1
00:00:02,226 --> 00:00:05,605
<i>Landing
at Calicut Airport...</i>

2
00:00:05,605 --> 00:00:07,315
Speed brake up.

3
00:00:09,359 --> 00:00:10,818
<i>...the pilots
of Air India Express</i>

4
00:00:10,818 --> 00:00:14,864
<i>Flight 13-44 run out
of tarmac to stop.</i>

5
00:00:14,864 --> 00:00:16,866
Oh, crap!

6
00:00:23,039 --> 00:00:26,668
<i>Twenty-one
people are killed.</i>

7
00:00:28,252 --> 00:00:30,129
Start up the hydraulics.

8
00:00:31,047 --> 00:00:33,675
<i>Did the brakes
malfunction?</i>

9
00:00:34,384 --> 00:00:35,760
No sign of fluid leak.

10
00:00:35,760 --> 00:00:37,887
The brakes didn't fail.

11
00:00:39,472 --> 00:00:41,724
<i>When investigators
listen to the Cockpit</i>

12
00:00:41,724 --> 00:00:43,309
<i>Voice Recorder...</i>

13
00:00:43,309 --> 00:00:45,228
<i>Put the wipers on.</i>

14
00:00:45,228 --> 00:00:47,897
<i>...they discover
a malfunction</i>

15
00:00:47,897 --> 00:00:50,817
<i>of an entirely different nature.</i>

16
00:00:51,818 --> 00:00:53,736
What's happened to it?

17
00:00:54,946 --> 00:00:59,742
So was this crash caused by
a faulty windshield wiper?

18
00:01:03,454 --> 00:01:05,748
<i>Mayday! Mayday!</i>

19
00:01:07,583 --> 00:01:09,919
<i>Pull up!</i>

20
00:01:25,727 --> 00:01:28,104
{\an8}<i>It's monsoon
season in India.</i>

21
00:01:29,772 --> 00:01:32,734
{\an8}<i>Air India Express,
Flight 13-44</i>

22
00:01:32,734 --> 00:01:35,945
{\an8}<i>is on approach to
Calicut International Airport.</i>

23
00:01:38,489 --> 00:01:41,409
{\an8}<i>The pilot flying
is Captain Deepak Sathe.</i>

24
00:01:41,409 --> 00:01:45,955
<i>He's a highly experienced
59-year-old commercial pilot.</i>

25
00:01:45,955 --> 00:01:48,666
Visibility is
just above minimums

26
00:01:48,666 --> 00:01:50,960
so we can make
an attempt. Okay?

27
00:01:50,960 --> 00:01:52,712
Check.

28
00:01:54,088 --> 00:01:56,299
{\an8}The captain had flown
in and out of Calicut

29
00:01:56,299 --> 00:01:57,884
{\an8}a number of times.

30
00:01:57,884 --> 00:02:00,762
{\an8}So he was very familiar
with the airfield,

31
00:02:00,762 --> 00:02:04,766
{\an8}the terrain around,
and the weather conditions.

32
00:02:05,600 --> 00:02:07,935
The runway is wet,
expect turbulence,

33
00:02:07,935 --> 00:02:10,938
expect weather,
all precautions.

34
00:02:12,940 --> 00:02:16,819
<i>First Officer
Akhilesh Kumar is aged 32.</i>

35
00:02:16,819 --> 00:02:20,656
<i>He joined Air India Express
three years ago and has almost</i>

36
00:02:20,656 --> 00:02:23,076
<i>2000 flying hours.</i>

37
00:02:23,076 --> 00:02:26,370
<i>He has less experience
navigating through monsoons</i>

38
00:02:26,370 --> 00:02:28,748
<i>than the Captain.</i>

39
00:02:28,748 --> 00:02:30,667
That area experiences
very heavy showers

40
00:02:30,667 --> 00:02:36,339
along with reduced visibility
and strong winds.

41
00:02:37,632 --> 00:02:40,218
<i>In addition to the 5 crew,</i>

42
00:02:40,218 --> 00:02:44,097
<i>there are 184
Indian nationals onboard.</i>

43
00:02:44,097 --> 00:02:49,894
<i>All are being repatriated amid
the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak.</i>

44
00:02:49,894 --> 00:02:54,023
<i>It's one of more than 2,000
flights into India to date,</i>

45
00:02:54,023 --> 00:02:56,901
<i>bringing home thousands
of workers stranded abroad</i>

46
00:02:56,901 --> 00:03:00,279
<i>when flights were grounded
due to COVID restrictions.</i>

47
00:03:01,364 --> 00:03:04,075
So the passengers
on these flights were mostly

48
00:03:04,075 --> 00:03:05,243
blue-collar workers,

49
00:03:05,243 --> 00:03:09,372
people who had flown
to Dubai to work in malls,

50
00:03:09,372 --> 00:03:11,040
in small restaurants.

51
00:03:13,543 --> 00:03:17,046
<i>About 50 miles from
the airport, Captain Sathe</i>

52
00:03:17,046 --> 00:03:19,048
<i>begins his approach briefing.</i>

53
00:03:20,049 --> 00:03:23,886
For a go-around, wind shear
on approach, approach to stall

54
00:03:23,886 --> 00:03:27,807
and recovery on go-around as
briefed in the first sector.

55
00:03:29,225 --> 00:03:30,435
Check.

56
00:03:31,144 --> 00:03:34,272
Approach briefing is basically
one pilot communicating

57
00:03:34,272 --> 00:03:37,483
to the other what his
plan of action is.

58
00:03:39,235 --> 00:03:40,486
Any doubts?

59
00:03:42,238 --> 00:03:43,698
No.

60
00:03:43,698 --> 00:03:46,826
Any questions?

61
00:03:48,286 --> 00:03:50,204
No questions.

62
00:03:52,915 --> 00:03:55,460
<i>Today's flight
from Dubai to Calicut</i>

63
00:03:55,460 --> 00:03:57,754
<i>takes just under 4 hours.</i>

64
00:04:01,090 --> 00:04:03,843
Calicut tower,
Express India 1-3-4-4

65
00:04:03,843 --> 00:04:06,929
on ILS runway 2-8.

66
00:04:08,264 --> 00:04:10,683
<i>Twelve miles
from the airport...</i>

67
00:04:10,683 --> 00:04:12,852
Any change in the visibility?

68
00:04:14,020 --> 00:04:17,023
<i>...the Captain wants
a weather update.</i>

69
00:04:17,023 --> 00:04:21,444
Any change in the visibility,
Express India 1-3-4-4?

70
00:04:22,487 --> 00:04:24,364
<i>Uh, standby.</i>

71
00:04:24,364 --> 00:04:26,324
Air India Express 1-3-4-4,

72
00:04:26,324 --> 00:04:30,203
latest visibility is 2,000
meters and, uh, light rain.

73
00:04:31,079 --> 00:04:33,873
<i>Copy.
Express India 1-3-4-4.</i>

74
00:04:35,792 --> 00:04:39,837
Two thousand metres visibility
on a tricky airport

75
00:04:39,837 --> 00:04:43,299
with light rain,
the pilots are basically

76
00:04:43,299 --> 00:04:46,886
a bit more anxious
than a normal approach.

