Original subtitles

The crash of Flight 401 actually happened. Certain scenes and characters

been fictionalized for the purpose of dramatization.

On December 29, 1972, Eastern Airlines Flight 401 took off from New York's

Kennedy Airport en route to Miami.

The weather was clear.

The plane, Lockheed's new L -1011, was the safest ever built.

The pilot, one of Eastern's most experienced, yet he and many of his

had only two hours and 20 minutes to live.

The plane crashed, leaving in its wake two questions. How could such a disaster

have happened? And how could 73 of the passengers survive a crash that was

classified unsurvivable?

Well, let's check in.

Miami approach control.

Eastern 401 at 10 ,000.

Eastern 401 heavy. Miami again.

Fly heading 200.

Maintain 1 ,000 vectors.

The ILS 9 left.

Final approach course.

Vector 200 degrees to ILS.

For final approach, 9 left. Roger.

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. This is your captain speaking. Welcome to

sunny Miami.

We expect to land approximately in 15 minutes.

Ground temperature is in the low 70s, and it's a beautiful night out there.

Is that one of them?

It was yours?

You shut up.

I think I got him. I think I got him.

Here, hold him. You ain't gonna get bored.

Oh, okay.

He's a beauty, isn't he?

I'm impressed.

You must have six or seven pounds of frogs already.

Yep. And there's some gator going to go home without his supper tonight.

Miami Approach, National 607.

Still having trouble cranking down the landing gear.

We'll try approach once more.

National 607, maintain 1 -0 -1000.

Is there any other equipment you want?

Miami Approach Control, you might as well run out with the fire truck.

I wouldn't want to be in his shoes.

Excuse me. Oh, I'm sorry.

Why are you asleep in the private room now? It's going to be in the low 70s in

Miami. I never stay in the low 70s. By the time we get there, there'll be a

hurricane.

It's not the hurricane season.

It doesn't matter.

If Philip and I went to the Sahara Desert, there'd be a snowstorm.

She's right.

We've had a terrible time on our vacations. It's the nature of our

Approach.

Eastern 401.

We just turned on final.

You'll have to pass me the seatbelt, sir.

May I take that, ma 'am?

Thank you.

You'll have to pass me the seatbelt, sir.

Mr. Cross.

Mr.

Cross. Oh, over there.

Almost. You'll have to pass me the seatbelt.

Are we really in Miami?

How could we be in Miami? We haven't even gone to Cuba yet.

Saw a guy make jokes about that once.

Three FBI men dragged him off the plane.

Pass me your seatbelt, please.

That's about the only thing that hasn't happened to me yet.

I need another drink.

Jay, I've shelled out more for Scotch than I have for the plane tickets.

Well, you're the one that wanted to run off to Miami.

Now, Teresa.

Oh, I'm sorry. We're getting set to land.

But it's not midnight. You know that there isn't a bar in the country that

closes before midnight.

It's quite all right, Stuart. It's just that my wife is a little... I'm not your

wife.

Ginny, Ginny, when we get to the hotel... I'm not going to a hotel with

I'm not going anywhere with you.

Tell me when the last flight goes to New York.

When a bar opens.

Brake system?

Okay.

Radar?

Set.

Please fasten your seatbelt.

Would you fasten your seatbelt, please?

Mrs. Tagliarino?

Mrs. Tagliarino?

Would you fasten your seatbelt, please?

Do you know what? What? The first thing I'm going to do with my brother,

I'm going to have him call me Mrs.

Tagliarino. Oh, he'll love that.

I know. I have to practice it. I keep forgetting to answer.

Oh. Hey.

Close your eyes.

What are you doing?

Keep them closed.

It's a surprise.

Yep. Okay, now open them up.

But there's nothing there.

Hmm. That's just to let you know that some days we have everything.

Other days, nothing.

Here.

Thank you.

Miss Trigolino.

Yes.

Oh, thank you.

I'm so embarrassed.

Nothing like this has ever happened to me before.

You'd be surprised how many people get her sick, really.

It's nothing to cry about.

I'm just a natural crier.

I'm always the first one they invite to weddings.

Any quiet blessings.

Miss, if there's anything I can do to help you, just call me. Yeah, thank you.

Gear down.

Gear down.

Quarter flat.

Hold it.

No nose gear left.

That bulb must have burned off.

Tower, Eastern 401.

We're going to have to circle a little bit.

We haven't got a nose gear light.

What's the matter?

We're going away from the lights.

We should be on the ground right now. It's okay, Leslie.

Stop complaining.

If we circle twice, we'll be on overtime.

Come on. Sit down.

Okay. Buckle up.

Ah, thanks.

You know something? I hate working over holidays.

The only thing worse than working Christmas Eve drive is when there's a

Hmm. How many sugars you put in here?

How many you want?

How many did you put in?

How many years have I been making coffee for you?

How come I can't get it straight?

Uh, Easton.

Easton 401.

I've lost you on our radar here.

Easton 401.

I'll take that. Steve, thanks for driving us.

I love you, Julie. Have a good time. Bye -bye.

Here, give me. I'll get it.

Keep her away from the newsstands. I'll wait for you out there. Right.

Come on, Sophie, you're going to miss the plane.

Listen, I know we agreed not to fly together when the kids were young.

And, boy, you sure used to laugh at me plenty.

But, I mean, now that they've grown up, I mean, how come you're still something

about it?

No, I just want your candy. How much is that, please?

