Do commercial planes fly over Antarctica?

[RickJay]

@coremelt

That kind of proves my point, it was more than 30 years ago and a small prop plane unable to fly high enough to just fly straight over the Andes, it had to fly through mountain passes.

Any examples involving a modern jet airliner I meant?

Japan Airlines 123, the deadliest single plane crash ever, is an obvious example; it suffered mechanical failure at cruising altitude and crashed. Four people survived and it’s very likely more would have survived were it not for the appalling negligence of the Japanese government in starting a rescue effort.

[coremelt]

@RickJay

Japan Airlines 123, the deadliest single plane crash ever, is an obvious example; it suffered mechanical failure at cruising altitude and crashed. Four people survived and it’s very likely more would have survived were it not for the appalling negligence of the Japanese government in starting a rescue effort.

I don’t think that counts, the accident happened 12 minutes after take off, a pressure bulkhead failed as it came up to cruising altitude. That accident couldn’t really have happened in the middle of a 6 hour plus flight.

[Elendil_s_Heir]

There are plenty of things that could never happen, but that somehow or other eventually do, in air travel.

[coremelt]

@Elendil_s_Heir

There are plenty of things that could never happen, but that somehow or other eventually do, in air travel.

You’re missing the point, I asked for accidents that occurred mid flight where there were survivors. 12 minutes from take off is not mid flight, thats still part of the take off / climb to cruise portion of the flight.

And yeah the ETOPS requirement (ability to fly to an alternate with an engine failure) is pretty much why there are no Sydney-Rio flights non-stop. The plane has to be certified for 330 minutes ETOPS to fly that route.