The short answer is yes, wings can and do sometimes fall off airplanes. However, it is extremely rare thanks to stringent aviation safety regulations and maintenance requirements.
What causes wings to fall off planes?
There are a few potential causes for airplane wings becoming detached:
- Metal fatigue – After thousands of flight cycles, the metal parts that hold the wings on can eventually weaken and fail. This type of metal fatigue caused a United Airlines DC-10 crash in Sioux City, Iowa in 1989.
- Incorrect maintenance – If mechanics improperly secure the bolts and fasteners that hold the wings on, or use the wrong parts, the wings could detach in flight. This was the cause of a Japan Airlines 747 crash in 1985.
- Extreme turbulence – In very rare cases, wings have been ripped off in extreme turbulence when the force exerted on them exceeded their structural limits. This happened to a BOAC 707 that encountered severe clear-air turbulence over Mt. Fuji in 1966.
- Collision on ground – Wings can be damaged if planes clip each other while taxiing or collide with jet bridges or other equipment. This can weaken the wing’s attachment points.
Fortunately, regular inspections and maintenance help detect metal fatigue long before it becomes critical. Modern planes also have turbulence detection systems to avoid extreme forces during flight. And ground operations procedures help prevent collisions that could weaken wing structures.
How often do wings fall off planes?
Wings falling off commercial airliners is extremely rare. According to AviationSafetyNetwork data, there have only been a few occurrences since the beginning of the jet age in the late 1950s:
| Date | Flight Number | Airline | Aircraft Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 10, 1966 | 911 | BOAC | Boeing 707 |
| June 24, 1985 | 123 | Japan Airlines | Boeing 747 |
| July 19, 1989 | 232 | United Airlines | McDonnell Douglas DC-10 |
That’s only three crashes attributed to wings separating in almost 70 years of jet aviation. Considering there are over 100,000 commercial flights per day worldwide, the probability is vanishingly small.
How are airplanes designed to keep wings attached?
Aircraft manufacturers go to great lengths to design robust wing attachment structures. Here are some of the key design features:
- Multi-spar construction – Wings are attached at multiple strong frame sections called spars to distribute loads.
- Redundant fasteners – Hundreds of extremely sturdy bolts, rivets and specialized fasteners hold wings on. If a few fail, many remain as backups.
- Fatigue testing – Wings are subjected to repeated bending and vibration cycles during design to validate fatigue life.
- Damage tolerance – Small cracks and dents won’t lead to failure thanks to crack stoppers and metal bonding techniques.
On top of robust engineering, wings are also thoroughly inspected for damage, cracks or corrosion anytime they are removed and reattached for maintenance. Components are also x-rayed periodically for hidden flaws.
What happens if a wing does fall off?
Aircraft are designed to be controllable if a wing or other surface is lost. Pilots train for such emergencies in the simulator. Here’s what happens in the extremely rare event a wing detaches:
- The plane will bank sharply to the side with the missing wing due to loss of lift on that side.
- Pilots will adjust the controls and power settings to try and keep the aircraft stable.
- The priority is finding a place to make an emergency landing as soon as possible.
- On some large jets, it may be possible to circle around and land if altitude permits.
While total loss of a wing makes controlled flight difficult, successful emergency landings have occurred in some cases. But unfortunately the aerodynamic imbalance and high speeds involved often result in crashes with no survivors.
Preventing wings from falling off
To reduce the already extremely low risk of wings separating further, airlines, regulators and manufacturers take the following precautions:
- Extensive wing inspections during routine maintenance
- Metal fatigue testing of aging aircraft
- Bolt torque checks to ensure proper fastener tightness
- Enhanced bonded structures on new aircraft designs
- Airline route planning to avoid extreme turbulence where possible
Conclusion
Wings falling off airliners is an exceptionally rare event thanks to strict aviation regulations governing design, maintenance and pilot training. With redundant wing fasteners and attachments and regular inspections, the probability is already infinitesimally small and continues to decrease as safety improves. While no form of transportation can ever be 100% risk-free, travelers can be reassured that detaching wings is not something that should factor into flying anxiety.