All language subtitles for Air.Disasters.S07E03.Fire.Fight.720p.AMZN.WEB-DL.DD.5.1.H264-SiGMA

Narrator:
SMOKE FILLS A PASSENGER PLANE

SIX MILES IN THE SKY.

[GASPING]

[COUGHING]

Pilot: WE'RE ON MAYDAY.
WE'RE GOING DOWN.

Narrator: ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS
SHUT DOWN AS THE SMOKE SPREADS.

THE CREW TRIES DESPERATELY
TO LAND THEIR STRICKEN PLANE.

Attendant: WE'RE GOING TO BE
MAKING AN EMERGENCY LANDING.

PUT YOUR HEAD ON YOUR LAP.

Pilot: WE'RE GOING
TO NEED FIRE TRUCKS.

Controller:
THEY'RE STANDING BY FOR YOU.

Narrator: WHAT SEEMED LIKE
A SMALL PROBLEM AT FIRST

HAS BECOME
A LIFE-OR-DEATH STRUGGLE

FOR EVERYONE ON BOARD
AIR CANADA FLIGHT 797.

Flight attendant:
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
WE ARE STARTING OUR APPROACH.

Pilot: WE LOST BOTH ENGINES!

Flight attendant:
PUT THE MASK OVER YOUR NOSE.

EMERGENCY DESCENT.

Pilot: MAYDAY, MAYDAY.

Flight attendant:
BRACE FOR IMPACT!

Controller: I THINK I LOST ONE.

Man: INVESTIGATION STARTING...

Man: HE'S GONNA CRASH!

Narrator:
EARLY EVENING, JUNE 2, 1983.

SUPPERTIME ABOARD
AIR CANADA FLIGHT 797.

CAPTAIN DONALD CAMERON
HAS BEEN WORKING FOR AIR CANADA

FOR 17 YEARS

AND HAS FLOWN
ALMOST 5,000 HOURS IN A DC-9.

BUT IT DOESN'T MEAN
HE GETS TO EAT FIRST.

Donald Cameron:
HOW'S YOUR SEAFOOD? NICE?

Narrator: BEFORE HE CAN DIG IN,

HIS FIRST OFFICER CLAUDE OUIMET
WILL HAVE TO FINISH.

Claude Ouimet: GOOD.

[LAUGHING]

Narrator: THE JET
IS IN THE MIDDLE OF A FLIGHT

FROM DALLAS, TEXAS, TO MONTREAL,

WITH A STOPOVER IN TORONTO.

THE HEAVY CLOUD COVER BELOW
HIDES SOME LIGHT SHOWERS,

BUT AT THEIR CRUISING ALTITUDE
OF NEARLY 33,000 FEET,

THE VIEW IS CLEAR AND BRIGHT.

THE DC-9
IS ONLY HALF FULL TODAY,

WITH 41 PASSENGERS SCATTERED
THROUGHOUT THE PLANE.

Woman: CAN I HAVE
SOME TEA, PLEASE?

Narrator:
24-YEAR-OLD DIANNE FADLEY

IS AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF THE
JUVENILE DIABETES FOUNDATION.

Dianne Fadley:
WE HAVE A NUMBER

OF DIFFERENT
FUNDRAISING ACTIVITIES.

ONCE A YEAR
THEY HAVE A LARGE CONFERENCE,

AND AT THIS TIME
IT HAPPENED TO BE IN TORONTO.

Narrator: RAYMOND CHALIFOUX
IS 23 AND RECENTLY MARRIED.

AN ENGINEER,
HE'S RETURNING HOME

FROM HIS FIRST-EVER
BUSINESS TRIP.

Raymond Chalifoux:
IT WAS A LITTLE BIT FRIGHTENING

BOTH FOR ME AND FOR MY WIFE.

I WAS SUPPOSED TO BE GONE
FOUR OR FIVE DAYS,

SO FIRST TIME WE WERE SEPARATED
FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME,

SO IT WAS KIND OF
INSECURING FOR ME, YEAH.

Narrator:
AND A FEW ROWS FURTHER UP

SITS A GROWING LEGEND
IN THE WORLD OF FOLK MUSIC.

STAN ROGERS IS JUST 33,

BUT HIS CAREER
IS BEGINNING TO TAKE OFF

OUTSIDE OF HIS NATIVE CANADA.

Paul Mills:
I THINK STAN'S BEST-KNOWN SONGS

CELEBRATE ORDINARY PEOPLE.

THE SONGS ARE REALLY
ABOUT ORDINARY PEOPLE

RISING TO THE OCCASION

AND BECOMING HEROES
ON THEIR OWN.

Narrator: JUST BEFORE 7 O'CLOCK,

THE PLANE IS A LITTLE MORE
THAN HALFWAY TO TORONTO.

[POPPING]

Ouimet: WHAT WAS THAT?

IT'S RIGHT THERE.
I SEE IT.

RIGHT THERE.

Cameron: YEAH.

Narrator: THREE CIRCUIT BREAKERS
HAVE POPPED OUT.

LIKE FUSES,

THEY PROTECT DELICATE
ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS ON THE PLANE

FROM BECOMING OVERLOADED.

Cameron: LIKE A MACHINE GUN.

Ouimet: YEAH. ZAP, ZAP, ZAP.

Narrator: THE THREE BREAKERS
ARE FOR THE FLUSHING MOTOR

IN THE TOILET
AT THE REAR OF THE PLANE.

CAMERON DECIDES
TO GIVE THEM A FEW MINUTES

BEFORE HE TRIES
TO RESET THEM AGAIN.

Ouimet: SOMETIMES IT OVERWORKS
AND OVERHEATS,

AND THEN THE BREAKER POPPED,

AND THEN IT COOLS OFF,

AND THEN YOU PUSH THE BREAKER
AND EVERYTHING IS FINE.

SO PUT THE SNAG
IN THE LOGBOOK,

AND THAT'S IT.

Cameron:
SOMEONE MUST HAVE PUSHED A RAG
DOWN THE TOILET OR SOMETHING,

JAMMED IT AND IT OVERHEATED.

Narrator: CAMERON THINKS

THAT SOMETHING MUST BE STOPPING
THE MOTOR FROM WORKING PROPERLY,

BUT IT'S NOT AN EMERGENCY.

TOILETS GET BLOCKED
ALL THE TIME.

SEVERAL MINUTES PASS

AS THE PLANE CONTINUES
ON ITS WAY TO TORONTO.

FLIGHT ATTENDANTS LAURA KAYAMA
AND JUDI DAVIDSON

ARE BUSY SERVING UP DINNER
IN THE CABIN.

IN THE COCKPIT,

IT'S CAPTAIN CAMERON'S
TURN FOR DINNER.

BUT FIRST HE WANTS TO RESET
THE THREE CIRCUIT BREAKERS.

WITHOUT THEM,
THE TOILET WON'T WORK.

THE REST OF THE FLIGHT
COULD GET UNCOMFORTABLE

FOR THE PASSENGERS.

Cameron: POPS AS I PUSH IT.

Narrator: HE'S GIVEN IT
MORE THAN EIGHT MINUTES,

BUT WHATEVER IS WRONG
WITH THE WASHROOM,

IT ISN'T FIXING ITSELF.

IN THE CABIN,

ONE OF THE PASSENGERS COMPLAINS
ABOUT A DISTURBING ODOR.

