The Harrowing Story of SAS Flight 751: A Near-Disaster in the Skies
On December 26, 1991, the Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) Flight 751 was set to take off from Stockholm, carrying 129 passengers and crew. Little did they know that a series of unfortunate events would unfold within moments of takeoff, leading to a life-threatening emergency in the skies. The aircraft, a McDonnell Douglas MD-81, was prepared for what was meant to be a routine flight, but an unnoticed threat lay concealed within its wings—clear ice, a consequence of weather and mechanical oversight—setting the stage for disaster.
The aircraft had just completed an uneventful flight from Zurich earlier that day. After landing, it was secured for the night, but the lingering effects of supercooled fuel—from a high-altitude flight—created a chilling setback. As rain and snow fell overnight, the temperature was not low enough to freeze the fuel but ideal enough for ice to accumulate unnoticed on the wings’ surfaces.
In the early morning, the flight crew inspected the plane, which was now to transport 123 passengers to Warsaw and onward to Barcelona. Captained by Stefan Rasmussen, a seasoned pilot with over 8,000 flight hours, and first officer W Ced Mark, the team was relatively inexperienced with the MD-81 model—an aspect that would soon show its consequences.
Despite the ground crew’s attempt to de-ice the aircraft, a thin, undetectable layer of ice remained at the “cold corner” of the wings where fuel pooling naturally occurred. After confirming that de-icing had been effectively completed, the pilots began taxiing to the runway. They were about to embark on the shortest flight in SAS history.
Within seconds of taking off, ice that detached from the wings hurtled into the engines. The initial bang indicated catastrophic damage: engine vibrations ensued, making the readouts unreadable for the flight crew. Moments went by as the aircraft climbed; however, the engines suffered greatly due to what they had ingested.
Barely 25 seconds post-takeoff, both engines began surging—a result of compressor stalls prompted by the ice collision. While pilots are trained for various emergencies, they had not received specific training on handling engine surges, leading to a critical knowledge gap. Instead of instinctively implementing necessary procedures to mitigate the surge, the crew frantically searched for answers among cockpit checklists, which would prove to be too little, too late.
As panic set in, the first officer realized the engine was surging and attempted to reduce power, but the aircraft was equipped with an Automatic Thrust Restoration (ATR) system that counteracted their attempts to manage the engines manually.
As both engines spiraled further into failure, air traffic control issued commands overlooking the plight of Flight 751, highlighting how unaware everyone was of the impending disaster. With both engines now defunct, the aircraft transformed from a flying machine to a glider within a mere 40 seconds of takeoff—a mere two minutes stood between the crew and a crash landing.
With no time to communicate or rectify the engine failures, the captain ordered an emergency descent, eyes set on finding a landing area. The reality of an emergency landing was sinking in; however, visibility remained poor, and with electrical power dissipating, essential navigational data was also compromised.
The cockpit was filled with chaos as flight crew and passengers realized their dire circumstances. Off-duty SAS pilots on board could hear distress signals and became deeply concerned about the crew’s inability to communicate effectively. One such pilot, Per Halberg, offered assistance to manage the situation.
The struggle was clear as attempts to restart engines failed. Finally, with dwindling options, the crew had to focus on finding a safe landing spot. Emerging from the clouds, the captain spotted a small field ahead—his only chance of survival.
As the aircraft descended upon the clearing, every fraction of a second counted; decisions about landing gear deployment and air control could mean the difference between life and death. Ultimately, the aircraft struck the ground at speed, ripping off its right wing, and breaking into three pieces as it slid to a halt.
Remarkably, despite the catastrophic nature of the incident, all on board survived the crash, albeit with several injuries. Investigators wasted no time in examining the causes.
The subsequent investigation into Flight 751 revealed the tragic oversight in de-icing protocols and highlighted a significant lack of training for the flight crew regarding engine surges and failure procedures. The recommendations that arose from this incident changed the way air safety protocols were enforced, ensuring such critical oversights would not be repeated in the future.
Safety improvements have substantially mitigated the risks related to icing and engine management in the decades since this near-catastrophic event, but it remains a sobering reminder of how quickly things can go awry in aviation without rigorous adherence to safety protocols and comprehensive training.
The flight of SAS 751 stands as a testament to the resilience of its crew and passengers. It reminds us of the potential hazards technical negligence can introduce in aviation and the vigilance necessary to ensure every flight remains safe.
