British Midland Flight 92, a Boeing 737-400, experienced a catastrophic failure during its descent into East Midlands Airport. After taking off from London Heathrow, the flight encountered problems when one of its two engines failed. As the pilots attempted to divert to the nearest airport, they misdiagnosed the failure, believing both engines were experiencing issues. This led to the aircraft stalling and crashing onto the M1 motorway, near Kegworth. The crash claimed the lives of 47 passengers, while the remaining 79 survived, although many suffered considerable injuries. The incident occurred just after midnight, amidst poor weather conditions.

Rescue operations were initiated rapidly, involving local emergency services and airport response teams. The aircraft's wreckage was situated across the motorway, complicating rescue efforts and leading to significant traffic disruptions. Witnesses reported a terrifying scene as flames engulfed the aircraft, which had been descending towards the motorway after the pilots' desperate attempts to land the damaged plane.

In the aftermath, detailed investigations were conducted by the Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB), which highlighted issues surrounding engine performance, pilot training, and emergency protocol adherence. The report led to significant revisions in safety practices for airlines, specifically regarding engine failure protocols and enhanced training for crew emergencies.