1 00:00:02,135 --> 00:00:03,937 NARRATOR: All that's left of Ethiopian Airlines 2 00:00:04,003 --> 00:00:07,874 flight 409 lies at the bottom of the Mediterranean Sea. 3 00:00:07,941 --> 00:00:11,644 This accident was very unusual, very unlikely. 4 00:00:11,711 --> 00:00:15,315 Everybody was shocked that we had a major crash in Lebanon. 5 00:00:15,382 --> 00:00:16,883 Turn right now, heading 270. 6 00:00:16,950 --> 00:00:18,952 NARRATOR: The 737 fell from the sky 7 00:00:19,018 --> 00:00:21,020 just minutes after leaving Beirut. 8 00:00:21,087 --> 00:00:23,823 Oh God! 9 00:00:23,890 --> 00:00:26,159 NARRATOR: Now rumors of a terrorist attack 10 00:00:26,226 --> 00:00:27,494 are spreading to the streets. 11 00:00:27,560 --> 00:00:28,628 They speculate that the airplane 12 00:00:28,695 --> 00:00:29,863 could be hit by a bomb. 13 00:00:29,929 --> 00:00:31,464 NARRATOR: And investigators are struggling 14 00:00:31,531 --> 00:00:36,536 to understand the plane's bizarre flight path. 15 00:00:36,603 --> 00:00:38,972 Often, the best approach is the Sherlock Holmes approach. 16 00:00:39,038 --> 00:00:40,507 We need to check those trim tabs. 17 00:00:40,573 --> 00:00:43,176 Eliminate everything you didn't happen. 18 00:00:43,243 --> 00:00:44,244 What time did he check in? 19 00:00:44,310 --> 00:00:45,645 What's left-- 20 00:00:45,712 --> 00:00:46,646 That's it. 21 00:00:46,713 --> 00:00:47,914 --is probably what did happen. 22 00:00:47,981 --> 00:00:49,315 What is it? 23 00:00:49,382 --> 00:00:51,785 NARRATOR: The evidence leads to a finding so controversial. 24 00:00:51,851 --> 00:00:55,155 This flight was in jeopardy from the outset. 25 00:00:55,221 --> 00:00:58,858 NARRATOR: Some still refuse to believe it. 26 00:00:58,925 --> 00:00:59,926 ANNOUNCER: Ladies and gentlemen, 27 00:00:59,993 --> 00:01:01,327 we are starting our approach. 28 00:01:01,394 --> 00:01:02,328 We lost both engines. 29 00:01:02,395 --> 00:01:03,363 Keep the mask up your nose. 30 00:01:03,430 --> 00:01:04,497 Emergency descend. - Mayday! 31 00:01:04,564 --> 00:01:05,498 Mayday! 32 00:01:05,565 --> 00:01:07,100 Brace for impact! 33 00:01:07,167 --> 00:01:08,568 He's the last one. 34 00:01:08,635 --> 00:01:11,271 Investigation started in 2004. 35 00:01:11,337 --> 00:01:18,344 He's going to crash. 36 00:01:24,784 --> 00:01:28,855 NARRATOR: January 25, 2010. 37 00:01:28,922 --> 00:01:30,924 It's just past midnight at Beirut's 38 00:01:30,990 --> 00:01:37,764 International Airport. 39 00:01:37,831 --> 00:01:39,866 Fuel is good. 40 00:01:39,933 --> 00:01:43,369 Load is calculated. 41 00:01:43,436 --> 00:01:46,005 In a typical departure, the flight crew 42 00:01:46,072 --> 00:01:48,641 reviews its load, reviews the fuel, 43 00:01:48,708 --> 00:01:53,012 reviews the route then runs through the company checklists 44 00:01:53,079 --> 00:01:55,882 to get the airplane underway. 45 00:01:55,949 --> 00:01:57,484 NARRATOR: Captain Habtamu Negasa 46 00:01:57,550 --> 00:02:01,888 has been flying with Ethiopian Airlines for over 20 years 47 00:02:01,955 --> 00:02:05,358 and has more than 10,000 hours in the cockpit. 