What are you doing? I said I'd pick up the paper, okay? They got him on the

plane.

We've got to hurry, Sophie, and I wish you would stop worrying. I'm going to be

down in three days.

Larry, there's a problem.

I know there is. I can feel it. I mean, you don't stay married to a man for 22

years and not know when there's a problem.

There is no problem.

Nothing is wrong. I just want for you to enjoy yourself a few extra days. Now,

what's the matter? Don't you trust me?

Maybe you're right, but...

I just got such a funny feeling about this trip. Oh, come on.

Come here.

Okay, listen.

Listen, I am going to meet you in Miami at the airport, and I don't want you to

pick up any services.

All right.

You waited an awfully long time to confirm it.

Hoping it would go away?

Pregnancy does not just go away.

You're in your tenth week.

If you want to do something about it, I'd suggest you do it quickly.

An abortion?

I assumed that's why you were here.

Well,

I'm going to have to think about that.

Thank you very much, Doctor.

Don't think about it too long.

After the twelfth week, it becomes... Could I use your phone for a minute?

Take all the time you want.

Yes, operator, I'd like to bill this police to my phone here in New York

Area code 212 -855 -1073.

Did you get her off?

It was close.

I really thought she was going to refuse.

Well, you just made it. The post picked it up for the city of it.

Charlie?

Charlie?

Charlie, this is Camille.

Camille Lawrence from the cruise.

Yeah, I'll tell you why I sound upset.

I'm upset because I'm going to have a baby and I don't have a husband.

And the guy who's responsible doesn't even call me.

and have an abortion.

I don't want to take any... I don't want any of your money.

I just think that when a guy's got a baby running around, he ought to know

it. That's all. Don't tell me to shut up.

No, I don't want to come to Miami.

Yeah.

I'd love to.

Well, yeah.

I can catch the next flight.

I'm sure I can.

Okay.

I'll call you and I'll tell you what flight it is.

Yeah,

you recognize me.

I'll be the pregnant lady with the... Make you smile and the whole wide world.

You could at least try and be civil about this.

My idea of being civil with you is not scratching and biting.

Matter of fact, you can regard anything calmer than open hostility as a bonus.

Kim, please.

You don't have to play the ground down with me.

If you've already set your mind against this trip, what the hell is the use of

it? You take the trip.

I'll take the Persian rug.

It's called a property.

I'm trying to be serious about this reconciliation.

I thought you were, too.

Oh, I'm serious.

About getting a tan.

Tan divorcee is always more attractive.

You think so, too, don't you, Philip?

Why do you do that?

Why do you take everything I say and turn it against me and try and punish me

with it?

I'm trying to say that I'm sorry and that I still love you. And the only way

know how, you won't even let me get close to you anymore.

You're right about that.

Tell me about the trip.

Well, it's a brand new resort called Las Vistas.

It's very exclusive.

We catch a chartered Argentinian airline out of Miami. I thought maybe this

Friday we could fly down there and spend the weekend together in Florida.

The sun and the sand and the sea.

And you and me.

Sand and sea.

You and me.

A greeting card.

I'm sorry. I am. I am sorry. It sounds like a wonderful trip.

I wish we didn't have to go in your friendly neighborhood, Gaucho Airlines.

Everyone knows American planes are the only safe.

Cecilia, you can't stay in New York.

No, we're going to have the celebration here.

The New Year's celebration like we used to have in Cuba.

Yeah, the whole family's coming.

We can't.

We promised to stay with Michael's family until after the holidays.

Maria and I are roasting the pig. And the kids have already dug the pit in the

backyard. Huh?

Yeah, you can bring the wine if you want to. See?

Aunt Carla's making arroz con pollo.

All right. All right, Ernesto. I'll get the picture.

What? Yes, I'll try and speak to Michael. No, no. We're not coming.

We're not coming.

Oh, Michael, couldn't we go, please?

No. You know what Dad will do to me? What?

No. No way.

Uh -uh. Uh -uh.

I'm going to tell Mom and Dad. I mean, I know they're going to really be upset,

but... It's a family tradition.

Take her along with you, Michael.

But, Dad, you know, Mama, she's going to... I'll tell your mother. Don't

There's hardly any tradition left in this dumb world.

Dad, you're fantastic.

Fabulous. No, I'm just a pushover for a pretty girl. Ask your mother -in -law.

Look, Michael, you two get packed.

I'll go see what I can do to get you a plane, okay? All right.

401's flight crew was based in Miami.

They're scheduled on December 29th.

Fly flight 164 to New York and return to Miami aboard the same plane.

Then to be designated flight 401.

There's good lights on again.

Oh.

Like it.

When we get to JFK, have this looked at, will you? Right, sir.

Dad? Huh?

Richard? Oh, nothing.

Think something's wrong?

No, it's just that.

I just had my physical two months ago.

Perfect.

Nothing less than 100%. I didn't mean anything.

That okay?

All right.

Now the light is on again.

Can you tell me what's bothering you?

It's the accidents, isn't it?

Through this month.

None of them Eastern.

And none of them an L -1011.

Well, they all come in threes. That's what they say.

Leslie, don't say that. Not even joking.

Veronica, wait up!

What? We're going to take pictures at the end of the month. Shoes are

Where's Patty? We leave for New York in a few minutes.

Where's Patty? I don't know.

find her. All right, we'll be there in a minute. All right.

Leslie. Veronica, I wasn't joking.

I'm scared.

I'm scared every time that we take off the ground.

