All language subtitles for Air.Disasters.S20E09.1080p.PMTP.WEB-DL.DDP5.1.H.264-BLOOM_track3_[eng]

Helios 522, do you read?

Over.

All radio contact
is lost for the plane

All radio contact
is lost for the plane

carrying 115 passengers.

Everybody's mind was going
to a hijack or to terrorists.

Everybody's mind was going
to a hijack or to terrorists.

High above the
Taiwan Strait, a 747 jumbo jet

goes mysteriously silent.

goes mysteriously silent.

Dynasty 611, Taipei.

So the first thing you
think about is a bomb.

So the first thing you
think about is a bomb.

And when
controllers lose

contact with a private
jet, fighter pilots

contact with a private
jet, fighter pilots

scramble to intercept.

No movement.

Everybody knew that
there was a major problem.

Everybody knew that
there was a major problem.

Three perplexing
cases of radio silence

send investigators
hunting for answers.

send investigators
hunting for answers.

Do you read?

Over.

Radio silence can mean a
long and dark mystery unfolding

Radio silence can mean a
long and dark mystery unfolding

as the world watches,
or it can mean

that your plane has
just devastatingly

that your plane has
just devastatingly

been blown from the sky.

Ladies and gentlemen,

we are starting our approach.

We lost both engines.

We lost both engines.

Mayday.

Mayday.

Brace for impact!

He's gonna crash!

It's early morning
on the island of Cyprus,

It's early morning
on the island of Cyprus,

as the crew of Helios
Airways Flight 522

prepares for today's flight.

prepares for today's flight.

Sure is a beautiful day.

Maybe I shouldn't have come in.

Maybe I shouldn't have come in.

Andreas Prodromou wasn't scheduled

for the flight, but he's
offered to work in order

for the flight, but he's
offered to work in order

to spend some time
with his girlfriend,

another flight attendant.

Temperature's still up there.

Temperature's still up there.

In the
cockpit, the flight crew

is occupied with a daily
routine of preparing

their jet for takeoff.

their jet for takeoff.

Bright today.

Captain Hans Merten is a
contract pilot hired by Helios

for the busy holiday season.

for the busy holiday season.

Are you almost through?

Nearly.

Nearly.

First officer Pampos
Charalambous has been flying

with Helios for five years.

There are switches.

There are switches.

Sorry.

Could you store trays?

Move your seat back and turn
off electronics, please.

The Boeing
737 is carrying

The Boeing
737 is carrying

a total of 115 passengers
and six crew members.

PAMPOS CHARALAMBOUS (ON
INTERCOM): Flight attendants,

please take your seats.

Prepare for takeoff.

Safe flight.

Just after
9:00 in the morning,

Helios Airways
Flight 522 lifts off.

Nicosia Air control,
this is Helios 522.

Nicosia Air control,
this is Helios 522.

Request cruising at 340.

Request cruising at 340.

Helios 522, you
are cleared to climb to 340.

Have a good day.

Have a good day.

Set 340.

340.

340.

Flight 522 is an hour
and a half flight from Larnaca,

Cyprus, to Athens, Greece.

Cyprus, to Athens, Greece.

The plane is still climbing
towards its cruising altitude,

when suddenly...

when suddenly...

What is it?

The takeoff config warning.

The takeoff config warning.

The takeoff configuration

alarm warns pilots that their
jet isn't ready for takeoff.

alarm warns pilots that their
jet isn't ready for takeoff.

But why is it sounding
now, during flight?

The captain radios the
Helios Operations Center back

in Cyprus.

in Cyprus.

Operations, this is Flight 522.

Over.

Flight 522, what
can I do for you?

Flight 522, what
can I do for you?

We have a takeoff
config warning on.

Then the situation
becomes even more confusing.

Then the situation
becomes even more confusing.

We now have a Master Caution.

We now have a Master Caution.

I'll get you an engineer,
522, in just a minute.

I'll get you an engineer,
522, in just a minute.

In the cabin,
the passengers are hardly

aware there's a problem until...

aware there's a problem until...

Everyone stay calm, and
please do remain seated.

Everyone stay calm, and
please do remain seated.

Everyone, please put the
oxygen masks on completely

Everyone, please put the
oxygen masks on completely

over your mouth and nose.

In the cockpit,
the pilots still don't know

In the cockpit,
the pilots still don't know

why both alarms are sounding.

Can you confirm that
the pressurization

Can you confirm that
the pressurization

panel is set to Auto?

Where are my equipment
cooling circuit breakers?

Where are my equipment
cooling circuit breakers?

Behind the captain's seat.

Can you see them?

As the plane
continues to climb,

passengers and crew
are growing concerned.

Helios 522, can you
see the circuit breakers?

Helios 522, can you
see the circuit breakers?

But the Helios
crew doesn't respond.

But the Helios
crew doesn't respond.

Helios 522, can you hear me?

Helios 522, can you hear me?

Athens air
traffic controllers

Athens air
traffic controllers

can see the plane is
still on course high

over the Mediterranean Sea.

over the Mediterranean Sea.

Helios 522, do you read?

Over.

But all they're
getting is radio silence.

But all they're
getting is radio silence.

We heard
that there was an airplane

which was flying into
the Greek territory

which was flying into
the Greek territory

and had no communication.

