@ Nigel 11
The difference is that if 1/4 of the engines on a 747 blows up, the damage is contained, and the plane will be able to continue in flight -- or from point of no abort during takeoff -- and land again safely(*). Same is true of 1/2 engines on a twinjet.
But I guess it's 100% untrue for a tri-jet; remember the crash at O'Hare in the late 70's when a wing engine fell off a DC-10? Sucker flew like a rock.
Biting the hand that feeds IT