77
00:04:50,264 --> 00:04:54,727
<i>Calicut's runway
is built on a tabletop plateau.</i>

78
00:04:54,727 --> 00:04:57,480
<i>There are steep drop-offs
at both ends.</i>

79
00:04:58,773 --> 00:05:02,819
There is no margin of error.
If you exceed the landing limit,

80
00:05:02,819 --> 00:05:05,279
you go straight down
into a valley.

81
00:05:07,448 --> 00:05:11,160
<i>The pilots are flying
a Boeing 7-37-800</i>

82
00:05:11,160 --> 00:05:14,247
<i>specially modified
for difficult landings.</i>

83
00:05:14,247 --> 00:05:18,835
{\an8}It has modified spoilers
and braking performance

84
00:05:18,835 --> 00:05:19,919
{\an8}and allows it to stop

85
00:05:19,919 --> 00:05:23,423
{\an8}faster than other models
of the 7-3-7-800.

86
00:05:26,175 --> 00:05:28,678
<i>Just two minutes from
Calicut Airport,</i>

87
00:05:28,678 --> 00:05:31,013
<i>the crew gets ready for landing.</i>

88
00:05:32,098 --> 00:05:34,142
Put the wipers on.

89
00:05:38,187 --> 00:05:40,565
Lead in lights
in sight.

90
00:05:40,565 --> 00:05:42,108
Yeah.

91
00:05:46,487 --> 00:05:48,948
What's happened to it?

92
00:05:49,824 --> 00:05:53,536
Oh, crap. The wiper is gone.

93
00:05:53,536 --> 00:05:56,122
What a day for the wiper to go.

94
00:05:58,124 --> 00:06:01,044
<i>With decreased visibility
hindering their approach,</i>

95
00:06:01,044 --> 00:06:03,921
<i>the pilots must make
a crucial decision.</i>

96
00:06:07,300 --> 00:06:11,679
If they do not have the runway
or any of the elements in sight,

97
00:06:11,679 --> 00:06:14,640
at that point,
they have to take a decision

98
00:06:14,640 --> 00:06:16,768
to continue or to go around.

99
00:06:21,189 --> 00:06:25,902
<i>Approaching minimums.
500. Minimums.</i>

100
00:06:26,861 --> 00:06:29,197
Uhhh...

101
00:06:29,197 --> 00:06:29,947
let's go around.

102
00:06:35,244 --> 00:06:38,206
<i>A half mile from
the airport, Captain Sathe</i>

103
00:06:38,206 --> 00:06:42,001
<i>aborts the landing
and decides to try it again.</i>

104
00:06:50,635 --> 00:06:53,513
Express India 1-3-4-4,
request reason for go-around.

105
00:06:55,515 --> 00:06:58,601
{\an8}When pilots go missed on
an approach, it's important

106
00:06:58,601 --> 00:07:01,270
{\an8}information to share with
air traffic control because

107
00:07:01,270 --> 00:07:03,981
{\an8}that can help other pilots
who are coming into the airport

108
00:07:03,981 --> 00:07:06,526
{\an8}anticipate any hazard
that may be there.

109
00:07:06,526 --> 00:07:10,405
<i>Due to weather,
Express India 1-3-4-4.</i>

110
00:07:10,405 --> 00:07:12,281
<i>Heavy rain.</i>

111
00:07:12,281 --> 00:07:13,366
Uh, roger.

112
00:07:19,080 --> 00:07:23,251
<i>While Flight 13-44
completes its go-around,</i>

113
00:07:23,251 --> 00:07:27,380
<i>a crew waiting to take-off
contacts the tower.</i>

114
00:07:28,423 --> 00:07:31,676
<i>Calicut, Air India
4-2-5, we are ready for taxi</i>

115
00:07:31,676 --> 00:07:35,638
<i>and we appreciate if you can
give us one-zero for departure.</i>

116
00:07:37,598 --> 00:07:41,811
<i>The departing crew
wants to switch runways.</i>

117
00:07:41,811 --> 00:07:46,524
Runway 2-8 and runway 1-0
are the same strip of runway

118
00:07:46,524 --> 00:07:49,152
but they are in
the opposite directions.

119
00:07:50,194 --> 00:07:51,654
Roger, expect 1-0.

120
00:07:51,654 --> 00:07:55,032
Taxi via Charlie, enter back
track, line up runway 1-0.

121
00:07:55,783 --> 00:07:58,828
<i>Via Charlie,
enter backtrack, line up 1-0,</i>

122
00:07:58,828 --> 00:08:01,164
<i>Air India 4-2-5.
Thank you, sir.</i>

123
00:08:03,082 --> 00:08:06,419
Typically, departure
aircraft want to taxi

124
00:08:06,419 --> 00:08:09,505
the least time and get
airborne as soon as possible.

125
00:08:09,505 --> 00:08:12,592
Runway 1-0 is closest
to the apron.

126
00:08:13,718 --> 00:08:17,513
<i>To accommodate the departing
aircraft, controllers change</i>

127
00:08:17,513 --> 00:08:21,184
<i>the active runway
from 2-8 to 1-0.</i>

128
00:08:22,518 --> 00:08:25,563
Express India 1-3-4-4,
wind is now 2-7-0 degrees,

129
00:08:25,563 --> 00:08:28,107
zero eight knots, confirm
you'd like to make an approach

130
00:08:28,107 --> 00:08:29,650
for runway 1-0?

131
00:08:32,653 --> 00:08:35,114
Yeah, we'd like to try
if you can give us an update

132
00:08:35,114 --> 00:08:38,534
on the visibility
for runway 1-0.

133
00:08:40,161 --> 00:08:42,914
Visibility is the same,
sir, at 2,000 meters,

134
00:08:42,914 --> 00:08:44,415
and we'll notify you
of any improvement.

135
00:08:44,415 --> 00:08:48,127
And now wind is
2-6-0 degrees, 0-5 knots.

136
00:08:48,127 --> 00:08:53,216
Okay. Set up for 1-0.
Let's try.

137
00:09:02,809 --> 00:09:04,894
Localizer alive.

138
00:09:04,894 --> 00:09:06,562
Check.

139
00:09:08,523 --> 00:09:11,401
<i>The localizer
is part of the I-L-S,</i>

140
00:09:11,401 --> 00:09:13,486
<i>or Instrument Landing System,</i>

141
00:09:13,486 --> 00:09:17,824
<i>that provides lateral guidance
to the runway's centreline.</i>

142
00:09:25,289 --> 00:09:27,709
<i>Cabin crew, landing stations.</i>

143
00:09:28,793 --> 00:09:34,090
<i>Flight 13-44 is now
only 6 miles from the runway.</i>

144
00:09:35,925 --> 00:09:37,093
Shall we do it?

145
00:09:37,093 --> 00:09:40,263
<i>Captain Sathe tries
the wipers again.</i>

146
00:09:40,263 --> 00:09:43,099
Just a sec.

147
00:09:44,267 --> 00:09:46,561
What is this?

148
00:09:46,561 --> 00:09:51,190
<i>The Captain's wiper is working
more slowly than it should.</i>

149
00:09:51,190 --> 00:09:54,318
I guess this is
the fastest it'll go.

150
00:09:54,318 --> 00:09:58,239
Okay, glide slope captured.

151
00:09:59,615 --> 00:10:03,995
<i>The glide slope is also part
of the instrument landing system</i>

152
00:10:03,995 --> 00:10:06,831
<i>and guides the plane
on a 3-degree slope</i>

153
00:10:06,831 --> 00:10:10,376
<i>to the runway threshold.</i>

154
00:10:11,627 --> 00:10:13,880
Flaps 25.

