As of September 2015 , the DC-10 had been involved in 55 accidents and incidents , including 32 hull-loss accidents , with 1,261 occupant fatalities . Of these accidents and incidents , it has been involved in nine hijackings resulting in one death and a bombing resulting in 170 occupant fatalities . Despite its poor safety record in the 1970s , which gave it an unfavorable reputation , the DC-10 has proved to be a reliable aircraft with a low overall accident rate as of 1998 . The DC-10 's initially poor safety record has continuously improved as design flaws were rectified and fleet hours increased . The DC-10 's lifetime safety record is comparable to similar second-generation passenger jets as of 2008
bombing
UTA Flight 772
McDonnell Douglas DC-10