American Eagle Airlines
Encyclopedia
American Eagle Airlines is a brand name used by American Eagle Airlines, Inc. (formerly Simmons Airlines), based in Fort Worth, Texas
, and Executive Airlines
based in San Juan, Puerto Rico
, in the operation of passenger air service as regional affiliates
of American Airlines
. All three airlines are wholly owned subsidiaries of AMR Corp.
American Airlines also allows codeshares through 15 aircraft with an outside airline, Chautauqua Airlines
under contract to provide regional service under the AmericanConnection
brand.
Operating over 1,800 flights a day, serving 159 cities across the USA, Canada
, Mexico
and the Caribbean
, American Eagle is considered to be the world's largest regional airline system.
The American Eagle brand is an affiliate member of the Oneworld
airline alliance, and has a code share agreement with Delta Air Lines
on California routes.
The name was also used between April 1980 and April 1981 by an unrelated air charter service that suspended operations and filed bankruptcy before flying any scheduled operations.
American Eagle began as a collection of unrelated regional carriers with contracts to carry the American Eagle brand name. The first American Eagle flight was operated by Metroflight Airlines on November 1, 1984 from Fayetteville, Arkansas
to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. Other carriers that have flown in Eagle livery include Executive Airlines
, Command Airways
, Air Virginia, Simmons Airlines
, Wings West Airlines
, Metroflight Airlines and Chaparral Airlines.
Until 1987 these third-party carriers flew under contract with American Airlines
to provide regional feed to its hubs. During 1987 and 1988 AMR Corp. acquired its regional carriers, starting with Simmons Airlines. By mid-1991 AMR had consolidated the number of carriers to four. The May 15, 1998 merger of Wings West and Flagship into Simmons (and the name change of Simmons to American Eagle) reduced the number of carriers flying as American Eagle under separate operating certificates to two: American Eagle Airlines, Inc. and Executive Airlines Inc.
During 2007, AMR began studying ways to spin American Eagle off into a separate company, including, but not limited to, the possibilities of selling the company to either stockholders or to an unaffiliated third party. In 2008, AMR said any plans had been put on hold until the airline industry stabilized after the worldwide financial crisis. In July 2011, AMR announced the spin-off of American Eagle and the filing of an SEC Form 10 in August of that year confirmed plans for AMR. Eagle will continue to provide regional feed to American Airlines under a nine year contract, but AMR has the right to transfer the ATR
aircraft beginning in January of 2012 followed by the Embraer
jets in 2014 to other regional airline companies.
on June 9th with non-stop flights twice a day to Chicago-O'Hare.
American Eagle also operates maintenance stations in Abilene, Texas
; Blytheville, Arkansas
; Columbus, Ohio; Springfield-Branson National Airport in Springfield, Missouri
and Sawyer International Airport
in Marquette, Michigan
.
The American Eagle fleet consists of the following aircraft (at May 16, 2010):
At October 2010, the average age of the American Eagle fleet is 9.7 years.
program offering snacks for purchase.
Fort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth is the 16th-largest city in the United States of America and the fifth-largest city in the state of Texas. Located in North Central Texas, just southeast of the Texas Panhandle, the city is a cultural gateway into the American West and covers nearly in Tarrant, Parker, Denton, and...
, and Executive Airlines
Executive Airlines
Executive Airlines, Inc. is an airline headquartered in Carolina, Puerto Rico.Executive Airlines operates an extensive inter-island network in the Caribbean and to the Bahamas and the USA in American Eagle colors. Its main base is Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport, San Juan. In addition,...
based in San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan , officially Municipio de la Ciudad Capital San Juan Bautista , is the capital and most populous municipality in Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 395,326 making it the 46th-largest city under the jurisdiction of...
, in the operation of passenger air service as regional affiliates
Regional airline
Regional airlines are airlines that operate regional aircraft to provide passenger air service to communities without sufficient demand to attract mainline service...
of American Airlines
American Airlines
American Airlines, Inc. is the world's fourth-largest airline in passenger miles transported and operating revenues. American Airlines is a subsidiary of the AMR Corporation and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas adjacent to its largest hub at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport...
