All language subtitles for Air.Disasters.S20E14.1080p.PMTP.WEB-DL.DDP5.1.H.264-BLOOM_track3_[eng]

A passenger plane
is completely obliterated

in the California hills.

in the California hills.

It would have been a
horrifying experience.

A 747 vanishes
over the Atlantic.

A 747 vanishes
over the Atlantic.

747s do not fall
out of the sky.

Fire erupts
during a landing in Taiwan.

Fire erupts
during a landing in Taiwan.

What the hell?

Mayday, mayday, mayday!

Mayday, mayday, mayday!

Three accidents all
linked to lapses in security.

Three accidents all
linked to lapses in security.

When the system fails.

What's the problem?

What's the problem?

I'm the problem.

A routine flight
can turn into a tragedy.

The most basic rule

of security, which is
every person, every time,

of security, which is
every person, every time,

every flight matters
every single time.

every flight matters
every single time.

Ladies and gentlemen,
we are starting our approach.

We lost both engines.

Put the
masks over your nose.

Emergency descent.

Emergency descent.

Mayday, mayday, mayday!

Brace for impact.

Los Angeles
International Airport, one

of the busiest in the world.

of the busiest in the world.

At Terminal 1,
passengers and crew

taking a flight to San
Francisco are making

taking a flight to San
Francisco are making

their way through security.

They board Pacific Southwest
Airlines Flight 1771.

They board Pacific Southwest
Airlines Flight 1771.

They board Pacific Southwest
Airlines Flight 1771.

If you set me up with a
Scotch on your way back.

Among the 38 passengers

are several PSA employees.

are several PSA employees.

It's very common
for airline employees

to commute between
cities for work.

to commute between
cities for work.

And so people would
take a bus to work,

many airline employees
take a plane to work.

many airline employees
take a plane to work.

Captain Gregg
Lindamood has been

flying with PSA for 14 years.

flying with PSA for 14 years.

Brakes.

Brakes set.

Flaps up.

Spoilers retracted.

Spoilers retracted.

First Officer
James Nunn joined the airline

only the previous spring.

only the previous spring.

He's logged thousands
of hours in the cockpit.

Thrust levers.

Today, they're
piloting a British-built BAe

146 Commuter Jet.

146 Commuter Jet.

The flight to San Francisco
will take just over an hour.

The flight to San Francisco
will take just over an hour.

Can you ask him how it's been?

About halfway
through the flight,

About halfway
through the flight,

Captain Lindamood worries
about some mild turbulence.

Center, PSA 1771.

Center, PSA 1771.

Any reports on the ride ahead?

We've had a little
continuous light chop.

We've had a little
continuous light chop.

PSA, this is
Rocky Mountain Center.

It's not too bad.

My God!

That was a gun.

Yeah.

Squawk 77, Squawk
77, we've had a gun

Squawk 77, Squawk
77, we've had a gun

fired on board the aircraft.

Moments later, Flight
1771 plunges into a steep dive.

Moments later, Flight
1771 plunges into a steep dive.

Moments later, Flight
1771 plunges into a steep dive.

Moments later, Flight
1771 plunges into a steep dive.

Moments later, Flight
1771 plunges into a steep dive.

Police find the crash site 175
miles northwest of Los Angeles.

Police find the crash site 175
miles northwest of Los Angeles.

Almost nothing remains of
the 30-ton passenger jet.

This is one of the
worst air disasters

This is one of the
worst air disasters

in California's history.

There were no
wings, there were no fuselage,

There were no
wings, there were no fuselage,

there was no...

there was no tail section,
there were no aircraft seats.

there was no tail section,
there were no aircraft seats.

There was just papers.

Papers everywhere.

And the strong smell
of aviation fuel.

And the strong smell
of aviation fuel.

And the strong smell
of aviation fuel.

We're making a frantic search
throughout this remote cow

We're making a frantic search
throughout this remote cow

pasture looking for
survivors, and we can't even

find deceased human
beings, much less

find deceased human
beings, much less

human beings that had survived.

43 people died
on board Flight 1771.

43 people died
on board Flight 1771.

Come on up here, guys.

Come on up here, guys.

Investigators from the National

Transportation Safety Board and
the FBI are soon on the scene.

Transportation Safety Board and
the FBI are soon on the scene.

Have you ever seen
anything like this?

When the aircraft hit
at such a high speed,

When the aircraft hit
at such a high speed,

it impacted and
basically compressed

the earth, and then...

the earth, and then...

and then it released
and it blew everything

back out of the hole.

back out of the hole.

With a total destruction
of the aircraft, I mean,

you had limited
amounts of information

that you could gather
from the wreckage.

that you could gather
from the wreckage.

But this is not
only an accident site,

it's also a potential
crime scene.

it's also a potential
crime scene.

We knew
that gunshots had been heard

by the air traffic controllers.

Squawk 77, squawk 77,

we've had a gun fired
on board the aircraft.