Everybody's mind was going
to a hijack or to terrorists.

Everybody's mind was going
to a hijack or to terrorists.

The passenger
jet has been in the air

for over two hours.

for over two hours.

They were scheduled to
land 30 minutes ago.

The plane is now
circling in a holding

The plane is now
circling in a holding

pattern over Athens, a city
of over 3 million people.

The Greek Air
Force scrambles two

fighter jets to investigate.

fighter jets to investigate.

Helios 522, do you read?

Over.

Helios 522, do you read?

Helios 522, do you read?

Over.

One of the
Jets flies closer.

One of the
Jets flies closer.

Someone is in the
first officer's seat,

slumped over the controls.

But there's no sign
of the captain at all.

But there's no sign
of the captain at all.

Athinai ACC,
Athinai ACC, checking the cabin.

Athinai ACC,
Athinai ACC, checking the cabin.

He can see
passengers in their seats,

He can see
passengers in their seats,

but none of them react to
the presence of the jet.

Then the pilot sees someone
moving into the cockpit.

Athiniai Control, there
is one person moving

Athiniai Control, there
is one person moving

in the cockpit of Helios 522.

Repeat... there is one
person inside the cockpit.

Repeat... there is one
person inside the cockpit.

Helios 522, do you read?

Over.

Flight HCY522, this
is radar control.

Suddenly the 737 turns left

Suddenly the 737 turns left

and begins to quickly descend.

Athiniai ACC, Helios
522 turning sharply.

Athiniai ACC, Helios
522 turning sharply.

Following down.

The aircraft is dropping

from more than 32,000 feet.

from more than 32,000 feet.

HCY522, this
is Athinai Radar Control.

Just after 12 o'clock...

Just after 12 o'clock...

...Flight 522 slams into the
ground just north of Athens.

Helios 522 is
down on Grammatiko Hill.

Helios 522 is
down on Grammatiko Hill.

Over.

It's an
eerie disaster.

For over an hour, air
traffic controllers

For over an hour, air
traffic controllers

watched the passenger jet
fly in radio silence, closer

and closer to Athens,
with no idea what

and closer to Athens,
with no idea what

was happening inside the jet.

Investigators and
first responders

rushed to the
burning crash site.

There we
were, facing the situation which

There we
were, facing the situation which

was beyond any description.

It was black, burning,
people spread, pieces of...

It was black, burning,
people spread, pieces of...

of the airplane.

There are no survivors.

There are no survivors.

It's the worst air
crash in Greek history.

In the Helios event,
there was really

nothing they could do from the
ground to help the aircraft.

nothing they could do from the
ground to help the aircraft.

There wasn't any warning.

There wasn't any idea
from air traffic control

that there was sort of any issue
until there was no contact.

that there was sort of any issue
until there was no contact.

Chief Investigator
Tsolakis and his team

get to work immediately,
combing through what

get to work immediately,
combing through what

remains of the passenger jet.

Recovered bodies start to
arrive at the morgue in Athens.

It is a
truly nightmarish sight.

I hope that I never
experience it again.

I hope that I never
experience it again.

It was terrible, just terrible.

When investigators
find tissue samples

in the remains of the cockpit,
they make a stunning discovery.

in the remains of the cockpit,
they make a stunning discovery.

The person at the controls
of the plane when it crashed

The person at the controls
of the plane when it crashed

was flight attendant
Andreas Prodromou.

But why was he in the cockpit?

But why was he in the cockpit?

Was he trying to save the
plane or did he deliberately

fly it into the ground?

fly it into the ground?

Investigators have recovered

the cockpit voice recorder
from Helios Flight 522.

the cockpit voice recorder
from Helios Flight 522.

When Chief Investigator
Tsolakis listens

to the final moments
of the flight,

to the final moments
of the flight,

it answers a vital question.

Mayday.

Mayday.

Mayday.

Mayday.

This was
no terrorist act.

Helios Airways Flight 522.

Flight attendant
Prodromou was calling for help.

Flight attendant
Prodromou was calling for help.

Tsolakis hears five separate
maydays on the tape,

but they were never heard
by air traffic controllers.

but they were never heard
by air traffic controllers.

Investigators suspect the radio
was still tuned to Cyprus,

Investigators suspect the radio
was still tuned to Cyprus,

their departure point.

He wasn't a coward.

He wasn't a coward.

He knew something about
planes, and he had

He knew something about
planes, and he had

the capacity to do something.

Sure is a beautiful day.

In fact, Prodromou had
his commercial pilot's license.

In fact, Prodromou had
his commercial pilot's license.

But all of his training
wouldn't have saved the jet.

But all of his training
wouldn't have saved the jet.

When the team reviews
the flight data recorder,

they discover that the Helios
plane sharply descended

they discover that the Helios
plane sharply descended

because it was out of fuel.

The FDR and CVR
gave us absolute proof

The FDR and CVR
gave us absolute proof

that the plane ran out of fuel.

that the plane ran out of fuel.

And this was the
cause of the crash.

But one
mystery still remains.

But one
mystery still remains.

Why was Prodromou
flying the aircraft?

What happened to
the flight crew?

What happened to
the flight crew?

