Plane facts

Re “A final flight into the history books,” Current, Jan. 7

As I recall, there was no system on the DC-10 to prevent asymmetrical leading-edge slat retraction on its wings, which occurred in the 1979 Chicago accident. When the hydraulic lines were damaged by the loss of the engine on the left wing, it stopped flying, while the right wing continued to fly. That caused loss of control.

Other aircraft had such fail-safe systems. I never flew on a DC-10 after that accident.

JIM HALLORAN

Redondo Beach