If the reports of
gunshots were accurate,

If the reports of
gunshots were accurate,

then I realized
immediately that we

had crime aboard an aircraft.

But perhaps the pilots
and controllers were mistaken.

But perhaps the pilots
and controllers were mistaken.

It's up to the NTSB
to determine exactly

what happened on Flight 1771.

what happened on Flight 1771.

You try to arrive on scene
with a totally objective view

of what's going on.

of what's going on.

The FBI is searching
for evidence of a crime.

The NTSB for clues
about the crash.

The NTSB for clues
about the crash.

If they can recover the black
boxes, they may find both.

That's about the first thing
you do when you get on scene,

That's about the first thing
you do when you get on scene,

you find the cockpit
voice recorder.

You can't overemphasize
how important that was,

in this case because we had
no airframe left to work with

in this case because we had
no airframe left to work with

and we really had no wreckage
in the normal sense of the word.

and we really had no wreckage
in the normal sense of the word.

After hours of searching

through the shattered remains,
the effort finally pays off.

They find the plane's
two black boxes.

They find the plane's
two black boxes.

At the NTSB laboratory
in Washington,

At the NTSB laboratory
in Washington,

Dennis Grossi examines Flight
1771's badly damaged CVR.

Dennis Grossi examines Flight
1771's badly damaged CVR.

The case
itself was basically crushed.

It was bent in like somebody
grabbed it and pushed it

It was bent in like somebody
grabbed it and pushed it

together like that.

And this is hardened steel,
and we assess the impact forces

And this is hardened steel,
and we assess the impact forces

around 5,000 Gs.

around 5,000 Gs.

Dennis Grossi knows
the immense impact may have

ruined any chance of hearing
the last words from the cockpit

ruined any chance of hearing
the last words from the cockpit

of Flight 1771.

of Flight 1771.

All right.

Let's give it a listen.

Despite suffering
huge impact forces,

Despite suffering
huge impact forces,

the audiotape is still intact.

Flaps up.

Flaps up.

Spoilers retracted.

The first 28 minutes
of the flight sound routine.

The first 28 minutes
of the flight sound routine.

We hear the flight
crew talk, you know,

do their normal procedures.

do their normal procedures.

But in the
final two minutes,

events take a chilling turn.

events take a chilling turn.

Sure sounds like a gunshot.

And then all of a sudden,
they hear and we hear

And then all of a sudden,
they hear and we hear

on the recording this gunshot.

The tape
confirms what the pilots

had reported... two gunshots.

had reported... two gunshots.

My God!

GREGG LINDAMOOD (ON
RADIO): That was a gun.

JAMES NUNN (ON
RADIO): Yeah, I know.

JAMES NUNN (ON
RADIO): Yeah, I know.

It was actually a
very sobering moment

because we realized
that we were listening

to a very routine
flight that suddenly

to a very routine
flight that suddenly

became anything but routine.

The door to the
cockpit was heard open,

and a female voice, presumably
the flight attendant,

and a female voice, presumably
the flight attendant,

was heard to say in a voice
that was filled with alarm.

There's a problem, captain!

And we heard a voice, a
male voice, which we presumed

to be the captain saying...

What's the problem?

What's the problem?

I'm the problem.

Investigators now
know that an unidentified male

Investigators now
know that an unidentified male

shot the flight crew.

shot the flight crew.

It's
always startling when

you hear something like that.

When you hear the
commission of a murder.

When you hear the
commission of a murder.

That's five shots so far.

And then we could

hear the cockpit door shut
again and another final shot,

hear the cockpit door shut
again and another final shot,

the sixth shot.

the sixth shot.

Before the tape ends, they

hear one last ominous sound.

Within about five seconds,

Within about five seconds,

we picked up what's called
a windscreen noise...

in other words, you could
tell that the aircraft

in other words, you could
tell that the aircraft

was accelerating.

The plane's in a dive.

The plane's in a dive.

The engines are revving.

65 seconds
after the murder

of its crew, Flight 1771 smashes
into the California hills.

of its crew, Flight 1771 smashes
into the California hills.

It helped
us to understand what we were

It helped
us to understand what we were

investigating the
heinousness of the crime

that we are investigating.

that we are investigating.

It just confirms
that this wasn't an accident,

It just confirms
that this wasn't an accident,

that it was, in fact,
a crime, and the FBI

would be taking over the
investigation from here on out.

would be taking over the
investigation from here on out.

The FBI
must find out who

was responsible for
this mass murder.

was responsible for
this mass murder.

It's
establishing who had motive,

establishing who had
access, establishing

establishing who had
access, establishing

who was the intended victim.

Somehow, someone managed
to get a gun on that plane.

Somehow, someone managed
to get a gun on that plane.

A weapon was smuggled
through LAX, one of the world's

busiest airports.

Let's find out how that guy
got on the plane, all right?

Let's find out how that guy
got on the plane, all right?

If the FBI can't
find the hole in security,

more lives could be at risk.

