Boeing · Widebody · In Service

Boeing 747-400

Aero Icarus from Zürich, Switzerland — CC BY-SA 2.0

The Boeing 747-400 is a four-engine, long-range wide-body commercial airliner developed by Boeing Commercial Airplanes as an advanced evolution of the original 747 family. As the most numerous variant of the jumbo jet produced, it combined the stretched upper deck of the preceding -300 model with updated high-bypass turbofan engines, wingtip extensions, and distinct 6-foot winglets that noticeably improved aerodynamic efficiency and range.

A major milestone of the 747-400 program was the introduction of a two-pilot glass cockpit, which completely eliminated the traditional flight engineer station and substantially reduced crew operating costs. Becoming the definitive workhorse for long-haul international routes through the 1990s and 2000s, the type was manufactured across passenger, freighter (-400F), combi, and domestic variants until production concluded in 2009.

By The Numbers

The Boeing 747-400 stands as the best-selling variant of the iconic jumbo jet family. According to Boeing commercial delivery records, a total of 694 aircraft were built and delivered across all -400 sub-variants—including passenger models, combis, and dedicated freighters—before production of the series wound down in the 2000s. Northwest Airlines served as the launch customer when it placed the initial order in October 1985, paving the way for decades of widespread adoption by elite international carriers.

While passenger configurations have been largely phased out by major legacy carriers in favor of twin-engine jets, a residual fleet remains active primarily within the cargo sector. Heavy freight operators—most notably North American carriers like Atlas Air and Kalitta Air, alongside international operators such as Cargolux—continue to heavily utilize the 747-400 freighter and converted airframes to sustain global supply chains.

Manufacturing

Where It's Built

Final assembly of the Boeing 747-400 took place at Boeing's widebody manufacturing facility in Everett, Washington.

Major structural and systems responsibilities were distributed among international and domestic aerostructures partners. The fuselage sections were manufactured primarily by Boeing in Wichita, Kansas, along with subcontracted sub-assemblies. The distinctive swept wings, featuring integrated winglets, were produced internally by Boeing utilizing major component fabrication plants, while key avionics, flight management systems, and the advanced glass cockpit displays were supplied by Honeywell and Rockwell Collins.

Specific, isolated development program costs for the 747-400 variant alone were not officially segregated or published as a distinct public figure by Boeing, as the aircraft was treated as a major derivative evolution within the broader, multi-billion-dollar cumulative history of the baseline 747 program.

Notable Operators

Northwest AirlinesBritish AirwaysLufthansaAtlas AirCargolux

Safety Record

Notable Safety History

The Boeing 747-400 maintains a robust structural and operational safety record, with formal investigations into its rare hull-loss accidents yielding critical advancements in airport surface markings, crew situational awareness, cargo-restraint engineering, and regulatory oversight.

On October 31, 2000, Singapore Airlines Flight 006, a Boeing 747-400 operating a scheduled flight from Taipei to Los Angeles, attempted takeoff from a closed runway during severe weather associated with Typhoon Xangsane. The aircraft collided with construction equipment stationed on the runway, resulting in 83 fatalities among the 179 occupants. The official investigation by Taiwan Aviation Safety Council (ASC) concluded that flight crew error—specifically failing to verify their precise geographical position and entering the incorrect runway—was the primary cause, compounded by deficiencies in airport lighting and signage. The disaster prompted international carriers and regulatory bodies to overhaul low-visibility operating procedures, enforce mandatory cockpit cross-checks of runway alignment before takeoff, and urge airports worldwide to improve lighting systems and physical barricades on closed surfaces.

On April 29, 2013, National Airlines Flight 102, a Boeing 747-400 converted freighter departing Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan, crashed shortly after liftoff, resulting in the fatalities of all seven crew members. The investigation by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) determined that heavy military vehicles (MRAPs) loaded on the main deck broke free of their restraint mechanisms during rotation. The shifting cargo slid aft, breaching the rear pressure bulkhead and severely damaging critical hydraulic systems (Nos. 1 and 2) as well as the horizontal stabilizer drive mechanism. This rendered the aircraft uncontrollable, pitching it into an unrecoverable aerodynamic stall. Consequently, the NTSB issued urgent safety recommendations targeting special cargo restraint guidelines, tightening manufacturer instructions for cargo-handling systems, and demanding stricter Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) oversight of non-standard air cargo loading procedures.

Covers officially investigated accidents only, per aviation safety authorities (NTSB, FAA, EASA, AAIB or equivalent).

Sources & Further Reading