Judi Davidson:
YEAH, THAT IS A STRANGE SMELL.

LET ME TAKE A LOOK.

Narrator: CONNIE KIRSCH,

A TEXAN HEADED FOR
A BUSINESS MEETING IN TORONTO,

IS SEATED
AT THE BACK OF THE PLANE.

Connie Kirsch: I HAD SMELLED
A PECULIAR SMELL

WHERE I WAS SITTING,

AND I...IT STRUCK ME AS ODD.

ACTUALLY IT WAS A WIRY SMELL.

IT WASN'T A SMOKE SMELL.

Narrator: A WISP OF SMOKE IS
LEAKING OUT OF THE WASHROOM.

THE SMOKE AND THE ACRID SMELL
OF BURNING PLASTIC

TAKES DAVIDSON BY SURPRISE.

THIS IS MUCH MORE
THAN JUST A CLOGGED TOILET.

OTHER PASSENGERS ARE BEGINNING
TO NOTICE THE SMOKE

AND THE SUFFOCATING SMELL.

[COUGHING]

Laura Kayama: SERGIO, THERE'S
A PROBLEM IN THE WASHROOM.

JUDI SAYS THERE'S A FIRE.

Sergio:
OK. I'LL BE RIGHT THERE.

Narrator: CHIEF FLIGHT ATTENDANT
SERGIO BENETTI

IS IN CHARGE OF THE CABIN CREW.

Kayama: AS A PRECAUTION,

WE'RE MOVING EVERYONE
A FEW ROWS UP.

[COUGHING]

Narrator: THE SMOKE
IS NOXIOUS AND OVERPOWERING.

BENETTI CAN'T SEE ANY FLAMES.

HE SPRAYS THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER
INTO THE TINY WASHROOM,

TRYING TO COAT EVERY SURFACE.

Chalifoux: AS SOON AS I SAW
THAT FIRE EXTINGUISHER,

SOMETHING WENT THROUGH MY MIND.

THERE IS DEFINITELY
SOMETHING WRONG.

THE GUY SEEMED TO HAVE
THE THING UNDER CONTROL,

SO HE'S GONNA DO HIS JOB

AND THINGS WILL BE
BUSINESS AS USUAL.

Narrator:
IT'S 2 MINUTES PAST 7,

JUST 11 MINUTES
SINCE THE CIRCUIT BREAKERS

FIRST POPPED OUT.

LAURA KAYAMA
BRINGS CAPTAIN CAMERON

THE DISTURBING NEWS.

Kayama: EXCUSE ME, CAPTAIN.

THERE'S A FIRE
IN THE WASHROOM IN THE BACK.

THEY JUST WENT BACK
TO GO PUT IT OUT.

Ouimet:
YOU WANT ME TO GO BACK?

Cameron: YEAH, GO.

Narrator:
A FIRE ON BOARD AN AIRCRAFT

IS ONE OF THE WORST SITUATIONS
ANY CREW CAN FACE.

THE PLANE IS SOME 6 MILES HIGH.

WHAT STARTS AS A SPARK

CAN TURN DEADLY
IN A FEW SHORT MINUTES.

BUT AT THE MOMENT,

CAMERON DOESN'T KNOW
HOW BAD THE SITUATION IS.

Cameron:
YOU GOT TO REMEMBER, IN 1983,

PEOPLE WERE ALLOWED
TO SMOKE IN THE AIRCRAFT.

AND THERE HAD BEEN
A NUMBER OF INCIDENTS

OF THIS SORT IN THE INDUSTRY,

SO IT REALLY DIDN'T
ALARM ME THAT MUCH.

Narrator:
OUIMET FINDS THE SITUATION

IS WORSE THAN HE EXPECTED.

Benetti: I DIDN'T SEE ANY FLAMES
WHEN I OPENED THE DOOR BEFORE,

BUT I SPRAYED IT REALLY GOOD
WITH THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER.

Ouimet: YOU THINK IT WAS
A CIGARETTE IN THE GARBAGE?

Benetti: NO, NOT REALLY.

Ouimet: OK.

[COUGHING]

Ouimet: CAN'T GET BACK THERE.
SMOKE'S TOO HEAVY.

I THINK WE BETTER GO DOWN.

Narrator: BUT FLIGHT ATTENDANT
SERGIO BENETTI

HAS A VERY DIFFERENT ASSESSMENT
OF THE SITUATION.

Benetti:
YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY.

I THINK THE SMOKE'S EASING UP.

Narrator: IT'S A CONFUSING
MOMENT FOR CAPTAIN CAMERON.

Cameron: SOME COMPONENTS DO FAIL
FROM TIME TO TIME

THAT ARE NOT SEVERE
OR SERIOUS ENOUGH

TO CAUSE AN EMERGENCY DESCENT.

THAT'S A PRETTY SERIOUS THING.

Narrator:
WHEN OUIMET AND BENETTI

WERE AT THE BACK OF THE PLANE,

THE SMOKE SEEMED THICK,

BUT NOW IT APPEARS
TO BE SUBSIDING.

Ouimet: OK.
IT'S STARTING TO CLEAR NOW.

BUT I'LL GO BACK AND CHECK
IF THAT'S OK.

Cameron: YEAH, THAT'S OK.

TAKE THESE GOGGLES.

I'LL LEAVE MY MASK ON.

GO BACK WHEREVER YOU CAN,

BUT DON'T GET YOURSELF
INCAPACITATED.

Ouimet: NO PROBLEM.

NO PROBLEM.

Narrator: IF IT'S JUST
A BROKEN TOILET MOTOR,

CAMERON CAN STILL MAKE IT
TO TORONTO.

BUT IF IT'S MORE SERIOUS,
HE'LL HAVE TO LAND IMMEDIATELY,

BEFORE THE SMALL INCONVENIENCE
BECOMES A DEADLY PROBLEM.

THE CREW IS GROWING CONCERNED.

THEY'VE ALREADY MOVED PASSENGERS
TOWARD THE FRONT OF THE JET,

AS FAR AS POSSIBLE
FROM THE CREEPING SMOKE.

CAPTAIN DONALD CAMERON

IS WAITING FOR AN UPDATE
FROM THE BACK OF THE PLANE,

WHEN SUDDENLY
HE'S GOT A NEW PROBLEM.

THE MASTER WARNING LIGHT IS ON.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS
THROUGHOUT THE PLANE,

INCLUDING SOME IN THE COCKPIT,
BEGIN TO FAIL.

[BEEPING]

Cameron:
THE AIRPLANE BASICALLY LOST

ALL ITS SOPHISTICATED NAVIGATION
AND ATTITUDE INFORMATION.

SO I WAS LEFT VERY SUDDENLY

WITH, I THINK,
THREE INSTRUMENTS PER ENGINE

AND FOUR FLIGHT INSTRUMENTS,

WHICH WERE VERY PRIMITIVE.

THEY WERE
WHAT YOU MIGHT HAVE FLOWN

A WORLD WAR II BOMBER WITH.

Narrator: WITH HIS ELECTRICAL
SYSTEMS STARTING TO SHUT DOWN,

CAMERON CALLS
THE NEAREST GROUND CONTROL.

Cameron: MEMPHIS CENTER,
THIS IS AIR CANADA 797.

Controller: AIR CANADA 797,
INDIANAPOLIS CENTER. GO AHEAD.

