The Douglas DC-2 flies
May 111934

The Douglas DC-2 flies

First flight92 years ago
11historical events
60occurrences in earlier years
1926–2025years covered

Fact of the day

First flight of the DC-2, the twin that put Douglas on the map and paved the way for the legendary DC-3. It proved an airliner could be fast, reliable and profitable all at once.

Also on this day · 10

1926Milestone The Norge sets off for the Pole

The airship Norge, with Amundsen, Nobile and Ellsworth, lifts off from Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard, bound for the North Pole and Alaska.

1934First flight The Douglas DC-2 flies

Carl Cover makes the first flight of the Douglas DC-2, longer and more powerful than the DC-1 and seating 14; TWA, which had ordered twenty, will put it into service on 18 May, and the DC-3 will grow from it.

1935First flight The Miles Merlin flies

At Woodley, F. G. Miles makes the first flight of the Miles M.4A Merlin, a five-seat cabin monoplane derived from the Falcon; four were built.

1936First flight The Bristol 138, altitude record hunter, flies

The Bristol Type 138 flies, a high-altitude research monoplane designed by Frank Barnwell; in September it will climb past 49,000 feet and go on to set nine world altitude records.

1973Accident Aeroflot 6551 at Semey

An Aeroflot airliner crashes at Semey, Kazakhstan: all 63 people on board die.

1973First flight The Falcon 30 flies

The prototype Dassault Falcon 30 flies, a 40-seat regional jet derived from the Falcon 20; only one was built.

1987First flight The Learjet 31 flies

The Learjet 31, which combines the fuselage of the 35 with the wing of the 55, makes its first flight.

1990Accident Philippine Airlines 143 explodes at Manila

The centre fuel tank of a 737-300 explodes while taxiing at Manila: eight lives lost. The case put fuel-tank vapours under scrutiny.

1996Accident ValuJet 592 in the Everglades

A cargo-hold fire caused by improperly packed oxygen generators brings down a DC-9 in the Everglades minutes after take-off from Miami: 110 lives lost.

2011First flight The Gamera, a pedal-powered helicopter, flies

University of Maryland students fly the Gamera, a human-powered helicopter 32 metres across, for a few seconds.

This day in earlier years · 60

Occurrences recorded on May 11 in earlier years across the fleet we document; this year’s are in News. Each one opens the record of the aircraft involved.