Part 1/9:
The Harrowing Story of SAS Flight 751: A Near-Disaster in the Skies
On December 26, 1991, the Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) Flight 751 was set to take off from Stockholm, carrying 129 passengers and crew. Little did they know that a series of unfortunate events would unfold within moments of takeoff, leading to a life-threatening emergency in the skies. The aircraft, a McDonnell Douglas MD-81, was prepared for what was meant to be a routine flight, but an unnoticed threat lay concealed within its wings—clear ice, a consequence of weather and mechanical oversight—setting the stage for disaster.
A Tricky Start
Part 2/9:
The aircraft had just completed an uneventful flight from Zurich earlier that day. After landing, it was secured for the night, but the lingering effects of supercooled fuel—from a high-altitude flight—created a chilling setback. As rain and snow fell overnight, the temperature was not low enough to freeze the fuel but ideal enough for ice to accumulate unnoticed on the wings’ surfaces.
In the early morning, the flight crew inspected the plane, which was now to transport 123 passengers to Warsaw and onward to Barcelona. Captained by Stefan Rasmussen, a seasoned pilot with over 8,000 flight hours, and first officer W Ced Mark, the team was relatively inexperienced with the MD-81 model—an aspect that would soon show its consequences.
De-icing Failures and Takeoff
Part 3/9:
Despite the ground crew’s attempt to de-ice the aircraft, a thin, undetectable layer of ice remained at the “cold corner” of the wings where fuel pooling naturally occurred. After confirming that de-icing had been effectively completed, the pilots began taxiing to the runway. They were about to embark on the shortest flight in SAS history.
Within seconds of taking off, ice that detached from the wings hurtled into the engines. The initial bang indicated catastrophic damage: engine vibrations ensued, making the readouts unreadable for the flight crew. Moments went by as the aircraft climbed; however, the engines suffered greatly due to what they had ingested.
The Engine Crisis
Part 4/9:
Barely 25 seconds post-takeoff, both engines began surging—a result of compressor stalls prompted by the ice collision. While pilots are trained for various emergencies, they had not received specific training on handling engine surges, leading to a critical knowledge gap. Instead of instinctively implementing necessary procedures to mitigate the surge, the crew frantically searched for answers among cockpit checklists, which would prove to be too little, too late.
As panic set in, the first officer realized the engine was surging and attempted to reduce power, but the aircraft was equipped with an Automatic Thrust Restoration (ATR) system that counteracted their attempts to manage the engines manually.
From Climb to Descent
Part 5/9:
As both engines spiraled further into failure, air traffic control issued commands overlooking the plight of Flight 751, highlighting how unaware everyone was of the impending disaster. With both engines now defunct, the aircraft transformed from a flying machine to a glider within a mere 40 seconds of takeoff—a mere two minutes stood between the crew and a crash landing.
With no time to communicate or rectify the engine failures, the captain ordered an emergency descent, eyes set on finding a landing area. The reality of an emergency landing was sinking in; however, visibility remained poor, and with electrical power dissipating, essential navigational data was also compromised.
The Fight for Survival
Part 6/9:
The cockpit was filled with chaos as flight crew and passengers realized their dire circumstances. Off-duty SAS pilots on board could hear distress signals and became deeply concerned about the crew’s inability to communicate effectively. One such pilot, Per Halberg, offered assistance to manage the situation.
The struggle was clear as attempts to restart engines failed. Finally, with dwindling options, the crew had to focus on finding a safe landing spot. Emerging from the clouds, the captain spotted a small field ahead—his only chance of survival.
The Impact
Part 7/9:
As the aircraft descended upon the clearing, every fraction of a second counted; decisions about landing gear deployment and air control could mean the difference between life and death. Ultimately, the aircraft struck the ground at speed, ripping off its right wing, and breaking into three pieces as it slid to a halt.
Remarkably, despite the catastrophic nature of the incident, all on board survived the crash, albeit with several injuries. Investigators wasted no time in examining the causes.
The Aftermath and Lessons Learned
Part 8/9:
The subsequent investigation into Flight 751 revealed the tragic oversight in de-icing protocols and highlighted a significant lack of training for the flight crew regarding engine surges and failure procedures. The recommendations that arose from this incident changed the way air safety protocols were enforced, ensuring such critical oversights would not be repeated in the future.
Safety improvements have substantially mitigated the risks related to icing and engine management in the decades since this near-catastrophic event, but it remains a sobering reminder of how quickly things can go awry in aviation without rigorous adherence to safety protocols and comprehensive training.
Part 9/9:
The flight of SAS 751 stands as a testament to the resilience of its crew and passengers. It reminds us of the potential hazards technical negligence can introduce in aviation and the vigilance necessary to ensure every flight remains safe.