The first flight of the Boeing 747
February 91969

The first flight of the Boeing 747

First flight57 years ago
13historical events
53occurrences in earlier years
1923–2025years covered

Fact of the day

The first jumbo takes off at Everett before thousands of people. On that same day, in 1963, the Boeing 727 had flown for the first time: a double anniversary for Boeing.

Also on this day · 12

1923First flight The Stout Air Sedan flies

The Stout 1-AS Air Sedan, one of the first all-metal aircraft built in the United States and an ancestor of the Ford Trimotor, makes its first flight at Selfridge Field.

1934Milestone The Air Mail scandal

On Roosevelt’s orders all US airmail contracts are cancelled over alleged improprieties; the Army will have to carry the mail and the ensuing disaster forces a reversal within months.

1939Record Henshaw, to Cape Town and back in four days

Alex Henshaw lands at Gravesend in his Percival Mew Gull after flying from England to Cape Town and back in 4 days and 10 minutes, a record unbeaten for more than 70 years.

1963First flight The Boeing 727 flies

The first 727 takes off at Renton, the tri-jet that would become the best-selling airliner of its day.

1972Milestone The Tupolev Tu-154 enters service

The Tupolev Tu-154, a Soviet narrow-body airliner, enters service.

1976Accident Aeroflot 3739 at Irkutsk

An Aeroflot Tu-104 banks sharply on take-off from Irkutsk and crashes: 24 of the 115 on board die.

1982Accident Japan Air Lines 350: the captain who reversed the engines

A Japan Air Lines DC-8 falls into Tokyo Bay on approach to Haneda when its mentally ill captain puts the engines into reverse: 24 of the 174 on board die.

1983Milestone British Airways debuts the 757

British Airways, launch customer alongside Eastern, begins Boeing 757 service on its London–Belfast shuttle.

1989Milestone The 747-400 enters service

Northwest Airlines introduces the 747-400, the two-crew, winglet-equipped version that would dominate long-haul routes for twenty years.

1996Record The Atlantic in 2 hours 52 minutes

British Airways Concorde G-BOAD flies from New York to London in 2 hours, 52 minutes and 59 seconds: the fastest transatlantic crossing by a passenger aircraft, a record that still stands.

1997First flight The 737-700, first of the Next Generation, flies

The Boeing 737-700, the first 737 Next Generation, with a new wing and glass cockpit, makes its first flight; it will be the best-selling 737 of its generation.

2016First flight The A321neo flies

The Airbus A321neo, the stretched, re-engined version that will become the most-ordered single-aisle airliner in the world, makes its first flight at Hamburg.

This day in earlier years · 53

Occurrences recorded on February 9 in earlier years across the fleet we document; this year’s are in News. Each one opens the record of the aircraft involved.

