The Daily Briefing

On 12 August 1985, Japan Air Lines Flight 123, a Boeing 747-146SR, suffered the deadliest single-aircraft accident in history. En route from Tokyo to Osaka, the aircraft's rear pressure bulkhead failed at cruising altitude, causing explosive decompression and the loss of all hydraulic systems. The crew fought for 32 minutes using only engine thrust to control the stricken jet, but ultimately crashed into Mount Takamagahara in Gunma Prefecture, killing 520 people.

Investigation revealed the bulkhead failure stemmed from an improperly repaired tail strike from 1978. The repair was expected to last 10,000 cycles but failed on the 12,219th. Only four passengers survived, seated in the last three rows. Boeing publicly accepted responsibility, while JAL paid ¥780,000,000 in condolence money. The airline lost over 20% of its passengers the following year, marking a devastating blow to the carrier's reputation and operations.