. All three airlines are wholly owned subsidiaries of AMR Corp.
AMR Corp.
AMR Corporation is a commercial aviation business and airline holding company based in Fort Worth, Texas, United States. Formed in 1982, as part of American Airlines's non-bankruptcy reorganization into a Delaware corporation, its name derives from American Airlines's ticker symbol on the New York...
American Airlines also allows codeshares through 15 aircraft with an outside airline, Chautauqua Airlines
Chautauqua Airlines
Chautauqua Airlines, Inc. is a regional airline and a subsidiary of Republic Airways Holdings based in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. Based on 2009 published flight schedules, it operates scheduled passenger services on more than 700 flights daily to 98 airports in 31 states, Washington, D.C...
under contract to provide regional service under the AmericanConnection
AmericanConnection
AmericanConnection is a brand name used by Chautauqua Airlines in the operation of passenger air service as a regional affiliate of American Airlines at its Chicago hub...
brand.
Operating over 1,800 flights a day, serving 159 cities across the USA, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
and the Caribbean
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
, American Eagle is considered to be the world's largest regional airline system.
The American Eagle brand is an affiliate member of the Oneworld
Oneworld
Oneworld , branded as oneworld, is one of the world's three largest global airline alliances with its central management team, oneworld Management Company, based in New York City, New York, USA. Oneworld was founded in 1999 by American Airlines, British Airways, Canadian Airlines, Cathay Pacific...
airline alliance, and has a code share agreement with Delta Air Lines
Delta Air Lines
Delta Air Lines, Inc. is a major airline based in the United States and headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. The airline operates an extensive domestic and international network serving all continents except Antarctica. Delta and its subsidiaries operate over 4,000 flights every day...
on California routes.
The name was also used between April 1980 and April 1981 by an unrelated air charter service that suspended operations and filed bankruptcy before flying any scheduled operations.
History
Fayetteville, Arkansas
Fayetteville is the county seat of Washington County, and the third largest city in Arkansas. The city is centrally located within the county and is home to the University of Arkansas. Fayetteville is also deep in the Boston Mountains, a subset of The Ozarks...
to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. Other carriers that have flown in Eagle livery include Executive Airlines
Executive Airlines
Executive Airlines, Inc. is an airline headquartered in Carolina, Puerto Rico.Executive Airlines operates an extensive inter-island network in the Caribbean and to the Bahamas and the USA in American Eagle colors. Its main base is Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport, San Juan. In addition,...
, Command Airways
Command Airways
Command Airways was a regional airline based at the Dutchess County Airport in Wappinger, New York, just outside Poughkeepsie where it began operations in 1965 as Mid-Hudson Airlines....
, Air Virginia, Simmons Airlines
Simmons Airlines
Simmons Airlines is the predecessor to American Eagle Airlines based in the United States. Its headquarters were originally near Marquette, Michigan, at the Marquette County Airport in Negaunee, and were eventually moved to the Near North Side of Chicago, Illinois.- History :Simmons Airlines, Inc....
, Wings West Airlines
Wings West Airlines
Wings West Airlines, often referred to simply as Wings West was an American regional airline headquartered at McChesney Field, unincorporated San Luis Obispo County, California.- History :...
, Metroflight Airlines and Chaparral Airlines.
Until 1987 these third-party carriers flew under contract with American Airlines
American Airlines
American Airlines, Inc. is the world's fourth-largest airline in passenger miles transported and operating revenues. American Airlines is a subsidiary of the AMR Corporation and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas adjacent to its largest hub at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport...
to provide regional feed to its hubs. During 1987 and 1988 AMR Corp. acquired its regional carriers, starting with Simmons Airlines. By mid-1991 AMR had consolidated the number of carriers to four. The May 15, 1998 merger of Wings West and Flagship into Simmons (and the name change of Simmons to American Eagle) reduced the number of carriers flying as American Eagle under separate operating certificates to two: American Eagle Airlines, Inc. and Executive Airlines Inc.