LN-LNO · Neos, opb Norse Atlantic Airways Incident · Feb 9, 2025On February 9, 2025, the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft (registration LN-LNO), operated by Neos, opb Norse Atlantic Airways, was involved in an incident at Salalah (SLL) (Oman) due to a bird strike. Source: Neos, opb Norse Atlantic Airways.NOLN-LNONeos, opb Norse Atlantic Airways Boeing 787 DreamlinerPH-BHD · KLM Royal Dutch Airlines Incident · Feb 9, 2025On February 9, 2025, the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft (registration PH-BHD), operated by KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, was involved in an incident. Source: KLM Royal Dutch Airlines.NLPH-BHDKLM Royal Dutch Airlines Boeing 787 DreamlinerN375HA · Hawaiian Airlines Incident · Feb 9, 2025On February 9, 2025, the Airbus A330-243 aircraft (registration N375HA), operated by Hawaiian Airlines, was involved in an incident at Honolulu. Source: the FAA (United States).USN375HAHawaiian Airlines Airbus A330EC-JFH · Iberia Express Incident · Feb 9, 2024On February 9, 2024, the Airbus A320-214 aircraft (registration EC-JFH), operated by Iberia Express, was involved in an incident at Tenerife Sur Airport (Spain) due to a go-around. Source: CIAIAC (Spain).ESEC-JFHIberia Express Airbus A3205Y-AXL · African Express Accident · Feb 9, 2024On February 9, 2024, the DC-9 82 aircraft (registration 5Y-AXL), operated by African Express, was involved in an accident at Malakal. Source: African Express.KE5Y-AXLAfrican Express McDonnell Douglas MD-80N830DN · Delta Air Lines Incident · Feb 9, 2024On February 9, 2024, the Boeing 737-932ER (WL) aircraft (registration N830DN), operated by Delta Air Lines, was involved in an incident at Grand Cayman Island-Owen Roberts (GCM) International Airport due to being struck by a ground vehicle or a piece of ground equipment. Source: Delta Air Lines.USN830DNDelta Air Lines Boeing 737D-AZMO · EAT Accident · Feb 9, 2024On February 9, 2024, the Airbus A300 F4-622RF aircraft (registration D-AZMO), operated by EAT, was involved in an accident at Leipzig. Source: the BFU (Germany).DED-AZMOEAT Airbus A300N485PX · Delta Connection, opb Endeavor Air Incident · Feb 9, 2024On February 9, 2024, the Bombardier CRJ-900LR aircraft (registration N485PX), operated by Delta Connection, opb Endeavor Air, was involved in an incident at Montreal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau (YUL) International Airport (Canada) due to the presence of smoke. Source: Delta Connection, opb Endeavor Air.USN485PXDelta Connection, opb Endeavor Air Bombardier CRJPH-BQO · KLM Royal Dutch Airlines Incident · Feb 9, 2023On February 9, 2023, the Boeing 777-206(ER) aircraft (registration PH-BQO), operated by KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, was involved in an incident. Source: DSB.NLPH-BQOKLM Royal Dutch Airlines Boeing 777N13138 · United Airlines Accident · Feb 9, 2023On February 9, 2023, the Boeing 757 aircraft (registration N13138), operated by United Airlines, was involved in an accident at Lake Butler, Florida (United States), leaving 1 injured. Source: the NTSB (United States).USN13138United Airlines Boeing 757N303DU · Delta Air Lines Incident · Feb 9, 2023On February 9, 2023, the Boeing 717-231 aircraft (registration N303DU), operated by Delta Air Lines, was involved in an incident at Salt Lake City. Source: the FAA (United States).USN303DUDelta Air Lines Airbus A220HZ-NS35 · flynas Incident · Feb 9, 2023On February 9, 2023, the Airbus A320-251N aircraft (registration HZ-NS35), operated by flynas, was involved in an incident at Dubai. Source: flynas.SAHZ-NS35flynas Airbus A320D2-TBJ · TAAG Incident · Feb 9, 2022On February 9, 2022, the Boeing 737NG 7M2/W aircraft (registration D2-TBJ), operated by TAAG, was involved in an incident at Maputo. Source: TAAG.AOD2-TBJTAAG Boeing 737B-305Y · China Eastern Airlines Incident · Feb 9, 2022On February 9, 2022, the Airbus A20N aircraft (registration B-305Y), operated by China Eastern Airlines, was involved in an incident at Yulin. Source: China Eastern Airlines.CNB-305YChina Eastern Airlines Airbus A320N840DN · Delta Air Lines Incident · Feb 9, 2022On February 9, 2022, the Boeing 737-932(ER)(WL) aircraft (registration N840DN), operated by Delta Air Lines, was involved in an incident at Jacksonville. Source: Delta Air Lines.USN840DNDelta Air Lines Boeing 737C-FDYN · Central Mountain Incident · Feb 9, 2021On February 9, 2021, the DORNIER 328-100 (Dornier) aircraft (registration C-FDYN), operated by Central Mountain, was involved in an incident at Prince George due to an engine oil system failure in cruise. Source: the TSB (Canada).CAC-FDYNCentral