TWA opens the polar route to Europe
September 291957

TWA opens the polar route to Europe

Milestone69 years ago
10historical events
60occurrences in earlier years
1907–2025years covered

Fact of the day

TWA inaugurates Los Angeles–London service over the polar route with the Lockheed L-1649 Starliner, the last and most elegant of the Constellations. Flying over the Arctic shortened the way from the West Coast to Europe by thousands of kilometres.

Also on this day · 9

1907First flight The Breguet-Richet Gyroplane lifts off

Louis Breguet and Charles Richet’s Gyroplane lifts a man off the ground at Douai, held by ropes: the first helicopter to raise a person.

1940Milestone Two Ansons land locked together

Two Avro Ansons collide over New South Wales, stay locked together and land safely as one.

1959Accident An Electra breaks up over Texas

A Braniff Lockheed Electra breaks apart in the air over Buffalo, Texas: 34 lives lost. It was the first warning of the engine vibration that doomed the Electra.

1968Accident Test pilot Bill Bridgeman dies

Bill Bridgeman, the Skyrocket test pilot, dies when the Grumman Goose he is flying to Santa Catalina crashes into the Pacific.

1998Accident The shooting down of Lionair 602

The Tamil Tigers shoot down a Lionair An-24 off Mannar, Sri Lanka: all 55 people on board die.

2006Accident Gol 1907: collision over the Amazon

A business jet with its transponder inadvertently switched off clips the 737 on opposite headings over the jungle: the Gol aircraft comes down with 154 people; the Legacy lands. It reformed Brazilian air traffic control.

2012Airline Comair shuts down

Comair, Delta’s Cincinnati-based regional, flies its last service.

2016First flight The hydrogen HY4 flies

The HY4 takes off at Stuttgart, the first passenger aircraft powered by a hydrogen fuel cell.

2025Airline PLAY shuts down

PLAY, the Icelandic low-cost airline, ceases operations.

This day in earlier years · 60

Occurrences recorded on September 29 in earlier years across the fleet we document; this year’s are in News. Each one opens the record of the aircraft involved.