Cameron: YEAH, WE'VE GOT
AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM HERE.

WE MAY BE
OFF COMMUNICATION SHORTLY.

STAND BY.

Narrator: CO-PILOT CLAUDE OUIMET
IS AT THE BACK OF THE PLANE.

THE WASHROOM DOOR HANDLE
HAS BECOME HOT TO THE TOUCH.

HE DOESN'T EVEN RISK OPENING IT.

FACED WITH
A POTENTIAL FIRE ON BOARD,

THE CREW HAS NO CHOICE

BUT TO LAND THEIR PLANE
AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

Ouimet:
I DON'T LIKE WHAT'S HAPPENING.

I THINK WE'D BETTER GO DOWN.

WE'RE GOING TO BE MAKING
AN EMERGENCY DESCENT.

BRIEF THE CABIN CREW.

Benetti: YES, SIR.

Narrator: AS SOON
AS THE DECISION IS MADE,

ANOTHER WARNING LIGHT GOES ON.

THEY'VE JUST LOST MOST
OF THEIR EMERGENCY POWER.

Ouimet: WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
MULTIPLE FAILURE HERE,

AND IT'S STARTING TO BE
COMPLICATED,

SO WE'RE GOING DOWN AND
OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE TO LAND.

Ouimet:
MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY.

Narrator: A SMALL PROBLEM

HAS SNOWBALLED
INTO AN ALL-OUT EMERGENCY.

Ouimet: MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY.

Controller: THIS IS
LOUISVILLE CONTROL. OVER.

Ouimet: AIR CANADA 797.

WE HAVE A FIRE ON BOARD.
WE ARE GOING DOWN.

Controller: CAN YOU POSSIBLY
MAKE CINCINNATI?

Ouimet: ROGER THAT.

Narrator:
CINCINNATI IS 28 MILES AWAY.

THEY CAN MAKE IT.

CAPTAIN CAMERON
BEGINS AN INITIAL DESCENT

TO 4,900 FEET.

THE CREW HAS SWITCHED
TO EMERGENCY BATTERY POWER,

BUT MANY OF THE PLANE'S
INSTRUMENTS AREN'T FUNCTIONING.

Ouimet: SO ALL WE HAD LEFT
WAS DC EMER POWER,

AND THAT'S ONLY GOOD
FOR RADIOS, BASICALLY.

Narrator:
IT'S NOT ONLY INSTRUMENTS.

CAMERON FINDS THAT
A CRITICAL PIECE OF HIS PLANE

ISN'T WORKING PROPERLY.

THE HORIZONTAL STABILIZER
ON THE TAIL OF HIS DC-9

IS FROZEN,

SET FOR CRUISING
AT ALMOST 33,00 FEET.

CAMERON USES THE PART
THAT'S STILL WORKING--

THE ELEVATORS--

TO MAKE THE PLANE DIVE.

BUT LIKE A CAR
THAT'S LOST POWER STEERING,

THE AIRCRAFT RESISTS.

AS CAMERON
PUSHES ON THE CONTROLS,

THEY PUSH BACK

WITH A PRESSURE
EQUAL TO 44 POUNDS.

Cameron:
THE AIRPLANE BECAME VERY HEAVY,

AND IT TOOK
MY TOTAL CONCENTRATION

TO FLY THE AIRPLANE.

[COUGHING]

Narrator: AN ACRID, BITTER SMOKE

IS CREEPING FORWARD
FROM THE BACK OF THE PLANE

AND SEEPING IN FROM THE SEAMS
IN THE FUSELAGE CEILING.

IT HOVERS LIKE A CLOUD
OVER THE PASSENGERS' HEADS.

Chalifoux:
INCREDIBLY HARSH SMOKE

THAT WAS REALLY
IRRITATING YOUR THROAT.

YOU HAD TO TAKE REALLY, REALLY
SMALL, SMALL BREATHS.

OTHERWISE YOU WOULD CHOKE.

[COUGHING]

Fadley: I COULD SEE IT RISE.

IT WAS TRAVELING ALONG
THOSE LUGGAGE RACKS, YOU KNOW,

COMING FORWARD.

Kayama: SEATBELTS.

[COUGHING]

Narrator:
THE SMELL OF BURNING PLASTIC

FILLS THE AIR.

[COUGHING]

DROPPING OXYGEN MASKS COULD
MAKE THE SITUATION WORSE.

Cameron: I COULD HAVE DEPLOYED

THE OXYGEN MASKS
TO THE PASSENGERS,

BUT IT'S FORBIDDEN.

YOU'RE ONLY ALLOWED
TO USE THE OXYGEN MASKS

IN CASE OF
A MASSIVE DECOMPRESSION

OR A LOSS OF CABIN PRESSURE.

NOT FOR FIRE.

[COUGHING]

Kirsch:
I WAS CRYING AND SCARED.

I WASN'T HYSTERICAL.

THE GENTLEMAN SITTING NEXT TO ME

EXPLAINED TO ME
THAT IF I WOULD NOT CRY

AND IF I COULD, YOU KNOW,
CONSERVE MY...

NOT BREATHE SO FAST

THAT IT WOULD CONSERVE
THE OXYGEN, WOULD HELP US,

AND NOT TO WORRY,

THAT THE FLIGHT ATTENDANTS,

THEY REALLY KNOW HOW TO HANDLE
THESE SORT OF SITUATIONS.

[COUGHING]

Narrator:
AS THE ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTIONS

RIPPLE THROUGH THE PLANE,

THE P.A. SYSTEM SHUTS DOWN.

FLIGHT ATTENDANTS STRUGGLE
TO SHOUT DIRECTIONS,

BUT IT'S GETTING MORE
AND MORE DIFFICULT TO BREATHE.

[COUGHING]

IN 1983,
IT'S NOT STANDARD PROCEDURE

TO TELL PASSENGERS
HOW TO OPEN THE EMERGENCY DOORS,

BUT IN THIS CASE,

THE TWO FLIGHT ATTENDANTS
ARE TAKING NO CHANCES.

Davidson: ...AS FAR AWAY
FROM THE PLANE AS POSSIBLE.

[COUGHING]

Narrator: AS SMOKE BEGINS
ENTERING THE COCKPIT,

THE CAPTAIN'S SITUATION
IS BECOMING CRITICAL.

FOR THE FIRST TIME,

OUIMET TALKS
TO THE CINCINNATI AIRPORT.

Ouimet:
APPROACH, AIR CANADA 797.

WE'RE ON MAYDAY.
WE'RE GOING DOWN.

Controller: AIR CANADA 797.
CINCINNATI APPROACH.

PLAN RUNWAY 3-6 ILS,

AND THE EQUIPMENT
HAS BEEN ALERTED.

DO YOU HAVE TIME TO GIVE ME
THE NATURE OF THE EMERGENCY?

Ouimet: WE HAVE A FIRE
IN THE WASHROOM.

WE'RE FILLING UP
WITH SMOKE RIGHT NOW.

Controller:
SAY TYPE OF AIRCRAFT,

NUMBER OF PEOPLE ON BOARD,
AND AMOUNT OF FUEL.

Ouimet: WE'LL COPY THAT LATER.

WE DON'T HAVE TIME.

Narrator: GREGORY KARAM IS
THE APPROACH TOWER CONTROLLER.

HE'S THE LIFELINE
FOR THE STRUGGLING JET.