Back at the crash
site, investigators

Back at the crash
site, investigators

catch a break when a key
control panel is recovered.

The panel, which is
responsible for pressurization,

The panel, which is
responsible for pressurization,

is set in an unusual position.

Are you sure this is
the way it was found?

Are you sure this is
the way it was found?

It hasn't been moved at all?

We were lucky finding this
funnel, which had the switch

We were lucky finding this
funnel, which had the switch

on the manual position.

It was a major one.

It was a major one.

Normally, pressurization

happens automatically.

But when the switch
is set to manual,

But when the switch
is set to manual,

the flight crew is
responsible for controlling

the cabin pressure.

But why would the crew
set the system to manual?

But why would the crew
set the system to manual?

When Tsolakis interviews
the Helios engineer,

When Tsolakis interviews
the Helios engineer,

he learns the accident
aircraft had a history

of pressurization problems.

of pressurization problems.

Coincidentally, on the
day of the fatal flight,

engineers inspected the
aircraft for air leaks

engineers inspected the
aircraft for air leaks

that could cause
depressurization.

Switching digital pressure
control unit from auto

Switching digital pressure
control unit from auto

to manual.

Using the
aircraft's power systems,

the engineer pressurized the
cabin for several minutes

the engineer pressurized the
cabin for several minutes

while another engineer
checked for leaks.

But there was no sign
of any air escaping.

But there was no sign
of any air escaping.

There was a push to return the
selector to the auto position.

There was a push to return the
selector to the auto position.

But at
the end of the test,

the engineer left the switch
in the manual position.

the engineer left the switch
in the manual position.

It is bright today.

Are you almost through?

Nearly.

Nearly.

Investigators theorize neither the pilot

or first officer noticed
the manual setting

or first officer noticed
the manual setting

during pre-flight preparations.

Pressurization mode selector.

As a result
the cabin would not

As a result
the cabin would not

have pressurized properly,
causing the incapacitation

of everyone on board.

of everyone on board.

To prove their
theory, they perform

To prove their
theory, they perform

a test flight using
the same conditions

as the Helios flight.

as the Helios flight.

Make sure the P5
is set to manual.

Tsolakis has the crew
turn the pressurization switch

Tsolakis has the crew
turn the pressurization switch

to manual.

It's hard to see.

As the
test flight climbs,

oxygen thins quickly
in the aircraft.

oxygen thins quickly
in the aircraft.

The same thing happened
on the Helios flight,

triggering an alarm.

What is it?

The takeoff config warning?

But when the alarm
goes off on the test flight,

Tsolakis makes a
shocking discovery.

Tsolakis makes a
shocking discovery.

It's not the takeoff
configuration

alarm that sounds, but rather
the depressurization alarm.

alarm that sounds, but rather
the depressurization alarm.

The two alarms sound
virtually identical.

OK.

Take it down.

Take it down.

The alarm sounded, and that alarm

was misinterpreted.

Most of the flight
crew, they will never

Most of the flight
crew, they will never

face an alarm with
no pressurization

face an alarm with
no pressurization

because it's a rare event.

Even if the
flight crew did misinterpret

Even if the
flight crew did misinterpret

the first alarm,
Tsolakis learns they

had another chance to
determine what the problem was.

had another chance to
determine what the problem was.

When he revisits the
cockpit recording,

Tsolakis hears the plane's
Master Caution alarm

Tsolakis hears the plane's
Master Caution alarm

sounding for almost a minute.

We now have a Master Caution.

We now have a Master Caution.

The Master Caution alarm

can indicate that the plane's
systems are overheating.

can indicate that the plane's
systems are overheating.

But it can also tell pilots
the oxygen masks are down.

But it can also tell pilots
the oxygen masks are down.

The lack of oxygen
probably caused the pilots

to confuse the alarms.

Instead of pressurization,
they thought

Instead of pressurization,
they thought

the plane was overheating
and needed to be cooled.

Where are my equipment
cooling circuit breakers?

Where are my equipment
cooling circuit breakers?

Behind the captain's seat.

They began to lose the
ability to think coherently.

They began to lose the
ability to think coherently.

Investigators believe
the captain may have been

checking on the circuit
breakers behind his seat

when he and the first
officer ran out of air.

The autopilot system maintained
the flight path to Athens,

and then put the plane
in a holding pattern

and then put the plane
in a holding pattern

as it flew over the airport.

In the cabin, as the emergency
oxygen supply runs out,

In the cabin, as the emergency
oxygen supply runs out,

everyone takes
their last breaths.

Well, the problem with
the passenger masks is

Well, the problem with
the passenger masks is

they're designed to give you
enough oxygen so that you can

survive until you can...
the pilots get the airplane

survive until you can...
the pilots get the airplane

down to a low altitude.

Passenger masks are supplied

by a chemical generator
above their seats.

by a chemical generator
above their seats.

But the generators only
produce enough oxygen

to last about 12 minutes.

to last about 12 minutes.

Most of the people,

once the hypoxia begins to cause
them to lose consciousness,

once the hypoxia begins to cause
them to lose consciousness,

they're just gonna go to sleep.

Mayday.

So how did Andreas
Prodromou remain conscious?

Helios Airways Flight 5...

Helios Airways Flight 5...