This investigators
are still combing

through the wreckage of Pacific
Southwest Airlines Flight 1771.

through the wreckage of Pacific
Southwest Airlines Flight 1771.

They're looking for an
uncommon piece of evidence

at a crash site...

at a crash site...

a murder weapon.

That's a hydraulic line,
probably from the main gear.

The FBI, bear in mind,

The FBI, bear in mind,

knows how to investigate crime.

They don't necessarily
know how to investigate

an aircraft accident.

So we... we would go
ahead and do our normal

So we... we would go
ahead and do our normal

investigative procedures
and make that information

available to the FBI.

Finding the weapon could

help the FBI identify who fired
shots on board Flight 1771.

help the FBI identify who fired
shots on board Flight 1771.

We weren't sure that that we
would succeed because the field

We weren't sure that that we
would succeed because the field

of debris was so wide and the
impact had reduced the airplane

of debris was so wide and the
impact had reduced the airplane

to so many small pieces.

We were very, very fortunate,
when we found the gun.

It was an unbelievable
stroke of luck.

It was an unbelievable
stroke of luck.

It's a .44 Magnum.

The shattered pistol leads
to a morbid discovery.

The shattered pistol leads
to a morbid discovery.

When we found
what was left of the gun,

there was a portion of the
finger between the trigger

there was a portion of the
finger between the trigger

and the trigger guard.

That went back to the FBI
Lab in Quantico, Virginia.

That went back to the FBI
Lab in Quantico, Virginia.

The FBI
has a weapon, a crime

The FBI
has a weapon, a crime

scene, and 42 murder victims.

What they don't
have is the identity

What they don't
have is the identity

of the 43rd person on board...

the killer.

the killer.

And the way he smuggled
a gun onto Flight 1771.

And the way he smuggled
a gun onto Flight 1771.

The FBI soon uncovers a gaping
hole in the security system

at Los Angeles
International Airport.

at Los Angeles
International Airport.

What they had set up
is a bypass for a crew

members and airport employees.

members and airport employees.

You would show
your badge and they

would allow you to
bypass both the metal

detector and the X-ray unit.

detector and the X-ray unit.

It was a big loophole.

Is it
possible that the killer

was an airline employee?

was an airline employee?

Using the passenger
manifest, investigators

identify four male
employees who worked

identify four male
employees who worked

for either Pacific Southwest
or its parent airline, US Air.

Forensic specialists
lift a fingerprint

Forensic specialists
lift a fingerprint

from the piece of skin
found in the trigger guard.

They compare it to prints
of employees on the flight

They compare it to prints
of employees on the flight

and find a match.

The killer is identified
as David Burke.

The killer is identified
as David Burke.

David Burke,
he was one of those employees

who would go in after
he landed and help

to clean up the inside.

to clean up the inside.

Investigators now know
David Burke smuggled a gun on

board, but they don't know why.

board, but they don't know why.

A motive
gives you understanding.

It helps to develop the
full mosaic of the crime.

It helps to develop the
full mosaic of the crime.

At the
crash site, a clue

At the
crash site, a clue

is found in the
midst of the papers

that scattered after impact.

All of the
paper on the aircraft, any...

any of the insulation
material on the aircraft, all

any of the insulation
material on the aircraft, all

that light stuff got
blown up into the air

and then the wind carried
it for, I believe, miles.

and then the wind carried
it for, I believe, miles.

Investigators come across a note scribbled

on an air sickness bag.

on an air sickness bag.

The handwriting is a
match to David Burke's.

Hi, Ray.

Hi, Ray.

I think it's sort of ironical
that we end up like this.

I asked for some leniency
for my family, remember?

I asked for some leniency
for my family, remember?

Well, I got none,
and you'll get none.

The "Ray" in the
note is identified as airline

The "Ray" in the
note is identified as airline

station manager Ray Thompson.

He was David Burke's boss.

Three weeks before
the crash, Burke

was fired from the
company after being

caught on tape stealing from
the in-flight bar proceeds.

caught on tape stealing from
the in-flight bar proceeds.

He then came
back for an appeal hearing

He then came
back for an appeal hearing

on the day of the flight.

I've reviewed your file.

He was terminated
by Ray Thompson.

He was terminated
by Ray Thompson.

Your appeal, it's been denied.

That termination
interview was...

was not a placid one.

was not a placid one.

Thank you.

Very much.

That same day, Burke
buys a ticket for Flight 1771,

That same day, Burke
buys a ticket for Flight 1771,

a flight he knew Ray
Thompson would be on.

Ray Thompson lived
in San Francisco,

Ray Thompson lived
in San Francisco,

and he flew regularly
on that flight

to return to San Francisco
at the end of the day.

to return to San Francisco
at the end of the day.

It was common knowledge
among the employees

that Ray Thompson would
be on that flight.

that Ray Thompson would
be on that flight.