HE CAN'T SEE THE PLANE
ON RADAR YET,

BUT HE KNOWS IT'S IN TROUBLE.

ALMOST 13 MINUTES AFTER 7:00,

KARAM CATCHES SIGHT
OF FLIGHT 797 ON HIS RADAR.

Gregory Karam: AIR CANADA 797,
YOU ARE NOW FULLY IDENTIFIED.

THIS WILL BE A NO-GYRO RADAR
APPROACH FOR RUNWAY 2-7 LEFT.

DESCEND NOW TO 3,500 FEET.

YOUR POSITION IS NOW 1-2 MILES
SOUTHEAST OF THE AIRPORT.

Narrator: THE CREW NEEDS TO BE
GUIDED IN FROM THE GROUND.

STRUGGLING TO SEE
THROUGH THE DENSE SMOKE,

THEY COULD EASILY
VEER OFF COURSE.

KARAM WILL TALK THEM DOWN,

WATCHING THEM
EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.

IN THE CABIN,

THE SMOKE AND HEAT
ARE BECOMING UNBEARABLE.

Chalifoux: MY THOUGHT WAS,
"WELL, WE'RE GONNA CRASH."

THEY WON'T BE ABLE
TO IDENTIFY MYSELF

BECAUSE I DIDN'T HAVE
MY PAPERS WITH ME.

SO I STOOD UP, I TOOK MY WALLET
IN THE COMPARTMENT

AND PUT MY JACKET ON

SO THAT THEY COULD
IDENTIFY MY BODY.

Ouimet: WHERE'S THE AIRPORT?

Karam: TWELVE O'CLOCK
AND EIGHT MILES, AIR CANADA.

Ouimet: OK.
WE'RE TRYING TO LOCATE IT.

WE'RE GOING TO NEED
FIRE TRUCKS.

Karam:
THEY'RE STANDING BY FOR YOU.

CAN YOU GIVE ME THE NUMBER
OF PEOPLE AND AMOUNT OF FUEL?

Ouimet: WE DON'T HAVE TIME.
IT'S GETTING WORSE IN HERE.

Karam: UNDERSTOOD, SIR.
TURN LEFT NOW.

YOU ARE ONE HALF-MILE NORTH
OF FINAL APPROACH.

[SIRENS]

Narrator: FINALLY,
THE CREW SEES THE AIRPORT.

Ouimet: OK.
WE HAVE THE AIRPORT.

Karam:
THE TOWER HAS YOU IN SIGHT.

YOU NEED NOT ACKNOWLEDGE
FURTHER TRANSMISSION FROM ME,

AIR CANADA 797.

YOU ARE CLEARED TO LAND.

YOU ARE FOUR MILES
FROM THE AIRPORT.

GOOD LUCK.

Narrator: IN A THICK HAZE
OF SMOKE AND SOOT,

FLIGHT ATTENDANTS LAURA KAYAMA
AND JUDI DAVIDSON

FEEL THEIR WAY ALONG THE AISLE,

TRYING TO REASSURE
THE PASSENGERS.

[COUGHING]

THEY CAN'T GET PAST
THE TWELFTH ROW.

THE SMOKE AND THE HEAT
ARE OVERWHELMING.

FIGHTING THE RELUCTANT CONTROLS,

CAPTAIN CAMERON'S STRENGTH
IS BEING PUSHED TO THE LIMIT.

Karam: 797,
THE TOWER HAS YOU IN SIGHT.

Narrator:
SQUINTING THROUGH THE SMOKE,

THE CREW OF FLIGHT 797
LANDS HARD.

AT 20 MINUTES AFTER 7:00,

THE AIR CANADA PLANE
IS ON THE GROUND.

IT'S LESS THAN 30 MINUTES

SINCE THE FIRST SIGN OF
ANY TROUBLE ON BOARD FLIGHT 797.

Chalifoux:
WHEN WE TOUCHED THE GROUND,

I ASSUMED THAT WE'RE SAFE NOW.

NOW LET'S GET OUT
OF THIS AIRPLANE.

Narrator: BUT INSIDE THE PLANE,
THE SMOKE ISN'T LETTING UP.

PASSENGERS
ARE UNDOING THEIR SEATBELTS

AND TRYING DESPERATELY
TO ESCAPE.

Kirsch:
I GOT UP OUT OF MY SEAT

AND I REMEMBER PUTTING MY HANDS
UP ON SOMEONE'S BACK

AND IT WAS LIKE
WAITING IN A LINE,

AND I KNEW THAT WAS ONE LINE
I DIDN'T WANT TO WAIT VERY LONG,

SO I TURNED AROUND
AND WENT THE OTHER DIRECTION,

NOT KNOWING I WAS ACTUALLY
HEADING TOWARDS

THE FRONT OF THE PLANE.

[SIRENS]

Narrator: SERGIO BENETTI
IS THE FIRST ONE TO THE DOOR.

[COUGHING]

[SIRENS]

HE'S HELPING
GASPING PASSENGERS ESCAPE.

Benetti: GO! GO! GO!

Narrator:
THE CABIN IS PITCH BLACK

AND BURNING HOT.

IN THE COCKPIT, THE CREW QUICKLY
SHUTS THE PLANE DOWN.

THE FIRST OFFICER ESCAPES
THROUGH THE EMERGENCY WINDOW.

IT'S A 16-FOOT JUMP
TO THE GROUND.

PASSENGERS HAVE OPENED
THREE OF THE OVER-WING EXITS.

BUT EVEN WITH THE DOORS OPEN,
THE EXITS ARE ALL BUT INVISIBLE.

THE SMOKE IS TOO THICK.

[COUGHING]

Kirsch: I SAW A LIGHT,

AND IT WAS THE DOOR
THAT HAD OPENED.

SOMEONE HAD OPENED THE DOOR.

AND I REALIZED WHAT IT WAS
AND RAN TO THE DOOR,

AND HELD MY--I JUST PUT MY FACE
OUT SO I COULD BREATHE.

Narrator: PASSENGERS
WHO HAVE FOUND THE EXITS

SLIDE OFF THE WING
AND STUMBLE TO SAFETY.

ON THE GROUND,
LAURA KAYAMA AND JUDI DAVIDSON

FRANTICALLY MOVE PASSENGERS
AWAY FROM THE DEADLY PLANE.

FIRE RESCUE VEHICLES
SURROUND THE PLANE.

THEY DOUSE THE PLANE'S EXTERIOR

AND THE GROUND BENEATH
WITH FOAM,

FEARING A FUEL FIRE,
OR WORSE--AN EXPLOSION.

THROUGH THE COCKPIT WINDOW,

OUIMET CAN SEE CAPTAIN CAMERON
SITTING IN HIS SEAT

LOOKING DAZED AND SLUMPED
TOWARDS THE WHEEL.

Ouimet: THE FIRST THING
THAT GOT MY ATTENTION

WAS TO SEE DON'S FACE
IN THE WINDOW

AND REALIZE THAT HE WAS
NOT COMPLETELY CONSCIOUS.

Cameron:
I COULDN'T GET OUT OF MY SEAT.

I'D START AND I'D GET
MY ARSE UP IN THE AIR LIKE THAT

AND I'D BE PUSHED BACK
BY THE...I HAVE NO IDEA.

IT WAS AN INVISIBLE FORCE,

BUT IT WAS PROBABLY
SMOKE AND FIRE.