During 2007, AMR began studying ways to spin American Eagle off into a separate company, including, but not limited to, the possibilities of selling the company to either stockholders or to an unaffiliated third party. In 2008, AMR said any plans had been put on hold until the airline industry stabilized after the worldwide financial crisis. In July 2011, AMR announced the spin-off of American Eagle and the filing of an SEC Form 10 in August of that year confirmed plans for AMR. Eagle will continue to provide regional feed to American Airlines under a nine year contract, but AMR has the right to transfer the ATR
ATR
ATR is an Italian-French aircraft manufacturer headquartered on the grounds of Toulouse Blagnac International Airport in Blagnac, France surburb of Toulouse. It was formed in 1981 by Aérospatiale of France and Aeritalia of Italy...
aircraft beginning in January of 2012 followed by the Embraer
Embraer
Embraer S.A. is a Brazilian aerospace conglomerate that produces commercial, military, and executive aircraft and provides aeronautical services....
jets in 2014 to other regional airline companies.
| Carrier | Eagle Service Began | Acquired By AMR | Eagle Service Ended | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metroflight Airlines Metro Airlines Metro Airlines, originally Houston Metro Airlines, was a commuter airline that was originally headquartered in Houston, Texas, United States, while at a later time it was headquartered on the grounds of Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and in Grapevine, Texas... (formerly Metro Airlines) |
November 1, 1984 | May 28, 1993 | May 28, 1993 | Bankrupt; assets acquired by Simmons Airlines |
| AVAir (formerly Air Virginia) | May 15, 1985 | May 1988 | May 1988 | Bankrupt; assets acquired by Nashville Eagle |
| Simmons Airlines Simmons Airlines Simmons Airlines is the predecessor to American Eagle Airlines based in the United States. Its headquarters were originally near Marquette, Michigan, at the Marquette County Airport in Negaunee, and were eventually moved to the Near North Side of Chicago, Illinois.- History :Simmons Airlines, Inc.... |
October 1, 1985 | August 1, 1987 | May 15, 1998 | Merged with Flagship and Wings West to form American Eagle Airlines |
| Command Airways Command Airways Command Airways was a regional airline based at the Dutchess County Airport in Wappinger, New York, just outside Poughkeepsie where it began operations in 1965 as Mid-Hudson Airlines.... |
April 27, 1986 | September 28, 1988 | June 1, 1991 | Merged into Nashville Eagle to form Flagship Airlines |
| Wings West Wings West Airlines Wings West Airlines, often referred to simply as Wings West was an American regional airline headquartered at McChesney Field, unincorporated San Luis Obispo County, California.- History :... |
June 1986 | August 9, 1987 | May 15, 1998 | Merged into Simmons to form American Eagle Airlines, Inc. |
| Executive Airlines Executive Airlines Executive Airlines, Inc. is an airline headquartered in Carolina, Puerto Rico.Executive Airlines operates an extensive inter-island network in the Caribbean and to the Bahamas and the USA in American Eagle colors. Its main base is Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport, San Juan. In addition,... |
November 1, 1986 | 1990 | Still operating | |
| Nashville Eagle | January 1988 | January 1988 | June 1, 1991 | Merged with Command Airways to form Flagship Airlines |
| Flagship Airlines | June 1, 1991 | June 1, 1991 | May 15, 1998 | Formed by the merger of Command Airways into Nashville Eagle; merged into Simmons to form American Eagle Airlines, Inc. |
| American Eagle Airlines | May 15, 1998 | May 15, 1998 | Still Operating | Formed by the merger of Wings West and Flagship into Simmons |
- In January 1988, Nashville Eagle became AMR Corp.’s first and only start-up airline, using equipment acquired from Air Midwest.
- American Eagle launched its regional jetRegional jetA Regional jet , is a class of short to medium-range turbofan powered airliners.-History:The term "Regional jet" describes a range of short to medium-haul turbofan powered aircraft, whose use throughout the world expanded after the advent of Airline Deregulation in the United States in...
service in May 1998 using Embraer ERJ 145Embraer ERJ 145 familyThe Embraer ERJ 145 family is a series of regional jets produced by Embraer, a Brazilian aerospace company. Family members include the ERJ 135 , ERJ 140 , and ERJ 145 , as well as the Legacy business jet and the R-99 family of military aircraft. The ERJ 145 is the largest of the group...
aircraft. - Business Express was acquired by AMR Eagle Holdings Corporation in March 1999, although it never flew under the American Eagle brand before being fully integrated into American Eagle Airlines, Inc. in December 2000.