155
00:10:14,672 --> 00:10:18,217
Flaps 25 selected.
Moving.

156
00:10:20,053 --> 00:10:22,972
Calicut tower, Express India
1-3-4-4,

157
00:10:22,972 --> 00:10:27,226
on ILS runway 1-0.

158
00:10:27,226 --> 00:10:29,312
Express India
1-3-4-4, roger.

159
00:10:29,312 --> 00:10:31,814
Light rain over the field.
Runway surface wet.

160
00:10:31,814 --> 00:10:38,154
Wind 2-5-0 degrees, 0-8 knots.
Runway 1-0 cleared to land.

161
00:10:39,489 --> 00:10:41,365
<i>Four miles from the runway,</i>

162
00:10:41,365 --> 00:10:44,160
<i>the crew receives
clearance to land.</i>

163
00:10:45,328 --> 00:10:47,038
Okay, runway in sight.

164
00:10:47,038 --> 00:10:48,915
Runway in sight, check.

165
00:10:51,292 --> 00:10:55,338
<i>This time, the pilots
can see the runway.</i>

166
00:10:55,338 --> 00:10:59,425
<i>Approaching minimums.</i>

167
00:10:59,425 --> 00:11:00,760
<i>500.</i>

168
00:11:01,511 --> 00:11:04,305
As a pilot, when you're coming
in for a landing where there's

169
00:11:04,305 --> 00:11:06,682
weather and visibility
just above minimums,

170
00:11:06,682 --> 00:11:10,019
you're keeping a sharper eye
because things could change

171
00:11:10,019 --> 00:11:11,062
at a moment's notice.

172
00:11:13,439 --> 00:11:17,193
<i>Flight 13-44 crosses
the runway threshold.</i>

173
00:11:21,280 --> 00:11:24,534
<i>30... 20.</i>

174
00:11:30,206 --> 00:11:31,999
Speed brake up.

175
00:11:33,084 --> 00:11:37,296
<i>The speed brakes are deployed
to help slow the plane.</i>

176
00:11:39,090 --> 00:11:40,633
Auto brake disarm.

177
00:11:44,637 --> 00:11:47,390
<i>But the plane isn't
stopping fast enough.</i>

178
00:11:49,726 --> 00:11:50,810
Oh, crap!

179
00:11:56,441 --> 00:12:00,153
<i>The 7-37 falls off
the end of the runway...</i>

180
00:12:03,406 --> 00:12:06,325
...and breaks apart.

181
00:12:08,911 --> 00:12:14,167
<i>Rescuers rush to save
the 190 people onboard,</i>

182
00:12:14,167 --> 00:12:16,294
<i>as every second
could mean the difference</i>

183
00:12:16,294 --> 00:12:18,296
<i>between life and death.</i>

184
00:12:23,259 --> 00:12:25,678
<i>In driving
rain and darkness,</i>

185
00:12:25,678 --> 00:12:29,098
<i>surviving passengers begin
to emerge from the wreckage</i>

186
00:12:29,098 --> 00:12:32,393
<i>of Air India Express
Flight 13-44.</i>

187
00:12:32,393 --> 00:12:35,146
<i>The heavy rain
benefits the rescue.</i>

188
00:12:36,147 --> 00:12:41,611
It was very helpful in fact
for dousing the post-crash fire.

189
00:12:41,611 --> 00:12:44,280
It ultimately
helped us save lives.

190
00:12:45,573 --> 00:12:49,410
<i>169 people survive the crash.</i>

191
00:12:49,410 --> 00:12:52,455
<i>59 walk away without injuries.</i>

192
00:13:03,174 --> 00:13:06,010
<i>But 21 of those
onboard are dead.</i>

193
00:13:08,388 --> 00:13:12,850
<i>Captain Deepak Sathe
and First Officer Akhilesh Kumar</i>

194
00:13:12,850 --> 00:13:14,977
<i>are among them.</i>

195
00:13:25,947 --> 00:13:27,448
<i>Investigators from India's</i>

196
00:13:27,448 --> 00:13:30,076
<i>Aircraft Accident
Investigation Bureau</i>

197
00:13:30,076 --> 00:13:33,746
<i>the A-A-I-B,
arrive on the scene.</i>

198
00:13:33,746 --> 00:13:39,043
This was the first accident
which AAIB would have been

199
00:13:39,043 --> 00:13:40,795
investigating on its own.

200
00:13:40,795 --> 00:13:44,590
So it was really an acid test
for AAIB to prove its mettle.

201
00:13:46,426 --> 00:13:49,804
{\an8}<i>- The first question
investigators must answer -</i>

202
00:13:49,804 --> 00:13:53,558
{\an8}<i>did something break off from
the airplane before the landing,</i>

203
00:13:53,558 --> 00:13:56,352
{\an8}<i>making it impossible
for the plane to stop?</i>

204
00:14:01,607 --> 00:14:04,527
I've got the
next batch downloaded...

205
00:14:06,154 --> 00:14:07,697
Looking at them now.

206
00:14:09,115 --> 00:14:10,867
This was the second wave
of COVID,

207
00:14:10,867 --> 00:14:14,537
which was the most dangerous,
so there was an embargo

208
00:14:14,537 --> 00:14:18,124
as to how many people could sit
in a room and conduct a meeting.

209
00:14:19,083 --> 00:14:23,546
<i>Investigators examine dozens
of photos from the crash scene.</i>

210
00:14:25,214 --> 00:14:27,091
You agree it's all here?

211
00:14:28,718 --> 00:14:31,929
<i>They conclude all
of the wreckage is contained</i>

212
00:14:31,929 --> 00:14:33,556
<i>within the crash site.</i>

213
00:14:35,266 --> 00:14:40,063
The wreckage was not very
spread out. It was concentrated

214
00:14:40,063 --> 00:14:43,441
over a radius of about 200 feet.

215
00:14:44,525 --> 00:14:46,652
Let's regroup in a bit.

216
00:14:48,071 --> 00:14:51,991
<i>All the damage was caused when
the plane over ran the runway.</i>

217
00:14:55,036 --> 00:14:58,831
So we wanted to come out
with the probable reasons

218
00:14:58,831 --> 00:15:03,670
as to what has led the aircraft
to exit the runway.

219
00:15:14,055 --> 00:15:17,141
Only slightly off center...

220
00:15:17,141 --> 00:15:20,812
But at least they were lined up
with the runway properly.

221
00:15:20,812 --> 00:15:24,649
<i>To better understand why
the plane overran the runway,</i>

222
00:15:24,649 --> 00:15:28,653
<i>investigators try to determine
where it initially touched down.</i>

223
00:15:29,487 --> 00:15:31,531
So where do the marks start?

224
00:15:36,786 --> 00:15:40,498
On a dry runway it is very,
very easy to find the touchdown

225
00:15:40,498 --> 00:15:42,792
points because the tires,

226
00:15:42,792 --> 00:15:46,671
they leave some rubber deposit
on the point of touchdown.

227
00:15:50,842 --> 00:15:53,970
<i>They work their way back
along the runway.</i>

228
00:16:18,119 --> 00:16:20,163
Beyond 5,000 feet

229
00:16:20,163 --> 00:16:23,833
we were not able to locate
any touch tire marks.