Exploiting the employee bypass,

Burke goes through security
without being scanned

Burke goes through security
without being scanned

carrying his .44 Magnum.

Ray!

Ray Thompson probably has
the most merciful of all

the deaths on that plane.

the deaths on that plane.

There's
a problem, captain!

What's the problem?

I'm the problem.

Burke takes his
own life, plus the lives

Burke takes his
own life, plus the lives

of everyone on board.

The tragedy of Flight
1771 compelled the Federal

The tragedy of Flight
1771 compelled the Federal

Aviation Administration
to take urgent measures

to tighten security.

to tighten security.

The FAA came out and
canceled the bypass authority,

The FAA came out and
canceled the bypass authority,

so therefore, air
crews and employees

would have to go through
the normal screening

would have to go through
the normal screening

as any passenger would.

Now it's... it's required
that any employee that leaves

Now it's... it's required
that any employee that leaves

an airline, whether
they've been fired or quit

or retire or whatever,
must turn their credentials

or retire or whatever,
must turn their credentials

in immediately.

Getting on an aircraft with
a gun now, won't say that

it's impossible, but it's...

it's next to impossible.

it's next to impossible.

All of these measures
have made flying safer,

but nothing can completely
eliminate the risk

but nothing can completely
eliminate the risk

of another David Burke.

One of the things that
sometimes is difficult

for those of us in the industry
to deal with when we have to go

through security, for instance,
and do absolutely the same

thing that everybody else
does... wait a minute,

thing that everybody else
does... wait a minute,

don't you recognize who I am?

I'm the pilot.

No.

We need 100%.

We need 100%.

If we put a barrier
up, the barrier is only

as good as it is consistent.

And that's true whether
we've trained our...

And that's true whether
we've trained our...

our people at the front counter
to never do certain things

or accept certain things
or whether we're talking

or accept certain things
or whether we're talking

about what gets past
the entrance to the gate

and on an airplane.

Air India Flight 182
flies across the Atlantic six

miles above the ocean surface.

miles above the ocean surface.

On its way from Canada, the
747 is heading to London,

and then continuing
to New Delhi.

and then continuing
to New Delhi.

Captain Hanse Singh Narendra
is a veteran Air India pilot.

Captain Hanse Singh Narendra
is a veteran Air India pilot.

Satwinder Bhinder
serves as first officer.

There are 329 people on board,
including passengers and crew.

Six minutes after
8:00 in the morning,

First Officer Bhinder makes
radio contact with air

First Officer Bhinder makes
radio contact with air

traffic control in Ireland.

Shannon, Air India
182, good morning.

Station Collins Shannon,
go ahead again, please.

Station Collins Shannon,
go ahead again, please.

Air India 182 is 5-1 north,
1-5 west at level 3-1-0.

Air India 182 is 5-1 north,
1-5 west at level 3-1-0.

Estimate FIR at 0735.

Estimate FIR at 0735.

Air India
182, Shannon, roger.

Cleared for landing.

Cleared for landing.

Flight level 3-1-0.

Air India Flight 182
is flying below two planes,

Air India Flight 182
is flying below two planes,

causing their three signals to
momentarily converge on radar.

But when they diverge, only
two planes are visible.

But when they diverge, only
two planes are visible.

Air India 182 is no
longer on the screens

Air India 182 is no
longer on the screens

at air traffic control.

Air India is not showing up.

Air India is not showing up.

Hold on a minute Air
India 182, this is Shannon,

Hold on a minute Air
India 182, this is Shannon,

do you read, over?

Yes, it's Michael
Quinn at Shannon.

Yes, it's Michael
Quinn at Shannon.

We have a plane off-radar.

Shannon air traffic control

Shannon air traffic control

alerts search and rescue teams.

A 747 carrying 329 people
vanishes into thin air.

A 747 carrying 329 people
vanishes into thin air.

Air India flight 182 disappears
off the coast of Ireland.

Air India flight 182 disappears
off the coast of Ireland.

We have a plane off-radar.

Several ships in the area

keep watch for any signs
of the missing 747.

keep watch for any signs
of the missing 747.

Its last known position
is approximately

180 miles Southwest of Cork.

180 miles Southwest of Cork.

Two hours after the
plane disappears,

Two hours after the
plane disappears,

a passing cargo ship
confirms the worst.

Floating wreckage is spotted.

Floating wreckage is spotted.

Then, bodies.

Then, bodies.

It becomes clear that all 329
people on board have died.

Most of the wreckage,
including the black boxes,

has sunk to the
bottom of the Atlantic

over an area spanning
60 square miles.

over an area spanning
60 square miles.

What caused the 747 to fall out
of the sky over the Atlantic?

What caused the 747 to fall out
of the sky over the Atlantic?

Could it have been a
bomb or some other kind

Could it have been a
bomb or some other kind

of catastrophic mishap?

The search for the
black boxes was urgent and...

The search for the
black boxes was urgent and...

and three countries
participated in it.

England, Ireland, and India.

