The Boeing 777 aircraft flown by Malaysia Airlines that disappeared Saturday morning over the South China Sea is one of the world’s most popular — and safest — jets, according to a AP report today.

The report said that the long-range jumbo jet has helped connect cities at the far ends of the globe, with flights as long as 16 hours.

But more impressive is its safety record: The first fatal crash in its 19-year history only came last July when an Asiana Airlines jet landed short of the runway in San Francisco.

Three of the 307 people on board were killed.

Airlines prefer this plane because it is capable of flying extremely long distances thanks to two giant engines.

Each engine is so massive that a row of at least five coach seats could fit inside it. By having just two engines, the plane burns through less fuel than four-engine jets, like the Boeing 747, which it has essentially replaced.

“It has provided a new standard in both efficiency and safety,” said Richard Aboulafia, an aviation consultant with the Teal Group. “The 777 has enjoyed one of the safest records of any jetliner built.”

Apart from last year’s Asiana crash, the only other serious incident involving the 777 occurred in January 2008 when a British Airways jet landed about 1,000 feet (305 meters) short of the runway at London’s Heathrow Airport.

Malaysia Airlines did have an incident in August 2005 with a 777 flying from Perth, Australia to Kuala Lumpur. While flying at 38,000 feet (11,580 meters) above the Indian Ocean, the plane’s software incorrectly measured its speed and acceleration, causing the plane to suddenly shoot up 3,000 feet (915 meters). The pilot disengaged the autopilot and descended, landing safely back in Perth. A software update was quickly made on the planes around the world.

Malaysia Airlines has 15 Boeing 777-200ER jets in its fleet of about 100 planes. The first was delivered on April 23, 1997. The most recent was on Dec. 13, 2004, according to Boeing. The 200ER is one of four versions of the 777.

The 777 is capable of flying 7,250 miles nonstop. Its two Rolls-Royce Trent 875 engines each have 74,600 pounds (33.8 tons) of thrust, allowing the plane to cruise at Mach 0.84, or nearly 640 mph. (1,000 kph).

A new model has a list price of US$261.5 million, although airlines typically negotiate discounts.

The 777 was the first twin-engine plane to be immediately certified to fly over the ocean as far as 180 minutes from any emergency landing airport. Government safety regulators have determined that it could fly for nearly three hours on a single engine in the case of an emergency.

Such government approval has enabled airlines to fly routes such as New York to Hong Kong nonstop on the 777.

Saturday’s Malaysia Airlines flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing was scheduled to take 5 1/2 hours — one of the shorter routes worldwide for the 777. Malaysia Airlines has its 777s configured to seat 282 passengers with business class and coach cabins.

In addition to its ability to fly long distances and hold a large number of passengers, airlines prefer the 777 because they can fill its long belly with lots of profitable cargo. The jet weighs 316,800 pounds (143 tons) when empty but is able to carry another 340,000 pounds (155 tons) of passengers, luggage, cargo and fuel. Less than a third of the space in the belly is taken up by luggage.

Boeing has delivered 1,030 of the planes since United Airlines starting flying the first one in June 1995. There are outstanding orders for another 370. Last year, Boeing announced plans to build a new, larger version of the plane in addition to the four current versions.