Airplane travel is safe overall, but equipment failures and severe weather can create unexpected danger in the sky. When serious problems occur mid-flight, pilots and air traffic controllers must act quickly to land safely.
Some incidents highlight incredible flying skill, while others expose hidden flaws in airplane maintenance and design. Investigating these rare events helps aviation experts create better safety rules and emergency procedures for future flights.
This gallery looks back at some of the intense and shocking emergency landings in history that left a lasting impact on aviation history. Click through to find out more.