Those passengers, they want me to help them every day. More like to think about

all this other people.

Honey, we're all scared.

But flying is safer than driving in traffic. You know that. It's not the

I'm not afraid at all.

I'm afraid.

If we... Well, you know.

You know, if there were an emergency or something, I'm afraid that I'd panic.

Maybe I'd do the wrong thing and I'd hurt some of those other people.

And those passengers would come to me and they'd want me to help them. And I

don't... I don't think I could do it. Will you listen to me?

It's not going to happen.

I found her!

Come on, you guys!

All right, we're here.

I'm sorry. Come on over. Come on, let's take a picture.

Come on. All right. Everybody line up. Hey,

good looking. Would you take our picture?

Thanks. All right. Get in.

Smile.

And this is the thing I really wanted to show you.

So, inside and outside, this is sheer luxury.

Oh, watch your head.

Oh, here, take a look yourself.

Now, it's got to be safe.

My wife is afraid to watch birds, but never mind.

Well, this plane just had its annual three weeks ago.

When was the last time the weight and balance was different?

Uh, just last week, as a matter of fact.

Oh, everything on this plane hurts.

Nothing on the plane works.

Now, spawners out.

Power pack is intermittent.

Take a look at this.

The nose will retract here. It's leaking.

Who are you?

I'm Carl Tobias, National Transportation Safety Board. I inspected this place.

There's a list of defects as long as the Miami phone book.

Yes, well, everything's been fixed since then.

Nobody's shown me a certification.

You're not the only one who can certify an airplane.

I am in my head.

I have friends in Washington, and if you... Good.

Call them.

Tell them I kicked you off the field.

And then pound the plane.

And you go to a reputable dealer.

Mr. Tobias, if you implant this plane, you'll be out of a job.

I'll see you on the unemployment line.

Would madame like to test?

Yes. Cork?

Yes, yes, yes.

I want you to think of this.

What? Sun -drenched sands, tropical, beautiful birds.

Sparkling waters of the Atlantic.

Moonlight, warm sand.

I am not going to Miami with you.

Do you know how cold it is outside?

Do you have warmed me up for the entire winter?

Besides, if we could go right now and come back tonight, maybe I'd do it.

We have great Wednesdays. I don't want to risk a Thursday.

I remember when you didn't want to risk Wednesdays. No,

I'm not going to Miami with you.

What are you doing?

You're wasting it.

Oh, no, I've got loads of it, loads of it. No, no, no. And I'm not going to

until you say yes.

I have a vintage 67.

I'm not... I'll make you say yes to Rome or Athens or Moscow or... Rio.

Rio. Uh, Rio.

Would you settle for a 72 Miami?

All right.

You win.

Have you thought about how you're going to explain this to your husband?

Don't worry about it.

I'll take care of it.

You have them done?

There's a fellow here. When did you last inspect these circuit breakers?

Three days ago, sir. Three days.

Oh, this is Dominic Romano. He's deadheading us back to Miami with us.

tech supervisor on the L -1011. Tech supervisor.

That's the guy that took the fun out of flying.

Can't fly by the seat of your pants with a couple of hundred passengers

depending on you. They've been depending on me and guys like me since before you

were born.

We'd just like to make sure.

Can I give you a hand?

No, no.

We used to like to fly.

You know, we used to have to do things. We were called pilots.

P -I -L -O -T -S. You remember?

Had a thing on our hat.

Pilots. Look at this.

Dials all over the place.

Switches. I keep looking where to put the quarter in. You put a quarter in,

plane will fly by itself.

Not yet.

But I trust we'll get there.

Yeah.

Plane without a pilot.

And without eggs.

Change your inspection routine every two days. Once every two days. Right.

I'm just saying the grand jury could meet any day they wanted. You could get

real trouble leaving the state right now.

And I'm telling you, I didn't do anything. It's not my fault the economy

sour. And I didn't commit any fraud, either.

Larry, you don't have to convince me. Oh, come on, put it away. I thought you

stopped. Oh, stop, will you? Please. All right, all right, look. To me, you're

as honest as Abe Lincoln. But it might look bad if the grand jury calls and

you're down in Miami.

Steve.

I need this vacation.

Even my ulcer is getting an ulcer. Nobody is going to need over the

I'll be back here January 3rd.

All right, all right.

Leave a number where you can be reached at all times. I'll get in touch with you

if something comes up.

Sophie will be glad to see you. Besides that, I got two tickets to the Orange

Bowl. Right on the 50, my boy.

Right on the 50. Now I know where you're going. Now arriving from Miami at 45.

Flight 401, the other end of the concourse. The other end.

We'll take care of things here. You might have to go without us. Good night.

Good night.

Mr.

and Mrs., I can't.

I feel absolutely shameless.

Ginny, it's too late to turn back now.

Come on, huh?

Get on your way.

Hi, I'm Frank Kent, Mr. and Mrs. Kent. May I have your ticket, sir? Yeah, right

here.

The vase.

Maria's vase.

Oh, it's broken.

That's not it. That's a kid's puzzle. I have Maria's vase in my suitcase.

And already I made us miss the first flight.

You must be sorry you ever married such a clumsy.

Admit it.

In 50 years, I'll tell you, Mrs. Taglerino.

Flight 45, now arriving from Atlanta at gate 19.

Mr. Alvin and Jessa.

Yeah. I want to sit in the last left -hand seat in the tail section, okay?

If it's available, yes, sir.

Sorry, it's taken.