England, Ireland, and India.

It takes two
weeks for searchers

to detect the radio
beacon emitted

by the plane's black boxes.

by the plane's black boxes.

They lie more than 6,500
feet below the surface.

They lie more than 6,500
feet below the surface.

On the fourth attempt
to retrieve them,

a deep sea submersible
salvages the recorders.

a deep sea submersible
salvages the recorders.

SATWINDER BHINDER (ON
RADIO): Estimate FIR at 0735.

Air India 182, Shannon, roger.

Air India 182, Shannon, roger.

Cleared for landing.

Both the
flight data and cockpit

voice recorders paint a
picture of a routine flight.

voice recorders paint a
picture of a routine flight.

The cockpit
voice recorder

indicated that there was no
abnormality in the cockpit,

indicated that there was no
abnormality in the cockpit,

no...

no emergency every
conversation was normal.

no emergency every
conversation was normal.

Customs?

Yeah.

Customs sealed two... sealed
the bar before its arrival.

The cockpit
voice recorder

cuts off at exactly 14
minutes and one second

cuts off at exactly 14
minutes and one second

after 8:00 in the morning.

Khola checks the
flight data recorder

Khola checks the
flight data recorder

and finds the same story,
a perfectly normal flight

until the FDR loses power
at, again, 14 minutes

until the FDR loses power
at, again, 14 minutes

after 8:00 in the morning.

Khola turns to the recovered
wreckage for more clues.

Khola turns to the recovered
wreckage for more clues.

When he examines the floor
of the front cargo bay,

he notices something unusual.

he notices something unusual.

We found
that it had holes which

are of a very special nature.

Penetration from inside to
outside at a very high speed.

Penetration from inside to
outside at a very high speed.

Similar holes
are found in the sidewall

of the cargo bay.

of the cargo bay.

These also appear to have been
blown out from the cargo hold.

The clues point to what
took down Flight 182...

a bomb.

- PETER ST. - And so
when the bomb went off,

- PETER ST. - And so
when the bomb went off,

the explosion would have taken
out the computers completely,

and there would have been
absolutely dead silence,

and there would have been
absolutely dead silence,

and that's precisely
what happened.

How did a bomb
get on board Flight 182?

How did a bomb
get on board Flight 182?

Police and crash
investigators in Canada

Police and crash
investigators in Canada

scour the passenger
list for clues.

Air India Flight 182
originated in Toronto,

but many passengers had
connected via another flight

but many passengers had
connected via another flight

from Vancouver.

Canadian investigators
make a breakthrough

Canadian investigators
make a breakthrough

when they interview a check-in
agent at Vancouver Airport.

She tells them about
a difficult passenger

She tells them about
a difficult passenger

who wanted to get on the
Air India Flight in Toronto.

You're going to Toronto?

And I want my bag
checked through to Delhi.

Sir, I can't do that.

Sir, I can't do that.

Your reservation is only
confirmed to Toronto.

This true?

The passenger
insisted his bag be checked

all the way through to India.

all the way through to India.

Then I have to pick up my bag.

I can't check your
bags through to India

if you are not confirmed.

if you are not confirmed.

The passenger
got belligerent.

I can't...

The ticket agent
was facing a long line

of people waiting to check in.

of people waiting to check in.

Oh... OK, OK, OK.

I'll check it through, but you
have to check with Air India

I'll check it through, but you
have to check with Air India

when you get to Toronto.

The man's
luggage was loaded,

but he never boarded the
plane bound for Toronto.

but he never boarded the
plane bound for Toronto.

The ticket
identified him as M. Singh.

The ticket
identified him as M. Singh.

It simply had an initial,
but no full name.

We believe that name to be...

We believe that name to be...

was fictitious,
and that the person

never intended to travel.

- PETER ST. - She
broke the rules.

As they were, she should not
have allowed that to go through

As they were, she should not
have allowed that to go through

for New Delhi interline.

But she was so bullied and
so browbeaten by Mr. Singh

But she was so bullied and
so browbeaten by Mr. Singh

in front of everybody
else that I think,

to her eternal sadness and
heartbreak, she gave in.

to her eternal sadness and
heartbreak, she gave in.

Singh's suitcase
didn't raise any red flags when

Singh's suitcase
didn't raise any red flags when

it was loaded onto the
domestic flight from Vancouver

to Toronto.

to Toronto.

But after the bag
arrived in Toronto,

it faced stricter inspections
for the international flight

it faced stricter inspections
for the international flight

to India.

Why wasn't the
bag flagged there?

Why wasn't the
bag flagged there?

When investigators talked
to security agents,

they learn that
the X-ray machine,

they learn that
the X-ray machine,

which normally scans
every piece of luggage,

broke down that day.

broke down that day.

- PETER ST. - The technology,
especially the X-ray

technology, were very, very
weak, very in their infancy

technology, were very, very
weak, very in their infancy

at that time, and it
didn't work reliably.

at that time, and it
didn't work reliably.

