Part 1/8:
The Terrifying Near-Miss of United Airlines Flight 863
On June 28, 1998, United Airlines Flight 863 embarked on a long-haul journey from San Francisco to Sydney. However, what was meant to be a standard overnight flight soon became a harrowing ordeal as a mechanical failure threatened the lives of over 300 individuals on board.
A Shaky Start
As the Boeing 747-400 took off from San Francisco International Airport, passengers settled in, some hoping for a restful sleep on the lengthy flight. But just moments after takeoff, the aircraft experienced severe vibrations when one of its engines began to fail. The intensity of the vibrations was so extreme that it rendered the pilots unable to effectively read their instruments.