Mountain Dornier 328N467UP · UPS Airlines Incident · Feb 9, 2021On February 9, 2021, the Boeing 757-24APF aircraft (registration N467UP), operated by UPS Airlines, was involved in an incident at Fort Myers. Source: UPS Airlines.USN467UPUPS Airlines Boeing 757EI-IMM · Alitalia Incident · Feb 9, 2021On February 9, 2021, the Airbus A319-111 aircraft (registration EI-IMM), operated by Alitalia, was involved in an incident at Rome. Source: Alitalia.IEEI-IMMAlitalia Airbus A319N901NN · American Airlines Incident · Feb 9, 2021On February 9, 2021, the Boeing 737-823(WL) aircraft (registration N901NN), operated by American Airlines, was involved in an incident at Phoenix. Source: American Airlines.USN901NNAmerican Airlines Boeing 737VT-ISD · IndiGo Incident · Feb 9, 2021On February 9, 2021, the Airbus A20N aircraft (registration VT-ISD), operated by IndiGo, was involved in an incident at Kolkata. Source: IndiGo.INVT-ISDIndiGo Airbus A320N900AE · American Eagle Incident · Feb 9, 2021On February 9, 2021, the Embraer ERJ-145LR aircraft (registration N900AE), operated by American Eagle, was involved in an incident at Columbia. Source: American Eagle.USN900AEAmerican Eagle Embraer ERJ 135 / 1459V-SKQ · Singapore Airlines Incident · Feb 9, 2020On February 9, 2020, the Airbus A380 841 aircraft (registration 9V-SKQ), operated by Singapore Airlines, was involved in an incident at Sydney. Source: the ATSB (Australia).SG9V-SKQSingapore Airlines Airbus A380HB-IPT · Swiss International Air Lines Incident · Feb 9, 2020On February 9, 2020, the Airbus A319-112 aircraft (registration HB-IPT), operated by Swiss International Air Lines, was involved in an incident at Zurich. Source: Swiss International Air Lines.CHHB-IPTSwiss International Air Lines Airbus A319HL8069 · Tway Incident · Feb 9, 2020On February 9, 2020, the Boeing 737NG 8AS/W aircraft (registration HL8069), operated by Tway, was involved in an incident at Taipéi. Source: Tway.KRHL8069Tway Boeing 737A4O-DC · Oman Incident · Feb 9, 2020On February 9, 2020, the Airbus A330 243 aircraft (registration A4O-DC), operated by Oman, was involved in an incident at Diyarbakir. Source: Oman.OMA4O-DCOman Airbus A330N200UU · US Airways Incident · Feb 9, 2020On February 9, 2020, the Boeing 757 aircraft (registration N200UU), operated by US Airways, was involved in an incident at San Jose (Costa Rica). Source: the NTSB (United States).USN200UUUS Airways Boeing 757VQ-BPS · UTair Accident · Feb 9, 2020On February 9, 2020, the Boeing 737 524/W aircraft (registration VQ-BPS), operated by UTair, was involved in an accident, leaving 2 injured. Source: MAK.BMVQ-BPSUTair Boeing 737G-DRTN · Jet2.com Incident · Feb 9, 2020On February 9, 2020, the Boeing 737-86N(WL) aircraft (registration G-DRTN), operated by Jet2.com, was involved in an incident East Midlands. Source: the AAIB (United Kingdom).GBG-DRTNJet2.com Boeing 737VH-ZND · Qantas Incident · Feb 9, 2020On February 9, 2020, the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft (registration VH-ZND), operated by Qantas, was involved in an incident at London. Source: the AAIB (United Kingdom).AUVH-ZNDQantas Boeing 787 DreamlinerN967AM · Aeroméxico Incident · Feb 9, 2019On February 9, 2019, the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft (registration N967AM), operated by Aeroméxico, was involved in an incident at Isle of Man. Source: Aeroméxico.USN967AMAeroméxico Boeing 787 DreamlinerN521VL · Volaris Incident · Feb 9, 2018On February 9, 2018, the Airbus A320-233 (WL) aircraft (registration N521VL), operated by Volaris, was involved in an incident near Tijuana Airport (Mexico) due to a bird strike. Source: Volaris.USN521VLVolaris Airbus A320EC-MKI · Iberia Incident · Feb 9, 2018On February 9, 2018, the Airbus A330-202 aircraft (registration EC-MKI), operated by Iberia, was involved in an incident. Source: Iberia.ESEC-MKIIberia Airbus A330EI-EBA · Ryanair Incident · Feb 9, 2018On February 9, 2018, the Boeing BOEING 737-8AS aircraft (registration EI-EBA), operated by Ryanair, was involved in an incident at Bucharest. Source: Ryanair.IEEI-EBARyanair Boeing 737F-GSPB · France Incident · Feb 9, 2018On February 9, 2018, the Boeing 777 228ER aircraft (registration F-GSPB), operated by France, was involved in an incident at Paris. Source: France.FRF-GSPBFrance Boeing 777JA8988 · Japan Airlines Incident · Feb 9, 2018On February 9, 2018, the Boeing 767 346 aircraft (registration JA8988), operated by Japan Airlines, was involved in an incident at Okinawa. Source: Japan Airlines.JPJA8988Japan Airlines Boeing 767G-VIIG · British Airways Incident · Feb 9, 2018On February 9, 2018, the Boeing 777-236(ER) aircraft (registration