21 hours ago
Top 10 air crashes caught on camera: 9/11 shocker to Captain Sully facing geese attack
Ten plane crashes caught on camera: In the age of ubiquitous cameras, from dashcams to smartphones, some of the most harrowing moments in aviation history have been caught on video. Bystanders, passengers, or surveillance systems trying to capture something completely unrelated have ended up documenting these plane crashes with chilling clarity. From the global shock of 9/11 to the military jet collision, this article explores notable crashes caught on camera, detailing the events, who recorded them, and their lasting impact.
During the 9/11 attacks, two planes crashed into the World Trade Center towers, and one hit the Pentagon. News broadcasts, bystander videos, and a Pentagon security camera captured the impacts. Flight 93, which crashed in Pennsylvania, was not filmed. The attacks, orchestrated by al-Qaeda, remain the deadliest terrorist incident in history with a total of 2,996 people killed in a single day.
Below is a video of the North Tower being hit, captured by Jules Naudet, a documentary filmmaker who was profiling New York's Fire Department.
Known as the 'Miracle on the Hudson,' the plane struck a flock of Canada geese shortly after takeoff from LaGuardia Airport, causing both engines to fail. Captain Chesley 'Sully' Sullenberger and First Officer Jeffrey Skiles glided the plane to a safe water landing in the Hudson River. All 155 passengers and crew survived.
The medical transport plane crashed into a residential area shortly after takeoff from Northeast Philadelphia Airport, likely due to engine failure. Footage shows the plane descending rapidly, striking a home, and causing a fireball. The crash sparked a fire that damaged nearby properties, though the affected home was unoccupied. All 6 on board, including a pediatric patient and medical staff and 1 on the ground died.
The plane overran the runway at Moscow's Vnukovo Airport in snowy conditions, crashing onto a highway. A car dashcam on the M3 highway recorded the aircraft breaking apart, with debris hitting the vehicle. All eight crew members were killed.
A US Airforce plane crashed at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, during an Arctic Thunder Air Show practice, killing all four crew video, released by the military, cuts off seconds before impact, showing the plane diving behind trees followed by black smoke.
The cargo plane, departing from Puerto Carreño, Colombia, struggled during takeoff, hitting a fence and trees before crashing into a forest. Onlooker footage captured the plane barely clearing the runway and dipping out of sight. All six crew members survived, though the pilot was injured.
The flight from Bangkok crash-landed at Muan International Airport at 9:03 a.m. after a reported bird strike and failed landing attempt. 179 people died, while 2 crew members survived.
A midair collision over the Potomac River in Washington DC was recorded by surveillance cameras at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. Clips showed the helicopter striking the jet, causing a fireball. All 64 on the jet and 3 on the helicopter were killed.