N904VJ · ValuJet Accident · May 11, 1996On May 11, 1996, the Douglas DC-9-32 aircraft (registration N904VJ), operated by ValuJet, was involved in a fatal accident at Everglades, Florida (United States), leaving 110 dead. Source: ValuJet.USN904VJValuJet McDonnell Douglas MD-80PH-NXI · KLM Cityhopper Incident · May 11, 2025On May 11, 2025, the Embraer ERJ-195-E2 (ERJ-190-400 STD) aircraft (registration PH-NXI), operated by KLM Cityhopper, was involved in an incident at Amsterdam. Source: KLM Cityhopper.NLPH-NXIKLM Cityhopper Embraer E-Jet E2TC-LSL · Turkish Airlines Incident · May 11, 2025On May 11, 2025, the Airbus A321-271NX(WL) aircraft (registration TC-LSL), operated by Turkish Airlines, was involved in an incident at Prague. Source: Turkish Airlines.TRTC-LSLTurkish Airlines Airbus A321N822AN · American Airlines News · May 11, 2024On May 11, 2024, the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft (registration N822AN), operated by American Airlines, was in the news. Source: American Airlines.USN822ANAmerican Airlines Boeing 787 DreamlinerF-HBXI · Air France Hop Incident · May 11, 2024On May 11, 2024, the Embraer ERJ-170STD (ERJ-170-100) aircraft (registration F-HBXI), operated by Air France Hop, was involved in an incident at Toulouse. Source: the BEA (France).FRF-HBXIAir France Hop Embraer E170 / E175N295PQ · Endeavor Air Incident · May 11, 2023On May 11, 2023, the Bombardier CL-600-2D24 aircraft (registration N295PQ), operated by Endeavor Air, was involved in an incident at New York. Source: Endeavor Air.USN295PQEndeavor Air Bombardier CRJN88331 · Mesa Airlines Accident · May 11, 2023On May 11, 2023, the Embraer ERJ 170-200 LR aircraft (registration N88331), operated by Mesa Airlines, was involved in an accident at Houston. Source: the FAA (United States).USN88331Mesa Airlines Embraer E170 / E175OE-LBO · Austrian Airlines Incident · May 11, 2023On May 11, 2023, the Airbus A320 214 aircraft (registration OE-LBO), operated by Austrian Airlines, was involved in an incident at Prague. Source: Austrian Airlines.ATOE-LBOAustrian Airlines Airbus A320N518VL · Volaris Incident · May 11, 2023On May 11, 2023, the Airbus A320-233 aircraft (registration N518VL), operated by Volaris, was involved in an incident at Monterrey (Mexico) due to a hailstorm. Source: the NTSB (United States).USN518VLVolaris Airbus A320N965SW · Delta Connection Incident · May 11, 2022On May 11, 2022, the Mitsubishi Cl-600-2B19 aircraft (registration N965SW), operated by Delta Connection, was involved in an incident at Houston, Texas (United States). Source: the NTSB (United States).USN965SWDelta Connection Bombardier CRJA5-RGF · Druk Incident · May 11, 2022On May 11, 2022, the Airbus A319 115 aircraft (registration A5-RGF), operated by Druk, was involved in an incident at Bangkok. Source: Druk.BTA5-RGFDruk Airbus A319PR-XMV · GOL Linhas Aéreas Incident · May 11, 2022On May 11, 2022, the Boeing 737-8 MAX aircraft (registration PR-XMV), operated by GOL Linhas Aéreas, was involved in an incident at Maceio due to a bird strike during take-off. Source: CENIPA (Brazil).BRPR-XMVGOL Linhas Aéreas Boeing 737 MAXN1181A · Atlas Incident · May 11, 2020On May 11, 2020, the Boeing 767-3Y0 aircraft (registration N1181A), operated by Atlas, was involved in an incident at Miami. Source: Atlas.USN1181AAtlas Boeing 767G-EZNM · Easyjet Incident · May 11, 2019On May 11, 2019, the Airbus AIRBUS A319-111 aircraft (registration G-EZNM), operated by Easyjet, was involved in an incident at Birmingham. Source: the AAIB (United Kingdom).GBG-EZNMEasyjet Airbus A319N952CA · National Accident · May 11, 2019On May 11, 2019, the Boeing 747-428 aircraft (registration N952CA), operated by National, was involved in an accident at Guam. Source: National.USN952CANational Boeing 