When investigators
interview Helios

instructors and crew,
they begin to understand

instructors and crew,
they begin to understand

what may have happened.

After the passenger oxygen
system stopped working,

Prodromou most likely used some
of the 737's portable oxygen

Prodromou most likely used some
of the 737's portable oxygen

to survive.

to survive.

Probably was
a little bit disoriented.

He's reacting a lot slower
than he normally would.

He's reacting a lot slower
than he normally would.

Mayday.

The young flight
attendant calls for help,

The young flight
attendant calls for help,

but no one could hear him.

And there was nothing
he could have done.

The official report shows
that a fatal combination

The official report shows
that a fatal combination

of small mechanical
problems and human error

led to the worst air
disaster in Greek history.

led to the worst air
disaster in Greek history.

It was the
flipping of one switch

that was the difference
between life and death.

that was the difference
between life and death.

And what came out of
this investigation

was basically a re-emphasis
to flight crews.

was basically a re-emphasis
to flight crews.

You have to do checklists.

You have to have that
checklist discipline.

You have to have that
checklist discipline.

But not all
cases of radio silence

unfold over many hours.

Sometimes they happen
in the blink of an eye.

Sometimes they happen
in the blink of an eye.

The third waypoint,
change to low.

The third waypoint,
change to low.

Dynasty 611, Taipei.

Dynasty 611, Taipei.

Dynasty 611, Taipei.

China Airlines
Flight 611 lifts off

China Airlines
Flight 611 lifts off

from Taiwan's capital, Taipei.

Gear is up.

Dynasty 611,
airborne passing 1,600.

Dynasty 611,
airborne passing 1,600.

Dynasty 611,
Taipei, approach radar.

Contact climb and
maintain flight level 260.

Contact climb and
maintain flight level 260.

260, Dynasty 611.

260, Dynasty 611.

Autopilot B engaged.

There are 225 people
on board the Boeing 747.

There are 225 people
on board the Boeing 747.

FLIGHT ATTENDANT (ON
INTERCOM): Ladies

and gentlemen, the
Fasten Seatbelt

and gentlemen, the
Fasten Seatbelt

sign has been turned off.

For your safety, we
do recommend that you

keep your seatbelt fastened
at all times while seated.

keep your seatbelt fastened
at all times while seated.

Flight 611 is an
hour and 40 minute trip across

the Taiwan Strait to Hong Kong.

the Taiwan Strait to Hong Kong.

The aircraft continues
to climb steadily

to its cruising altitude.

But then, 20 minutes
after taking off,

at an altitude of
almost 35,000 feet...

at an altitude of
almost 35,000 feet...

The third waypoint,
change to low.

The third waypoint,
change to low.

...the flight
vanishes from radar.

Dynasty 611, Taipei.

Dynasty 611, Taipei.

Air traffic
control gets no response.

Air traffic
control gets no response.

I've got a plane off
radar, China Airlines 611.

Its last known return was
East 119.67, North 23.98.

Its last known return was
East 119.67, North 23.98.

Its last known return was
East 119.67, North 23.98.

Taiwanese authorities quickly

Taiwanese authorities quickly

launched one of the
largest rescue missions in

the country's aviation history.

the country's aviation history.

Flight 611 was 34 miles
from the Taiwanese shore,

just north of the Penghu
Islands when it disappeared.

just north of the Penghu
Islands when it disappeared.

Within hours,
rescuers find debris

floating in the Taiwan Strait.

floating in the Taiwan Strait.

There are no survivors.

Airplanes don't fall out of the sky.

Airplanes don't fall out of the sky.

We have had so many
aircraft accidents

over the past 50 years that
have ended up in water.

over the past 50 years that
have ended up in water.

It's always a challenge.

Because the first thing
is to find the wreckage.

The second thing is
to pull enough of it

The second thing is
to pull enough of it

up to be useful to the
accident investigation.

Taiwan's Aviation
Safety Council, or ASC,

Taiwan's Aviation
Safety Council, or ASC,

begins its investigation
into the mysterious crash

of the 747.

of the 747.

August 2, 1979.

Kay Yong is the
managing director of the AFC.

Kay Yong is the
managing director of the AFC.

He'll be leading
the investigation.

We're setting up a command
post in Penghu Island.

We're setting up a command
post in Penghu Island.

This particular
investigation was,

by far, the most difficult one.

by far, the most difficult one.

And one of the reasons why was
it's... it's in the ocean floor.

And one of the reasons why was
it's... it's in the ocean floor.

While recovery teams
gather the floating wreckage...

Good morning.

I'm anxious to
see what you have.

I'm anxious to
see what you have.

...Kay Yong
reviews the radar

recording of the doomed flight.

Minutes into the recording,
he makes a critical discovery.

Shortly after
reaching 35,000 feet,

Shortly after
reaching 35,000 feet,

Flight 611's signal
suddenly splits apart.

Flight 611's signal
suddenly splits apart.

The breakup is quite graphic.

There were four sizable pieces
of wreckage that were getting

There were four sizable pieces
of wreckage that were getting

radar returns that then
began to drift and scatter

radar returns that then
began to drift and scatter

as they fell to the Earth.

So that told us that the
airplane broke up in flight.

