so what exactly were the problems with the DC-10 that made them "unsafe" Ralph N.? plane hits Mt Erebus, engine falls off due maintenance, uncontained engine failure knocks out controls, Paris [not good]....hardly a poor record.
The 59 KC-10's still pumping gas for warfighters don't seem to have problems.
Airbus is in my opinion the Leyland P-76 of aircraft but look at the devlpment of nearlt every post WW2 airliner and they had a few issues to deal with...