On January 31, 2000, Alaska Airlines Flight 261, a McDonnell Douglas MD-83, lost control midair and crashed into the Pacific Ocean off California’s coast, killing all 88 people onboard. The crash was caused by a failure in the jackscrew assembly of the horizontal stabilizer due to improper lubrication and extended maintenance intervals. Despite heroic efforts by the pilots to regain control—even flying inverted—the aircraft entered a fatal dive. The incident led to major reforms in FAA oversight

On this day in 2000, Alaska Airlines Flight 261 crashed into the Pacific Ocean about 2.7 miles (4.3 km) north of Anacapa Island, California, after suffering a catastrophic loss of pitch control. Flight 261 was a PVR-SEA flight, with a stop at SFO. Three Flight Attendants, 2 Pilots and 83 passengers lost their lives. A memorial of a sundial was constructed in Port Hueneme, California to remember those lives lost. We will never forget our fellow crewmembers: Flight Attendant Kristin Mills, Flight