ILLFATED SWISSAIR MD11 HBIWF SEOUL (SEL) ZURICH
DECEMBER 17, 1996

In order to spend XMas with my family in Switzerland and to visit friends later in Leipzig and Berlin in December 1996, another longhaul flight onboard Swissair's MD11 was on the agenda back in December 1996, my second flight from South Korea to Europe within one month.

This video features a flight onboard the illfated Swissair MD11 HBIWF "Vaud" from old SeoulKimpo Airport to Zurich, using the "Olympic route" the first time, saving a full hour flying time, because flights to Europe were allowed to use the direct route between Seoul and Beijing.

Even though this is old footage, I do hope, you get an idea of the inflight feeling onboard Business Class on a longhaul flight onboard Swissair almost 20 years ago, despite the tragic circumstances of this aircraft.

History of MD11 HBIWF

Airframe 48448 was manufactured 1991 and delivered to Swissair, registered HBIWF, August 5, 1991. HBIWF was named “Schaffhausen”, later “Vaud”. HBIWF was destroyed on Swissair flight SR 111 on September 2, 1998, crashing into the sea at Peggy’s Cove, Canada, 35 nm from Halifax, killing all 229 passengers and crew members on board.

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Flight details

Flight : SR 177
Date : Tuesday, December 17, 1996
Aircraft : MD11
Registration : HBIWF
Name : Vaud
Built : 1991
From : Seoul (SEL)
To : Zurich (ZRH)
Take off : 14.42 h (0542 UTC)
Touch down : 18.23 h (1723 UTC)
Flying time : 11 hours 41 minutes
Flying distance : 9.657 km
Altitude : 9.600 / 10.700 m
Speed : 731 / 850 / 903 km/h
Flight Captain : Altimatt, Rolf
Cabin Crew : Ahn, Mijin