Originally Posted by
Headstone
If I remember correctly one of the factors contributing the Swissair crash off the Canadian coast in the late 1990s was that the cabin insulation in the aircraft was flammable and helped spread the fire above and behind the cockpit area. Not the actual cause of it but it helped spread the fire.
The Swissair MD11 led to a lot of changes to the insulation on transport category aircraft. The insulation is used for both thermal and acoustic insulation. It also provides some protection against pooling fuel fires on the ground - increasing the time available for evacuation.
The material on the Swissair MD11 was a contributor - AN26? Together with polyimide (kapton) wiring as the likely ignition source. Subsequently replaced by better materials. It cost the airlines a lot to replace - it is not an easy job.