48 00:02:05,425 --> 00:02:07,393 Exterior checks complete? 49 00:02:07,460 --> 00:02:08,394 Check complete. 50 00:02:08,461 --> 00:02:10,663 No problems. 51 00:02:10,730 --> 00:02:13,967 NARRATOR: The first officer is far less experienced. 52 00:02:14,033 --> 00:02:17,504 Aluna Beyene is a recent graduate 53 00:02:17,570 --> 00:02:21,274 of the Ethiopian Airlines Flight Academy. 54 00:02:21,341 --> 00:02:23,243 Tonight, there are 82 passengers 55 00:02:23,309 --> 00:02:26,379 aboard the Boeing 737. 56 00:02:26,446 --> 00:02:28,314 They are preparing for an overnight flight 57 00:02:28,381 --> 00:02:31,918 to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. 58 00:02:31,985 --> 00:02:34,487 Many passengers are Lebanese. 59 00:02:34,554 --> 00:02:41,461 Some are Ethiopians returning home after working abroad. 60 00:02:41,528 --> 00:02:43,963 There's also an undercover security officer 61 00:02:44,030 --> 00:02:49,035 on board tonight's flight. 62 00:02:49,102 --> 00:02:53,039 Flight security officer's there post-9/11 63 00:02:53,106 --> 00:02:57,777 to intercept anybody who attempts to interfere 64 00:02:57,844 --> 00:03:04,851 with the flight crew. 65 00:03:06,185 --> 00:03:09,689 NARRATOR: Beirut airport has seen its share of trouble. 66 00:03:09,756 --> 00:03:12,492 It was the site of the 1983 marine barracks 67 00:03:12,559 --> 00:03:17,997 bombing that killed 241 American servicemen. 68 00:03:18,064 --> 00:03:22,035 In 2006, all three runways were destroyed by Israeli missiles 69 00:03:22,101 --> 00:03:26,372 during the Lebanon war. 70 00:03:26,439 --> 00:03:28,474 Today, the rebuilt airport serves 71 00:03:28,541 --> 00:03:33,780 flights from around the world. 72 00:03:33,846 --> 00:03:37,317 Beirut airport is a very busy, very well-put-together 73 00:03:37,383 --> 00:03:38,618 civil airport. 74 00:03:38,685 --> 00:03:41,854 Its only difficulty is presented by the mountains 75 00:03:41,921 --> 00:03:44,390 directly to the East. 76 00:03:44,457 --> 00:03:47,527 NARRATOR: The Lebanon mountains rise sharply from the coast, 77 00:03:47,594 --> 00:03:52,098 forcing all flights to take off toward the Mediterranean Sea. 78 00:03:52,165 --> 00:03:56,636 Flight 409's flight plan calls for it to head southwest then 79 00:03:56,703 --> 00:03:59,038 make a U-turn towards a navigational checkpoint 80 00:03:59,105 --> 00:04:03,676 called Chekka. 81 00:04:03,743 --> 00:04:05,778 Ethiopian 409, wind's nearly calm. 82 00:04:05,845 --> 00:04:07,513 Cleared for takeoff 2-1. 83 00:04:07,580 --> 00:04:08,748 NARRATOR: The air traffic controller 84 00:04:08,815 --> 00:04:12,318 gives flight 409 its final takeoff instructions. 85 00:04:12,385 --> 00:04:14,253 Immediate right turn to Chekka. 86 00:04:14,320 --> 00:04:15,254 Roger. 87 00:04:15,321 --> 00:04:17,023 Cleared for takeoff runway 2-1. 88 00:04:17,090 --> 00:04:18,658 Immediate right turn to Chekka. 89 00:04:18,725 --> 00:04:21,794 Ethiopian 409. 90 00:04:21,861 --> 00:04:24,864 Left side is clear. 91 00:04:24,931 --> 00:04:26,299 Right side is clear. 92 00:04:26,366 --> 00:04:28,635 NARRATOR: The captain sets his radar to display the weather. 