Korean Air has a poor safety record and was once as one of the world 's most dangerous airlines . Between 1970 and 1999 , many fatal incidents occurred , during which time 16 aircraft were written off in serious incidents and accidents with the loss of 700 lives . Two Korean Air aircraft were shot down by the Soviet Union , one operating as Korean Air Lines Flight 902 and the other as Korean Air Lines Flight 007 . Korean Air 's deadliest incident was Flight 007 which was shot down by the Soviet Union on September 1 , 1983 . All 269 people on board were killed , including a sitting U.S. Congressman , Larry McDonald . The last fatal passenger accident was the Korean Air Flight 801 crash in 1997 , which killed 228 people . The last crew fatalities were in the crash of Korean Air Cargo Flight 8509 in December 1999
Korean Air Lines Flight 902
Korean Air Lines Flight 902
Korean Air