Well, move whoever's in it.

I can see you three seats forward.

I want that seat.

May I ask who I am, sir?

Because that's where you guys keep the flight recorders and the computers,

right?

Right? You know, the stuff you want to keep one piece in case of a crash,

Huh? Am I right?

I used to work for a airline bigger than Eastern. I know what I'm talking about.

Listen, I know.

I'll see if the other party will switch seats, Mr. Jessup.

Suicide, please.

Good night. Good night.

Have a nice holiday, sir.

It's all right?

It's all right.

Let's go.

Please, um, to see us in the non -smoking.

My Chelsea is allergic to mackerel smoke.

Certainly, Miss Yale Verdon. Would you like a window seat?

No, we'd like to be on the aisle.

Beautiful.

Good. I kept her awake all afternoon so she'd sleep on the plane.

People get so annoyed when a baby cries.

Oh, I don't think so.

I think that's one of the nice things about being a baby, is that anything you

do, everyone thinks it's wonderful.

That's sweet. Do you have any?

No. No, I don't. Not yet, anyway.

Young lady.

Smoky or non -smoky? Smoky.

No way.

I'd be able to go two hours without non -smoky.

You?

I don't know.

Any alarms?

Got that, Quentin?

Yeah, I got it.

Got them done?

Uh -huh.

right up here.

They full up?

No, I just like it up here.

Are you serious?

You could be back there with a dozen stews?

Yeah, but I still like it up here.

There's something about it.

You wouldn't think a quarter of a million moving parts could be packaged

pretty. We have a poet.

You don't think so?

Who, me?

Oh, maybe when I was young.

Now it's my office. I come in, do my job, and go home.

That's too bad.

That weighs more fun.

Mr. Jessup.

Alvin Jessup. Yes, I know.

Will you call me?

We have the seat we requested, sir.

No time.

Tell you one thing, I wouldn't have taken this flight if I didn't get the

seat.

Nice of you girls to join us.

Very funny.

Houston Airlines flight 401 to Miami, now boarding.

Finally have your boarding passes ready.

Smoking is prohibited beyond the gate.

Flight 401, now boarding, please.

I'm telling you this is right, 13.

Let's just sit in there.

Miss, please.

There's got to be a mistake, this tourist.

No, sir. There is no mistake. You are ticketed for tourists. The agency filed

up. I never travel tourists.

Well, I'm very sorry, sir. Change the ticket. I don't care what it costs.

Let's go. You better follow me.

Did we make it?

I guess this is your lucky night. We're going to let you on the plane. Let's go.

The L -1011 is one of the most advanced planes in the world.

Packed with computers, flight stabilizers, and an inertial glide

virtually land itself.

Tobias. Carl, what the hell is going on down there?

Fixing airplanes. What do you mean, what's going on?

I mean about Beverly Robins.

I've got a Florida congressman all over my back.

So?

So I'm getting a lot of flak about you impounding your plane.

Doing my job.

Just like you did your job in Cleveland?

Like you did in San Diego?

Wherever they put me, Claypool, I'm gonna do it. Tobias.

You keep doing your job so good, you're going to wind up doing it on Mars.

I'll see you.

Hey, go ahead, have a look.

No, no, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be staring at it.

No, it's no problem. There's nothing secret about this stuff.

That is, unless you're a spy from Macy's.

Look, these are just some computer printouts of inventory I'm rotating.

I'm a buyer from Gimbels.

Ladies wear.

Well, that sounds interesting.

Do you mind?

No, go ahead.

You know...

The one thing I can't figure is how the store ever managed without the

computers. I mean, my worst nightmare is that someday somebody's going to pull

all the bugs and just... It might be a blessing, you know? I mean, if the air

human, then to really mess up takes a computer.

Yeah.

Jerry Grant.

Oh, hi, Jerry.

Philip Mulray. How are you, sir? Oh, I'm sorry. This is my wife, Emily M. This

is Jerry Grant.

Gimbels. Gimbels. Hi.

You, uh, vacationing?

Well, actually, it's more like our second honeymoon for us.

Congratulations.

I found this brand new resort down in South America.

Nobody knows anything about it, like a secret, you know. Look at this.

Oh, looks like an adventure.

Oh, yes.

Philip figured that if the resort doesn't bore me to death, the

pilot will finish me off.

Uh, yeah, well, I wish you all the happiness in the world, but I'm gonna

a cup of coffee.

Why do you have to do that? Why do you have to talk about our private life in

front of a stranger?

Second honeymoon, you make it sound like the first one didn't take.

Em, I am not going to argue with you on this trip.

Good.

There you are, Mr. Cross.

Excuse me, miss.

What's your lucky number?

From one to nine.

What number do you figure brings you luck?

I don't know.

Hey, this isn't some kind of a come on. I like to bet the points, Frank.

Sure.

But I don't know. The orange bowl ought to be somewhere around ten.

Well, my mother always thought four was her lucky number.

Really? Uh -huh.

That's mine, too.

I don't know.

Four. The spread is too thin.

But I'm sitting in seat number four.

4G.

I think somebody's trying to tell me something.

Say that.

Some dummy tried to schedule me for tourists back there, but I got to

You got to go. You may as well go first class, right? That's right. Four it is.

Okay.

Mine's 26.

Yeah,

what time does that plane come in? Why didn't they get the one that was

to get in the first plane?

Oh, no, okay, yeah, yeah. Hey, everything's fine, Marie. They'll be

quarter to twelve.

