Video: Smashing a 757 airliner

What happens to jetliners after they’ve reached the end of their useful life?

Now we know, thanks to this video from the Seattle Times. They’re stripped down and smashed up.

It took two hours to reduce the 757 to scrap.

“As in nature, the end was brutal and short,” the Times said.

(h/t: John Olson)

(update) – In other aviation news, the world’s first 747-400 ended its last revenue flight a little before 5:30 this morning CT. It joined the Northwest Airlines fleet in 1989, joining Delta as part of the shotgun marriage.

It will retire to the Delta museum.