Tag Archives: McDonnell Douglas DC-9-32

The saga on JAT flight 367 and the survival of FA Vesna Vulović, who fell 33,330 feet from the aircraft!

This is probably the strangest survival story concerning a flight attendant and a airplane crash.

From Wikipedia:

JAT Yugoslav Airlines Flight 367 was a McDonnell Douglas DC-9-32 aircraft (registration YU-AHT) which exploded shortly after overflying NDB Hermsdorf (located in or around Hinterhermsdorf, in the present-day municipality of Sebnitz), East Germany, while en route from Stockholm to Belgrade on January 26, 1972.

The aircraft, piloted by captain Ludvik Razdrih and first officer Ratko Mihić, broke into three pieces and spun out of control, crashing near the village of Srbská Kamenice in Czechoslovakia (now the Czech Republic). Of the 28 on board, 27 were killed upon ground impact and one Yugoslav crew member, Vesna Vulović (1950–2016), survived.

She holds the Guinness world record for surviving the highest fall without a parachute at 10,160 m (33,330 ft; 6.31 mi).

Historic Photo: PSA (Pacific Southwest Airlines) McDonnell Douglas DC-9-32 N706PS (msn 47020) SFO (Thomas Livesey). Image: 945190.

Copyright Photo: PSA (Pacific Southwest Airlines) McDonnell Douglas DC-9-32 N706PS (msn 47020) SFO (Thomas Livesey). Image: 945190.

Plans are underway to bring back Midwest Express Airlines

Curt Drumm of Manitowoc, WI is leading an effort to bring back Midwest Express Airlines. A website has been established and a small group is looking for investors. If it happens, the second version of Midwest Express would also be based in Milwaukee.

The website has made this statement:

The Return of a Legend:

Plans are underway to bring back the iconic Midwest Express Airlines. Remember the great service, comfortable seating and chocolate cookies? So much of that went away, and hasn’t come back.

With fewer flights out of Milwaukee’s Mitchell International Airport (MKE), and even fewer non-stop destinations, travel has become more of a hassle. Add long connections, service fees and crowded planes, it’s just not fun anymore. Many other mid-size airports face the same problem, too.

That’s why we’re working hard to bring back Midwest Express. With convenient destinations for business travelers, roomy seats, WiFi and friendly people who care about you, it’s going to help you plan your travel more efficiently. Flights to many of our destinations will allow you to travel out and back on the same day, getting you back home at night, instead of being away.

We are currently finalizing our plans. If you’d like to be part of it, either as an investor or a member of our team, let us know. There’s a contact form below. Or just follow our progress right here. We’ll keep you posted.

Thanks for your interest in the new Midwest Express. More details will be coming soon. We can’t wait to get in the air!

(Oh, and by the way, we haven’t forgotten the cookies!)

Above Copyright Photo: Midwest Express Airlines McDonnell Douglas DC-9-32 N302ME (msn 47102) MIA (Bruce Drum). Image: 103360.

Note: The original Midwest Express Airlines (above) commenced scheduled passenger flights on June 11, 1984. In March 2003 it became Midwest Airlines (below). On June 23, 2009, Republic Airways Holdings, Inc. announced they would acquire Midwest Airlines for $31 million. The purchase was finalized on July 30, 2009. On November 2, 2009 the last flight was operated and the brand was retired.