Hey! Hey!

Hey!

I know what you're saying.

They're going to hate me.

Michael, they're not going to hate you. Yes, they will.

Yes, they will.

Look, Ernesto is my brother.

And Maria is my sister -in -law. Why would they hate my own husband?

Because of what I said to him at the wedding.

You know, when I called him a drunk.

Do you remember that? Well, why don't you try to impress them? Speak in

Because the little guy told me to go over there and say that.

Alfredo? Yes.

Well, stop trying to impress them. You don't speak Spanish. Speak English to

them. They're Americans.

They're Cubans.

Americans. Cubans. Americans.

Cubans.

I'm Cubano.

But I married you.

I love you.

So you're Cubano.

I'm a... But I gringo.

There we go.

I appreciate the help, Mrs. Kent.

Oh, please, it was my pleasure.

That's a good job.

Are you a nurse?

No, my husband and I both work for the government.

We don't have any kids, but we sure love them.

Well, all I know is the next time my mother wants to see her granddaughter,

going to send her a parcel post.

Yes, and I brought you some Dramamine.

Good. I hope I don't look as bad as I feel. You don't really.

Here, I'll give you some extra for later on if you need it, okay?

Okay, thank you.

Mrs. Yalbert. Thank you. It's time to take my vitamins.

Oh, good.

Would you hold that, please?

Do you take vitamins?

Well, I'm afraid not. You should.

Sit down. I'll tell you about these. Now, this is vitamin C. See? That keeps

from getting cold.

And this niacin, that helps your circulation.

And this vitamin E, that's for your sex life.

Oh, I'll take any of those.

Then this A, that is for night blindness.

Push them like that, and I'll take them, my dear. Take them.

Oh, and I'll take mine later.

Go on.

Take them. All right.

They'll be very beneficial to you. Thank you for doing... Now, Chelsea, it's

vitamin time.

Yes.

Is there an empty seat in the smoking section?

You know, it's going to be landing in just a few minutes. I know, but the

finally asleep, and I'd die for a cigarette right now.

Well, you know, I did move a gentleman up to first class, so why don't you

follow me?

This is fine. Thank you very much. You're welcome.

Why couldn't I have a little something to drink?

Because you've had too many already.

Ginny, I don't understand.

Are you afraid of flying or afraid of getting there?

Someday you're going to figure that out.

Here's to figuring it out.

Excuse me.

I was sitting here.

Did you see my Sunday section of the Times?

Is this it here?

Oh, here it is.

There it is.

Got my football card. Thank you.

On any given day, Eastern Airlines launched 1 ,400 flights.

It had flown for seven years without a passenger fatality.

The L -1011, the newest, most advanced plane in the sky.

was the pride of Eastern's fleet.

Well, let's check in.

Miami approach control.

Eastern 401 at 10 ,000.

Eastern 401 heavy, Miami ident.

Fly heading 200.

Maintain 1 ,000 vectors to ILS 9 left final approach course.

Vector 200 degrees to ILS.

Final approach course 9 left.

National 607 with you at 10 ,000.

National 607, Miami Dent.

Fly heading 2 -0 -0.

Maintain 1 -0 -1 ,000 vectors to dial S -9 right final approach course.

Okay, that's maintained 10. You might be advised we're going to need an extended

pattern now. We're going to have to crank our gear down.

National 607, roger. Do you want the fire trucks?

We should be okay.

We'll try extended pattern.

Hey, Fred.

National 607's having trouble cranking down their landing gear. Set the hole up

and fire it with them. I'd like to send it out anyway.

Do you think it's necessary?

Better safe than sorry.

I'll call them.

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.

This is your captain speaking.

Welcome to sunny Miami.

We estimate landing at about 15 minutes.

Ground temperature in the low 70s. And it's beautiful out there tonight.

Turn left, heading 180 degrees.

Left, 180 degrees.

National 607, you ready to start your base yet?

Uh, let's have about five more miles westbound here.

Okay.

Maintain 270 heading.

Ah! Ah!

Oh, I got a granddaddy! Get away from me! Get away!

Are you pregnant? There are 42 different kinds of poisonous snakes.

In the Everglades? And this here?

Ain't one of them.

I don't care. Get it away. Get it away.

Hi, sweetheart.

Oh, he's about to bite the pole off.

Miami approach.

National 607. We're still having trouble cranking down our landing gear.

We'd like another approach.

Okay, National 607. Maintain 1 ,000.

Are you sure you don't want any other equipment?

You might as well run out the fire trucks.

Wouldn't want to be in his shoes.

Oh,

your little dog has to go into the seat for landing. I'm sorry.

Of course.

There we go, Chelsea.

So cute.

Yes,

of course.

Break. Okay.

Radar.

Radar, sir.

Gear down.

Gear down.

Quarter flap.

Hey, no nose gear light.

The light bulb must have blown out, huh?

Try it again.

Yes, sir.

What's the matter?

Well, I thought I heard the wheels go down a while back.

You did.

Three, four minutes ago.

Well, then why would they put the wheels down again is what I mean, if they

already put the wheels down once, huh?

Why don't you go outside the plane, huh?

It's still not working.

Leg it.

Go down into the hellhole.

See if the gear is down and locked.

Want to tell them we'll circle around?

Miami Tower, this is Eastern 401.

We've got to circle around a little bit. We've got a gear light here that's not

working.

Eastern 401 heavy, roger.

Climb straight ahead to 2000.

Miami Control, roger.