So that told us that the
airplane broke up in flight.

But why would
one of the world's

most dependable passenger
kept calm apart in midair?

most dependable passenger
kept calm apart in midair?

Since the accident involved
an American-made plane,

a team from the National
Transportation Safety Board

a team from the National
Transportation Safety Board

is dispatched to Taiwan.

Good morning.

Good morning.

I'm Clint Crookshanks
from the NTSB.

Hello.

Three weeks
after the crash, the Jan

Three weeks
after the crash, the Jan

Steen, a sophisticated
salvage vessel,

arrives in the Taiwan Strait.

arrives in the Taiwan Strait.

Using the vessel's
sonar technology,

investigators locate
the remaining wreckage

of Flight 611 deep under water.

of Flight 611 deep under water.

It was really quite a
shock when I first saw pieces

on the floor of the ocean.

on the floor of the ocean.

Remarkably, 25 days
after the crash of Flight 611,

Remarkably, 25 days
after the crash of Flight 611,

the plane's two black
boxes are found.

Investigators hope the
data will help explain why

Investigators hope the
data will help explain why

the 747 exploded in mid-air.

They begin with the plane's
cockpit voice recorder.

Clear for takeoff, Dynasty 611.

Clear for takeoff, Dynasty 611.

CO-PILOT (ON
RECORDING): Takeoff.

80.

CO-PILOT (ON RECORDING): Check.

CO-PILOT (ON RECORDING): Check.

Gear 1.

Rotate.

In the moments
before the disaster,

In the moments
before the disaster,

nothing seems wrong.

Now descend and maintain 250.

Now descend and maintain 250.

The captain
calls out the distance

to their cruising altitude.

2,000.

2,000.

That's followed
by the sound of a chime...

...alerting the crew that
they are nearing 35,000 feet.

...alerting the crew that
they are nearing 35,000 feet.

But then...

...the recording stops.

The recorders told us
that something happened,

The recorders told us
that something happened,

but we didn't have
the real piece

of evidence that told
us what initiated

the breakup of the 747.

the breakup of the 747.

The flight
recorders are a dead end.

The fate of the investigation
lies in what can be uncovered

The fate of the investigation
lies in what can be uncovered

in the wreckage of Flight 611.

in the wreckage of Flight 611.

I've been reading about
the trajectory analysis.

I'd like to try it.

Computerized ballistic trajectory analysis

Computerized ballistic trajectory analysis

is based on a simple fact.

The pieces that came
off the plane first

The pieces that came
off the plane first

are the first to hit the water.

If investigators can figure
out which pieces those were,

If investigators can figure
out which pieces those were,

they'll know where
the trouble began.

327.

327.

Kay Yong selects
18 pieces of wreckage

from all over the plane
for the computer analysis.

from all over the plane
for the computer analysis.

199.

Can we see when each
one of those items

separated from the aircraft?

separated from the aircraft?

His team uses GPS
coordinates of the wreckage,

His team uses GPS
coordinates of the wreckage,

as well as precise details in
ocean currents and wind speed,

to calculate which pieces
were the first to come off

to calculate which pieces
were the first to come off

the plane.

The tail came off first.

The tail came off first.

It's a huge
discovery for investigators.

It's a huge
discovery for investigators.

That pretty much indicating
that something happened

in the back of the aircraft.

in the back of the aircraft.

Now the team
needs to track down

pieces from the tail section.

But wreckage is still being
recovered from the ocean floor.

But wreckage is still being
recovered from the ocean floor.

Will they be able to find the
source of the breakup that led

Will they be able to find the
source of the breakup that led

to the deaths of 225 people?

While searching through newly

recovered wreckage from
China Airlines Flight 611,

NTSB investigator Frank Zakar
spots something unusual.

NTSB investigator Frank Zakar
spots something unusual.

When I walked
up to item 640, I

When I walked
up to item 640, I

noticed that there were some
peculiar areas of interest

that I wanted to look
at a little bit further.

that I wanted to look
at a little bit further.

Zakar needs to get a closer

look at the mysterious piece.

look at the mysterious piece.

It's from the back of the plane,
precisely where the analysis

told them the breakup began.

told them the breakup began.

Let's get as many pictures
as we can, especially the edges

Let's get as many pictures
as we can, especially the edges

there and there.

But then the team
notices a concerning detail.

But then the team
notices a concerning detail.

The wreckage has a metal patch
on it called a doubler plate.

The wreckage has a metal patch
on it called a doubler plate.

If there were to
be a tear or a crack identified,

If there were to
be a tear or a crack identified,

you'd want to
repair the fuselage

back to its original strength.

And one way to do that is
to put a doubler plate right

And one way to do that is
to put a doubler plate right

over the existing structure.

At some point
this section of the 747

At some point
this section of the 747

had been repaired.

Investigators need to know
why and how it was done.

Investigators need to know
why and how it was done.

Let's cut it
from here to here,

Let's cut it
from here to here,

and send this
piece to Zhongshan.

A large
piece of the wreckage

A large
piece of the wreckage

is sent to a military research
center for expert analysis.

is sent to a military research
center for expert analysis.

When the repair
patch is removed,

damage on the aluminum
skin underneath

intrigues investigators.

intrigues investigators.