93 00:04:28,701 --> 00:04:30,036 Weather's on my side. 94 00:04:30,103 --> 00:04:31,037 Roger. 95 00:04:31,104 --> 00:04:32,405 Terrain on my side. 96 00:04:32,472 --> 00:04:35,074 NARRATOR: While the first officer monitors the terrain. 97 00:04:35,141 --> 00:04:38,511 The weather that night had mixed clouds with bases 98 00:04:38,578 --> 00:04:42,548 from 2,000 feet overcast up to 20,000 feet, 99 00:04:42,615 --> 00:04:48,988 and there were scattered thunderstorms in the area. 100 00:04:49,055 --> 00:04:55,395 Take off thrust set. 101 00:04:55,461 --> 00:05:00,433 NARRATOR: The 737 accelerates down the runway. 102 00:05:00,500 --> 00:05:05,471 Speed increasing, check. 103 00:05:05,538 --> 00:05:09,275 Do you see that? 104 00:05:09,342 --> 00:05:11,344 Rotate. 105 00:05:11,411 --> 00:05:14,113 NARRATOR: Ethiopian Airlines 409 lifts off just 106 00:05:14,180 --> 00:05:17,216 after 2:30 in the morning. 107 00:05:17,283 --> 00:05:19,585 Their takeoff procedure and the initial part 108 00:05:19,652 --> 00:05:23,189 of the takeoff seemed entirely routine and ordinary, 109 00:05:23,256 --> 00:05:30,263 and well-executed. 110 00:05:32,298 --> 00:05:36,836 Gear up. 111 00:05:36,903 --> 00:05:38,504 Heading select. 112 00:05:38,571 --> 00:05:42,075 Heading select, check. 113 00:05:42,141 --> 00:05:44,510 NARRATOR: The captain begins banking the plane to the right 114 00:05:44,577 --> 00:05:46,913 as he climbs. 115 00:05:46,979 --> 00:05:50,349 Ethiopian 409 control 19-3 Ma Salama. 116 00:05:50,416 --> 00:05:52,485 NARRATOR: The tower controller bids the crew goodbye 117 00:05:52,552 --> 00:05:54,821 and hands the flight off to a colleague. 118 00:05:54,887 --> 00:05:56,756 Ethiopian 409, good morning. 119 00:05:56,823 --> 00:05:59,459 Climb flight level 290. 120 00:05:59,525 --> 00:06:01,260 NARRATOR: The area controller instructs flight 121 00:06:01,327 --> 00:06:04,464 409 to climb to 29,000 feet. 122 00:06:04,530 --> 00:06:09,702 Flight level 290, Ethiopian 409. 123 00:06:09,769 --> 00:06:13,272 NARRATOR: But the weather ahead is becoming fierce. 124 00:06:13,339 --> 00:06:14,373 There's lightning in the air. 125 00:06:14,440 --> 00:06:15,575 You see the flashes. 126 00:06:15,641 --> 00:06:18,978 You're beginning to feel turbulence. 127 00:06:19,045 --> 00:06:20,513 Sir, I suggest that, due to the weather, 128 00:06:20,580 --> 00:06:23,382 you follow heading 270 to be in the clear. 129 00:06:23,449 --> 00:06:25,685 2-1, say again. 130 00:06:25,752 --> 00:06:31,557 Confirm heading 210. 131 00:06:31,624 --> 00:06:33,960 NARRATOR: Just a few minutes into the flight, something 132 00:06:34,026 --> 00:06:35,962 is going wrong. 133 00:06:36,028 --> 00:06:38,030 An alarm warns the crew that their turn 134 00:06:38,097 --> 00:06:40,133 is becoming dangerously steep. 135 00:06:40,199 --> 00:06:43,269 The airplane is being banked beyond 136 00:06:43,336 --> 00:06:45,605 its normal operational limits. 137 00:06:45,671 --> 00:06:47,106 NARRATOR: Captain Negasa is struggling 138 00:06:47,173 --> 00:06:49,142 to correct the problem. 