That's all I need is one more in trouble.

National 607, you ready to start in?

607, affirmative.

Okay, National 607, need your souls aboard your landing crew, please.

Just a moment. Get your souls, just a few.

No.

We're going away from the whites.

Leslie, stop complaining.

We circled twice, we'll be on overtime.

Go on, sit down.

It's okay.

Buckle up.

Center's stuck tight.

We're Captain Dunn. The passengers heard the landing gear go down.

The captain doesn't go back and ask the passengers if the plane is functioning

properly. Besides, that's what all this stuff is supposed to do.

Tell us when everything is safe.

But we know the gear went down.

It has to be the light. Vermont.

Why don't you go down and give Liggett a hand?

He's probably right.

Bud, we might as well make sure.

Try it again.

Yes, sir.

Mr. Chester?

Yeah? What are you doing? Please sit down and fasten your seatbelt.

It doesn't look like we're landing. I want to go to the camp. You're doing it.

Maybe it's the last time. Now, please, sit down.

Okay, okay.

And fasten your seatbelt.

Miami Control, National 607.

Try approach once more.

National 607 made it in. Soft as a feather.

Wonderful. Let's celebrate.

Black, no sugar.

You got it.

Easton, 401 Heavy. How are things coming up there?

We're all set.

Right.

Well, we can't let the 30 -cent bulb keep us up here all night.

Easton? Eastern 401.

I've lost you on our radar here.

Eastern 401.

Hello? Fly that low?

Oh, my God.

Keep an eye on where that light is.

Report of a large explosion.

Miami, approach Eastern T -124.

Eastern train at 124. What do you see at your 12 o 'clock position, 12 miles?

Just a few minutes ago, we saw a large, appeared to be a blast from the ground,

an extremely large flame pattern.

Oh, my God.

Go along, sir. Make sure I'm a cat. Thank you, sir.

This is Coast Guard Rescue 1 -9. Up and away.

Any chance this could be a false alarm?

No chance.

Find them as soon as you can. There may be survivors.

I'm on my way to the airport now.

As soon as they find out where the crash is, I'll get to it. Good. I'll have the

team airborne out of Washington in an hour to give you a hand.

And I'm coming down with them. We can handle this ourselves.

You can't handle lucky, Tobias.

They've got over $100 million in outstanding loans, and the $25 million

showpiece just went down the drain.

It's my job to keep them in the air. I'm not worrying about the shareholders.

I am.

Claypool, I'm going to find out why that plane went down.

There are 90 of them flying around the world. There's something wrong with

We damn well better find out what it is.

You make one move before I get there, and you are through, Tobias. Do you hear

me? Do you understand me?

The Everglades, where Flight 401 went down, is an area half the size of

Connecticut and nearly empty of people.

The sawgrass, tough as bamboo and sharp as a broken bottle, stands six feet

high.

The Everglades is a swamp 70 miles wide, 120 miles long, and 18 inches deep,

alive with insects.

alligators, and deadly poisonous snakes.

It has more than a nodding acquaintance with death.

Are you hurt?

I am.

Is it bad?

Jeff?

Jeff?

I can't... I can't move.

Want to tell them we'll circle around?

22 degrees.

Gear up.

Jeff.

We... We lost the airplane.

How did... How did this happen?

Oh, Fred, I don't understand. How'd it happen?

Please let someone find me.

I'm so cold.

please come to the information desk in the main lobby.

How close are we, Commander?

I don't know. There's 50 miles of solid black out there.

Blame all the corks.

Man, nobody survives a crack like that.

You could be wrong.

There may be people still alive.

We won't be able to see anything in the first light.

Well, we can try.

Got to take one of us. Take me?

I'm going to get you out of here.

You've been leaving me to pray, Tom.

Our father, who art in heaven.

Oh, dear. Oh,

dear.

Tobias?

Charles Tobias?

Tom Foster, Air Force Administrator.

We haven't found them yet, but we've got a helicopter waiting to take you out

just as soon as we do. I want to talk to the approach controller first. All

right, let's go.

I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I really am. I don't know anything. You give us more

information, I'll fight for it. My sister's on that plane.

Okay, I had five planes under my control.

One of which was having hydraulic problems.

That's a normal workload.

When did you first become aware that 401 was in danger? No time.

What do you mean, no time?

Not exactly.

Not exactly?

What I mean is, 401 was supposed to hold at 2 ,000 feet.

Now, a couple of minutes before the end, I saw an altitude reading at 900 feet.

So you warned 401?

No, I wanted to see another radar scan.

Then I got busy with my other planes, checked in with the tower to see if

National 607 got down safely.

and to see if I could use the nine -right strip to land 401.

Next thing I looked up, 401's altitude read CST.

Why didn't you want 401 if they were too low?

Because CST does not tell me how low he is.

Now, I'm going to get something straight with you, mister.

Approach controllers are only responsible for the space between

between the plane and the ground.

All right, all right. Take it easy.

Let's go over the gas.

When did you become aware that 401 was in danger?

Okay.

Radar vector says this is the spot.

Good. I'll take a look.

Hey. Stay away.

Stay away.

You've got a little judgment from God.

He's punishing me. Stop it. Stop it. Stop it. We're alive.

We're both alive.

I'm not a sinner anymore.

Stay away.

Stay away.

Listen.

Someone's coming.

They're coming! Ginny!

Nothing.

Do you think we should fly further west, Commander?

I guess it's as good as fine.

Wait, wait, what?