747N7829B · Southwest Airlines Incident · May 11, 2019On May 11, 2019, the Boeing 737-7CT aircraft (registration N7829B), operated by Southwest Airlines, was involved in an incident at Oakland. Source: Southwest Airlines.USN7829BSouthwest Airlines Boeing 737VP-BUV · Azur Incident · May 11, 2019On May 11, 2019, the Boeing 767 3Q8ER aircraft (registration VP-BUV), operated by Azur, was involved in an incident at Nha Trang. Source: Azur.BMVP-BUVAzur Boeing 767OH-ATO · Norra Incident · May 11, 2019On May 11, 2019, the ATR ATR 72 500 aircraft (registration OH-ATO), operated by Norra, was involved in an incident at Helsinki. Source: Norra.FIOH-ATONorra ATR 42 / 72EC-KDG · Vueling Incident · May 11, 2018On May 11, 2018, the Airbus A320-214 aircraft (registration EC-KDG), operated by Vueling, was involved in an incident at Hamburg. Source: Vueling.ESEC-KDGVueling Airbus A320N802WA · Avior Incident · May 11, 2018On May 11, 2018, the aircraft (registration N802WA), operated by Avior, was involved in an incident at Port au Prince. Source: Avior.USN802WAAvior McDonnell Douglas MD-80ZS-NBG · SA Express Incident · May 11, 2018On May 11, 2018, the Bombardier CRJ 700 701ER aircraft (registration ZS-NBG), operated by SA Express, was involved in an incident East London. Source: SA Express.ZAZS-NBGSA Express Bombardier CRJPK-GRJ · Garuda Indonesia Airways Incident · May 11, 2018On May 11, 2018, the Bombardier CRJ-1000ER aircraft (registration PK-GRJ), operated by Garuda Indonesia Airways, was involved in an incident near Tambolaka-Waikabubak Airport (Indonesia) due to a loss of separation with another aircraft (airprox). Source: Garuda Indonesia Airways.IDPK-GRJGaruda Indonesia Airways Bombardier CRJOY-KAP · SAS Scandinavian Airlines Incident · May 11, 2018On May 11, 2018, the Airbus A320 232 aircraft (registration OY-KAP), operated by SAS Scandinavian Airlines, was involved in an incident at Hamburg. Source: SAS Scandinavian Airlines.DKOY-KAPSAS Scandinavian Airlines Airbus A320N774UA · United Airlines Incident · May 11, 2017On May 11, 2017, the Boeing 777-222 aircraft (registration N774UA), operated by United Airlines, was involved in an incident at San Francisco. Source: United Airlines.USN774UAUnited Airlines Boeing 777TC-JOZ · Turkish Airlines Incident · May 11, 2017On May 11, 2017, the Airbus A330-243F aircraft (registration TC-JOZ), operated by Turkish Airlines, was involved in an incident at Amsterdam. Source: Turkish Airlines.TRTC-JOZTurkish Airlines Airbus A330ZK-MVO · Mount Cook Incident · May 11, 2017On May 11, 2017, the ATR ATR 72 600 aircraft (registration ZK-MVO), operated by Mount Cook, was involved in an incident at Christchurch. Source: Mount Cook.NZZK-MVOMount Cook ATR 42 / 72C-FQWE · WestJet Encore Incident · May 11, 2017On May 11, 2017, the DHC-8-402 (Dehavilland) aircraft (registration C-FQWE), operated by WestJet Encore, was involved in an incident at Toronto due to a go-around on final approach. Source: the TSB (Canada).CAC-FQWEWestJet Encore De Havilland Canada Dash 8N906NN · American Airlines Incident · May 11, 2016On May 11, 2016, the Boeing 737-823(WL) aircraft (registration N906NN), operated by American Airlines, was involved in an incident at Atlanta. Source: American Airlines.USN906NNAmerican Airlines Boeing 737G-KKEV · Flybe Incident · May 11, 2016On May 11, 2016, the Bombardier DHC-8-402 Dash 8 aircraft (registration G-KKEV), operated by Flybe, was involved in an incident at Manchester. Source: Flybe.GBG-KKEVFlybe De Havilland Canada Dash 8HB-JME · Swiss International Air Lines Incident · May 11, 2016On May 11, 2016, the Airbus A340-313 aircraft (registration HB-JME), operated by Swiss International Air Lines, was involved in an incident at Zurich. Source: Swiss International Air Lines.CHHB-JMESwiss