139 00:06:49,208 --> 00:06:51,544 He veers back to the left towards the thunderstorm the 140 00:06:51,611 --> 00:06:57,316 controller wants him to avoid. 141 00:06:57,383 --> 00:07:01,187 As you enter heavy precipitation, 142 00:07:01,254 --> 00:07:05,858 the cockpit can become very noisy with a tremendous worst. 143 00:07:05,925 --> 00:07:12,832 It gets your attention. 144 00:07:14,233 --> 00:07:16,302 NARRATOR: The controller sees that flight 409 is starting 145 00:07:16,369 --> 00:07:18,838 to veer back towards Beirut. 146 00:07:18,905 --> 00:07:21,974 He warns the pilots again that they need to turn. 147 00:07:22,041 --> 00:07:26,312 Ethiopian 409, follow heading 270. 148 00:07:26,379 --> 00:07:29,415 Turn right, heading 270. 149 00:07:29,482 --> 00:07:32,018 At this moment, the controller 150 00:07:32,084 --> 00:07:34,954 was probably most concerned with the fact 151 00:07:35,021 --> 00:07:37,223 that the crew had overshot its heading, 152 00:07:37,290 --> 00:07:40,960 would be conflicting with inbound traffic 153 00:07:41,027 --> 00:07:43,863 and had to be moved away from a possible conflict 154 00:07:43,930 --> 00:07:45,832 with terrain. 155 00:07:45,898 --> 00:07:47,166 Correct heading 270. 156 00:07:47,233 --> 00:07:48,201 Roger. 157 00:07:48,267 --> 00:07:50,036 OK, what heading did he say? 158 00:07:50,102 --> 00:07:51,037 270. 159 00:07:51,103 --> 00:07:55,608 Set. 160 00:07:55,675 --> 00:07:58,244 NARRATOR: The cockpit fills with a disturbing sound. 161 00:07:58,311 --> 00:07:59,278 What is it? 162 00:07:59,345 --> 00:08:00,913 NARRATOR: The control columns vibrate, 163 00:08:00,980 --> 00:08:03,115 warning them that the plane is about to stall. 164 00:08:03,182 --> 00:08:05,484 Speak. 165 00:08:05,551 --> 00:08:06,485 What is it? 166 00:08:06,552 --> 00:08:07,486 Go around. 167 00:08:07,553 --> 00:08:09,255 Go around. 168 00:08:09,322 --> 00:08:10,590 Roger. 169 00:08:10,656 --> 00:08:12,859 Go around. 170 00:08:12,925 --> 00:08:16,028 NARRATOR: The captain pushes the throttle all the way up 171 00:08:16,095 --> 00:08:20,266 to go around the problem. 172 00:08:20,333 --> 00:08:24,036 Ethiopian 409, follow heading 270, sir. 173 00:08:24,103 --> 00:08:25,638 Follow heading 270. 174 00:08:25,705 --> 00:08:28,541 Turn right, heading 270 now. 175 00:08:28,608 --> 00:08:34,013 Whenever a controller tells the pilot to do something now, 176 00:08:34,080 --> 00:08:36,415 the controller is telling the flight that they're 177 00:08:36,482 --> 00:08:38,985 in immediate danger. 178 00:08:39,051 --> 00:08:45,758 Speed is going down. 179 00:08:45,825 --> 00:08:48,728 Ethiopian 409, you are going into the mountain. 180 00:08:48,794 --> 00:08:52,865 Turn right now, heading 270. 181 00:08:52,932 --> 00:08:54,667 He was worried that the crew was 182 00:08:54,734 --> 00:08:56,702 going to fly the airplane into the hills 183 00:08:56,769 --> 00:08:59,405 behind Beirut airport. 184 00:08:59,472 --> 00:09:02,141 NARRATOR: But their situation is even more dire. 185 00:09:02,208 --> 00:09:05,645 The chaotic motion of the plane is torture for passengers. 