230
00:16:23,833 --> 00:16:27,837
The tire marks had been washed
away due to heavy rain.

231
00:16:29,964 --> 00:16:33,009
<i>Unable to determine where
the plane touched down,</i>

232
00:16:33,009 --> 00:16:37,096
<i>investigators examine
the runway itself.</i>

233
00:16:37,096 --> 00:16:42,143
<i>Did rubber deposits make
the runway too slippery?</i>

234
00:16:42,143 --> 00:16:43,728
<i>They perform a test</i>

235
00:16:43,728 --> 00:16:47,190
<i>to determine if the runway's
surface provided enough friction</i>

236
00:16:47,190 --> 00:16:50,526
<i>or grip for the plane
to decelerate properly.</i>

237
00:16:51,778 --> 00:16:55,114
Our experience shows that
a aircraft of 7-3-7 class,

238
00:16:55,114 --> 00:16:57,867
it leaves a rubber deposit.

239
00:16:57,867 --> 00:17:00,953
And over a period of time
it becomes difficult

240
00:17:00,953 --> 00:17:02,705
for the tire to grip.

241
00:17:08,044 --> 00:17:10,254
Friction test results
just came in.

242
00:17:11,589 --> 00:17:16,636
Co-efficient of friction
ranges from...

243
00:17:16,636 --> 00:17:21,307
...6-3 to. 7-2.

244
00:17:22,517 --> 00:17:24,310
That's within standard.

245
00:17:32,235 --> 00:17:35,029
We were quite satisfied
with the condition

246
00:17:35,029 --> 00:17:38,908
of the paved surface
of Calicut Airport.

247
00:17:38,908 --> 00:17:41,661
There were no major
rubber deposits.

248
00:17:43,246 --> 00:17:47,000
<i>With the runway surface ruled
out, investigators consider</i>

249
00:17:47,000 --> 00:17:49,127
<i>if the plane's tires
were too worn,</i>

250
00:17:49,127 --> 00:17:52,422
<i>causing it to hydroplane
on the wet runway.</i>

251
00:17:53,423 --> 00:17:56,676
The grooves
on the tires, like on a car,

252
00:17:56,676 --> 00:17:58,928
are channels for water
to drain off.

253
00:17:58,928 --> 00:18:01,472
And if the tire
is bald, basically,

254
00:18:01,472 --> 00:18:02,932
the grooves are worn out.

255
00:18:02,932 --> 00:18:06,602
That will cause
the aircraft to slip.

256
00:18:07,979 --> 00:18:10,440
202 psi.

257
00:18:10,440 --> 00:18:12,984
Right in the required
pressure range.

258
00:18:15,278 --> 00:18:17,613
No skid burn...

259
00:18:19,157 --> 00:18:20,950
or bald spots.

260
00:18:20,950 --> 00:18:23,369
Just like
the others.

261
00:18:23,369 --> 00:18:27,040
If there was a case
of hydroplaning there would be

262
00:18:27,040 --> 00:18:32,628
white marks on the runway and
that portion of the tires

263
00:18:32,628 --> 00:18:35,089
would have been burnt.

264
00:18:35,089 --> 00:18:39,052
And here we didn't find
either of these.

265
00:18:40,887 --> 00:18:43,306
What about the brakes?

266
00:18:44,432 --> 00:18:46,184
<i>Did the brakes malfunction</i>

267
00:18:46,184 --> 00:18:48,978
<i>causing the plane
to overrun the runway?</i>

268
00:18:51,356 --> 00:18:53,066
Some corrosion...

269
00:18:55,943 --> 00:18:58,738
but nothing out of the ordinary.

270
00:18:59,781 --> 00:19:01,866
Let's check the hydraulics.

271
00:19:06,204 --> 00:19:09,082
We wanted to ascertain the
serviceability of hydraulics

272
00:19:09,082 --> 00:19:13,086
because this is
the braking system.

273
00:19:14,003 --> 00:19:15,755
Start up the hydraulics.

274
00:19:22,887 --> 00:19:25,139
No sign of fluid leak.

275
00:19:25,139 --> 00:19:27,100
The brakes didn't fail.

276
00:19:28,101 --> 00:19:29,102
No.

277
00:19:33,564 --> 00:19:34,982
I can say that there was

278
00:19:34,982 --> 00:19:39,362
no abnormality in
the deceleration devices.

279
00:19:42,156 --> 00:19:43,699
Okay...

280
00:19:46,369 --> 00:19:47,412
good.

281
00:19:49,997 --> 00:19:55,420
So, did the plane touchdown
within the touchdown zone?

282
00:19:57,171 --> 00:20:02,010
<i>Investigators try to determine
if the crew of flight 13-44</i>

283
00:20:02,010 --> 00:20:05,054
<i>gave themselves
enough space to stop.</i>

284
00:20:05,054 --> 00:20:06,723
Thank you.

285
00:20:13,980 --> 00:20:15,481
They have found an image...

286
00:20:24,032 --> 00:20:27,827
...from a closed circuit camera
located here.

287
00:20:30,163 --> 00:20:33,166
Looks like they're still about
15 feet above the runway,

288
00:20:33,166 --> 00:20:35,835
and they're past
the touchdown zone.

289
00:20:40,214 --> 00:20:44,010
We could see clearly
the aircraft floating

290
00:20:44,010 --> 00:20:47,847
but, unfortunately, we couldn't
see the exact touchdown point.

291
00:20:47,847 --> 00:20:51,684
So that means they flew
well past the touchdown area

292
00:20:51,684 --> 00:20:54,020
before putting the plane down.

293
00:20:56,856 --> 00:20:58,441
That's right.

294
00:21:06,491 --> 00:21:11,287
<i>Why would the pilots land so
far past the touchdown zone</i>

295
00:21:12,747 --> 00:21:15,208
<i>and risk the lives
of everyone on board?</i>

296
00:21:24,884 --> 00:21:27,804
I have the ATC recordings.

297
00:21:29,013 --> 00:21:32,225
Let's hope we get
some answers.

298
00:21:33,851 --> 00:21:36,312
<i>Investigators turn
to conversations between</i>

299
00:21:36,312 --> 00:21:41,317
<i>Air India Express Flight 13-44
and the controller</i>

300
00:21:41,317 --> 00:21:44,987
<i>to learn why the plane
overflew the touchdown zone.</i>

301
00:21:48,116 --> 00:21:51,327
<i>Calicut tower,
Express India 1-3-4-4</i>

302
00:21:51,327 --> 00:21:54,330
<i>on ILS runway 2-8.</i>

303
00:21:56,749 --> 00:21:58,501
Okay, it sounds like
they initially planned

304
00:21:58,501 --> 00:22:00,837
to land on runway 2-8.

305
00:22:00,837 --> 00:22:04,173
So why did they
land on 1-0 instead?

306
00:22:06,259 --> 00:22:10,930
Landing on runway 2-8 the
winds will be from your front.

307
00:22:10,930 --> 00:22:14,434
You'll be landing into the wind.
That creates more lift.

308
00:22:17,812 --> 00:22:19,856
<i>But three-and-a-half
minutes later,</i>

309
00:22:19,856 --> 00:22:22,191
<i>the crew changes their plans.</i>

310
00:22:22,191 --> 00:22:25,820
<i>Tower, Express India
1-3-4-4, going around.</i>

311
00:22:27,697 --> 00:22:28,948
Roger.

