8/05/1971: American Airlines Places DC-10 into Service

DALLAS — Today, in 1971, American Airlines (AA) operated the first passenger flight of the McDonnell Douglas DC-10 (N103AA). The inaugural flight was a round trip between Los Angeles (LAX) and Chicago (ORD).

The type was dubbed the "Luxury Liner." AA was the launch customer, along with United Airlines (UA). The former initially ordered 25, with options on a further 25 on February 19, 1968.

Origins

AA approached Douglas in 1966 with requirements for a wide-bodied airliner, smaller than the Boeing 747 but capable of long-range flights from airports with shorter runways.

The outcome was the DC-10, the first aircraft to be produced under the McDonnell Douglas name. Douglas merged with McDonnell Aircraft Corporation in 1967.

Less than a year after its maiden flight, N103AA was involved in the type's first major incident. After takeoff, its aft cargo door opened in-flight, causing rapid decompression. Thankfully, the aircraft landed safely.

The DC-10 would go on to develop an unwarranted reputation as an unreliable aircraft, following a number of other high-profile incidents.

In May 1979, AA lost another of its “Luxury Liners”. Flight 191 crashed just after takeoff from Chicago (ORD) after losing its left engine. All 271 souls on board and two on the ground were killed. 

A Reliable Aircraft

The FAA subsequently grounded the DC-10. However, after its return to service, the type became a reliable aircraft with a safety record comparable to its peers, such as the Boeing 747 and Airbus A300.

American Airlines operated 66 DC-10s: 55-10s and 11 -30’s. The last example was retired in October 2000.