United Airlines Flight 826
The aircraft involved in the accident, N4723U, in 1992 | |
| Accident | |
|---|---|
| Date | December 28, 1997 |
| Summary | Clear-air turbulence |
| Site | Pacific Ocean |
| Aircraft | |
| Aircraft type | Boeing 747-122 |
| Operator | United Airlines |
| IATA flight No. | UA826 |
| ICAO flight No. | UAL826 |
| Call sign | UNITED 826 |
| Registration | N4723U |
| Flight origin | New Tokyo International Airport |
| Destination | Honolulu International Airport, Hawaii |
| Occupants | 393 |
| Passengers | 374 |
| Crew | 19 |
| Fatalities | 1 |
| Injuries | 102 |
| Survivors | 392 |
On December 28, 1997, United Airlines Flight 826 was operated by a Boeing 747-100 flying from New Tokyo International Airport (Narita), Japan to Honolulu International Airport, Hawaii. Two hours into the flight, at an altitude of 31,000 feet (9,400 m), the plane received reports of severe clear-air turbulence in the area and the seat belt sign was turned on. Moments later, the aircraft suddenly dropped around 100 feet (30 m), seriously injuring 15 passengers and 3 crew members. The plane turned around and landed safely back in Tokyo, but one passenger, a 32-year-old Japanese woman, died.