312
00:22:34,120 --> 00:22:36,122
So they called a go-around.

313
00:22:41,461 --> 00:22:43,880
During monsoon season,
it is not very uncommon

314
00:22:43,880 --> 00:22:46,924
to see a go-around because,

315
00:22:46,924 --> 00:22:50,720
of the low ceiling
and showers of rain,

316
00:22:50,720 --> 00:22:53,389
which suddenly
reduce visibility.

317
00:22:55,683 --> 00:22:59,395
<i>Express India 1-3-4-4,
request reason for go-around.</i>

318
00:22:59,395 --> 00:23:02,523
<i>Due to weather,
Express India 1-3-4-4.</i>

319
00:23:02,523 --> 00:23:04,609
<i>Heavy rain.</i>

320
00:23:04,609 --> 00:23:05,902
<i>Uh, roger.</i>

321
00:23:06,569 --> 00:23:09,405
Hmm. They probably
couldn't see the runway.

322
00:23:09,405 --> 00:23:11,199
Sounds about right.

323
00:23:13,576 --> 00:23:16,037
The crew realized that
the runway was not in sight,

324
00:23:16,037 --> 00:23:17,914
so they took
a call to go around,

325
00:23:17,914 --> 00:23:19,582
so that was absolutely in order.

326
00:23:21,125 --> 00:23:22,919
<i>Calicut, Air India 4-2-5,</i>

327
00:23:22,919 --> 00:23:24,504
<i>we're ready for taxi</i>

328
00:23:24,504 --> 00:23:28,007
<i>and we appreciate if you can
give us 1-0 for departure.</i>

329
00:23:30,218 --> 00:23:32,595
<i>Then, investigators
hear another plane</i>

330
00:23:32,595 --> 00:23:35,473
<i>asking to swap the active runway</i>

331
00:23:35,473 --> 00:23:40,269
<i>and the controller advising
Flight 13-44 of the change.</i>

332
00:23:41,604 --> 00:23:44,816
Express India 1-3-4-4,
wind is now 2-7-0 degrees,

333
00:23:44,816 --> 00:23:47,360
0-8 knots, confirm you'd
like to make an approach

334
00:23:47,360 --> 00:23:48,861
for runway 1-0?

335
00:23:51,155 --> 00:23:54,534
So, the controller
asked them to use 1-0.

336
00:24:00,623 --> 00:24:03,960
<i>Calicut,
Express India 1-3-4-4.</i>

337
00:24:04,794 --> 00:24:06,295
Go ahead.

338
00:24:06,295 --> 00:24:08,589
<i>How's the
visibility on runway 1-0?</i>

339
00:24:10,258 --> 00:24:12,385
<i>Before accepting
the new runway,</i>

340
00:24:12,385 --> 00:24:16,055
<i>the pilots request clarification
of weather conditions.</i>

341
00:24:16,055 --> 00:24:20,059
Both runways at 2,000 meters
with, uh, light rain.

342
00:24:20,893 --> 00:24:22,979
<i>And how are
the surface winds?</i>

343
00:24:24,522 --> 00:24:28,276
<i>Surface winds now
2-6-0 degrees, 0-5 knots.</i>

344
00:24:29,819 --> 00:24:31,487
<i>Five knots.</i>

345
00:24:33,072 --> 00:24:34,866
Is that within limits?

346
00:24:34,866 --> 00:24:37,452
Let's check...

347
00:24:42,665 --> 00:24:44,625
10 knots is the limit.

348
00:24:45,418 --> 00:24:49,005
Okay. So landing on 1-0 safely
is technically possible

349
00:24:49,005 --> 00:24:51,090
even if they'd be landing
in a tailwind.

350
00:24:58,014 --> 00:25:01,350
<i>Just ten-and-a-half
minutes later,</i>

351
00:25:01,350 --> 00:25:05,021
<i>investigators hear the last
communication with the tower.</i>

352
00:25:07,690 --> 00:25:12,653
<i>Express India
1-3-4-4, on ILS runway 1-0.</i>

353
00:25:15,198 --> 00:25:18,076
<i>Express India
1-3-4-4, roger.</i>

354
00:25:18,076 --> 00:25:20,453
<i>Light rain over
the field, runway surface wet.</i>

355
00:25:20,453 --> 00:25:26,125
<i>Wind 2-5-0 degrees, 0-8 knots.
Runway 1-0 cleared to land.</i>

356
00:25:26,918 --> 00:25:28,795
<i>Runway 1-0
cleared to land,</i>

357
00:25:28,795 --> 00:25:30,088
<i>and what's the visibility?</i>

358
00:25:33,216 --> 00:25:36,219
They're asking
about visibility again.

359
00:25:37,387 --> 00:25:38,971
It seems to be an issue.

360
00:25:42,600 --> 00:25:45,978
Visibility is the same,
sir, at 2,000 meters.

361
00:25:45,978 --> 00:25:48,606
<i>Copy sir,
Express India 1-3-4-4.</i>

362
00:25:50,525 --> 00:25:57,490
<i>Two-and-a-half minutes later,
they overfly the landing zone.</i>

363
00:26:00,410 --> 00:26:03,371
An 8 knot tailwind.
I mean it's still within limits.

364
00:26:04,747 --> 00:26:07,625
<i>Despite missing
the touchdown zone,</i>

365
00:26:07,625 --> 00:26:10,003
<i>could the crew have
safely stopped their plane</i>

366
00:26:10,003 --> 00:26:12,380
<i>on the runway?</i>

367
00:26:12,380 --> 00:26:14,340
Speed brake up.

368
00:26:23,641 --> 00:26:26,227
<i>Investigators
examine the flight parameters</i>

369
00:26:26,227 --> 00:26:30,189
<i>of Air India Express
Flight 13-44.</i>

370
00:26:30,189 --> 00:26:32,108
<i>The data could shed light</i>

371
00:26:32,108 --> 00:26:34,610
<i>on precisely where
the aircraft landed,</i>

372
00:26:34,610 --> 00:26:39,282
<i>after CCTV footage captured
it passing the touchdown zone.</i>

373
00:26:41,576 --> 00:26:44,370
Can you isolate the
weight on wheels parameter?

374
00:26:50,752 --> 00:26:55,006
Weight on wheels is a sensor
which indicates to the FDR

375
00:26:55,006 --> 00:26:58,551
the moment weight
comes on the wheels.

376
00:26:59,177 --> 00:27:01,137
That's what we're looking for.

377
00:27:01,137 --> 00:27:06,059
The plane touched down
at 19:40:25

378
00:27:06,059 --> 00:27:07,727
So how far down
the runway is that?

379
00:27:09,604 --> 00:27:13,191
<i>Using the ground speed
of the aircraft, investigators</i>

380
00:27:13,191 --> 00:27:16,819
<i>calculate how far the plane
flew over the runway.</i>

381
00:27:18,821 --> 00:27:21,574
4,438 feet
from the threshold.

382
00:27:22,658 --> 00:27:26,704
It became very clear to us
as to where the aircraft

383
00:27:26,704 --> 00:27:28,748
had exactly touched down.

384
00:27:31,834 --> 00:27:35,588
He overshot the touchdown zone
by nearly 1500 feet...

385
00:27:38,508 --> 00:27:40,718
...leaving less than
half the runway for stopping.

