On the 28th of April 1988, Aloha Airlines Flight 243, a scheduled flight from Hilo (ITO/PHTO) to Honolulu (PNL/PHNL) in Hawaii, experienced a catastrophic event. The Boeing 737-297 serving the route underwent severe damage due to an explosive decompression mid-flight, caused by part of the fuselage rupturing from poor maintenance and metal fatigue. Remarkably, the aircraft managed a safe landing at Kahului Airport (OGG/PHOG) on Maui. The incident resulted in one fatality, flight attendant Clarabelle "C.B." Lansing, who was ejected from the airplane, and injuries to another 65 passengers and crew. The significant damage from the decompression, the loss of a crew member, and the aircraft's safe descent marked this as a pivotal moment in aviation history, influencing future aviation safety regulations and practices.
Following a standard takeoff and climb, the aircraft reached its cruising altitude of 24,000 feet (7,300 m). At approximately 13:48, while 23 nautical miles (43 km; 26 mi) south-southeast of Kahului on Maui, a portion of the left side roof ruptured, emitting a "whooshing" sound. The captain experienced the aircraft rolling left and right, with the controls becoming unresponsive. The first officer observed fragments of grey insulation in the cockpit. The cockpit door was dislodged, revealing "blue sky where the first-class ceiling had been." An extensive section of the roof, spanning the entire upper half of the aircraft from just behind the cockpit to the forward wing area, measuring about 18 feet (5.5 m), had detached.
The plane was a Boeing 737-297, the 152nd Boeing 737 constructed at the Renton assembly plant. Built in 1969 and initially named King Kalaniopuu after Kalaniʻōpuʻu, it was delivered new to Aloha Airlines and registered as N73711, with serial number 20209. It was later leased to Air California / Air Cal, during which time its original name was transferred to N728AL. Upon its return to Aloha, it was renamed Queen Liliuokalani in honor of Liliʻuokalani. Prior to the accident, the airframe had logged 35,496 flight hours and nearly 90,000 flight cycles, primarily from short-haul flights, far exceeding its intended design limit. At that point, Aloha Airlines operated the two Boeing 737s with the highest number of flight cycles globally, with this aircraft ranking second.
