The 10 deadliest plane crashes in history
Planes remain the safest way to travel. But when they do crash, it is as spectacular as it is tragic. Here are the 10 deadliest air crashes in history.

11 July 1991: A Nigeria Airways DC-8 (operated by Nationair) crashed shortly after take-off from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia—261 victims.
26 April 1994: A China Airlines A300 crashed at Nagoya airport, Japan—264 victims.
12 November 2001: An American Airlines A300 crashed shortly after take-off from New York—265 victims.
25 May 1979: An American Airlines DC-10 crashed shortly after take-off from Chicago due to engine failure—273 victims.
19 February 2003: An Iran Air Il-76 crashed as it approached Kerman airport in Iran—275 victims.
19 August 1980: A Saudia L-1011 TriStar at Riyadh airport in Saudi Arabia went up in flames—301 victims.
3 March 1974: A Turkish Airlines DC-10 crashes in the Ermenonville forest, France, following an opening in the cargo hold and depressurisation—346 victims.
12 November 1996: A collision between a Saudia 747 and a Kazakhstan Airlines Il-76 at New Delhi airport—349 victims.
12 August 1985: A Japan Airlines 747 crashed between Tokyo and Osaka due to depressurisation—520 victims.
27 March 1977: At Tenerife airport in Spain, a KLM 747 collided with a PanAm 747—583 victims.