The Nation - News from May 11, 1988

Aloha Airlines is taking out of service permanently the three Boeing 737s grounded after Flight 243 lost part of its fuselage in flight. Aloha believes it is the “prudent decision” because the National Transportation Safety Board investigation is focusing on a possible structural cause for the accident, Aloha spokesman Milton Goto said in Honolulu. The airline decided to retire the planes in order to maintain public confidence, he said. Aloha voluntarily grounded two of the Boeing 737s on April 29, the day after part of the fuselage ripped off a similar plane at 24,000 feet, killing a flight attendant. A third plane was undergoing maintenance at the time and also was grounded.