Narrator: DESPERATELY TRYING
TO SAVE THE CAPTAIN'S LIFE,

OUIMET TELLS FIREFIGHTERS
TO COVER HIM WITH FOAM.

Ouimet: SPRAY THE COCKPIT!

Cameron: IT WAS A SOAPY
ICE-COLD MIXTURE

THAT DRENCHED ME.

Narrator: IT WORKS.

CAMERON STIRS AND CLIMBS OUT
THROUGH THE COCKPIT WINDOW.

Ouimet:
DON! THERE HE IS! DON!

Narrator:
BARELY 90 SECONDS HAVE PASSED

SINCE THE PLANE LANDED,

WHEN SUDDENLY THE WHOLE INTERIOR
OF FLIGHT 797 IGNITES.

THE FLAMES ROLL THROUGH
THE CABIN LIKE A TRAIN.

CAPTAIN DONALD CAMERON

IS THE LAST PERSON
TO GET OUT OF THE PLANE ALIVE.

Ouimet: WE KNEW THERE WERE
PEOPLE ON THE AIRPLANE

UNFORTUNATELY AT THAT POINT.

THAT WAS...THAT WAS FINISHED.

Narrator: THE CABIN FIRE

BREAKS THROUGH
THE TOP OF THE FUSELAGE.

[DISTANT SIRENS]

BLACK SMOKE
CAN BE SEEN FOR MILES.

[COUGHING]

FLIGHT ATTENDANT LAURA KAYAMA
BEGINS TO COUNT.

Chalifoux: I WILL REMEMBER
THESE WORDS FOREVER.

SHE TOLD US TO LINE UP SO THAT
SHE COULD COUNT THE SURVIVORS.

IF THERE WERE SURVIVORS,
OBVIOUSLY THERE WERE DEAD.

Kayama: 18, 19, 20, 21, 22...

[WAILING]

Narrator: INCLUDING THE CREW,

THERE HAD BEEN 46 PEOPLE
ABOARD THE PLANE.

BUT THERE AREN'T
46 PEOPLE ON THE RUNWAY.

Fadley: I REALLY THOUGHT THAT IF
THE PILOT COULD LAND THE PLANE

WE WOULD ALL GET OFF.

BUT I KNEW,
WHEN I LOOKED AROUND,

I DIDN'T THINK
WE WERE ALL THERE.

Narrator: THE PASSENGERS
WHO ESCAPED THE PLANE

SUFFER FROM SMOKE INHALATION
AND MINOR INJURIES,

BUT MOST ARE NOT BADLY HURT.

Fadley: IT WAS ALMOST LIKE
IF YOU GOT OFF THE PLANE,

NOTHING WAS WRONG.

I MEAN, THERE WAS
MAYBE A SPRAINED ANKLE,

MAYBE SOMEONE HAD A BROKEN ARM
OR SOMETHING.

YOU MADE IT
AND YOU WERE COMPLETELY FINE,

OR YOU DIDN'T MAKE IT.

Mills:
I GUESS IT WAS AROUND MIDNIGHT.

I DECIDED TO CALL AIR CANADA.

I SAID, "I'M TRYING TO FIND OUT
IF A FRIEND OF MINE

WAS ON THIS FLIGHT
IN CINCINNATI."

AND SHE SAID, "ARE YOU
A MEMBER OF THE FAMILY?"

I SAID, "NO, I'M JUST
A CLOSE FRIEND."

AND SHE SAID, "DO YOU KNOW
IF HIS WIFE IS ALONE?"

AND I SAID, "WELL, YES."

AND SHE SAID, "WELL,
SHE MAY NEED SOMEBODY WITH HER."

Narrator: STAN ROGERS,
THE RISING MUSICAL STAR,

DIDN'T MAKE IT OFF THE PLANE.

Cameron: CINCINNATI GROUND.

THIS IS CAPTAIN
OF THE AIR CANADA FLIGHT

THAT'S ON FIRE HERE.

Narrator: CAPTAIN CAMERON RADIOS
CINCINNATI GROUND CONTROL

FROM AN EMERGENCY VEHICLE
NEAR HIS PLANE.

HE HAS A SOBERING MESSAGE.

Cameron:
IT SEEMS THERE ARE 23 PEOPLE

LEFT ON BOARD THE AIRCRAFT.

IS THERE A SCHEDULED CARRIER
RUNS INTO HERE

THAT COULD MAYBE GIVE
AID AND SHELTER

TO OUR STRANDED PASSENGERS?

IT'S PRETTY COLD OUT HERE.

Narrator: WHAT BEGAN
AS A SIMPLE ELECTRICAL PROBLEM

HAS TAKEN THE LIVES
OF 23 PEOPLE.

WHAT CAUSED THE DEADLY FIRE?

WHAT WENT SO HORRIBLY WRONG?

NOW THE BURNT SHELL OF A DC-9

SITS ON THE RUNWAY AT THE
GREATER CINCINNATI AIRPORT.

IT IS ONE OF THE MOST DISTURBING
AIRPLANE DISASTERS IN YEARS.

WITHIN THE HOUR,

INVESTIGATORS FROM THE NATIONAL
TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD

ARE ON THE SCENE.

THE FIRST GRIM TASK
OF THE INVESTIGATORS

IS TO RECOVER
THE BODIES OF THE DEAD--

21 CANADIANS AND 2 AMERICANS.

MANY ARE BURNED
BEYOND RECOGNITION.

ALMOST ALL OF THE VICTIMS

ARE FOUND IN THE FRONT HALF
OF THE PLANE

BETWEEN THE WINGS
AND THE COCKPIT.

SOME ARE STILL STRAPPED
INTO THEIR SEATS.

OTHERS ARE FOUND IN THE AISLES.

AND EVEN THOUGH
ALL THE PASSENGERS

HAD BEEN MOVED UP
EARLIER IN THE FLIGHT,

TWO BODIES
ARE FOUND NEAR THE REAR,

BEYOND THE WINGS.

John Petrakis: BECAUSE OF
THE DENSE SMOKE IN THE CABIN,

THE PASSENGERS COULDN'T SEE
WELL ENOUGH TO FIND THE EXITS.

AND TWO PASSENGERS WENT
BEYOND THE OVER-WING EXITS

AND SUCCUMBED
TO THE ENVIRONMENT.

Narrator:
INVESTIGATORS TAKE BLOOD SAMPLES

FROM THE BODIES.

THEY FIND DEADLY LEVELS
OF CERTAIN CHEMICALS

THAT WERE PRODUCED
AS THE PLANE BURNED.

Petrakis: WHEN WE DID
TOXICOLOGICAL STUDIES,

WE WERE ABLE TO DETERMINE

THAT THERE WERE
SOME SIGNIFICANT HIGH LEVELS

OF CYANIDE AND FLUORIDE
IN THE BLOOD,

AS WELL AS CARBON MONOXIDE.

Narrator: IT'S NOT KNOWN

IF THE TOXIC FUMES
KILLED THE PASSENGERS.

ALL THAT'S CERTAIN IS THAT
THEY WERE UNABLE TO ESCAPE

BEFORE THE FLAMES
TORE THROUGH THE PLANE.

WITH THE BODIES REMOVED
FROM THE CABIN OF FLIGHT 797,

INVESTIGATORS BEGIN DIGGING
THROUGH THE WRECKAGE

TO TRY AND FIND
THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE.

