These TU154 figures are complete nonsense, and some people really have to get their facts right.
"The regular 154 came out earlier (1973) and it had 17 fatal accidents** between 1973 and 1991, probably with no more than 300 aircraft in operation at any point,- which would also point to a pretty high fatal loss rate per departure."
TU154 and variants started flying roughly the same time as Concorde and was still in production in 2009.
first hull loss:-
1973 Prague.
**I can think of 2/3 that got shot down, another couple that the pilot turned the fuel pumps off, while taking off, another one that caught fire about a year ago because of a short circuit, and another one that flew straight into a thunderstorm, and yet another downed by a terrorist, never mind the 2 they set burnt to cinders, refuelling next to each other!
I'm told one of the fatalities was down to putting one of these birds down at 5g+ and some poor chap having a heart attack. (Dagestan avia 372)
About 95% of all the other incidents were down to pilot error on what has now become one of the most rugged & reliable classic workhorses still flying.
RA-85684 actually saved the entire passengers and crew thanks to being built like the proverbial brick house lavatory.
At this rate someone is gonna start the rumour mill about the Polish president thread all over again too.
Nothing has anything to do with the safety record or even the age of the aircraft, or are we going to start suggesting Lockerbie is an everyday event too?
Last edited by up_down_n_out; 15th Dec 2013 at 17:01.