Hubs
American Eagle operates from seven hubs at Chicago-O'Hare, Dallas-Fort Worth, Miami, San Juan, New York (at both Kennedy and LaGuardia airports) and Los Angeles. Former hubs include Boston, Nashville, San Jose, and Raleigh/Durham, with former focus cities being St. Louis and Washington. Raleigh/Durham and Washington remain two of the biggest spokes in the network with 30+ daily flights. American Eagle will begin service to Charlottesville, VirginiaCharlottesville, Virginia
Charlottesville is an independent city geographically surrounded by but separate from Albemarle County in the Commonwealth of Virginia, United States, and named after Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, the queen consort of King George III of the United Kingdom.The official population estimate for...
on June 9th with non-stop flights twice a day to Chicago-O'Hare.
American Eagle also operates maintenance stations in Abilene, Texas
Abilene, Texas
Abilene is a city in Taylor and Jones counties in west central Texas. The population was 117,063 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Abilene Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had a 2006 estimated population of 158,063. It is the county seat of Taylor County...
; Blytheville, Arkansas
Blytheville, Arkansas
Blytheville is the largest city in and one of the two county seats of Mississippi County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 15,620 at the 2010 census....
; Columbus, Ohio; Springfield-Branson National Airport in Springfield, Missouri
Springfield, Missouri
Springfield is the third largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and the county seat of Greene County. According to the 2010 census data, the population was 159,498, an increase of 5.2% since the 2000 census. The Springfield Metropolitan Area, population 436,712, includes the counties of...
and Sawyer International Airport
Sawyer International Airport
Sawyer International Airport is a public airport located south of the central business district of Marquette, a city in Marquette County, Michigan, United States. The airport is publicly owned by Marquette County....
in Marquette, Michigan
Marquette, Michigan
Marquette is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Marquette County. The population was 21,355 at the 2010 census, making it the most populated city of the Upper Peninsula. Marquette is a major port on Lake Superior, primarily for shipping iron ore and is the home of Northern...
.
Fleet
| Aircraft | In Fleet | Orders | Passengers | Routes | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| J | Y | Total | |||||
| ATR 72-200 ATR 72 The ATR 72 is a twin-engine turboprop short-haul regional airliner built by the French-Italian aircraft manufacturer ATR. ATR and Airbus are both built in Toulouse, and share resources and technology... |
39 | 0 | 0 | 64 66 |
64 66 |
-212 series operates Florida and Caribbean routes from MIA Miami International Airport Miami International Airport , also known as MIA and historically Wilcox Field, is the primary airport serving the South Florida area... and SJU Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport is a joint civil-military public airport located in Carolina, Puerto Rico, three miles southeast of San Juan. Over 4 million passengers board a plane at the airport per year according to FAA reports . It is owned and managed by the Puerto Rico Ports... . -212A series serves cities within 450 miles of DFW Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport is located between the cities of Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas, and is the busiest airport in the U.S. state of Texas... . |
operated by Executive Airlines Executive Airlines Executive Airlines, Inc. is an airline headquartered in Carolina, Puerto Rico.Executive Airlines operates an extensive inter-island network in the Caribbean and to the Bahamas and the USA in American Eagle colors. Its main base is Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport, San Juan. In addition,... |
| Bombardier CRJ700 Bombardier CRJ700 The Bombardier CRJ700, CRJ900, and CRJ1000 are regional airliners based on the Bombardier CRJ200. Final assembly of the aircraft is at Montréal-Mirabel International Airport in Mirabel, Quebec, outside Montreal, Canada.-Development:... |
47 | 0 | 9 | 54 56 |
63 65 |