AMONG THEM
ARE MEMBERS OF THE FBI.

Petrakis:
THEY WERE INVESTIGATING

TO DETERMINE WHETHER TERRORISM
MIGHT HAVE BEEN A FACTOR,

SO THEY WERE
ON SCENE RIGHT AWAY,

LOOKING AT THE AIRCRAFT
TO MAKE THAT DETERMINATION.

Narrator: THE FBI EXAMINES
PIECES OF THE PLANE'S FLOOR,

SAMPLES OF WATER
FROM THE WASHROOM,

EVEN A PLASTIC VIAL
FOUND ON THE FLOOR.

Dick Hill: THE FBI
BECAME INVOLVED VERY EARLY

BECAUSE THE POSSIBILITY
OF A CRIME TAKING PLACE

TAKES PRECEDENT
OVER AN ACCIDENT.

THEY WERE LOOKING FOR ANYTHING

THAT WOULD HAVE TO DO
WITH AN INCENDIARY DEVICE

OR A SMALL EXPLOSIVE DEVICE

OR ANYTHING THAT
COULD BE FUSED TO START A FIRE.

THEY DETERMINED
THAT THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE

OF ANY CRIME BEING COMMITTED

AND IT WAS PROBABLY
ACCIDENTAL IGNITION,

AND SO THEY THEN LEFT
AND NTSB TOOK OVER THE ACCIDENT.

Narrator: HAVING
DISCOUNTED THE POSSIBILITY

THAT THE FIRE WAS
DELIBERATELY SET,

INVESTIGATORS CONSIDER
THE NEXT OBVIOUS CAUSE--

A CIGARETTE.

WHEN SMOKING ON PLANES
WAS STILL ALLOWED,

THE MOST COMMON SOURCE
OF FIRES IN A WASHROOM

WAS THE TRASH CONTAINER.

INVESTIGATORS
EXAMINE THE TRASH CONTAINER

AND FIND THAT THE TOP
IS BURNED AWAY,

BUT THE TRASH CHUTE

AND THE CONTAINER BEHIND
AND BELOW THE SINK ARE INTACT.

INSIDE THE CONTAINER
ARE REMNANTS OF PAPER,

SCORCHED BUT NOT BURNED.

THE FIRE COULD NOT
HAVE STARTED HERE.

WITH THE MOST OBVIOUS
POTENTIAL CAUSES DISCOUNTED,

INVESTIGATORS BEGIN
TO COMB THROUGH THE WRECKAGE,

LOOKING FOR WHAT HAD
STARTED THE FIRE.

STUDYING
THE HISTORY OF THE PLANE,

HILL UNCOVERS
SOME STARTLING FACTS.

IN THE YEAR BEFORE THE ACCIDENT,

76 SEPARATE MAINTENANCE ISSUES

HAD BEEN WRITTEN UP
IN THE PLANE'S LOGBOOK.

ALL WERE DEALT WITH,

BUT STILL, IT'S AN UNUSUALLY
HIGH NUMBER OF PROBLEMS.

THE PLANE'S TROUBLED HISTORY
DIDN'T END THERE.

FOUR YEARS EARLIER,
THE REAR BULKHEAD HAD FAILED,

CAUSING AN EXPLOSIVE
DECOMPRESSION.

THE CREW HAD TO MAKE
AN EMERGENCY LANDING.

Cameron: IT KNOCKED OUT
A LOT OF ELECTRICAL CABLE

AND HYDRAULICS
AND STUFF LIKE THAT,

AND THE GUY DID A HELL OF A JOB
BRINGING IT BACK TO BOSTON.

Narrator: THE PLANE WAS REPAIRED
AND PUT BACK INTO SERVICE.

BUT HILL FOCUSES ON THE WIRES

THAT HAD TO BE STITCHED TOGETHER
AFTER THE ACCIDENT.

A BAD REPAIR JOB COULD HAVE BEEN
THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE.

Hill: THERE WERE WIRES
THAT RAN THROUGH THERE

THAT HAD BEEN CUT,
SPLICED BACK TOGETHER.

Narrator: INVESTIGATORS STUDY
ALL THE WIRE SPLICES

THEY CAN FIND ON FLIGHT 797

THAT WEREN'T DESTROYED
IN THE FIRE,

BUT THEY FIND NO EVIDENCE
OF ARCING OR SHORT-CIRCUITING.

IT'S ANOTHER DEAD END.

INVESTIGATORS
TURN THEIR ATTENTION

TO THE COCKPIT VOICE RECORDER

AND THE POPPING
CIRCUIT BREAKERS.

[POPPING]

Ouimet: WHAT WAS THAT?

IT'S RIGHT THERE.
I SEE IT.

RIGHT THERE.

Cameron: YEAH.

LIKE A MACHINE GUN.

Ouimet:
YEAH. ZAP, ZAP, ZAP.

Narrator: THE CIRCUIT BREAKERS
TRIP AS A PRECAUTION.

WHEN THEY BEGIN TO OVERHEAT,

THE CIRCUIT BREAKERS TURN OFF,

CUTTING ELECTRICAL CURRENT
TO THE MOTOR.

IT'S A SAFETY FEATURE
SO THE MOTOR WON'T CAUSE A FIRE.

Cameron: POPS AS I PUSH IT.

Narrator:
INVESTIGATORS NEED TO KNOW

IF THE BREAKERS WERE TRIPPED BY
A FIRE THAT HAD ALREADY STARTED,

OR WAS THE MOTOR ITSELF
THE PROBLEM?

THE NTSB BUILDS A MOCK-UP
OF THE PLANE'S WASHROOM

AND FORCES
THE FLUSH MOTOR TO SEIZE.

THEY WANT TO SEE IF IT
COULD HAVE STARTED THE FIRE.

THE SEIZED MOTOR
REACHES A TEMPERATURE

OF 802 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT.

IT'S HOT,

BUT IT'S NOT ENOUGH TO IGNITE

PARTS OF THE WASHROOM
AROUND THE MOTOR.

AS THEY LISTEN
TO THE COCKPIT VOICE RECORDER,

INVESTIGATORS UNCOVER
A PUZZLING CLUE.

THREE MINUTES BEFORE
THE CIRCUIT BREAKERS POPPED,

THE RECORDER PICKED UP
ANOTHER NOISE.

[STATIC]

IT WAS THE SOUND
OF ELECTRICAL ARCING,

LIKE STATIC,

REPEATED EIGHT TIMES.

THE NOISES WEREN'T AUDIBLE
TO THE CREW.

HIDDEN FROM VIEW ON ANY AIRPLANE
IS A RIVER OF WIRING.

INVESTIGATORS FOCUS ON A CABLE

COMING FROM A GENERATOR
BELOW THE WASHROOM FLOOR.

INSULATION
HAD RUBBED OFF TWO WIRES,

MAKING IT POSSIBLE
FOR SPARKS TO BE PRODUCED--

SPARKS THAT COULD START A FIRE.

Hill: THERE WAS EVIDENCE

THAT THERE WAS
SOME ELECTRICAL ARCING,

BUT IT COULD HAVE OCCURRED

AFTER THE INSULATION HAD BURNED
ON THOSE WIRES.

Narrator: IN SPITE OF COUNTLESS
HOURS OF INVESTIGATION

AND NUMEROUS TESTS,

IN THE END,

THE NTSB CAN'T PINPOINT
THE EXACT CAUSE OF THE FIRE.