Glad you finally got here.

I was... You from the plane?

I guess so.

Impossible.

Now I can't get my watch to work.

I was in an airplane crash and now I can't get my watch to work.

I was just in an airplane crash, and now I can't get my watch to work. I was

in this airplane crash, and now the watch

won't work. I was in an airplane crash, and now my watch...

I can't get my watch to work.

Coast Guard base, this is 1 -9. We've spotted a wreck.

Their boat is about nine miles.

We're going to need a massive movement of life -saving equipment up there

immediately.

They go to Homestead Airport base.

Don't have many dead and injured.

And we'll need all the available assistance we can get.

Help port in from all sides.

Ambulances, Coast Guard, police, Air Force, National Guard rushed to the

site. Life -saving equipment sped along the Tamiami Trail.

Speed was essential.

Survivors had to be rescued before they died from their injuries or exposure or

fell prey to the predators of the swamp.

We'll get down as low as we can and drop you on our way off. We'll go back for

more help.

It's going to be all right.

You're going to be fine.

Baby.

Here. Take this.

You head out that way.

I'll head out this way. Say, wait a minute. I'm only a mechanic.

Now, listen to me. Listen to me. You're hurt bad.

You mustn't move.

Now, just stay here and relax.

Just hold on. I got to help your buddies.

Don't move.

Stay still.

I'm here to help you. I'm here to help you. I'll be right back.

Get some help.

We'll get you guys out of here.

Now, don't worry. You're not going to drown.

The water's only a couple feet deep.

Now, just be calm.

And I'll be right back with some help. Yeah, you do that.

I'm going.

I'm going to get out. I'm going to cut you down.

I'm going.

It's going to be all right.

I'm going. I won't give up.

I love you.

I love you.

It's a miracle that anybody's alive.

Ben, where are we?

Ben, I can't see.

You get her.

Hold on, Matt. Hold on.

Hold on. I got you.

Come

on.

Come on. You're all right.

Hey, buddy.

You want some orange bowl tickets?

Come on, move it. Let's go.

Lady, I can't leave this mess now.

Come on, we'll squeeze you in. We'll get him next time.

Lady, you're cut pretty bad.

Hey, will you take it easy with that torch?

If we don't drown, you'll burn us to death.

Give me a hand over here, would you?

Come on.

Over here.

Over here.

Come on.

Okay. Okay.

Here, take the baby.

Come on, there's a lot of people out there needing help.

Need some help here?

Wait, wait, wait, wait.

Hey, did you find out about the seat I asked you about?

What seat?

14G.

A lady went back there for a cigarette. She had on a...

A red plant shirt?

Yeah, yeah. She had a baby.

No, I never thought of anything. If I do, I'll let you know.

Okay. Right, right.

How are you going to find out about the lady?

I already did.

She burned to death.

I wasn't worrying him about it.

Until we get the equipment to steady that fuselage, it is not safe to climb

in there. Now, it'll be here by morning. Don't leave me alone!

I'll do it.

I'm going to need some help. You're out of your mind.

Any way to bring that pink hot wing down on you.

I'll help.

Get him down. What are you doing with him?

Wire cut.

Do the wire cut.

Wires? No, the wire cut. Why is he still there?

I'm going to go up around.

Boobies seem to go all the way.

Be careful. Those wires might still be on him.

Keep still.

Any movement could bring him down.

My gracious, please.

Take him very gently.

Easy. Easy.

It's all right.

It's all right. It's all right.

Easy does it.

Easy does it.

Careful.

Be careful.

All right, this is working.

He's okay down here.

Give me a screwdriver.

All right.

Here you go.

We'll get you down.

Ease him down.

Easy. I'm going to lower him down.

Just easy.

Okay.

Take his weight. Take his weight.

Got it.

Easy now.

Put his back.

Right up again.

You got him.

Grab his leg.

Ease him down.

I got him by the deck.

All right.

We're going to take you down.

Just easy, Dusty.

Just take him down very easy.

I got him. I got him. I got him.

Take her in the boat if you want!

You're all right. I'm all right.

I don't want to see you.

I don't want to see you.

I'm on about 20.

New.

55 yards from ground zero.

Severe lacerations on the abdomen.

Appears to have been pregnant.

What's the hole here? I forgot to tell you.

One of the guys says the cockpit recorder's missing.

Must have been jarred loose in the craft.

Here's the section I want.

I need a 4 -inch crescent. Hey, Tully, got a 4 -inch crescent?

What?

Okay, here you are.

You can get a little light on this.

Give me some light. All right.

Get it back here.

Oh.

It's underwater.

Give me some more light. No, no.

No such light.

Nothing. Light recorder's not here.

We're gonna have to drag the swamp.

He's dead.

The NTSB was at the crash site as soon as dawn broke, launching an exhaustive

search of the swamp for even the smallest parts of the shattered plane.

Fragments would be pieced together in a relentless effort to pinpoint the cause

of the accident.

The survivors might be able to explain the strange pattern of life and death.

Meanwhile, one startling fact had emerged.

The coroner's autopsy revealed that Pilot Dunn had a brain tumor.

3, 5, 34.

35 and 36.

Good.

Carl.

It's a bias. Come here.

And another thing. Pack each one of those items.

Each one of them.

I thought you should see this.

I already saw it.

I made a call.

It doesn't pan out.

What do you mean it doesn't pan out?

Severe degeneration of the right occipital lobe, the middle surface

particularly.