High-density routes from ORD O'Hare International Airport Chicago O'Hare International Airport , also known as O'Hare Airport, O'Hare Field, Chicago Airport, Chicago International Airport, or simply O'Hare, is a major airport located in the northwestern-most corner of Chicago, Illinois, United States, northwest of the Chicago Loop... , LGA LaGuardia Airport LaGuardia Airport is an airport located in the northern part of Queens County on Long Island in the City of New York. The airport is located on the waterfront of Flushing Bay and Bowery Bay, and borders the neighborhoods of Astoria, Jackson Heights and East Elmhurst. The airport was originally... , LAX Los Angeles International Airport Los Angeles International Airport is the primary airport serving the Greater Los Angeles Area, the second-most populated metropolitan area in the United States. It is most often referred to by its IATA airport code LAX, with the letters pronounced individually... , DFW Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport is located between the cities of Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas, and is the busiest airport in the U.S. state of Texas... , and JFK John F. Kennedy International Airport John F. Kennedy International Airport is an international airport located in the borough of Queens in New York City, about southeast of Lower Manhattan. It is the busiest international air passenger gateway to the United States, handling more international traffic than any other airport in North... |
Original 25 will be reconfigured to (9/54) 22 New will be configured (9/56) |
| Embraer ERJ-135 Embraer ERJ 145 family The Embraer ERJ 145 family is a series of regional jets produced by Embraer, a Brazilian aerospace company. Family members include the ERJ 135 , ERJ 140 , and ERJ 145 , as well as the Legacy business jet and the R-99 family of military aircraft. The ERJ 145 is the largest of the group... |
21 | 0 | 0 | 37 | 37 | Continental U.S. other than west coast (primarily northeast region), Canada | American Eagle Airlines, Inc. |
| Embraer ERJ-140 Embraer ERJ 145 family The Embraer ERJ 145 family is a series of regional jets produced by Embraer, a Brazilian aerospace company. Family members include the ERJ 135 , ERJ 140 , and ERJ 145 , as well as the Legacy business jet and the R-99 family of military aircraft. The ERJ 145 is the largest of the group... |
59 | 0 | 0 | 44 | 44 | Continental U.S., Mexico and Canada. | American Eagle Airlines, Inc. |
| Embraer ERJ-145 Embraer ERJ 145 family The Embraer ERJ 145 family is a series of regional jets produced by Embraer, a Brazilian aerospace company. Family members include the ERJ 135 , ERJ 140 , and ERJ 145 , as well as the Legacy business jet and the R-99 family of military aircraft. The ERJ 145 is the largest of the group... |
118 | 0 | 0 | 50 | 50 | Continental U.S. other than west coast, Canada, Mexico | American Eagle Airlines, Inc. |
| Total | 284 | 0 | |||||
At October 2010, the average age of the American Eagle fleet is 9.7 years.
On-board service
On domestic flights in North America and areas in the Caribbean, American Eagle Airlines offers a buy on boardBuy on board
In commercial flight, buy on board is a system where food or beverages are paid for on board; often food or beverages are not included in the ticket price for certain fare classes....
program offering snacks for purchase.
Executive Airlines
- On May 8, 1987, American Eagle Flight 5452American Eagle Flight 5452American Eagle Flight 5424 was a commuter flight between Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico and Eugenio María de Hostos Airport in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico. The flight was operated by Executive Airlines, doing business as American Eagle and was operated by a CASA C-212...
operated by regional airline Executive AirlinesExecutive AirlinesExecutive Airlines, Inc. is an airline headquartered in Carolina, Puerto Rico.Executive Airlines operates an extensive inter-island network in the Caribbean and to the Bahamas and the USA in American Eagle colors. Its main base is Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport, San Juan. In addition,...
, a CASA 212-200, was on a domestically scheduled passenger flight between San Juan, Puerto RicoSan Juan, Puerto RicoSan Juan , officially Municipio de la Ciudad Capital San Juan Bautista , is the capital and most populous municipality in Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 395,326 making it the 46th-largest city under the jurisdiction of...