PR-GTD · GOL Linhas Aéreas Accident · Sep 29, 2006On September 29, 2006, the 737 8EH aircraft (registration PR-GTD), operated by GOL Linhas Aéreas, was involved in a fatal accident at Peixoto de Azevedo, Mato Grosso (Brazil), leaving 154 dead. Source: GOL Linhas Aéreas.BRPR-GTDGOL Linhas Aéreas Boeing 737F-ORVO · Air Tahiti Incident · Sep 29, 2025On September 29, 2025, the ATR72 aircraft (registration F-ORVO), operated by Air Tahiti, was involved in an incident at Nuku Hiva Airport. Source: the BEA (France).FRF-ORVOAir Tahiti ATR 42 / 72F-ORVO · Tahiti Incident · Sep 29, 2025On September 29, 2025, the ATR ATR 72 600 aircraft (registration F-ORVO), operated by Tahiti, was involved in an incident at Nuku Hiva. Source: the BEA (France).FRF-ORVOTahiti ATR 42 / 72N745CK · Kalitta Incident · Sep 29, 2025On September 29, 2025, the Boeing 747-446BCF aircraft (registration N745CK), operated by Kalitta, was involved in an incident at Anchorage. Source: Kalitta.USN745CKKalitta Boeing 747N8915Q · Southwest Airlines Incident · Sep 29, 2024On September 29, 2024, the Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft (registration N8915Q), operated by Southwest Airlines, was involved in an incident at Tampa (TPA) International Airport (United States) due to an impact by a ground service vehicle. Source: Southwest Airlines.USN8915QSouthwest Airlines Boeing 737 MAXAP-BLS · Pakistan International Airlines Incident · Sep 29, 2024On September 29, 2024, the Airbus A320 214 aircraft (registration AP-BLS), operated by Pakistan International Airlines, was involved in an incident at Karachi. Source: PIA.PKAP-BLSPakistan International Airlines Airbus A320OE-IJV · easyJet Europe Incident · Sep 29, 2024On September 29, 2024, the Airbus A320 aircraft (registration OE-IJV), operated by easyJet Europe, was involved in an incident at London. Source: easyJet Europe.ATOE-IJVeasyJet Europe Airbus A320N3162J · JetBlue Airways Incident · Sep 29, 2024On September 29, 2024, the Airbus A220-300 aircraft (registration N3162J), operated by JetBlue Airways, was involved in an incident at New York. Source: JetBlue Airways.USN3162JJetBlue Airways Airbus A220N3112J · JetBlue Airways Incident · Sep 29, 2023On September 29, 2023, the Airbus A220-300 aircraft (registration N3112J), operated by JetBlue Airways, was involved in an incident at Boston. Source: JetBlue Airways.USN3112JJetBlue Airways Airbus A220OE-LAE · Austrian Airlines Incident · Sep 29, 2023On September 29, 2023, the Boeing 767 3Z9ER/W aircraft (registration OE-LAE), operated by Austrian Airlines, was involved in an incident. Source: Austrian Airlines.ATOE-LAEAustrian Airlines Boeing 767D-AIRK · Lufthansa Incident · Sep 29, 2023On September 29, 2023, the Airbus A321 131 aircraft (registration D-AIRK), operated by Lufthansa, was involved in an incident at Frankfurt. Source: Lufthansa.DED-AIRKLufthansa Airbus A321D-AIXP · Lufthansa Incident · Sep 29, 2023On September 29, 2023, the Airbus A350-941 aircraft (registration D-AIXP), operated by Lufthansa, was involved in an incident at Munich. Source: Lufthansa.DED-AIXPLufthansa Airbus A350 XWBVH-TQZ · QantasLink Incident · Sep 29, 2023On September 29, 2023, the De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited DHC- aircraft (registration VH-TQZ), operated by QantasLink, was involved in an incident at Mildura Airport, Victoria (Australia) due to a loss of separation during take-off. Source: the ATSB (Australia).AUVH-TQZQantasLink De Havilland Canada Dash 8G-ZBJD · British Airways Incident · Sep 29, 2022On September 29, 2022, the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft (registration G-ZBJD), operated by British Airways, was involved in an incident at Islamabad. Source: British Airways.GBG-ZBJDBritish Airways Boeing 787 DreamlinerS2-AJS · Biman Bangladesh Incident · Sep 29, 2022On September 29, 2022, the Boeing B788 aircraft (registration S2-AJS), operated by Biman Bangladesh, was involved in an incident at Chittagong. Source: Biman Bangladesh.BDS2-AJSBiman Bangladesh Boeing 787 DreamlinerA6-FGG · flydubai Incident · Sep 29, 2022On September 29, 2022, the Boeing 737NG 800/W aircraft (registration A6-FGG), operated by flydubai, was involved in an incident at Chittagong. Source: flydubai.AEA6-FGGflydubai Boeing 737N7881A · Southwest Airlines Accident · Sep 29, 2022On September 29, 2022, the Boeing 737 aircraft (registration N7881A), operated by Southwest Airlines, was involved in an accident at Denver, Colorado (United States), leaving 1 injured. Source: the NTSB (United States).USN7881ASouthwest Airlines Boeing 737N16008 · United Airlines Incident · Sep 29, 2021On September 29, 2021, the Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner aircraft (registration N16008), operated by United Airlines, was involved in an incident at Tel Aviv. Source: United Airlines.USN16008United Airlines Boeing 787 DreamlinerN76064 · United Airlines Incident · Sep 29, 2021On September 29, 2021, the Boeing 767-424(ER) aircraft (registration N76064), operated by United Airlines, was involved in an incident at Honolulu. Source: United Airlines.USN76064United Airlines Boeing 767N4888U · United Airlines Incident · Sep 29, 2021On September 29, 2021, the Airbus A319-132 aircraft (registration N4888U), operated by United Airlines, was involved in an incident at New York. Source: the FAA (United States).USN4888UUnited Airlines Airbus A319CC-AWO · JetSMART Incident · Sep 29, 2021On September 29, 2021, the Airbus A320-271N(WL) aircraft (registration CC-AWO), operated by JetSMART, was involved in an incident at Iquique. Source: JetSMART.CLCC-AWOJetSMART Airbus A320VQ-BDO · Nordstar Incident · Sep 29, 2021On September 29, 2021, the Boeing Boeing 737NG 8K5/W aircraft (registration VQ-BDO), operated by Nordstar, was involved in an incident at Norilsk. Source: Nordstar.BMVQ-BDONordstar Boeing 737C-GCNK · Canadian North Incident · Sep 29, 2020On September 29, 2020, the Boeing 737-36Q (Boeing) aircraft (registration C-GCNK), operated by Canadian North, was involved in an incident at Fort Mackay due to a declared emergency with a PAN urgency call during initial climb. Source: the TSB (Canada).CAC-GCNKCanadian North Boeing 737VQ-BTU · Aeroflot Incident · Sep 29, 2020On September 29, 2020, the Airbus A321-211 aircraft (registration VQ-BTU), operated by Aeroflot, was involved in an incident at Nizhnevartovsk. Source: Aeroflot.BMVQ-BTUAeroflot Airbus A321RA-89096 · Azimut Incident · Sep 29, 2020On September 29, 2020, the Embraer Superjet 100-95LR aircraft (registration RA-89096), operated by Azimut, was involved in an incident at Ufa. Source: Azimut.RURA-89096Azimut Sukhoi Superjet 100PK-LOQ · Lion Air Incident · Sep 29, 2019On September 29, 2019, the Boeing 737-8GP (WL) aircraft (registration PK-LOQ), operated by Lion Air, was involved in an incident at Batam-Hang Nadim (BTH) Airport (Indonesia) due to a landing short of the runway (undershoot). Source: Lion Air.IDPK-LOQLion Air Boeing 737VT-IHC · IndiGo Incident · Sep 29, 2019On September 29, 2019, the aircraft (registration VT-IHC), operated by IndiGo, was involved in an incident at Goa. Source: IndiGo.INVT-IHCIndiGo Airbus A320LV-CIG · Austral Líneas Aéreas Incident · Sep 29, 2019On September 29, 2019, the Embraer ERJ-190AR aircraft (registration LV-CIG), operated by Austral Líneas Aéreas, was involved in an incident at Buenos Aires-Jorge Newbery (AEP) Airport (Argentina) due to an engine failure. Source: Austral Líneas Aéreas.ARLV-CIGAustral Líneas Aéreas Embraer E190 / E195N815AW · American Airlines Incident · Sep 29, 2019On September 29, 2019, the Airbus A319-132 aircraft (registration N815AW), operated by American Airlines, was involved in an incident at Phoenix. Source: the FAA (United States).USN815AWAmerican Airlines Airbus A319N841MH · Delta Air Lines Incident · Sep 29, 2019On September 29, 2019, the Boeing 767-432(ER) aircraft (registration N841MH), operated by Delta Air Lines, was involved in an