THERE SIMPLY
ISN'T ENOUGH EVIDENCE.

Hill: JUST BECAUSE
OF THE VAST AMOUNT OF DAMAGE

THAT WAS DONE
IN THAT CONCENTRATED AREA

AROUND THE LAVATORY

WHERE THE FIRE BURNED
FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME

AND POSSIBLY DESTROYED
ANY OF THE EVIDENCE

OF WHERE THE FIRE
ACTUALLY IGNITED.

[COUGHING]

Narrator:
EVEN IF THEY'LL NEVER KNOW

THE EXACT CAUSE OF THE FIRE,

INVESTIGATORS TRY TO UNDERSTAND

HOW IT COULD CAUSE
SO MUCH DAMAGE.

THERE HAD BEEN HEAT AND SMOKE,

BUT NO ONE HAD SEEN ANY FLAMES

UNTIL AN EXPLOSION
RIPPED THROUGH THE JET.

Hill: WHEN YOU HAVE A FIRE
THAT HAS INCOMPLETE COMBUSTION,

WHEN IT HAS A LACK OF OXYGEN,

THEY WILL PRODUCE
COMBUSTIBLE GASES.

THOSE GASES THEN CAN COLLECT,

ESPECIALLY IN THE CROWN
OF AN AIRCRAFT.

Narrator: THE FIRE
HAD BURNED OUT OF SIGHT

BEHIND THE WASHROOM WALLS,

AND THE SMOKE, HOT GASES,
AND FUMES INTENSIFIED

AND SPREAD INSIDE THE WALL SPACE
FROM THE WASHROOM

THROUGH TO THE CABIN WALLS.

THOSE SPACES ACTED
AS A SORT OF CHIMNEY

FOR THE GASES AND SMOKE
THAT THE FIRE WAS CREATING.

ALTHOUGH THE FIRE
REMAINED CONCEALED

BEHIND THE WALLS
AND CEILING PANELS,

THE SMOKE AND HOT GASES ENTERED
THE CABIN THROUGH EVERY SEAM,

GATHERING IN THE UPPER SPACE
IN THE CABIN

AND PRESSING DOWN ON PASSENGERS.

[COUGHING]

Hill: THE INACCESSIBLE AREAS
AND THE CABIN AREA

ARE ALL LINKED TOGETHER

THROUGH SMALL CRACKS AND
CERVICES AND SMALL OPENINGS.

THE PLANE IS
ONE BIG PRESSURE VESSEL,

WITH EVERYTHING BEING THE SAME,

EQUILIBRATED
TO THE SAME PRESSURE.

SO SMOKE AND GASES
IN THOSE AREAS

WOULD FAIRLY QUICKLY
START TO PERMEATE

INTO THE PASSENGER CABIN.

[COUGHING]

Narrator: WHEN THE DOORS WERE
OPENED DURING THE EVACUATION,

AN UNLIMITED SUPPLY OF OXYGEN

WAS SUDDENLY AVAILABLE
TO FEED THE FIRE.

THE MORE INTENSE THE HEAT,

THE MORE OXYGEN-HUNGRY
A FIRE BECOMES.

THE GASES IGNITED
WITH THE FORCE OF AN EXPLOSION.

[SCREAMING]

Hill: ONCE YOU HAVE
A FLASHOVER,

YOU PRODUCE HEAT, TOXIC GASES,

AND YOU BURN UP ALL THE OXYGEN
IN THE CABIN,

AND IT BECOMES NON-SURVIVABLE.

Narrator: THE TECHNICAL PART OF
THE INVESTIGATION IS COMPLETE,

BUT THERE ARE STILL
A LOT OF QUESTIONS

ABOUT HOW THE CREW
RESPONDED TO THE FIRE.

Cameron: THE FIRST OFFICER SAID,
"IT'S STARTING TO CLEAR NOW,"

AND AT THAT POINT I RECKONED
THAT THE FIRE WAS UNDER CONTROL.

Narrator:
COULD THEY HAVE DONE MORE

TO PREVENT THE TRAGEDY
ON BOARD FLIGHT 797?

NTSB INVESTIGATORS

ARE UNABLE TO DEFINITIVELY
PINPOINT THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE.

BUT AFTER REVIEWING
ALL THE INFORMATION THEY HAVE,

THEY'RE READY TO RELEASE
THEIR REPORT.

THE REPORT ON THE LETHAL FIRE
ABOARD AIR CANADA FLIGHT 797

IS PUBLISHED
A YEAR AFTER THE ACCIDENT.

IT'S A LANDMARK
IN AIRCRAFT SAFETY.

BUT IT IMMEDIATELY MAKES
FOR CONTROVERSIAL HEADLINES.

THE NTSB POINTS OUT THAT
THE SOURCE OF THE SMOKE

WAS NEVER IDENTIFIED,

EITHER BY THE FLIGHT ATTENDANTS
OR THE FIRST OFFICER.

THE CAPTAIN WAS NEVER TOLD
NOR DID HE INQUIRE

AS TO THE PRECISE LOCATION
AND EXTENT OF THE FIRE,

WHICH HAD BEEN REPORTED TO HIM.

Man: WITH THAT IN MIND,

WHAT TYPE OF FIRE
DID YOU BELIEVE THAT YOU HAD?

Cameron: A BIN FIRE.

Ouimet: MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY.

Narrator: AND THE REPORT ASKS
A HYPOTHETICAL QUESTION.

Ouimet: AIR CANADA 797,
WE HAVE A FIRE ON BOARD.

WE ARE GOING DOWN.

Controller: CAN YOU
POSSIBLY MAKE CINCINNATI?

Ouimet: ROGER THAT.

Narrator: IF HE'D BEGUN
TO DESCEND SOONER,

COULD THE CAPTAIN HAVE LANDED
AT STANDIFORD FIELD AIRPORT

IN LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY?

IT WAS A FEW MINUTES CLOSER.

THE REPORT
AND THE MEDIA ATTENTION IT GETS

ARE DEVASTATING
TO CAPTAIN CAMERON AND HIS CREW.

SOON AFTER
THE REPORT IS RELEASED,

THERE'S AN OUTCRY AMONG PILOTS
IN THE INDUSTRY.

THEY RESENT ITS IMPLIED
CRITICISM OF FLIGHT 797'S CREW

AND THE SUGGESTION THAT THEY
COULD HAVE BEGUN THEIR DESCENT

FIVE MINUTES SOONER.

SEVERAL MONTHS LATER,

THE AIR LINE PILOTS ASSOCIATION
SUBMITS A PETITION

THAT DEFENDS CAMERON
AND THE CREW.

IT MAKES AN IMPACT.

THE NTSB RELEASES
A REVISED REPORT,

INCLUDING THE PETITION BY
THE AIR LINE PILOTS ASSOCIATION.

IN THE PETITION,

FIRST OFFICER OUIMET
WRITES AN IMPASSIONED DEFENSE

OF LANDING THE PLANE
WHERE AND WHEN THEY DID.

THE ISSUE WASN'T ONLY THE
DISTANCE TO THE NEAREST AIRPORT,

BUT THE REQUIRED
RATE OF DESCENT.

AS IT WAS, THE PLANE
BARELY MADE THE DESCENT

TO THE GREATER
CINCINNATI AIRPORT.