386
00:27:42,637 --> 00:27:46,265
Can the plane even stop on half
a runway in a tailwind?

387
00:27:47,725 --> 00:27:50,520
Let me calculate
the actual landing distance.

388
00:27:51,854 --> 00:27:55,650
The actual landing distance
is the distance required

389
00:27:55,650 --> 00:27:58,027
from touchdown to stop.

390
00:27:58,027 --> 00:27:59,612
Weight?

391
00:28:02,532 --> 00:28:04,784
63000 kilos.

392
00:28:05,827 --> 00:28:06,953
Wind?

393
00:28:06,953 --> 00:28:09,497
Last reported tailwind
before Flight 1-3-4-4

394
00:28:09,497 --> 00:28:13,292
began its approach
was actually 10 knots.

395
00:28:13,292 --> 00:28:14,669
Flaps?

396
00:28:14,669 --> 00:28:16,212
30.

397
00:28:18,589 --> 00:28:20,633
7,803 feet.

398
00:28:22,260 --> 00:28:23,761
So according
to the information they had

399
00:28:23,761 --> 00:28:26,097
before accepting the approach,

400
00:28:26,097 --> 00:28:29,434
they needed to touchdown here

401
00:28:29,434 --> 00:28:32,395
to have any chance of stopping
before the end of the runway.

402
00:28:34,480 --> 00:28:38,943
<i>Flight 13-44 should have
touched down 3,000 feet earlier</i>

403
00:28:38,943 --> 00:28:41,446
<i>in order to stop safely.</i>

404
00:28:41,446 --> 00:28:44,073
So why did the pilots
not give themselves

405
00:28:44,073 --> 00:28:45,908
enough runway to stop the plane?

406
00:28:52,040 --> 00:28:53,958
When the aircraft
touches down,

407
00:28:53,958 --> 00:28:55,835
you experience harsh braking,

408
00:28:55,835 --> 00:28:58,338
reverse thrust, more noise.

409
00:28:58,338 --> 00:29:01,340
But here, it was totally silent.

410
00:29:01,340 --> 00:29:03,384
And the passengers,
they would be wondering,

411
00:29:03,384 --> 00:29:05,845
why is the aircraft
not touching down?

412
00:29:10,141 --> 00:29:12,101
<i>Investigators check
the transcripts</i>

413
00:29:12,101 --> 00:29:14,812
<i>of the cockpit voice recording</i>

414
00:29:14,812 --> 00:29:16,647
<i>for something that might explain</i>

415
00:29:16,647 --> 00:29:18,900
<i>why the pilots
carried out the landing</i>

416
00:29:18,900 --> 00:29:20,818
<i>without enough runway.</i>

417
00:29:22,779 --> 00:29:25,490
The flight data gives us
what happened.

418
00:29:25,490 --> 00:29:29,494
But why it happened
comes from the CVR.

419
00:29:31,162 --> 00:29:32,455
Hey.

420
00:29:32,455 --> 00:29:35,458
During the first approach,

421
00:29:35,458 --> 00:29:37,377
the windshield wipers are on.

422
00:29:37,377 --> 00:29:39,712
And look what
happens afterwards.

423
00:29:45,718 --> 00:29:47,678
Lead-in lights in sight.

424
00:29:47,678 --> 00:29:50,056
Yeah.

425
00:29:50,056 --> 00:29:53,976
<i>27 seconds after
starting the wiper ...</i>

426
00:29:53,976 --> 00:29:56,813
What's happened to it?

427
00:29:56,813 --> 00:29:58,981
Oh, crap. The wiper's gone.

428
00:30:00,274 --> 00:30:02,026
<i>...it malfunctions.</i>

429
00:30:02,026 --> 00:30:04,487
What a day
for the wiper to go.

430
00:30:12,662 --> 00:30:15,581
Maybe that explains why he
was so worried about visibility.

431
00:30:17,625 --> 00:30:20,128
<i>According to rules
for landing at Calicut</i>

432
00:30:20,128 --> 00:30:22,255
<i>during monsoon season,</i>

433
00:30:22,255 --> 00:30:24,716
<i>it is mandatory
for pilots to divert</i>

434
00:30:24,716 --> 00:30:28,428
<i>to an alternative airport
if the wipers malfunction.</i>

435
00:30:29,887 --> 00:30:33,266
So was this crash caused
by a faulty windshield wiper?

436
00:30:36,644 --> 00:30:39,981
Unserviceability of a wiper
in rainy conditions

437
00:30:39,981 --> 00:30:41,357
is a no-go item.

438
00:30:42,400 --> 00:30:45,445
The crew pressed on
to land at Calicut.

439
00:30:47,238 --> 00:30:49,532
We couldn't fathom the reason.

440
00:30:51,993 --> 00:30:54,620
Let's see if the wiper was
working on the second approach.

441
00:30:56,706 --> 00:30:58,583
<i>Heading to course.</i>

442
00:30:59,125 --> 00:31:00,585
Shall we do it?

443
00:31:02,045 --> 00:31:03,880
Just a sec.

444
00:31:06,090 --> 00:31:08,051
What is this?

445
00:31:08,051 --> 00:31:11,554
I guess that's
the fastest it'll go.

446
00:31:13,931 --> 00:31:17,310
So the wiper is working,
just not as fast as it should.

447
00:31:19,187 --> 00:31:21,189
<i>Despite the slow wiper,</i>

448
00:31:21,189 --> 00:31:23,316
<i>the pilots continue
the approach.</i>

449
00:31:24,567 --> 00:31:26,778
Okay, runway in sight.

450
00:31:26,778 --> 00:31:28,571
Runway in sight, check.

451
00:31:34,243 --> 00:31:37,205
So, less than a mile
from the airport,

452
00:31:37,205 --> 00:31:39,791
both pilots can see the runway.

453
00:31:41,084 --> 00:31:43,586
<i>The faulty wiper doesn't
seem to have prevented</i>

454
00:31:43,586 --> 00:31:46,464
<i>the pilots from seeing
the runway.</i>

455
00:31:46,464 --> 00:31:49,676
And so far they are
still on the glide slope...

456
00:31:53,429 --> 00:31:58,017
But it looks like they deviate
below and then above it.

457
00:32:00,478 --> 00:32:04,482
The approach
became un-stabilized.

458
00:32:04,482 --> 00:32:06,651
And the actions
on the part of the crew

459
00:32:06,651 --> 00:32:10,822
to continue with
the approach really shocked us.

460
00:32:12,407 --> 00:32:13,908
So if they were above
the glideslope,

461
00:32:13,908 --> 00:32:16,536
that means when they crossed
the runway threshold,

462
00:32:16,536 --> 00:32:18,371
they were 40 feet too high.

463
00:32:19,288 --> 00:32:22,083
In a tail wind,
less than ideal.

464
00:32:27,672 --> 00:32:30,800
If you fly off of the glide
slope this close to the runway,

465
00:32:30,800 --> 00:32:33,344
it is unsafe
for you to continue,

466
00:32:33,344 --> 00:32:35,555
yet this crew did
continue their landing.

467
00:32:38,599 --> 00:32:40,935
<i>Did the pilots believe
they could recover</i>

468
00:32:40,935 --> 00:32:44,564
<i>from an un-stabilized approach
and land safely?</i>

469
00:32:49,819 --> 00:32:51,487
Auto-brake disarm.

