed to escape the wreckage, the situation quickly became dire due to the cold temperature of the harbor and the difficulty of extraction from the submerged fuselage. In the aftermath of the rescue efforts, it was determined that two passengers had disappeared entirely. Their bodies were never recovered from the water, leading investigators to conclude that they drowned.
Investigation
The subsequent inquiry focused on the mechanical or operational failures that led to the loss of control during the critical landing phase. The investigation confirmed the identity of the aircraft as World Airways Flight 30 and noted the specific model involved was a DC-10-30CF. Authorities examined flight data and witness accounts to reconstruct the final moments of the approach.
Findings
The primary outcome of the tragedy was the loss of life. The crash resulted in a significant number of deaths, with the total fatality count being a key metric of the disaster's severity. The inability to locate two individuals underscored the lethal nature of the water impact and the challenges faced by rescue teams. The event remains a notable incident in aviation history due to the specific circumstances of the overrun into the harbor.