STILL,

THE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION
SAFETY BOARD'S REVISED SUMMARY

DOESN'T PULL ALL ITS PUNCHES,

POINTING A FINGER
AT CAPTAIN CAMERON.

THE REPORT STATES

THAT THE TIME TAKEN TO EVALUATE
THE NATURE OF THE FIRE

AND TO DECIDE TO INITIATE
AN EMERGENCY DESCENT

CONTRIBUTED TO THE SEVERITY
OF THE ACCIDENT.

20 YEARS LATER,
THE STATEMENT STILL STINGS.

Cameron:
I AM GLAD THEY WERE ALL...

THE PEOPLE THAT GOT OFF GOT OFF.

I'M VERY SORRY THAT THE PEOPLE
THAT DIDN'T GET OFF

DIDN'T GET OFF

BECAUSE WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME
AND EFFORT GETTING THEM THERE.

THAT REALLY BOTHERED ME.

ALL I KNOW IS THAT I DID
THE BEST I COULD.

Narrator:
ALONG WITH THE COMMENTS

ON THE PERFORMANCE OF THE CREW,

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS
A HOST OF SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS.

PERHAPS IF THE FLIGHT
HAD BEEN FULL,

SOMEONE WOULD HAVE NOTICED
THE SMELL OF SMOKE SOONER.

BUT WHAT THE WASHROOM
OF FLIGHT 797 COULD HAVE USED

WAS A SMOKE DETECTOR.

THEY WEREN'T STANDARD
THROUGHOUT THE INDUSTRY,

BUT AFTER FLIGHT 797,

ATTITUDES AND REGULATIONS
CHANGED.

EVEN THOUGH FLIGHT ATTENDANTS
DID RECEIVE SOME TRAINING

IN DEALING WITH FIRES
ABOARD A PLANE,

IT DIDN'T GO FAR ENOUGH.

BUT WHAT WAS MORE OBVIOUS--

THE FLIGHT ATTENDANTS
WEREN'T PROPERLY EQUIPPED

TO ATTACK FIRES.

WITHOUT FULL FACE-MASKS
AND OXYGEN,

THEY COULDN'T BE EXPECTED
TO FIGHT FIRE

WHILE HOLDING THEIR BREATH.

IN THE YEARS AFTER FLIGHT 797,

ATTENDANTS RECEIVED BETTER
EQUIPMENT AND TRAINING.

THE CABIN CREW HAD ALSO MADE
SPLIT-SECOND DECISIONS

THAT HELPED SAVE LIVES.

MOVING PASSENGERS
FURTHER UP THE PLANE

AND HANDING OUT WET TOWELS

MINIMIZED THE EFFECTS
OF THE TOXIC SMOKE.

THEIR DECISION
TO TELL PASSENGERS

TO OPEN THE EMERGENCY EXITS
OVER THE WINGS

WAS NOT STANDARD PROCEDURE,

BUT IT LET SOME PASSENGERS
ESCAPE MORE QUICKLY

AND WAS EVENTUALLY ADOPTED
AS A ROUTINE PRACTICE.

FINALLY, IT BECAME OBVIOUS

FROM THE LOCATION
OF SOME OF THE BODIES

THAT PASSENGERS DIED
BECAUSE OF PRECIOUS SECONDS LOST

TRYING TO FIND THE EXITS
IN THE PITCH BLACK.

WHAT WOULD HAVE MADE
A DIFFERENCE?

TRACK LIGHTING ON THE FLOORS

AND BUMPS ALONG
THE OVERHEAD BINS

THAT IDENTIFIED THE ROWS
WITH EMERGENCY EXITS--

FEATURES THAT WOULD EVENTUALLY
BECOME STANDARD.

[COUGHING]

Hill:
AS A DIRECT RESULT OF 797,

A NUMBER OF RULES WERE CHANGED,

INCLUDING A MORE STRINGENT TEST
FOR SEATS,

A HEAT RELEASE
AND SMOKE REQUIREMENT

FOR CABIN INTERIOR PANELS,

A REQUIREMENT FOR
SMOKE DETECTORS IN LAVATORIES

AND HALON FIRE EXTINGUISHERS
IN THE CABIN.

Kayama: WE'RE GOING TO BE
MAKING AN EMERGENCY LANDING.

PUT YOUR HEAD ON YOUR LAP.

Narrator:
BUT THE CHANGES WERE TOO LATE

FOR THOSE WHO DIED
ON FLIGHT 797,

LIKE THE MAN SITTING BESIDE
CONNIE KIRSCH.

MONTHS AFTER THE CRASH,
HIS WIFE TRACKED CONNIE DOWN.

Kirsch: SHE SAID,
"I JUST UNDERSTAND

MY HUSBAND WAS THE ONE
THAT WAS NEXT TO YOU,

AND I JUST WANTED TO KNOW
HOW WAS HE,

WHAT WAS HIS SPIRITS?"

AND I SAID,
"HE WAS IN GREAT SPIRITS.

HE WAS VERY NICE.

HE LET ME SIT NEXT TO HIM

AND EXPLAINED TO ME
HOW TO BREATHE."

THAT WAS REALLY DIFFICULT.

Narrator: STAN ROGERS WAS
ANOTHER VICTIM OF FLIGHT 797.

HE WOULD NEVER BE ABLE TO
FULFILL THE PROMISE OF HIS LIFE

AND GROWING CAREER.

Mills: I LOVED HIS GENEROSITY
AND HIS LOYALTY AS A FRIEND.

AS AN ARTIST, HE WAS PERHAPS
ONE OF THE BEST SONGWRITERS

THIS COUNTRY'S EVER PRODUCED.

AND IT WAS REALLY AN INCREDIBLE
PLEASURE AND HONOR

TO BE WORKING WITH HIM.

HE STILL GETS
LOTS AND LOTS OF AIRPLAY,

AND SO HIS LEGEND GROWS.

Narrator:
SOMETIME AFTER THE ACCIDENT,

TWO AIR CANADA EMPLOYEES
SHOW UP AT DIANNE FADLEY'S DOOR

IN DALLAS.

Fadley:
THEY BROUGHT MY BIBLE.

IT'S DARK BECAUSE
IT WAS BURNED AND SINGED,

BUT IT'S A PAPERBACK BIBLE,

AND IT DID NOT
COMPLETELY BURN UP.

THIS IS JUST A REMINDER TO ME
THAT GOD WAS WITH ME,

AND I BELIEVE HE PROTECTED ME.

AND, YOU KNOW,

HE WAS THERE WITH ME.

Narrator:
CAPTAIN CAMERON AND HIS CREW

EVENTUALLY RECEIVED
SIX SEPARATE AWARDS

FOR THEIR HEROIC ACTIONS
ON FLIGHT 797,

INCLUDING RECOGNITION FROM
THE ROYAL CANADIAN AIR FORCE.

BUT THEY'RE ALL STILL HAUNTED
BY THE NIGHTMARE.

Ouimet: YOU FEEL RESPONSIBLE.

THERE'S NO QUESTION.

YOU FEEL GUILT.

YOU'RE WILLING
TO GIVE YOUR LICENSE.

YOU FEEL VERY...

VERY SMALL.

Cameron: IT'S JUST A SHAME
WE DIDN'T GET EVERYBODY OFF.

IT STILL BOTHERS ME.