The Bolts That Were 0.026 Inches Too Small: What British Airways Flight 5390 Still Teaches About Matching Fasteners to Spec
On 10 June 1990, British Airways Flight 5390 lost its captain-side windscreen over Didcot after 84 of 90 retaining bolts were installed undersize. The UK AAIB confirmed the cause: wrong diameter fasteners pulled through under cabin pressure. A clear lesson in matching bolt size, length, and thread to the job.
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