By Skies Magazine | October 28, 2014 Estimated reading time 3 minutes, 17 seconds.
Crew from the final flight of the McDonnell Douglas MD-11 aircraft pose before
completing their final journey.
On Oct. 25, 2014, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines flight 672 departed Montreal’s Trudeau International Airport for Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport, the final scheduled commercial passenger flight of the McDonnell Douglas MD-11. Aircraft PH-KCE, named after British actress Audrey Hepburn, was assigned to fly the historic flight.
To mark the event, les Aéroports de Montréal and KLM organized numerous activities. A water cannon salute greeted the inbound flight (KL671). That was followed by a gate celebration, where passengers were treated to numerous activities, including having their picture taken and receiving a souvenir print.
The final departure was as much about the aircraft as it was about the numerous enthusiasts that had come from around the world to Montreal to be a part of history. Many aviation geeks, or avgeeks, flew on the flight. Hundreds of aviation enthusiasts, both local and international, lined the runways in the rain and dark skies for both the arrival and nighttime departure. The flight crew, well aware of the photographers capturing the moment, held position three times to allow the photographers the time they required to get long exposure images. Then the pilot on the radio repeated the takeoff clearance, and thanked the gathered enthusiasts for being fans of the MD-11, before spooling up and departing for the Netherlands for the final time.
The aircraft was met by dozens of airport vehicles and and enthusiasts upon its
final landing.
On board the flight, the mood was celebratory, and bittersweet. All passengers were treated to champagne and cake to mark the occasion. Everyone received a certificate signed by the chief pilot certifying they were on the final scheduled commercial passenger flight of the MD-11.
Touching down for the final time, the aircraft was met by dozens of airport vehicles and escorted on the taxiways to the apron, where she was given her final water cannon salute. Schiphol Airport opened its observation deck early, installing giant spotlights to allow enthusiasts the opportunity to capture the plane as it taxied to the gate and shut down for the last time. It was an emotional time for passengers, crew and enthusiasts, as they had just taken part in the final wide-body McDonnell Douglas commercial passenger flight.