The coroner says it caused visual problems.

It says might, might have caused visual problems.

Don had a complete physical shortly before that.

None of his friends noticed any difference.

It's an obvious and logical thesis, though. Sure, a very convenient thesis.

It gets Eastern Airlines, gets Lockheed, gets the FAA, offers several

embarrassing... No.

I think the tumor might have contributed.

I don't believe it was caused by... Excuse me, I got an accident.

Reconstruct. Tobias!

I want that preliminary report in 24 hours. 24 hours? When am I supposed to

clairvoyant? There's a cockpit recorder out there in the mud somewhere.

Well, then you'll just have to piece it together from the survivors.

Liggett! And Romano, the only two that can tell me what happened to that

cocktail. And they're in critical.

That doesn't leave you much time, does it?

Thank you.

Who are you?

Who's anybody?

What is it, Cecilia? What do you want?

A key's all right.

It's Mr. Tobias. He's with the safety board.

He's trying to find out why the plane crashed.

It hit the ground, that's why.

The doctors say you could come in here?

Ernesto, he's got permission.

What about Cecilia?

The doctor said okay.

Okay. Ernesto!

Was it Cecilia?

Mike, I checked the hospital.

The Tuggerina wasn't Cecilia.

It was a cousin, some distant relative, in for a checkup or something.

But look, we're going to find her. Won't we, Murray?

Mike, I gotta go.

I'm sorry, Michael.

Ernesto should have asked for more information before he got your hopes up.

He's the only one that's got hopes?

Huh? You don't think I'm just as worried as he is?

She's my sister.

The safety board.

Mr. Tobias.

Can I talk to you for a second?

We need your help.

You're on the inside.

You know.

What was the thing I could do?

My sister.

I've got to find my sister.

The kid in there can't take much more of this.

My wife's ready to crack up. I mean, look at me. I'm a basket case.

Why can't they find Cecilia?

Maybe they already found her.

You can replace me, but you can't get rid of me.

I saw them suffer. I saw them die.

I'm going to find out the reason.

I'm sorry.

There's nothing I can do about it. It's out of my hands.

What about him?

I got a sign.

He's still critical. They're not going to let you talk to him.

Romano's the only one left who can tell us what happened in the cockpit.

So let him tell you after he's well enough to talk.

What if he doesn't get well enough?

What if he's dead in an hour?

I'm going to tell you what we know so far.

Or if I've left anything out.

Do you understand?

Yeah.

We know that Dunn might have had a visual problem. Might not see a light

on or out.

Jeff, put it on autopilot. See if you can get the bulb out.

Right.

Now push it forward a little bit.

Forward.

Yeah, that's it.

Eastern 4 -1 heavy.

Turn left heading 3 -0 -0.

Okay, 3 -0 -0. Eastern 4 -1. No, no, no.

To the left.

A quarter of a turn.

Let me...

Yes, ma 'am.

And Standish might never have known.

Computers.

This man.

It's all right. It's all right. It's all right.

I've got it now.

If that's what happened, everything falls into place.

We know the landing gear was fine.

Several passengers felt it when it was re -lowered.

So it was just a faulty light.

Hey, Dom.

I can't tell too much.

Well, they have to be down. You can tell if they're down by looking at our

invices. There's no way they couldn't be.

It free falls down.

I can't see it down there.

Well, look, and you can see a little place where they line up.

Yeah, I know. A little like a telescope. Yeah, yeah.

They're not lined up?

No, it's pitch dark. I throw a little light, I get nothing.

Well, here.

Let me take a look.

All right, come on up.

If Don nudged his control column slightly forward, with more than 15

pressure but less than 20, it would disengage the altitude hold function.

Standish would assume that they were on hold at 2 ,000 feet, when in reality the

plane had begun at 200 feet per minute descent.

Easton 4 -1 Heavy, how are things coming?

We're all set.

Ah,

thank you.

Meanwhile, the flight controller had just finished dealing with another

emergency.

National 607, which he handled extremely well.

We can't let a 37 light bulb keep us up here all night. We've got a schedule to

keep. Turn it on, take her in.

What's wrong with the altimeter? We're supposed to be at 2 ,000 feet, but...

Veronica Daniels returned to her job at Eastern, requesting as her first

assignment flight 401 to Miami.

She said she wanted to finish the flight home.

Leslie Fuller also returned to flying.

She felt she had to prove to herself she could do it.

Larry Cross was eventually indicted, convicted, and fined. His company went

bankrupt. He used his insurance settlement to start another.

Evan Walsh never saw Ginny Duffy again.

Mike Tagliarino remarried and started his own airline with the $650 ,000

he was awarded.

He went bankrupt.

Jerry Grant started his own very successful ladies' wear store.

Philip Mulray was crippled for life.

He and Emily stayed together.

Dominic Romano, the only survivor in the cockpit, is still one of Eastern

Airlines' most valuable maintenance specialists.

The final tally of Flight 401.

103 fatalities and 73 survivors.

A disaster summed up in statistics, but the reason for the crash was not so

easily defined.

It could have been a million -to -one combination of three unrelated factors.

The failure of a 30 -cent light bulb, the coincidence of an emergency on the

previous flight, and a very subtle mismatch in the autopilot system.

The NTSB's final report determined that the probable cause of the crash was the

failure of the cockpit crew to monitor the instruments during the final four

minutes of flight.

There was no reason to expect that such a crash could ever have happened, or

that it could ever happen again.

Thanks for watching.

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