International Air Lines Airbus A340VT-INR · IndiGo Incident · May 11, 2016On May 11, 2016, the Airbus A320 232 aircraft (registration VT-INR), operated by IndiGo, was involved in an incident at Bangalore. Source: IndiGo.INVT-INRIndiGo Airbus A320VH-VGF · Jetstar Airways Incident · May 11, 2016On May 11, 2016, the Airbus A320 232 aircraft (registration VH-VGF), operated by Jetstar Airways, was involved in an incident at Melbourne. Source: the TSB (Canada).AUVH-VGFJetstar Airways Airbus A320D-AGWZ · Desconocida Accident · May 11, 2016On May 11, 2016, the Airbus A319 132 aircraft (registration D-AGWZ), was involved in an accident. Source: the BFU (Germany).DED-AGWZDesconocida Airbus A319JA213J · J-Air Incident · May 11, 2016On May 11, 2016, the Embraer ERJ-170STD (ERJ-170-100) aircraft (registration JA213J), operated by J-Air, was involved in an incident near Osaka (ITM) International Airport (Japan). Source: J-Air.JPJA213JJ-Air Embraer E170 / E175D-AILE · Lufthansa Incident · May 11, 2016On May 11, 2016, the Airbus A319-114 aircraft (registration D-AILE), operated by Lufthansa, was involved in an incident at Napoli (NAP) Airport (Italy) due to a bird strike. Source: Lufthansa.DED-AILELufthansa Airbus A319N13118 · ExpressJet Incident · May 11, 2015On May 11, 2015, the aircraft (registration N13118), operated by ExpressJet, was involved in an incident at San Antonio. Source: ExpressJet.USN13118ExpressJet Embraer ERJ 135 / 1455Y-CYD · Kenya Airways Incident · May 11, 2015On May 11, 2015, the Boeing 737-8HX (WL) aircraft (registration 5Y-CYD), operated by Kenya Airways, was involved in an incident at Nairobi-Jomo Kenyatta (NBO) International Airport (Kenya) due to a ground collision with another aircraft while taxiing. Source: Kenya Airways.KE5Y-CYDKenya Airways Boeing 737LN-WIF · Wideroe Incident · May 11, 2015On May 11, 2015, the DHC-8 103B aircraft (registration LN-WIF), operated by Wideroe, was involved in an incident at Bronnoysund. Source: Wideroe.NOLN-WIFWideroe De Havilland Canada Dash 8ZK-OJK · Air New Zealand Incident · May 11, 2015On May 11, 2015, the Airbus A320 232 aircraft (registration ZK-OJK), operated by Air New Zealand, was involved in an incident at Christchurch. Source: Air New Zealand.NZZK-OJKAir New Zealand Airbus A320N932SW · SkyWest Airlines Accident · May 11, 2015On May 11, 2015, the Bombardier CL-600-2B19 aircraft (registration N932SW), operated by SkyWest Airlines, was involved in an accident at Los Angeles. Source: the NTSB (United States).USN932SWSkyWest Airlines Bombardier CRJVQ-BDO · Nordstar Incident · May 11, 2015On May 11, 2015, the Boeing Boeing 737NG 8K5/W aircraft (registration VQ-BDO), operated by Nordstar, was involved in an incident at Moscow. Source: Nordstar.BMVQ-BDONordstar Boeing 737C-GONX · Air Canada Jazz Incident · May 11, 2014On May 11, 2014, the DHC-8-102 (Dehavilland) aircraft (registration C-GONX), operated by Air Canada Jazz, was involved in an incident at Sept-Iles. Source: Air Canada Jazz.CAC-GONXAir Canada Jazz De Havilland Canada Dash 8B-HXJ · Cathay Pacific Incident · May 11, 2014On May 11, 2014, the Airbus Airbus A340 313X aircraft (registration B-HXJ), operated by Cathay Pacific, was involved in an incident at Hong Kong. Source: Cathay Pacific.CNB-HXJCathay Pacific Airbus A340D-AIMC · Lufthansa Incident · May 11, 2014On May 11, 2014, the Airbus A380-841 aircraft (registration D-AIMC), operated by Lufthansa, was involved in an incident at Torshavn. Source: Lufthansa.DED-AIMCLufthansa Airbus A380VT-IEU · IndiGo Airlines Incident · May 11, 2014On May 11, 2014, the Airbus A320-232 aircraft (registration VT-IEU), operated by IndiGo Airlines, was involved in an incident near Jaipur Airport (India) due to a bird strike. Source: IndiGo Airlines.INVT-IEUIndiGo Airlines Airbus