And in the case of
the Air India episode,

the technology went
quite badly wrong.

the technology went
quite badly wrong.

This is what it
will sound like.

This is what it
will sound like.

Instead of
the X-ray machines,

security workers
used a portable wand

security workers
used a portable wand

that triggers an alarm if it
detects explosive chemicals.

But the agents had little
experience using it.

But the agents had little
experience using it.

Still, everything seemed
normal until security

Still, everything seemed
normal until security

got to Singh's bag.

This would be the last in
a series of security lapses

This would be the last in
a series of security lapses

that resulted in the
deaths of 329 people.

At Lester B. Pearson
Airport in Toronto,

a suitcase arrives
from Vancouver.

a suitcase arrives
from Vancouver.

It triggers a portable
explosives wand,

but the sound differs
from the one agents

but the sound differs
from the one agents

were told would indicate
the presence of explosives.

The suitcase is eventually
placed at the front of the jet.

The suitcase is eventually
placed at the front of the jet.

And the passenger who
checked in the bag

And the passenger who
checked in the bag

doesn't board the plane.

Then, as Air India Flight
182 soars over the Atlantic.

Then, as Air India Flight
182 soars over the Atlantic.

Then what about
30 custom seats?

Customs?

Customs?

Yeah, customs...

Most of the dead
are Canadian citizens.

Most of the dead
are Canadian citizens.

This is the largest
terrorist attack and mass

murder in Canadian history.

Police eventually traced the
bombing to Sikh extremists

Police eventually traced the
bombing to Sikh extremists

living in British Columbia.

One confesses to assembling
the bomb and is sent to prison.

One confesses to assembling
the bomb and is sent to prison.

While the suspected
mastermind is

While the suspected
mastermind is

killed several years
later in India.

After investigators discover
the security lapses that allowed

After investigators discover
the security lapses that allowed

the bomb on board Flight
182, luggage screening

the bomb on board Flight
182, luggage screening

at most international
airports is overhauled.

- PETER ST. - In
the case of Air India,

the most important thing
of all was passenger

the most important thing
of all was passenger

baggage reconciliation.

No plane leaves with
baggage unattached

No plane leaves with
baggage unattached

to a specific passenger
inside that plane.

Someone made
an exception or someone

failed to follow
the rule thinking

it won't matter this one time.

it won't matter this one time.

It always does.

The rules are there
for a purpose.

The rules are there
for a purpose.

And about the time
someone decides

they can skip them, even once,
is when a tragedy happens.

Hualien Tower, good afternoon.

Hualien Tower, good afternoon.

Uni Air 873.

Visual approach 15 miles out.

Visual approach 15 miles out.

Uni Air
Flight 873 is nearing

Hualien Airport in Taiwan.

Hualien Airport in Taiwan.

Uni Air 873,
continue approach.

Report at 5 miles out.

Report at 5 miles out.

The first
officer is flying

under the watchful eye of
the more experienced captain.

under the watchful eye of
the more experienced captain.

They've been in the air
for only 20 minutes,

They've been in the air
for only 20 minutes,

traveling south, hugging
the coastline from Taipei

to Hualien.

It was what
you'd call a puddle jumper.

It was what
you'd call a puddle jumper.

It was a short flight.

You don't expect
anything to happen.

Right on
schedule, the crew

prepares to land the MD-90.

prepares to land the MD-90.

But as they close
in, the first officer

struggles with the landing.

struggles with the landing.

Too high.

Too high.

You are sinking too fast.

I have control.

The captain
takes over the controls.

The captain
takes over the controls.

You have control.

The plane touches
down with ample runway to stop.

The plane touches
down with ample runway to stop.

You start
rolling and it all irons out.

So you're on the ground
and you start to relax.

So you're on the ground
and you start to relax.

But as
the plane slows.

What the hell?

Fire breaks out.

Passengers panic.

Mayday, mayday, mayday!

Mayday, mayday, mayday!

It's suddenly
a fight for survival

on board Flight 873.

on board Flight 873.

on board Flight 873.

Panic is as dangerous
as the fire.

Panic is as dangerous
as the fire.

You can't
expect any passenger

to sit-in his seat and
wait for an evacuation.

to sit-in his seat and
wait for an evacuation.

Evacuate, evacuate, evacuate!

Fire is
consuming the passenger

Fire is
consuming the passenger

cabin with terrifying speed.

The 90 passengers
and six crew members

have only seconds to escape.

Next!

Come on!

It takes
more than an hour

to contain the massive fire.

to contain the massive fire.

28 people are hospitalized.

Many suffering
from serious burns.

Many suffering
from serious burns.

One passenger will die
in the hospital later.

How did fire break
out during what

seemed like a routine landing?

seemed like a routine landing?

Taiwan's Aviation Safety
Council must figure

Taiwan's Aviation Safety
Council must figure

out what caused so
much destruction

and threatened so many lives.