incident. Source: Delta Air Lines.USN841MHDelta Air Lines Boeing 767N27239 · United Airlines Incident · Sep 29, 2019On September 29, 2019, the Boeing 737-824(WL) aircraft (registration N27239), operated by United Airlines, was involved in an incident at Denver. Source: United Airlines.USN27239United Airlines Boeing 737N361HA · Hawaiian Airlines Incident · Sep 29, 2019On September 29, 2019, the Airbus A330-243 aircraft (registration N361HA), operated by Hawaiian Airlines, was involved in an incident at San Francisco. Source: the FAA (United States).USN361HAHawaiian Airlines Airbus A330EI-DVN · Aer Lingus Incident · Sep 29, 2019On September 29, 2019, the Airbus A320-214 aircraft (registration EI-DVN), operated by Aer Lingus, was involved in an incident at Belfast City (BHD) Airport (United Kingdom) due to a bird strike. Source: Aer Lingus.IEEI-DVNAer Lingus Airbus A320G-VOWS · Virgin Atlantic Incident · Sep 29, 2019On September 29, 2019, the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft (registration G-VOWS), operated by Virgin Atlantic, was involved in an incident at Hong Kong. Source: the FAA (United States).GBG-VOWSVirgin Atlantic Boeing 787 DreamlinerC-GKQH · Porter Airlines Incident · Sep 29, 2019On September 29, 2019, the DHC-8-402 (Dehavilland) aircraft (registration C-GKQH), operated by Porter Airlines, was involved in an incident at Halifax due to an electrical system failure in cruise. Source: the TSB (Canada).CAC-GKQHPorter Airlines De Havilland Canada Dash 8VH-VFX · Jetstar Airways Incident · Sep 29, 2018On September 29, 2018, the Airbus A320 232SL aircraft (registration VH-VFX), operated by Jetstar Airways, was involved in an incident at Sydney. Source: the ATSB (Australia).AUVH-VFXJetstar Airways Airbus A320G-EZOC · Easyjet Incident · Sep 29, 2017On September 29, 2017, the Airbus AIRBUS A320-214 aircraft (registration G-EZOC), operated by Easyjet, was involved in an incident at Athens. Source: Easyjet.GBG-EZOCEasyjet Airbus A320VT-SCU · Air India Incident · Sep 29, 2017On September 29, 2017, the Airbus A319 112 aircraft (registration VT-SCU), operated by Air India, was involved in an incident at Chennai. Source: Air India.INVT-SCUAir India Airbus A319EI-FRR · Ryanair Incident · Sep 29, 2017On September 29, 2017, the Boeing 737-8AS (WL) aircraft (registration EI-FRR), operated by Ryanair, was involved in an incident at Budapest Ferenc Liszt (BUD) International Airport (Hungary) due to a ground collision with another aircraft. Source: Ryanair.IEEI-FRRRyanair Boeing 737C-GTSD · Air Transat Incident · Sep 29, 2017On September 29, 2017, the Airbus A330-343 (Airbus) aircraft (registration C-GTSD), operated by Air Transat, was involved in an incident at Montreal due to a declared emergency with the airport fire service on standby. Source: the TSB (Canada).CAC-GTSDAir Transat Airbus A330N901NN · American Airlines Incident · Sep 29, 2017On September 29, 2017, the Boeing 737-823(WL) aircraft (registration N901NN), operated by American Airlines, was involved in an incident at Dallas. Source: the FAA (United States).USN901NNAmerican Airlines Boeing 737HL7779 · Jeju Incident · Sep 29, 2017On September 29, 2017, the Boeing 737NG 85F aircraft (registration HL7779), operated by Jeju, was involved in an incident at Jeju. Source: Jeju.KRHL7779Jeju Boeing 737JA731J · Japan Airlines Incident · Sep 29, 2017On September 29, 2017, the Boeing 777 346ER aircraft (registration JA731J), operated by Japan Airlines, was involved in an incident at Sapporo. Source: Japan Airlines.JPJA731JJapan Airlines Boeing 777SE-DSP · Braathens Regional Incident · Sep 29, 2016On September 29, 2016, the 146 RJ100 aircraft (registration SE-DSP), operated by Braathens Regional, was involved in an incident at Malmo. Source: SHK.SESE-DSPBraathens Regional BAe 146 / Avro RJC-GLQM · Porter Airlines Incident · Sep 29, 2016On September 29, 2016, the DHC-8-402 (Dehavilland) aircraft (registration C-GLQM), operated by Porter Airlines, was involved