A320N208JQ · Republic Airways Accident · May 11, 2013On May 11, 2013, the Embraer-Empresa Brasileira De Erj 170-200 Lr aircraft (registration N208JQ), operated by Republic Airways, was involved in an accident at Flushing, New York (United States), leaving 1 injured. Source: the NTSB (United States).USN208JQRepublic Airways Embraer E170 / E175B-KPE · Cathay Pacific Incident · May 11, 2013On May 11, 2013, the Boeing Boeing 777-367(ER) aircraft (registration B-KPE), operated by Cathay Pacific, was involved in an incident at Winnipeg. Source: Cathay Pacific.CNB-KPECathay Pacific Boeing 777G-OOBF · Thomson Incident · May 11, 2013On May 11, 2013, the Boeing BOEING 757-28A aircraft (registration G-OOBF), operated by Thomson, was involved in an incident at London. Source: Thomson.GBG-OOBFThomson Boeing 757N482AA · American Airlines Incident · May 11, 2013On May 11, 2013, the DC-9-82(MD-82) aircraft (registration N482AA), operated by American Airlines, was involved in an incident at Dallas. Source: the FAA (United States).USN482AAAmerican Airlines McDonnell Douglas MD-80EI-DEM · Aer Lingus Incident · May 11, 2013On May 11, 2013, the Airbus A320-214 aircraft (registration EI-DEM), operated by Aer Lingus, was involved in an incident at Dublin. Source: Aer Lingus.IEEI-DEMAer Lingus Airbus A320D-AIHM · Lufthansa Incident · May 11, 2013On May 11, 2013, the Airbus Airbus A340 642 aircraft (registration D-AIHM), operated by Lufthansa, was involved in an incident at Munich. Source: Lufthansa.DED-AIHMLufthansa Airbus A340N940UW · US Airways Incident · May 11, 2012On May 11, 2012, the Boeing 757 2B7/W aircraft (registration N940UW), operated by US Airways, was involved in an incident at Orlando. Source: the FAA (United States).USN940UWUS Airways Boeing 757N726FD · FedEx Express Incident · May 11, 2012On May 11, 2012, the Airbus A300 B4-622R aircraft (registration N726FD), operated by FedEx Express, was involved in an incident at Oakland or Los Angeles. Source: the FAA (United States).USN726FDFedEx Express Airbus A300N969AV · Avianca Incident · May 11, 2012On May 11, 2012, the Airbus A330 243 aircraft (registration N969AV), operated by Avianca, was involved in an incident at Madrid. Source: Avianca.USN969AVAvianca Airbus A330TC-JNM · Turkish Airlines Incident · May 11, 2012On May 11, 2012, the Airbus A330-343 aircraft (registration TC-JNM), operated by Turkish Airlines, was involved in an incident at Entebbe. Source: Turkish Airlines.TRTC-JNMTurkish Airlines Airbus A330N328MX · Vision Incident · May 11, 2011On May 11, 2011, the Do 328 100 aircraft (registration N328MX), operated by Vision, was involved in an incident at Louisville. Source: the FAA (United States).USN328MXVision Dornier 328N11206 · United Airlines Incident · May 11, 2011On May 11, 2011, the Boeing 737-824(WL) aircraft (registration N11206), operated by United Airlines, was involved in an incident at Los Angeles. Source: the FAA (United States).USN11206United Airlines Boeing 737G-EZBA · Easyjet Incident · May 11, 2011On May 11, 2011, the Airbus AIRBUS A319-111 aircraft (registration G-EZBA), operated by Easyjet, was involved in an incident at Amsterdam. Source: Easyjet.GBG-EZBAEasyjet Airbus A319EI-DSB · Alitalia Incident · May 11, 2011On May 11, 2011, the Airbus A320-216 aircraft (registration EI-DSB), operated by Alitalia, was involved in an incident at Tel Aviv. Source: DSB.IEEI-DSBAlitalia Airbus A320G-CIVK · British Airways Incident · May 11, 2011On May 11, 2011, the Boeing BOEING 747-436 aircraft (registration G-CIVK), operated by British Airways, was involved in an incident at London. Source: British Airways.GBG-CIVKBritish Airways Boeing 747

Photo: Stahlkocher · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

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