Madeline Tompkins
Encyclopedia
Madeline "Mimi" Tompkins (born 14 February 1952) is an airline
pilot who gained international fame on April 28, 1988, as the First Officer on Aloha Airlines Flight 243
, which landed safely after an explosive decompression
in flight.
A native of Port Acres
, Texas
, Tompkins was the first woman to work as a pilot for Aloha Airlines
. On April 28, 1988, Tompkins was co-piloting a Boeing 737-200 from Hilo to Honolulu, Hawaii. As the aircraft reached its cruising altitude of 24,000 feet, the roof of the cabin forward of the wings suffered an explosive decompression incident, which tore most of the roof off and swept away one of the flight attendants. The aircraft was diverted to Maui where Tompkins assisted in the emergency descent. The heavily crippled airliner was able to land with no further injuries to those on board. Tompkins also assisted the passengers down the emergency evacuation slide
s. The accident prompted industry-wide changes in the maintenance requirements for all aging aircraft in the United States.
Tompkins later became Aloha Airlines' first female Captain and remained flying the Boeing 737-200, as well as the Boeing 737-700 on transpacific routes until Aloha's last day of business. She has since been hired as a First Officer for Hawaiian Airlines
(as of May 1, 2008)
Reports surfaced of a passenger named Madeline Tompkins dying on American Airlines Flight 587
in New York City in November, 2001, but these bear no relation to the pilot of Flight 243.
Airline
An airline provides air transport services for traveling passengers and freight. Airlines lease or own their aircraft with which to supply these services and may form partnerships or alliances with other airlines for mutual benefit...
pilot who gained international fame on April 28, 1988, as the First Officer on Aloha Airlines Flight 243
Aloha Airlines Flight 243
Aloha Airlines Flight 243 was a scheduled Aloha Airlines flight between Hilo and Honolulu in Hawaii. On April 28, 1988, a Boeing 737-200 serving the flight suffered extensive damage after an explosive decompression in flight, but was able to land safely at Kahului Airport on Maui. The only...
, which landed safely after an explosive decompression
Explosive decompression
Uncontrolled decompression refers to an unplanned drop in the pressure of a sealed system, such as an aircraft cabin and typically results from human error, material fatigue, engineering failure or impact causing a pressure vessel to vent into its lower-pressure surroundings or fail to pressurize...
in flight.
A native of Port Acres
Port Acres, Port Arthur, Texas
Port Acres is an area of Port Arthur, Texas, United States that used to be a distinct unincorporated community in eastern Jefferson County. The community is between Texas State Highway 73 and Farm to Market Road 365 and west of Downtown Port Arthur....
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, Tompkins was the first woman to work as a pilot for Aloha Airlines
Aloha Airlines
Aloha Airlines was an American airline headquartered in Honolulu CDP, City and County of Honolulu, Hawaii, operating from a hub at Honolulu International Airport...
. On April 28, 1988, Tompkins was co-piloting a Boeing 737-200 from Hilo to Honolulu, Hawaii. As the aircraft reached its cruising altitude of 24,000 feet, the roof of the cabin forward of the wings suffered an explosive decompression incident, which tore most of the roof off and swept away one of the flight attendants. The aircraft was diverted to Maui where Tompkins assisted in the emergency descent. The heavily crippled airliner was able to land with no further injuries to those on board. Tompkins also assisted the passengers down the emergency evacuation slide
Evacuation slide
An evacuation slide is an inflatable slide used to evacuate an aircraft quickly. An escape slide is required on all commercial aircraft where the door sill height is such that, in the event of an evacuation, passengers would be unable to "step down" from the door uninjured An evacuation slide is...
s. The accident prompted industry-wide changes in the maintenance requirements for all aging aircraft in the United States.
Tompkins later became Aloha Airlines' first female Captain and remained flying the Boeing 737-200, as well as the Boeing 737-700 on transpacific routes until Aloha's last day of business. She has since been hired as a First Officer for Hawaiian Airlines
Hawaiian Airlines
Hawaiian Airlines, Inc. is a major airline of the United States. It is the largest airline based in the State of Hawai'i, and is the 11th largest commercial airline in the country. Based in Honolulu CDP, City and County of Honolulu, the airline operates its main hub at Honolulu International...
(as of May 1, 2008)
Reports surfaced of a passenger named Madeline Tompkins dying on American Airlines Flight 587
American Airlines Flight 587
American Airlines Flight 587, an Airbus A300, crashed into the Belle Harbor neighborhood of Queens, a borough of New York City, New York, shortly after takeoff from John F. Kennedy International Airport on November 12, 2001. This is the second deadliest U.S...
in New York City in November, 2001, but these bear no relation to the pilot of Flight 243.