Air Canada Flight 797 was a scheduled transborder flight that flew on a Houston, Texas-Dallas/Fort Worth-Toronto, Ontario route. The aircraft on the flight caught fire on June 2, 1983.

On that day, the aircraft registered C-FTLU took off from Houston Intercontinental Airport (now George Bush Intercontinental Airport) in Houston, Texas and made a stop at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, located between the cities of Dallas and Fort Worth. The aircraft was bound for Lester B. Pearson International Airport (now Toronto Pearson International Airport) in Mississauga, Ontario.

Donald Cameron was the captain, Claude Ouimet was the first officer. While flying over Louisville, Kentucky, an in-flight fire began in the rear lavatory of the McDonnell Douglas DC-9-32.

Cameron and Ouimet were forced to make an emergency landing at the Greater Cincinnati Airport (now Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport), located in Boone County, Kentucky near Cincinnati, Ohio. During the evacuation, the main door was opened, causing an influx of oxygen that fueled the fire. 23 of the 41 passengers died from smoke inhalation and a flash fire that started when the airplane's doors were opened.

Noted victims

Flight 797 carried two respected members of their professions:

• Curtis Mathes was the president of the company that bore his name. His company was established in 1899 as a furniture maker and later entered the hi-fidelity audio and television field. Its slogan went like this: The most expensive television in America, and darn well worth it!

• Stan Rogers was a Canadian folk singer with a legendary reputation in his home country. He was famous for songs like Northwest Passage, Mary Ellen Carter, Song of the Candle, and Barrett's Privateers. He was going home on Flight 797 after attending the Kerrville Folk Festival in Texas. He died in the fire at the age of 33, while helping other passengers to safety.

There were no fatalities among the five crew members.

External link

• Air Canada 797