186 00:09:05,711 --> 00:09:07,613 It's horrible. 187 00:09:07,680 --> 00:09:10,850 You're feeling a 3G load. 188 00:09:10,917 --> 00:09:13,719 It's pushed you down in your seat. 189 00:09:13,786 --> 00:09:15,121 You're getting squashed. 190 00:09:15,187 --> 00:09:18,291 Your fellow passengers, some of them are silent some of them 191 00:09:18,357 --> 00:09:23,162 were screaming. 192 00:09:29,201 --> 00:09:30,136 God. 193 00:09:30,202 --> 00:09:33,172 Oh, God. 194 00:09:33,239 --> 00:09:35,141 Oh, God. 195 00:09:38,444 --> 00:09:44,450 Ethiopian 409, Beirut? 196 00:09:44,517 --> 00:09:51,490 Ethiopian 409, Beirut? 197 00:09:53,793 --> 00:09:54,927 We've lost an aircraft. 198 00:09:54,994 --> 00:09:56,662 Ethiopian. 199 00:09:56,729 --> 00:09:57,863 We don't know what's happened, and we 200 00:09:57,930 --> 00:10:04,937 don't know his position. 201 00:10:06,872 --> 00:10:09,375 NARRATOR: Ethiopian 409 has plunged 202 00:10:09,442 --> 00:10:16,449 into the Mediterranean Sea just five minutes after takeoff. 203 00:10:23,356 --> 00:10:26,392 Within minutes of the crash, the Lebanese military 204 00:10:26,459 --> 00:10:31,430 issued a distress call to all available ships in the area. 205 00:10:31,497 --> 00:10:36,602 Local boats, as well as foreign warships, join the search. 206 00:10:36,669 --> 00:10:38,871 My first reaction was this accident 207 00:10:38,938 --> 00:10:43,642 was very unusual, very unlikely, 208 00:10:43,709 --> 00:10:49,448 that really required a very good investigation to see 209 00:10:49,515 --> 00:10:52,385 what we could learn from it. 210 00:10:52,451 --> 00:10:54,920 NARRATOR: It's the first major commercial aircraft accident 211 00:10:54,987 --> 00:10:59,458 in Lebanon in nearly 35 years. 212 00:10:59,525 --> 00:11:01,527 Within hours, the Lebanese Civil 213 00:11:01,594 --> 00:11:07,867 Aviation Authority dispatches Hamdi Chaouk to take charge. 214 00:11:07,933 --> 00:11:09,235 As soon as I reached the airport, 215 00:11:09,301 --> 00:11:12,371 I had to try to manage the environment of the accident. 216 00:11:12,438 --> 00:11:13,639 All right. 217 00:11:13,706 --> 00:11:17,610 The hardest part is how to deal with all the search 218 00:11:17,676 --> 00:11:21,113 and rescue of major parties, from defense 219 00:11:21,180 --> 00:11:24,483 to the interior ministry to all the concerned parties who 220 00:11:24,550 --> 00:11:26,919 have never done this before. 221 00:11:26,986 --> 00:11:28,521 NARRATOR: A former pilot, he's one 222 00:11:28,587 --> 00:11:31,257 of the few experienced investigators in the country. 223 00:11:31,323 --> 00:11:32,792 So we've got to make this our search area 224 00:11:32,858 --> 00:11:34,627 right here on this grid, OK? 225 00:11:34,693 --> 00:11:36,896 We have ships here, here, and here. 226 00:11:36,962 --> 00:11:38,130 OK. 227 00:11:38,197 --> 00:11:41,734 NARRATOR: Mohamed Aziz is his second in command. 