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110 people on board. the ntsb determined the fire began in a cargo compartment. >> if we had fire detection system in this cargo compartment, the crew would have afforded more time to get the airplane back on the ground. >> reporter: the faa took those words to heart, revising standards for cargo, requiring smoke detectorerss and automatic fire extinguishers in cargo holds. >> may day. going down. >> reporter: fire was a problem in 1983 when air canada flight 797 made an emergency landing at cincinnati's airport. it had a fire in the bathroom. >> we had a fire in the back washroom and it's fil...

>> reporter: fire was also a problem in 1983 when care canada flight 797 made an emergency landing at cincinnati's airport on the way from dallas to the toronto. it had a fire in the bathroom. >> we have a fire in the back washroom. we're filling up with smoke right now. >> reporter: incredibly the plane landed safely but half of the passengers and crew died because they couldn't exit the plane fast enough. that gave rise to new fire safety standards, including bathroom smoke detectors and automatic fire extinguishers. today planes are much more fire resistant. carpets and seat cushions are ma...

>> return to miami. >> what kind of problem are you having? >> smoke in the cabin. smoke in the cabin. >> reporter: the pilots head to the nearest airport. meanwhile, passengers are yelling about a fire. the aircraft rolls on its side and then crashes nose first into the florida everglades killing all 110 people on board. the ntsb determined the fire began in a cargo compartment. >> if we had a fire detection system in this compartment, the crew would have been afforded more time to get the plane on the ground. >> reporter: the faa took those words to heart and as a result revised standards fo...

There is no concrete evidence of where it is or what has happened in its final moments. now some people are wondering if the plane will ever be found. how that scenario could impact not just this case, but the future of aviation. >> reporter: as searchers race to find any wreckage of flight 370, the cost of not finding the plane could impact the safety of future flights. accidents equal safety and security improvements. in 1983, a fire broke out in a lavatory on air canada flight 797. the plane landed, but 23 people on board died. after that, smoke detectors and automatic fire extinguishers we...

Our aviation correspondent rene marsh is taking a look at that part of the story for us. rene? >> it's a question that you can't help but ask. what if flight 370 is never found. one thing seems apparent. proof that 370 had mechanical problems would likely lead to safety improvement, proof that 370 was hijacked would likely lead to security improvements. but without any proof, we only have speculation and speculation may not change a thing. the history of aviation reads like an equations. in 1983, a fire broke out in a laboratory on air canada flight 797. the plane landed but 23 people on board...