We noticed that there were
some fairly long gouge marks.

This is beyond
the kind of damage

This is beyond
the kind of damage

a doubler is meant to patch.

That was an a-ha moment that
we might have something here.

That was an a-ha moment that
we might have something here.

Investigators wonder what

caused the gouges on the
aircraft's aluminum exterior.

caused the gouges on the
aircraft's aluminum exterior.

When they search the plane's
extensive maintenance records,

they uncover a very
short reference

they uncover a very
short reference

to a mishap 22 years earlier.

Beat is low, sir.

Watch it.

Tail strike, sir.

I better log that.

I better log that.

The tail
section of the 747

scraped the runway on landing.

But when investigators
search for details on how

China Airlines
repaired the plane,

China Airlines
repaired the plane,

they make a shocking discovery.

The maintenance records indicated

The maintenance records indicated

that the permanent repair
was done in accordance

with Boeing recommendations.

Evidence that we
uncovered indicate

Evidence that we
uncovered indicate

that the repair was not done
per the Boeing repairman.

According to the manual,

According to the manual,

the entire damaged area should
have been cut out and replaced.

But the repair was never done.

But the repair was never done.

Workers simply
attached a doubler

plate over the damaged area.

plate over the damaged area.

What was so insidious

about this improper repair
was that the doubler

plate hid all of the damage.

plate hid all of the damage.

Workers recorded
the repair was completed,

making their mistake
impossible to detect.

making their mistake
impossible to detect.

So if you
weren't there watching

them do this repair
improperly, you wouldn't know

them do this repair
improperly, you wouldn't know

that it was done improperly.

Every time
the plane took off

Every time
the plane took off

over the next 22 years, the
cracks in the plane's skin

grew and spread.

grew and spread.

It just
spread like a spiderweb.

It went in all directions, and
it probably looped all the way

It went in all directions, and
it probably looped all the way

around the fuselage to the point
where the entire aft section

of the airplane just broke off
from the rest of the structure.

of the airplane just broke off
from the rest of the structure.

Investigators recommend

that aviation agencies
around the world

that aviation agencies
around the world

immediately inspect
repairs that were

patched using doubler plates.

patched using doubler plates.

We were requiring
operators to take doubler

plates off and do
a visual inspection

plates off and do
a visual inspection

of the structure underneath.

The NTSB issues
its own recommendation,

The NTSB issues
its own recommendation,

that mechanics be warned of
hiding damage that could lead

to the failure of an airplane.

to the failure of an airplane.

The airline literally had 22

years or so to get this right.

So this is a wake up call.

So this is a wake up call.

Any airline that has
this kind of issue

has to be keenly aware that the
responsibility never goes away.

has to be keenly aware that the
responsibility never goes away.

And when a private
jet with a celebrity passenger

falls into radio
silence over Florida...

This is Jacksonville Center.

This is Jacksonville Center.

I'm declaring an emergency.

...fighter Jets
scramble to find out why.

...fighter Jets
scramble to find out why.

We don't know where
this aircraft is gonna go,

but it's starting to move.

It's 8:30 AM at
Orlando International Airport.

It's 8:30 AM at
Orlando International Airport.

The crew of a private Learjet
is preparing for today's flight.

Nav light?

Nav light?

On.

Radios.

Are set.

Morning.

American pro golfer
Payne Stewart is on his way

to Dallas with some close
business associates.

to Dallas with some close
business associates.

Known for his flamboyant
attire and remarkable swing,

Known for his flamboyant
attire and remarkable swing,

Stewart is one of the most
popular golfers on the tour.

He's just won the US Open, his
third major championship win.

He's just won the US Open, his
third major championship win.

Stewart flies
regularly on a Learjet,

Stewart flies
regularly on a Learjet,

a luxury aircraft
that was modeled

after a Swiss military plane.

after a Swiss military plane.

47 Bravo Alpha,
you are cleared for takeoff.

You ready?

You ready?

OK.

Here we go.

And take off thrust.

Captain Michael
Kling is a former Air Force

pilot and flight instructor.

pilot and flight instructor.

Gear 1.

First Officer Stephanie

Bellegarrigue has less
than 100 hours in the Lear.

Bellegarrigue has less
than 100 hours in the Lear.

She's keen to log
more flight time.

Rotate.

Rotate.

At 9:19 AM,
the Learjet lifts off.

Good morning, Jacksonville.

This is Learjet 47 Bravo Alpha
climbing to flight level 260.

This is Learjet 47 Bravo Alpha
climbing to flight level 260.

Good morning, 47 Bravo Alpha.

Climb and maintain
flight level 390.

Climb and maintain
flight level 390.

The controller
clears the jet to keep

climbing up to 39,000 feet.

climbing up to 39,000 feet.

The flight plan calls
for the airplane

to fly northwest towards Cross
City, Florida, then turn west

to fly northwest towards Cross
City, Florida, then turn west

and fly direct to Dallas.

The Learjet has
traveled 80 miles.

It's time to pass
control of the plane

It's time to pass
control of the plane

over to a new air
traffic controller.

47 Bravo Alpha, contact
Jack Center at 135 decimal 65.

47 Bravo Alpha, contact
Jack Center at 135 decimal 65.

The controller gives
the crew the new frequency.

