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BBC simulates Northwest Flight 253 bomb - plane survives
The BBC enlisted the help of an explosives expert and a pilot with structural engineering and air accident experience, to determine the kind of damage the would-be Northwest 253 bomber would have caused.
On their site, you can see a video clip of the immense explosion, and the stresses caused to the outside of the plane. Thankfully, the experts concluded that the blast would not have destroyed the Boeing 747, and that the plane would have been able to land safely.
That isn't to say that the explosion would have been a horrible thing to experience - the force of the blast would have killed the bomber and his seatmate, ruptured eardrums of many passengers, and blown body parts throughout the plane. The smoke, heat and noise would have made the whole thing quite traumatic.
Check out the BBC article for the video clip of this explosion, and an explanation of the kind of damage caused. The results of this test will be shared with governments and aviation experts around the world.
(As a commenter points out, the NW253 bomb was on an Airbus A330, not a Boeing 747)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Tony Mar 4th 2010 6:30PM
Wouldn't the pressurization of the aircraft made the explosion much worse?
Jim Mar 7th 2010 7:24PM
This test forgets a very important detail. Fumes are what would likely kill most of the passengers. If you just burned the pants of the bommer you would likely have enough smoke to harm many of the passengers. It's not like you can open the windows. Even if you buy the premise that nobody but the bommer and his side kick would have died. It's hard to believe that the fumes from the burning seats and carpet wouldn't have harmed anyone.