in an incident at Toronto. Source: the TSB (Canada).CAC-GLQMPorter Airlines De Havilland Canada Dash 8C-FDQQ · Air Canada Incident · Sep 29, 2016On September 29, 2016, the Airbus A320-211 (Airbus) aircraft (registration C-FDQQ), operated by Air Canada, was involved in an incident at San Francisco due to a cockpit display failure in cruise. Source: the TSB (Canada).CAC-FDQQAir Canada Airbus A3209V-SKL · Singapore Airlines Incident · Sep 29, 2016On September 29, 2016, the Airbus A380 841 aircraft (registration 9V-SKL), operated by Singapore Airlines, was involved in an incident at Phuket. Source: Singapore Airlines.SG9V-SKLSingapore Airlines Airbus A380N451QX · Horizon Air Incident · Sep 29, 2016On September 29, 2016, the DHC-8-402 aircraft (registration N451QX), operated by Horizon Air, was involved in an incident at Boise. Source: the FAA (United States).USN451QXHorizon Air De Havilland Canada Dash 8N248LR · Mesa Airlines Incident · Sep 29, 2015On September 29, 2015, the Bombardier CL-600-2D24 aircraft (registration N248LR), operated by Mesa Airlines, was involved in an incident at McAllen. Source: the FAA (United States).USN248LRMesa Airlines Bombardier CRJLN-NHB · Norwegian Incident · Sep 29, 2015On September 29, 2015, the Boeing Boeing 737NG 8JP/W aircraft (registration LN-NHB), operated by Norwegian, was involved in an incident at Trondheim. Source: Norwegian.NOLN-NHBNorwegian Boeing 737EI-REM · Stobart Incident · Sep 29, 2014On September 29, 2014, the ATR ATR 72-212 A aircraft (registration EI-REM), operated by Stobart, was involved in an incident at Muenster. Source: the BEA (France).IEEI-REMStobart ATR 42 / 72C-FXCA · Air Canada Incident · Sep 29, 2014On September 29, 2014, the Boeing 767-375 (Boeing) aircraft (registration C-FXCA), operated by Air Canada, was involved in an incident at Zurich. Source: Air Canada.CAC-FXCAAir Canada Boeing 767N474 · American Airlines Incident · Sep 29, 2014On September 29, 2014, the aircraft (registration N474), operated by American Airlines, was involved in an incident at Dallas. Source: the FAA (United States).USN474American Airlines McDonnell Douglas MD-80N964AN · American Airlines Incident · Sep 29, 2013On September 29, 2013, the Boeing 737-823(WL) aircraft (registration N964AN), operated by American Airlines, was involved in an incident at Dallas. Source: American Airlines.USN964ANAmerican Airlines Boeing 737EI-EIB · Alitalia Accident · Sep 29, 2013On September 29, 2013, the Airbus A320-216 aircraft (registration EI-EIB), operated by Alitalia, was involved in an accident at Rome. Source: ANSV (Italy).IEEI-EIBAlitalia Airbus A320EI-XLJ · Transaero Incident · Sep 29, 2013On September 29, 2013, the Boeing BOEING 747-446 aircraft (registration EI-XLJ), operated by Transaero, was involved in an incident at Moscow. Source: Transaero.IEEI-XLJTransaero Boeing 747D-AIDO · Eurowings Incident · Sep 29, 2013On September 29, 2013, the Airbus A321-231 aircraft (registration D-AIDO), operated by Eurowings, was involved in an incident at Rome. Source: Eurowings.DED-AIDOEurowings Airbus A321ZS-SNB · SAA Incident · Sep 29, 2013On September 29, 2013, the Airbus A340 642 aircraft (registration ZS-SNB), operated by SAA, was involved in an incident at Johannesburgo. Source: SAA.ZAZS-SNBSAA Airbus A340N449QX · Horizon Air Accident · Sep 29, 2013On September 29, 2013, the Bombardier Dhc-8-402 aircraft (registration N449QX), operated by Horizon Air, was involved in an accident at Reno, Nevada (United States), leaving 3 injured. Source: the NTSB (United States).USN449QXHorizon Air De Havilland Canada Dash 8C-GITU · Air Canada Incident · Sep 29, 2012On September 29, 2012, the Airbus A321-211 (Airbus) aircraft (registration C-GITU), operated by Air Canada, was involved in an incident at Vancouver due to a landing gear failure on final approach. Source: the TSB (Canada).CAC-GITUAir Canada Airbus A321

Photo: NACA · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Explore the encyclopedia