-Mayaguez, Puerto RicoMayagüez, Puerto RicoMayagüez is the eighth-largest municipality of Puerto Rico. Originally founded as "Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria" it is also known as "La Sultana del Oeste" , "Ciudad de las Aguas Puras" , or "Ciudad del Mangó"...
crashed short of Runway 09 while landing at Mayaguez. After impacting, the plane continued through a chain link fence and a ditch. Of the 6 occupants onboard (4 passengers and 2 crew on board) 2 were killed. The cause of the crash was determined to be the improper maintenance in setting the flight idle propeller and engine fuel flow. - On June 7, 1992, American Eagle Flight 5456American Eagle Flight 5456The American Eagle Flight 5456 was a scheduled commuter flight between Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico and Eugenio María de Hostos Airport in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico. The flight was operated by Executive Airlines, doing business as American Eagle and was operated by a...
operated by regional airline Executive AirlinesExecutive AirlinesExecutive Airlines, Inc. is an airline headquartered in Carolina, Puerto Rico.Executive Airlines operates an extensive inter-island network in the Caribbean and to the Bahamas and the USA in American Eagle colors. Its main base is Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport, San Juan. In addition,...
, was on a regular flight between San Juan, Puerto RicoSan Juan, Puerto RicoSan Juan , officially Municipio de la Ciudad Capital San Juan Bautista , is the capital and most populous municipality in Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 395,326 making it the 46th-largest city under the jurisdiction of...
and Mayaguez, Puerto RicoMayagüez, Puerto RicoMayagüez is the eighth-largest municipality of Puerto Rico. Originally founded as "Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria" it is also known as "La Sultana del Oeste" , "Ciudad de las Aguas Puras" , or "Ciudad del Mangó"...
when it lost control and crashed nose-down about 3/4 mile from the Mayaguez, Puerto RicoMayagüez, Puerto RicoMayagüez is the eighth-largest municipality of Puerto Rico. Originally founded as "Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria" it is also known as "La Sultana del Oeste" , "Ciudad de las Aguas Puras" , or "Ciudad del Mangó"...
airport. Both crew and all three passengers were killed. The aircraft involved was a CASA 212-200. - On May 9, 2004, American Eagle Flight 5401American Eagle Flight 5401American Eagle Flight 5401 was a flight between Eugenio María de Hostos Airport in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico and Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan....
, an ATR-72, crashed on landing in San JuanSan Juan, Puerto RicoSan Juan , officially Municipio de la Ciudad Capital San Juan Bautista , is the capital and most populous municipality in Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 395,326 making it the 46th-largest city under the jurisdiction of...
, Puerto RicoPuerto RicoPuerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
after the captain lost control of the aircraft while landing. Seventeen people were injured, but there were no fatalities.
American Eagle Airlines, Inc. predecessors
- August 24, 1984, Wings West AirlinesWings West AirlinesWings West Airlines, often referred to simply as Wings West was an American regional airline headquartered at McChesney Field, unincorporated San Luis Obispo County, California.- History :...
Flight 628 Midair collision. Shortly after departing the San Luis Obispo County Regional AirportSan Luis Obispo County Regional AirportSan Luis Obispo County Regional Airport , also known as McChesney Field, is an airport located in San Luis Obispo, California serving San Luis Obispo County...
on a commuter flight to San Francisco International AirportSan Francisco International AirportSan Francisco International Airport is a major international airport located south of downtown San Francisco, California, United States, near the cities of Millbrae and San Bruno in unincorporated San Mateo County. It is often referred to as SFO...
, a Wings West twin-engine Beechcraft Model 99Beechcraft Model 99|-See also:-External links:*...
(N6399U) collided head-on with a private Rockwell Commander 112TC aircraft (N112SM) that was descending for a landing at the same airport, killing all 17 on both aircraft. The NTSB attributed the crash to inadequate visual lookout on the part of both aircraft's pilots, and their failure to heed the recommended communications and traffic advisory practices for uncontrolled airports. - February 19, 1988, American Eagle Flight 3378 operated by the Avair, a Fairchild Swearingen MetrolinerFairchild Swearingen MetrolinerThe Fairchild Swearingen Metroliner or the Fairchild Aerospace Metro is a 19-seat, pressurised, twin turboprop airliner first produced by Swearingen Aircraft and later by Fairchild at a plant in San Antonio, Texas, United States....
was on a regularly scheduled flight between RaleighRaleigh, North CarolinaRaleigh is the capital and the second largest city in the state of North Carolina as well as the seat of Wake County. Raleigh is known as the "City of Oaks" for its many oak trees. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city's 2010 population was 403,892, over an area of , making Raleigh...