I got a call and
said there was a major accident

I got a call and
said there was a major accident

happened in Hualien.

happened in Hualien.

I immediately rushed
back to Taiwan.

Investigators from
the United States National

Investigators from
the United States National

Transportation Safety
Board and the Federal

Aviation Administration arrived
to assist in the investigation.

Aviation Administration arrived
to assist in the investigation.

We've seen
lots of in-flight fires.

We've seen crashing
into things on landing.

We've seen crashing
into things on landing.

I had never seen one where
they had some kind of fire

erupt after the aircraft
got on the ground.

erupt after the aircraft
got on the ground.

Very unusual.

OK.

Let's see if the tape
can tell us anything.

Investigators turn
to the black boxes for clues.

Investigators turn
to the black boxes for clues.

Too high.

He was
thinking too fast.

I have control.

The plane gets on
the ground without incident.

So far, so good.

So far, so good.

You could
hear the thrust reversers,

you could hear the
speed brakes come up,

you could hear everything from
the cockpit as being normal.

you could hear everything from
the cockpit as being normal.

We could pretty much

rule out the flight crew having
anything to do with this.

rule out the flight crew having
anything to do with this.

The first they knew
something was different

was when they heard that sound.

What the hell?

It came right out of the blue.

Right away, you
thought, it must be a bomb.

Right away, you
thought, it must be a bomb.

Explosives expert Ed Kittell is

part of the investigation team.

part of the investigation team.

There's
a lot of pressure

on a post-blast investigator
to solve the case quickly.

on a post-blast investigator
to solve the case quickly.

It could have been a
bombing and we just weren't

sure what we were looking at.

Kittell identifies
a likely detonation

point, the burned-out
overhead bin above row 8.

point, the burned-out
overhead bin above row 8.

But instead of finding the holes
typical of a bomb explosion,

But instead of finding the holes
typical of a bomb explosion,

he finds the aircraft's
skin ripped open

along the rivet lines that
join sections of the fuselage

along the rivet lines that
join sections of the fuselage

together.

The effects were more of a

The effects were more of a

pushing and heaving
than a shattering

in a really high-pressure,
high-explosive event.

in a really high-pressure,
high-explosive event.

Kittell concludes it wasn't

Kittell concludes it wasn't

a bomb that caused the damage.

But if not a bomb, then what
was the source of the explosion?

But if not a bomb, then what
was the source of the explosion?

Let's check the rows
near the blast area first.

Let's check the rows
near the blast area first.

We had no idea
what we were looking for.

We had no idea
what we were looking for.

You just look for anything
that's just a little bit

different from something else.

different from something else.

On the far
side, underneath seat 7C,

he spots something unusual.

he spots something unusual.

It looked like a
bottle or a jug of some sort.

It looked like it had
been ripped apart.

It looked like it had
been ripped apart.

It turned out, it was the
top third of a bottle.

I've found something.

You could smell
gasoline instantly.

Not kerosene or the fuel
that is used in a jet engine.

Not kerosene or the fuel
that is used in a jet engine.

It smells like gasoline.

It smells like gasoline.

What is this doing
on this airplane?

Gasoline is prohibited
from any kind of airplane.

Gasoline is prohibited
from any kind of airplane.

Could this be the
source of the explosion?

Investigators order
up a chemical analysis

of the fragment.

The piece is soon
identified as coming

from a bottle of a common
brand of laundry bleach.

from a bottle of a common
brand of laundry bleach.

But lab results confirm that
it wasn't bleach in the bottle.

But lab results confirm that
it wasn't bleach in the bottle.

No question about
it, it's gasoline.

Everybody sort
of say, well, bingo,

Everybody sort
of say, well, bingo,

we found the golden nugget.

The discovery
only raises more questions.

The discovery
only raises more questions.

How did someone get gasoline
on board an airplane?

And how did it ignite?

Investigators need to find out
how a small bottle of gasoline

ended up on Uni Air Flight 873.

ended up on Uni Air Flight 873.

This could take a while.

We're
looking for things

that are beyond the normal.

We're looking for
suspicious behavior.

We're looking for
suspicious behavior.

We're looking for items that are
singled out by the screeners.

We're looking for items that are
singled out by the screeners.

We're looking for
something that's not right.

Look at this.

Look at this.

A security guard
has pulled over a passenger

to inspect his bag.

to inspect his bag.

There were two bottles that we
can't quite tell what they are.

Let's see if we
can get any closer.

Could one of these be
the bottle containing gasoline?

Could one of these be
the bottle containing gasoline?

Sure it looks like a match.

It turns out, the
two bottles are identical

It turns out, the
two bottles are identical

and are the same brand
of bleach as the fragment

found on the plane.

The guard just put them back.

The security person
then looked at the contents

The security person
then looked at the contents

and read the contents,
did not remove the cap,

did not smell it, but gave
it back and put it back down.

did not smell it, but gave
it back and put it back down.

