United States — Historical Events Description

United States flag
United States
Event
Air Canada Flight 143 (“Gimli Glider”) Incident
Category
Other
Date
1983-07-23
Country
United States
Description

On July 23, 1983, a Boeing 767 heading to Canada made an emergency landing after running out of fuel due to a conversion error. The crew glided the aircraft safely to an abandoned airbase. Although Canadian, the investigation and aftermath led to major North American aviation safety reforms. The incident highlighted the importance of accurate metric conversions. It also demonstrated exceptional piloting skill. The event became widely studied in emergency training programs.