470
00:32:53,990 --> 00:32:55,825
Oh, crap!

471
00:33:05,460 --> 00:33:07,962
Looks like the Captain
increases engine power

472
00:33:07,962 --> 00:33:09,839
to stabilize the landing.

473
00:33:12,133 --> 00:33:16,137
<i>Investigators search
the FDR parameters to explain</i>

474
00:33:16,137 --> 00:33:18,765
<i>how the pilots of Flight 13-44</i>

475
00:33:18,765 --> 00:33:21,684
<i>dealt with their
un-stabilized approach.</i>

476
00:33:23,895 --> 00:33:25,521
In order to have
a smooth landing,

477
00:33:25,521 --> 00:33:27,982
pilots typically add
a bit of thrust

478
00:33:27,982 --> 00:33:30,735
just before touchdown...

479
00:33:32,779 --> 00:33:35,740
which is probably what
the captain was trying to do.

480
00:33:37,617 --> 00:33:40,036
He's pushing throttles
well beyond 80% percent.

481
00:33:41,954 --> 00:33:44,582
<i>30. 20.</i>

482
00:33:46,667 --> 00:33:48,836
<i>The Captain adds so much power</i>

483
00:33:48,836 --> 00:33:51,714
<i>the plane floats
down the runway.</i>

484
00:33:57,345 --> 00:34:01,891
The plane floats over the
runway for more than 3,000 feet.

485
00:34:01,891 --> 00:34:06,604
Why wouldn't the Captain
just put the plane down?

486
00:34:10,358 --> 00:34:12,610
His wiper was barely working.

487
00:34:13,945 --> 00:34:16,697
It's night.
The weather is marginal.

488
00:34:16,697 --> 00:34:19,951
What if he lost track of
where he was along the runway?

489
00:34:22,370 --> 00:34:24,747
So when you approach
an airfield like Calicut,

490
00:34:24,747 --> 00:34:27,667
there are no lights
surrounding the runway.

491
00:34:27,667 --> 00:34:29,877
You just see the runway lights.

492
00:34:31,129 --> 00:34:35,717
So in case you have light rain
but low cloud ceiling,

493
00:34:35,717 --> 00:34:38,469
that is a very
unnerving feeling.

494
00:34:41,931 --> 00:34:44,976
<i>The Captain didn't know where
to put the plane down</i>

495
00:34:44,976 --> 00:34:46,728
<i>because of his slow wiper</i>

496
00:34:46,728 --> 00:34:50,648
<i>and the heavy rain
which reduced his vision.</i>

497
00:34:58,448 --> 00:35:00,658
They still could have
done a go-around.

498
00:35:02,785 --> 00:35:04,829
The plane can
carry out a go-around

499
00:35:04,829 --> 00:35:07,832
from any point of time,
even after touchdown

500
00:35:07,832 --> 00:35:10,626
so long the thrust reversers
are not deployed.

501
00:35:13,629 --> 00:35:15,256
So why didn't they?

502
00:35:27,852 --> 00:35:29,937
Just check it.
Put the plane down.

503
00:35:34,984 --> 00:35:36,235
Captain.

504
00:35:36,235 --> 00:35:38,863
<i>- 10.</i>
- Go around.

505
00:35:42,116 --> 00:35:44,952
The First Officer
called for a go-around.

506
00:35:45,787 --> 00:35:47,038
And the Captain
ignored him.

507
00:35:48,998 --> 00:35:52,126
<i>Why would such an experienced
Captain not listen</i>

508
00:35:52,126 --> 00:35:55,546
<i>to his First Officer
at such a critical moment?</i>

509
00:35:57,048 --> 00:35:59,509
That was fatal.

510
00:35:59,509 --> 00:36:02,345
If the captain
would have gone around

511
00:36:02,345 --> 00:36:04,889
the result could
have been different.

512
00:36:10,353 --> 00:36:11,979
Okay.

513
00:36:12,939 --> 00:36:15,191
I appreciate your assistance.

514
00:36:15,191 --> 00:36:16,734
Thanks.

515
00:36:18,194 --> 00:36:20,279
<i>Investigators interview
other pilots</i>

516
00:36:20,279 --> 00:36:22,073
<i>who flew with Captain Sathe</i>

517
00:36:22,073 --> 00:36:25,743
<i>to determine how he worked
with others in the cockpit.</i>

518
00:36:26,994 --> 00:36:29,163
That was the last pilot
on the list.

519
00:36:29,163 --> 00:36:30,540
And?

520
00:36:30,540 --> 00:36:32,583
Here's some of the ways
they described him:

521
00:36:32,583 --> 00:36:34,460
"cognitive rigidity",

522
00:36:34,460 --> 00:36:36,003
"goal oriented",

523
00:36:36,003 --> 00:36:38,798
"tendency towards
perfectionism".

524
00:36:38,798 --> 00:36:41,426
Sounds more like an air force
pilot than a civilian one.

525
00:36:41,426 --> 00:36:43,011
Which is what he was

526
00:36:43,011 --> 00:36:45,013
for 21 years at the start
of his career.

527
00:36:51,978 --> 00:36:54,814
The military aviators
are trained to be goal-oriented

528
00:36:54,814 --> 00:36:56,691
because for them the success
of a mission

529
00:36:56,691 --> 00:36:59,152
is the most important criteria.

530
00:37:00,153 --> 00:37:03,281
<i>There's another reason
the Captain may have been</i>

531
00:37:03,281 --> 00:37:05,700
<i>determined to land in Calicut.</i>

532
00:37:06,784 --> 00:37:10,872
The crew were now making
a second approach into Calicut,

533
00:37:10,872 --> 00:37:14,709
and if they had to go around
from this approach,

534
00:37:14,709 --> 00:37:17,795
they would,
by the operating procedures,

535
00:37:17,795 --> 00:37:20,798
be required to divert.

536
00:37:22,216 --> 00:37:24,969
<i>Did the Captain resist
a second go-around</i>

537
00:37:24,969 --> 00:37:27,930
<i>so that he wouldn't be
forced to divert?</i>

538
00:37:33,895 --> 00:37:36,022
Here's something...

539
00:37:36,022 --> 00:37:39,567
<i>Investigators focus on
the Captain's flight schedule</i>

540
00:37:39,567 --> 00:37:42,904
<i>before and after
the day of the accident.</i>

541
00:37:42,904 --> 00:37:44,822
Take a look.

542
00:37:44,822 --> 00:37:46,908
Captain Sathe was scheduled
to be on stand-by

543
00:37:46,908 --> 00:37:50,536
the day after the accident,
August 8th.

544
00:37:50,536 --> 00:37:55,083
But the day before the accident,
there was a scheduling change

545
00:37:55,083 --> 00:37:58,127
and Captain Sathe had to
pick up an additional flight.

546
00:38:01,089 --> 00:38:04,342
He was the only captain
who could fly out of Calicut,

547
00:38:04,342 --> 00:38:08,221
remember a tricky airport
and only captains can operate

548
00:38:08,221 --> 00:38:11,766
flights in and out
of a tabletop airport.

549
00:38:13,893 --> 00:38:16,354
So if he had diverted
to another airport

550
00:38:16,354 --> 00:38:18,272
instead of landing,

551
00:38:18,272 --> 00:38:21,275
the flight to Doha the next day
would have to be cancelled.