Investigators now question the security

inspector to find out more.

inspector to find out more.

Why did you let the
bleach bottles through?

Why didn't you
open them to check?

The bottles had bleach,
he said it was bleach.

The bottles had bleach,
he said it was bleach.

That time, there was a
procedure that whenever there

That time, there was a
procedure that whenever there

is a bottle, the inspector
shall open the bottle

and smell it to make sure
it's not a hazardous material.

and smell it to make sure
it's not a hazardous material.

We're opening the family
cabin, needed to clean.

Oh.

OK.

He did not
actually open the cap

and smell it and just let it go.

Can you tell me anything
about the passenger

Can you tell me anything
about the passenger

carrying the bleach bottles?

Sure.

I recognized them right away.

Investigators discovered that the man who

Investigators discovered that the man who

carried the bottle
through security

was a Taiwanese athlete
named Ku Chin-shui.

was a Taiwanese athlete
named Ku Chin-shui.

The suspect was a
very famous decathlon champion.

The suspect was a
very famous decathlon champion.

Almost everybody knew him.

When Ku Chin-shui
is brought in for questioning,

When Ku Chin-shui
is brought in for questioning,

he explains that after
passing security,

he gave his bag to a relative
who carried it on board.

he gave his bag to a relative
who carried it on board.

He pleads his
innocence to the media.

Because my
family was on the plane,

why would I do
such a stupid thing

as to put gasoline on board?

as to put gasoline on board?

It's up to
the police to determine

if Ku is criminally
responsible for the bottles

if Ku is criminally
responsible for the bottles

ending up on board.

Air crash investigators
have a different priority.

Air crash investigators
have a different priority.

We did not look into
the motive of the suspect.

What we did care is
how to improve safety.

What we did care is
how to improve safety.

So our focus is what
happened, how did it happen?

So our focus is what
happened, how did it happen?

Where we
were with a compartment

that we knew had two bleach
bottles that had gasoline

that we knew had two bleach
bottles that had gasoline

in them, we're pretty certain
fumes leaked out of them,

in them, we're pretty certain
fumes leaked out of them,

and you get to a point when
that becomes very flammable

and you get to a point when
that becomes very flammable

and it doesn't take
much to set that off.

Two bottles of gasoline

end up in an overhead bin, but
what caused them to explode?

end up in an overhead bin, but
what caused them to explode?

Lab technicians comb
through all the debris taken

Lab technicians comb
through all the debris taken

from the aircraft and runway
looking for anything that

may have sparked an explosion.

may have sparked an explosion.

They make an
astonishing discovery.

It was a
motorcycle battery.

And that motorcycle battery
was also actually something you

And that motorcycle battery
was also actually something you

should not be on the aircraft.

This motorcycle battery

This motorcycle battery

was found a couple of
rows away from the bottle,

and the top of the
battery has been damaged

and the top of the
battery has been damaged

and it's exposing the...

the poles, the positive
and the negative terminals.

Investigators can
now construct a theory as

to what caused the explosion.

to what caused the explosion.

The gasoline
may have leaked,

created a vapor inside
of that overhead bin.

created a vapor inside
of that overhead bin.

And as the aircraft came
to a sudden stop, then

And as the aircraft came
to a sudden stop, then

the battery slid
and created an arc.

the battery slid
and created an arc.

It would have created the
explosion to blow the door off

of the overhead bin.

of the overhead bin.

We did quite
a few simulations

to prove that such
scenario could happen.

to prove that such
scenario could happen.

The lid blows right out
and there's a flash fire.

Taiwan's
Aviation Safety

Council concludes, this
is the probable cause

Council concludes, this
is the probable cause

of the explosion.

But no clear answer
was ever found

But no clear answer
was ever found

as to why someone took banned
substances onto the plane.

After six separate trials,
Ku Chin-shui was ultimately

cleared of wrongdoing.

cleared of wrongdoing.

The court concluded the evidence
wasn't strong enough to justify

a criminal conviction.

Still, the aviation report
calls for an overhaul

Still, the aviation report
calls for an overhaul

of the Taiwanese
system that screens

for hazardous materials.

Training for security personnel
was improved in the hopes

Training for security personnel
was improved in the hopes

of preventing another disaster.

I'm willing to bet that
nobody in screening in Taiwan

I'm willing to bet that
nobody in screening in Taiwan

ever misses another
motorcycle battery.

Three horrific air disasters

lead to fundamental changes in
airport security procedures,

lead to fundamental changes in
airport security procedures,

but the threats are
always evolving.

but the threats are
always evolving.

For aviation
authorities, there's

a never-ending obligation
to stay vigilant.

Whatever lessons were
learned in the past

Whatever lessons were
learned in the past

will be somewhat relevant in the
future, but not 100% relevant.

And the aviation industry,
government organizations

And the aviation industry,
government organizations

responsible for security,
and, frankly, even

responsible for security,
and, frankly, even

passengers have to
be aware at all times

and evolve with those threats.