G-VIIG), operated by British Airways, was involved in an incident at Shannon. Source: British Airways.GBG-VIIGBritish Airways Boeing 777LV-FNJ · Aerolineas Incident · Feb 9, 2017On February 9, 2017, the Airbus A330 223 aircraft (registration LV-FNJ), operated by Aerolineas, was involved in an incident at New York. Source: Aerolineas.ARLV-FNJAerolineas Airbus A330C-GGMN · Air Canada Jazz Incident · Feb 9, 2016On February 9, 2016, the DHC-8-402 (Dehavilland) aircraft (registration C-GGMN), operated by Air Canada Jazz, was involved in an incident at Calgary due to a landing gear failure during initial climb. Source: the TSB (Canada).CAC-GGMNAir Canada Jazz De Havilland Canada Dash 8C-GWEP · WestJet Encore Incident · Feb 9, 2016On February 9, 2016, the DHC-8-402 (Dehavilland) aircraft (registration C-GWEP), operated by WestJet Encore, was involved in an incident due to an electrical system failure in cruise. Source: the TSB (Canada).CAC-GWEPWestJet Encore De Havilland Canada Dash 8ZK-MVE · Mount Cook Incident · Feb 9, 2016On February 9, 2016, the ATR ATR 72 600 aircraft (registration ZK-MVE), operated by Mount Cook, was involved in an incident at Nelson. Source: Mount Cook.NZZK-MVEMount Cook ATR 42 / 72N953UW · US Airways Accident · Feb 9, 2015On February 9, 2015, the aircraft (registration N953UW), operated by US Airways, was involved in an accident at Houston, leaving 1 injured. Source: the FAA (United States).USN953UWUS Airways Embraer E190 / E195N953UW · American Airlines Accident · Feb 9, 2015On February 9, 2015, the Embraer Erj 190 100 Igw aircraft (registration N953UW), operated by American Airlines, was involved in an accident at Houston, Texas (United States), leaving 1 injured. Source: the NTSB (United States).USN953UWAmerican Airlines Embraer E190 / E195N532EA · Blue Streak Incident · Feb 9, 2015On February 9, 2015, the Bombardier CRJ-702ER aircraft (registration N532EA), operated by Blue Streak, was involved in an incident at Tulsa. Source: Blue Streak.USN532EABlue Streak Bombardier CRJN945JT · JetBlue Airways Incident · Feb 9, 2015On February 9, 2015, the Airbus A321-231(WL) aircraft (registration N945JT), operated by JetBlue Airways, was involved in an incident at Harrisburg. Source: JetBlue Airways.USN945JTJetBlue Airways Airbus A321N249JB · JetBlue Airways Incident · Feb 9, 2014On February 9, 2014, the Embraer ERJ 190-100 IGW aircraft (registration N249JB), operated by JetBlue Airways, was involved in an incident at Boston. Source: JetBlue Airways.USN249JBJetBlue Airways Embraer E190 / E195TF-FIV · Icelandair Incident · Feb 9, 2013On February 9, 2013, the Boeing 757 208/W aircraft (registration TF-FIV), operated by Icelandair, was involved in an incident at Edmonton. Source: the TSB (Canada).ISTF-FIVIcelandair Boeing 757D-AICL · Condor Incident · Feb 9, 2012On February 9, 2012, the Airbus A320 212 aircraft (registration D-AICL), operated by Condor, was involved in an incident at Nantes. Source: Condor.DED-AICLCondor Airbus A320N108HQ · Brickyard Incident · Feb 9, 2012On February 9, 2012, the Embraer ERJ-175LR (ERJ-170-200 LR) aircraft (registration N108HQ), operated by Brickyard, was involved in an incident at Montreal due to the presence of smoke during the climb. Source: the TSB (Canada).USN108HQBrickyard Embraer E170 / E175N772UA · United Airlines Incident · Feb 9, 2011On February 9, 2011, the Boeing 777-222 aircraft (registration N772UA), operated by United Airlines, was involved in an incident at Bangor (United States). Source: United Airlines.USN772UAUnited Airlines Boeing 777N602NK · Spirit Airlines Incident · Feb 9, 2011On February 9, 2011, the Airbus A320-232 aircraft (registration N602NK), operated by Spirit Airlines, was involved in an incident at Orlando. Source: Spirit Airlines.USN602NKSpirit Airlines Airbus A320N504SW · Southwest Airlines Incident · Feb 9, 2011On February 9, 2011, the aircraft (registration N504SW), operated by Southwest Airlines, was involved in an incident at Omaha. Source: Southwest Airlines.USN504SWSouthwest Airlines Boeing 737N704X · Delta Air Lines Incident · Feb 9, 2011On February 9, 2011, the Boeing 757-2Q8 aircraft (registration N704X), operated by Delta Air Lines, was involved in an incident at Minneapolis, Minnesota (United States). Source: the NTSB (United States).USN704XDelta Air Lines Boeing 757VT-PPF · Air India Incident · Feb 9, 2009On February 9, 2009, the Airbus A321-211 aircraft (registration VT-PPF), operated by Air India, was involved in an incident at Mumbai (India) due to a rejected take-off. Source: Air India.INVT-PPFAir India Airbus A321

Photo: Aldo Bidini · GFDL 1.2 · Wikimedia Commons

Explore the encyclopedia