552
00:38:25,613 --> 00:38:27,323
He was committed to land
because he knew that

553
00:38:27,323 --> 00:38:29,450
there was no one else
to undertake the flight.

554
00:38:32,370 --> 00:38:34,956
<i>But even if the Captain
forced the landing,</i>

555
00:38:34,956 --> 00:38:39,002
<i>the first officer could still
have taken over the controls</i>

556
00:38:39,002 --> 00:38:41,713
<i>and diverted.
So why didn't he?</i>

557
00:38:43,131 --> 00:38:45,091
If the captain does not
carry out a go-around,

558
00:38:45,091 --> 00:38:47,009
the co-pilot is expected
to take over.

559
00:38:47,009 --> 00:38:50,805
In the safety of the flight,
that is a must.

560
00:38:51,806 --> 00:38:54,600
Captain. Go around!

561
00:39:00,982 --> 00:39:03,901
<i>Investigators
examine the CVR transcripts</i>

562
00:39:03,901 --> 00:39:08,281
<i>of Flight 13-44 to determine
why the first officer</i>

563
00:39:08,281 --> 00:39:09,824
<i>failed to take control.</i>

564
00:39:09,824 --> 00:39:11,784
<i>They discover
a pattern emerging...</i>

565
00:39:14,245 --> 00:39:16,581
Rate of descent, Captain.

566
00:39:16,581 --> 00:39:18,833
<i>...of a dismissive Captain...</i>

567
00:39:18,833 --> 00:39:22,545
Yeah, yeah. Correcting,
correcting, correcting.

568
00:39:22,545 --> 00:39:26,132
<i>... and a First Officer
who didn't assert himself.</i>

569
00:39:26,132 --> 00:39:29,260
<i>Glide slope.
Glide slope.</i>

570
00:39:29,260 --> 00:39:31,095
Check.

571
00:39:32,013 --> 00:39:34,098
Captain.

572
00:39:34,098 --> 00:39:35,850
Go around!

573
00:39:38,394 --> 00:39:42,774
The captain uses his authority
to dictate what he wants

574
00:39:42,774 --> 00:39:45,526
and the co-pilot is
too submissive to call out

575
00:39:45,526 --> 00:39:48,029
what he sees as unsafe.

576
00:39:50,031 --> 00:39:54,243
<i>Was this type of behaviour
common at the airline?</i>

577
00:39:54,243 --> 00:39:57,121
<i>Investigators examine
Air India Express's</i>

578
00:39:57,121 --> 00:39:58,748
<i>Operations Manual.</i>

579
00:40:01,376 --> 00:40:04,962
It would be very important
to understand how teamwork

580
00:40:04,962 --> 00:40:09,217
is encouraged in the cockpit of
an Air India Express aircraft.

581
00:40:13,137 --> 00:40:16,683
It says, "Captains need to
approve flight data

582
00:40:16,683 --> 00:40:19,060
presented by First Officers."

583
00:40:19,977 --> 00:40:21,396
That would certainly
promote a definite

584
00:40:21,396 --> 00:40:23,064
hierarchy in the cockpit.

585
00:40:25,650 --> 00:40:26,901
Maybe that's why
the First Officer

586
00:40:26,901 --> 00:40:28,653
didn't feel empowered enough
to grab the controls

587
00:40:28,653 --> 00:40:30,446
and do the go-around.

588
00:40:33,032 --> 00:40:36,202
We realized that
the language used amounted

589
00:40:36,202 --> 00:40:40,915
to the First Officer
is subservient to the Captain.

590
00:40:44,544 --> 00:40:48,923
<i>Despite the Captain's
rigidity, one simple procedure</i>

591
00:40:48,923 --> 00:40:51,509
<i>could have saved
the passengers and crew.</i>

592
00:40:55,221 --> 00:40:56,889
I don't recall
them ever calculating

593
00:40:56,889 --> 00:40:59,016
their landing distance.

594
00:41:02,020 --> 00:41:03,896
Because they were now
coming in with a tailwind

595
00:41:03,896 --> 00:41:07,567
onto runway 1-0, conditions
had changed entirely

596
00:41:07,567 --> 00:41:10,153
from the headwind on runway 2-8,

597
00:41:10,153 --> 00:41:14,949
and they needed to do a landing
distance calculation.

598
00:41:17,368 --> 00:41:19,370
You're right.

599
00:41:19,370 --> 00:41:21,497
He didn't do the calculation.

600
00:41:25,209 --> 00:41:30,048
They missed critical decisions
on the tailwind, the wet runway,

601
00:41:30,048 --> 00:41:32,800
and potential diversion options,

602
00:41:32,800 --> 00:41:35,178
in addition to calculating
landing distance.

603
00:41:36,971 --> 00:41:38,431
If they had done any of these,

604
00:41:38,431 --> 00:41:40,767
it would have helped them
understand there was too little

605
00:41:40,767 --> 00:41:44,062
margin of error
to conduct this approach.

606
00:42:10,505 --> 00:42:13,091
Different airport,
different outcome.

607
00:42:13,091 --> 00:42:15,468
The Captain would have been
able to pass controls

608
00:42:15,468 --> 00:42:17,345
to the First Officer,

609
00:42:17,345 --> 00:42:21,265
who had a fully working wiper,
to land the plane.

610
00:42:23,142 --> 00:42:24,852
If they had just
diverted to another airport,

611
00:42:24,852 --> 00:42:27,063
they'd all be alive today.

612
00:42:38,157 --> 00:42:40,118
There were so many
opportunities the crew had

613
00:42:40,118 --> 00:42:42,829
to conduct a missed approach
during this landing,

614
00:42:42,829 --> 00:42:45,665
but the crew took none of them.

615
00:42:50,753 --> 00:42:52,422
<i>In their final report,</i>

616
00:42:52,422 --> 00:42:56,092
<i>investigators recommend
expanding simulator training</i>

617
00:42:56,092 --> 00:42:58,761
<i>for unstabilized approaches,</i>

618
00:42:58,761 --> 00:43:00,972
<i>stressing that the
First Officer should</i>

619
00:43:00,972 --> 00:43:05,059
<i>assertively assume control
and initiate a go-around</i>

620
00:43:05,059 --> 00:43:07,979
<i>if the Pilot Flying fails
to respond.</i>

621
00:43:14,193 --> 00:43:16,529
Simulator training with
an emphasis on assertiveness

622
00:43:16,529 --> 00:43:19,115
would go a long way
in allowing first officers

623
00:43:19,115 --> 00:43:22,618
to take all appropriate actions
up to and including

624
00:43:22,618 --> 00:43:25,872
taking control of the aircraft
when the pilot in command

625
00:43:25,872 --> 00:43:28,041
does not respond appropriately.

626
00:43:38,217 --> 00:43:40,344
This accident is avoidable.

627
00:43:41,804 --> 00:43:47,143
We see the number of risks at
every stage the crew had taken,

628
00:43:47,143 --> 00:43:50,897
which were unnecessary risks.

629
00:43:50,897 --> 00:43:56,277
There was a human factor,
which came into play.

630
00:43:56,277 --> 00:43:59,364
They do not see their
consequences of their actions.

631
00:43:59,364 --> 00:44:03,034
That is a key point
in any accident.

632
00:44:26,891 --> 00:44:29,644
Subtitling: difuze