The controller gives
the crew the new frequency.

Air traffic
control is a series

of what we call handoffs.

And that means that it's
time for him to cross

And that means that it's
time for him to cross

to somebody else's sector.

47 Bravo Alpha,
please acknowledge.

I didn't get an acknowledgment
for that frequency change.

So you give her a moment.

So you give her a moment.

47 Bravo Alpha, contact
Jack Center on 135 decimal 65.

47 Bravo Alpha, contact
Jack Center on 135 decimal 65.

There's only radio
silence from the Learjet.

There's only radio
silence from the Learjet.

What's up?

Is that Learjet.

It's not answering.

Maybe he's off frequency.

Maybe he's off frequency.

Let's see if it levels
off when it's supposed to.

Let's see if it levels
off when it's supposed to.

But when the aircraft
reaches its cruising altitude

of 39,000 feet...

of 39,000 feet...

They're still climbing.

Let me see their flight plan.

Let me see their flight plan.

They've got a turn
coming at Cross City.

Let's hope they
make that turn.

Let's hope they
make that turn.

The tension level was so
high you could hear a pin drop.

Damn it.

Damn it.

It's not
making the course correction.

There was something
terribly wrong.

There was something
terribly wrong.

This is Jacksonville Center.

This is Jacksonville Center.

I'm declaring an emergency.

Benzon here.

Benzon here.

Experts at the National

Transportation Safety
Board are notified

of the escalating emergency.

of the escalating emergency.

Once the aircraft had
gone rogue, so to speak,

the next step is to
try to figure out why.

the next step is to
try to figure out why.

To track down
the wayward Learjet,

To track down
the wayward Learjet,

controllers call
in F-16 fighters,

including pilot Kent Olsen.

including pilot Kent Olsen.

Is the crew incapacitated?

Is there something
wrong with the aircraft?

There's some reason why that
crew is not communicating

There's some reason why that
crew is not communicating

with air traffic control.

So our job is to go
up and find out why.

Meanwhile, the NTSB
recruits Learjet investigator

Meanwhile, the NTSB
recruits Learjet investigator

Jim Tidball to the team.

Where is it right now?

Where is it right now?

His first
task is to determine

how far the plane can get with
the amount of fuel on board.

how far the plane can get with
the amount of fuel on board.

When the airplane
didn't make its turn,

it continued on towards Memphis.

it continued on towards Memphis.

And after Memphis it was
headed towards Saint Louis.

If it went down in those areas
there'd be mass casualties.

If it went down in those areas
there'd be mass casualties.

If it doesn't
change course soon,

If it doesn't
change course soon,

the fighter Jets may be forced
to take drastic measures.

ATC kept giving the
team real time data

ATC kept giving the
team real time data

as to where the airplane was.

And calculating the fuel
burn at those altitudes,

And calculating the fuel
burn at those altitudes,

we could figure how
far it was going to go.

My best guess is South
Dakota, possibly North Dakota.

My best guess is South
Dakota, possibly North Dakota.

In the
air, the F-16 pilots

catch up with the rogue plane.

Can he see anything
in the cockpit?

The windows
of the aircraft

provide an ominous clue.

No movement, and the window

No movement, and the window

is covered in frost.

If the
people are conscious,

they'd be trying to scrape
away that condensation

they'd be trying to scrape
away that condensation

so they could see.

So if you see no attempt to
get rid of that condensation,

then your mind goes,
what's the condition

then your mind goes,
what's the condition

of the crew and the passengers
that are on board the aircraft.

The frosted over windscreen
and the darkened cockpit

The frosted over windscreen
and the darkened cockpit

and cabin indicated
that the crew

was probably no longer with us.

was probably no longer with us.

After nearly
four hours in the air,

After nearly
four hours in the air,

the Learjet approaches
Aberdeen, South Dakota.

According to calculations,
the jet is almost out of fuel.

They're going down.

They're going down.

They're going down.

The plane is
spiraling toward the ground.

Investigators have no
idea where it will crash.

Investigators have no
idea where it will crash.

All they can do is wait.

They're going down.

They're going down.

A Learjet
carrying pro golfer

Payne Stewart and
five other people

Payne Stewart and
five other people

is falling from the
sky over South Dakota.

Center, I've got a crash site.

The jet has
slammed into a hayfield

near Aberdeen, South Dakota.

near Aberdeen, South Dakota.

There are no survivors.

When NTSB investigators
arrive at the crash site,

they discover the aircraft
has completely disintegrated.

they discover the aircraft
has completely disintegrated.

When you've had a
vertical impact at high speed

and everything is
compressed and in pieces,

and everything is
compressed and in pieces,

you've got to dig all that out.

You've got to
identify what's where.

You've got nothing
but shards and scraps.

You've got nothing
but shards and scraps.

Remarkably, the Learjet's

only black box, the cockpit
voice recorder, is recovered.

only black box, the cockpit
voice recorder, is recovered.

I only hope we hear something
that tells us what went wrong.

I only hope we hear something
that tells us what went wrong.

It was sent back
immediately to the NTSB lab.

It was sent back
immediately to the NTSB lab.

And they did a fantastic job of
piecing this thing together and

getting data out of the CVR.

getting data out of the CVR.