-RichmondRichmond, VirginiaRichmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
when it crashed into a reservoir about a mile from Raleigh-Durham International AirportRaleigh-Durham International AirportRaleigh-Durham International Airport is a public international airport located 4.5 miles northeast of the town of Morrisville in suburban Wake County, North Carolina, United States. The airport covers and operates three runways, providing direct service to 40 domestic and international...
from where it had departed in the vicinity of Cary, North CarolinaCary, North CarolinaCary is a large town and suburb of Raleigh, North Carolina in Wake and Chatham counties in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Located almost entirely in Wake County, it is the second largest municipality in that county and the third largest municipality in The Triangle after Raleigh and Durham...
: The aircraft departed during low ceiling, low visibility, and night conditions. Analysis of radar data indicated the aircraft was in a 45 degree descending turn. Both crew members and all 10 passengers were killed. It was revealed during the investigation that the pilot had complained of illness but decided to continue the flight. - October 31, 1994, American Eagle Flight 4184American Eagle Flight 4184American Eagle Flight 4184 was an American Eagle ATR 72 that crashed after flying into unknown icing conditions on October 31, 1994. Control was lost and all aboard were killed.-History:...
operated by AMR's regional airline Simmons Airlines (now American Eagle Airlines), an ATR 72; Near Roselawn, Indiana: The aircraft inverted, dived, and crashed from holding pattern at 10,000 feet (3050 m) "after a ridge of ice accreted beyond the deice boots" resulting in an unexpected aileron hinge moment reversal that subsequently resulted in the loss of control. The four crew and 64 passengers were all killed.[24] In the months following the accident, American Eagle redeployed its ATR fleet to Miami and the Caribbean where icing is not an issue. The aircraft manufacturer, ATR, has since improved the anti-ice boots. The American Eagle aircraft have been modified with the updated deice system and have since been redeployed to the DFW market. - December 13, 1994, American Eagle Flight 3379 operated by AMR's regional airline Flagship AirlinesFlagship AirlinesFlagship Airlines was a regional airline headquartered on the grounds of Nashville International Airport in Nashville, Tennessee. The airline operated under the American Eagle Airlines name....
, a Jetstream 31 was on a regularly scheduled service of RaleighRaleigh, North CarolinaRaleigh is the capital and the second largest city in the state of North Carolina as well as the seat of Wake County. Raleigh is known as the "City of Oaks" for its many oak trees. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city's 2010 population was 403,892, over an area of , making Raleigh...
-GreensboroGreensboro, North CarolinaGreensboro is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the third-largest city by population in North Carolina and the largest city in Guilford County and the surrounding Piedmont Triad metropolitan region. According to the 2010 U.S...
-RaleighRaleigh, North CarolinaRaleigh is the capital and the second largest city in the state of North Carolina as well as the seat of Wake County. Raleigh is known as the "City of Oaks" for its many oak trees. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city's 2010 population was 403,892, over an area of , making Raleigh...
when it crashed into a wooded area about 4 miles SW of the Raleigh-Durham International AirportRaleigh-Durham International AirportRaleigh-Durham International Airport is a public international airport located 4.5 miles northeast of the town of Morrisville in suburban Wake County, North Carolina, United States. The airport covers and operates three runways, providing direct service to 40 domestic and international...
in the vicinity of Morrisville, NC. Of the 20 onboard (18 passengers and 2 crewmembers) 15 were killed while the 5 survivors received serious injuries. The probable cause of the crash was the pilot not following proper procedure when it came to an engine failure situation. - July 9, 1995, American Eagle Flight 4127, an ATR 72ATR 72The ATR 72 is a twin-engine turboprop short-haul regional airliner built by the French-Italian aircraft manufacturer ATR. ATR and Airbus are both built in Toulouse, and share resources and technology...
operated by Simmons AirlinesSimmons AirlinesSimmons Airlines is the predecessor to American Eagle Airlines based in the United States. Its headquarters were originally near Marquette, Michigan, at the Marquette County Airport in Negaunee, and were eventually moved to the Near North Side of Chicago, Illinois.- History :Simmons Airlines, Inc....