OK.

Let's hear it.

As they
listen, investigators

As they
listen, investigators

make a disturbing discovery.

It was eerie.

It was eerie.

Because the airplane
is flying, and there

is no voice whatsoever.

But one sound
provides a vital clue.

That's the cabin
altitude warning.

We are definitely looking at
a loss of pressure accident.

The cabin
altitude alarm sounds when

The cabin
altitude alarm sounds when

the aircraft's cabin hasn't been
properly pressurized, meaning

the aircraft's cabin hasn't been
properly pressurized, meaning

the passengers and crew aren't
receiving enough oxygen.

The mystery now is
why did the Learjet

The mystery now is
why did the Learjet

lose vital cabin pressure.

Unfortunately, investigators have

limited evidence to work with.

limited evidence to work with.

The disintegrated
wreckage is a dead end,

and the Learjet is not equipped
with a flight data recorder.

and the Learjet is not equipped
with a flight data recorder.

Because of the chaotic nature

of airplane accidents, you don't
have a lot of clues sometimes.

of airplane accidents, you don't
have a lot of clues sometimes.

But that doesn't mean that
we stop investigating.

Set us to climb, please.

The team hopes
a flight simulation will

The team hopes
a flight simulation will

help determine what
happened on board

after the cabin lost pressure.

after the cabin lost pressure.

There goes the cabin
altitude warning.

Start the clock.

Emergency checklist.

Emergency checklist.

Got it?

I think all of us

sort of had in our
heads the checklist

we'll have once you hear
the altitude warning horn.

we'll have once you hear
the altitude warning horn.

That you're going to
put your oxygen mask on

is the first and
immediate action item.

is the first and
immediate action item.

Benzon scans the
same emergency checklist that

was used by the Learjet pilots.

was used by the Learjet pilots.

At 10,000 plus
or minus 500 feet,

cabin altitude control
pressure to the outflow valve

is trapped.

is trapped.

It leads him to
an astonishing discovery.

We were surprised.

Because it implied
pretty strongly

Because it implied
pretty strongly

that you need to troubleshoot
a pressurization problem.

First step should have
been don oxygen masks.

First step should have
been don oxygen masks.

The oxygen
mask instruction

is much further down the list.

is much further down the list.

You've got maybe four or five
seconds worth of actual oxygen

You've got maybe four or five
seconds worth of actual oxygen

in your brain, and then
another 12 to 15 seconds

in your circulation.

Once all that is
gone, things are

Once all that is
gone, things are

going to go very horribly awry
for you very, very quickly.

Investigators finally have

a theory about what may have
happened on board the Learjet.

a theory about what may have
happened on board the Learjet.

Everything is fine,
then something causes

the plane to lose pressure.

the plane to lose pressure.

We've got a cabin
altitude warning.

Emergency checklist.

Emergency checklist.

Uh...

They reach for their checklist
and start to troubleshoot.

They reach for their checklist
and start to troubleshoot.

What does the checklist say?

At 10,000 plus
or minus 500 feet,

At 10,000 plus
or minus 500 feet,

cabin altitude control
pressure to the outflow valve

is trapped.

They picked up a checklist,
read it, were confused by it,

They picked up a checklist,
read it, were confused by it,

and the oxygen mask were
sitting there unused.

After 15
seconds without oxygen,

the crew would be
confused and disoriented.

the crew would be
confused and disoriented.

Uh, read that again.

Before they can
solve the problem,

Before they can
solve the problem,

the crew loses consciousness.

The Lear
checklist, in a sense,

The Lear
checklist, in a sense,

could lead a crew astray.

Without those masks on,
they wouldn't stand a chance.

Investigators are never

able to determine
conclusively what caused

the plane to lose pressure.

The decompression
could have been caused

by a leaky seal on a door,
a small leak about the size

by a leaky seal on a door,
a small leak about the size

of a pencil in the
side of the aircraft,

a malfunction within the system.

a malfunction within the system.

So we don't know.

But whatever the reason,

the crew would
likely have recovered

the crew would
likely have recovered

if they had put their masks on.

The NTSB, in its report,
ultimately concluded that had

The NTSB, in its report,
ultimately concluded that had

they received oxygen in a
timely manner it's likely

that we would not be talking
about this particular accident

that we would not be talking
about this particular accident

today.

We've got a cabin
altitude warning.

Emergency checklist.

Emergency checklist.

Following the investigation,

the NTSB recommends important
changes to aviation checklists.

the NTSB recommends important
changes to aviation checklists.

We asked very strongly
that that checklist that we

suspected got the
crew in trouble

suspected got the
crew in trouble

be changed to make
it clearer and more

useful in an emergency.

useful in an emergency.

The Federal
Aviation Administration

is quick to respond.

Don oxygen masks is now the
first item on the checklist,

Don oxygen masks is now the
first item on the checklist,

not just for Learjets, but for
every similar plane in the sky.

not just for Learjets, but for
every similar plane in the sky.

When we look at the
accidents involving

no radio communication, there's
a lot of questions to be asked.

no radio communication, there's
a lot of questions to be asked.

Radio silence between pilots
and air traffic controllers

can mean many different things.

can mean many different things.

But only the physical evidence
can tell the real story.