, experienced a loss of the rear cabin entry door during climb after taking off from O'Hare International AirportO'Hare International AirportChicago O'Hare International Airport , also known as O'Hare Airport, O'Hare Field, Chicago Airport, Chicago International Airport, or simply O'Hare, is a major airport located in the northwestern-most corner of Chicago, Illinois, United States, northwest of the Chicago Loop...
in ChicagoChicagoChicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
. The cabin door opened shortly after the first officer began to pressurize the cabin; therefore, only a slight pressure differential existed between the cabin pressure and the atmospheric pressure. Lack of damage indicates the door was unlocked/unlatched when it opened. The airplane was one of fifteen aircraft equipped with a new handrail and door handle design which was different than the majority of the ATR 72ATR 72The ATR 72 is a twin-engine turboprop short-haul regional airliner built by the French-Italian aircraft manufacturer ATR. ATR and Airbus are both built in Toulouse, and share resources and technology...
fleet. The old handle was pulled down to latch/lock the door and pushed up to unlatch/unlock the door. The direction of motion was reversed so that the handle was pushed up to latch/lock the door and pulled down to unlatch/unlock the door.- A private citizen located the separated door in approximately 2 feet of water in the Des Plaines River on July 10, 1995.
- Following this incident, ATR designed another new door handle design which returns the handle motion to push up to unlatch/unlock, and pull down to latch/lock.
- January 2006, American Eagle Flight 3008 from San Luis Obispo to Los AngelesLos ÁngelesLos Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, a Saab 340B+Saab 340The Saab 340 is a discontinued Swedish two-engine turboprop aircraft designed and initially produced by a partnership between Saab and Fairchild Aircraft in a 65:35 ratio...
encountered icing at 11,000 feet and regained control only at 6,500 feet, after some 50 seconds' descent. During the incident, in which no one was injured, the autopilotAutopilotAn autopilot is a mechanical, electrical, or hydraulic system used to guide a vehicle without assistance from a human being. An autopilot can refer specifically to aircraft, self-steering gear for boats, or auto guidance of space craft and missiles...
disconnected, the stall alarm/clacker sounded, the plane rolled sharply left and right, experienced vibration, pitched down, partly under manual control, manual deice boots were activated and ice could be heard shedding off and striking the fuselageFuselageThe fuselage is an aircraft's main body section that holds crew and passengers or cargo. In single-engine aircraft it will usually contain an engine, although in some amphibious aircraft the single engine is mounted on a pylon attached to the fuselage which in turn is used as a floating hull...
.- The NTSB report on the Flight 3008 incident referenced three other Saab 340 icing incidents, as well as the Flight 4184 incident referenced above. The three were Nov. 11, 1998, in Eildon Weir, VictoriaEildon, VictoriaEildon is a town in Victoria, Australia. It is located near Lake Eildon, on the Goulburn Valley Highway, in the Shire of Murrindindi local government area. At the 2006 Census, Eildon had a population of 1186.-History:...
, AustraliaAustraliaAustralia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
; June 28, 2002 in Bathurst, New South WalesBathurst, New South Wales-CBD and suburbs:Bathurst's CBD is located on William, George, Howick, Russell, and Durham Streets. The CBD is approximately 25 hectares and surrounds two city blocks. Within this block layout is banking, government services, shopping centres, retail shops, a park* and monuments...
, Australia; and June 18, 2004 in Albury, New South WalesAlbury, New South WalesAlbury is a major regional city in New South Wales, Australia, located on the Hume Highway on the northern side of the Murray River. It is located wholly within the boundaries of the City of Albury Local Government Area...
, Australia.
- The NTSB report on the Flight 3008 incident referenced three other Saab 340 icing incidents, as well as the Flight 4184 incident referenced above. The three were Nov. 11, 1998, in Eildon Weir, Victoria