228 00:11:41,801 --> 00:11:45,204 First of all, we wanted, if by any miracle, 229 00:11:45,271 --> 00:11:46,972 anybody had escaped, we wanted to be 230 00:11:47,039 --> 00:11:51,210 able to pick any survivor, especially 231 00:11:51,277 --> 00:11:53,646 that the first hours they discovered two or three 232 00:11:53,712 --> 00:11:56,715 bodies, most probably they were thrown out 233 00:11:56,782 --> 00:12:03,789 of the plane when it crashed. 234 00:12:05,591 --> 00:12:08,694 Have you any sign of wreckage? 235 00:12:08,761 --> 00:12:11,797 Negative, nothing. 236 00:12:11,864 --> 00:12:13,532 NARRATOR: Chaouk is under intense pressure 237 00:12:13,599 --> 00:12:15,935 to locate the wreckage fast. 238 00:12:16,001 --> 00:12:17,436 So you want to answer very important 239 00:12:17,503 --> 00:12:19,238 questions to the family. 240 00:12:19,305 --> 00:12:25,444 Why my relative died? 241 00:12:25,511 --> 00:12:27,680 It goes to your head as an investigator always. 242 00:12:27,746 --> 00:12:29,081 I want to know the truth. 243 00:12:29,148 --> 00:12:30,082 Nothing here? 244 00:12:30,149 --> 00:12:31,083 No. 245 00:12:31,150 --> 00:12:32,685 No? 246 00:12:32,751 --> 00:12:34,687 NARRATOR: But the storm flight 409 was trying 247 00:12:34,753 --> 00:12:37,456 to avoid is still raging. 248 00:12:37,523 --> 00:12:40,292 A major deterrent to the search and rescue operation 249 00:12:40,359 --> 00:12:41,527 was whether. 250 00:12:41,594 --> 00:12:45,064 Bad weather was high waves and the sea and so on. 251 00:12:45,131 --> 00:12:49,635 So this makes the search and rescue operation difficult. 252 00:12:49,702 --> 00:12:52,805 OK, let's see what kind of weather they were flying. 253 00:12:52,872 --> 00:12:54,540 NARRATOR: Could the storm have been fierce enough 254 00:12:54,607 --> 00:12:57,276 to bring down a 737? 255 00:12:57,343 --> 00:12:58,544 Well, there were thunderstorms west 256 00:12:58,611 --> 00:12:59,845 of the airport. 257 00:12:59,912 --> 00:13:02,181 Thunderstorms can be very dangerous. 258 00:13:02,248 --> 00:13:05,751 They can interrupt the flight and the airplane structurally, 259 00:13:05,818 --> 00:13:10,890 and they complicate the safe operation of the airplane. 260 00:13:10,956 --> 00:13:12,691 NARRATOR: In rare cases, a lightning 261 00:13:12,758 --> 00:13:15,194 strike can damage the electronics 262 00:13:15,261 --> 00:13:16,595 that control the aircraft. 263 00:13:16,662 --> 00:13:19,798 While a lightning strike on an airplane 264 00:13:19,865 --> 00:13:22,835 is not uncommon and usually doesn't 265 00:13:22,902 --> 00:13:25,604 create damage to the airplane, it 266 00:13:25,671 --> 00:13:28,974 can under some circumstances. 267 00:13:29,041 --> 00:13:31,076 NARRATOR: At the same time, rumors 268 00:13:31,143 --> 00:13:33,612 are spreading that flight 409 was the target 269 00:13:33,679 --> 00:13:39,752 of a terrorist bombing. 270 00:13:39,818 --> 00:13:42,388 When you live in a country like Lebanon, every now 271 00:13:42,454 --> 00:13:45,925 and then, you have fighting. 272 00:13:45,991 --> 00:13:50,262 You have explosions. 273 00:13:50,329 --> 00:13:53,032 And the first thing that comes to mind when you lose 274 00:13:53,098 --> 00:13:55,668 an aircraft just like that is maybe there 275 00:13:55,734 --> 00:13:57,236 is an explosion on board the flight. 276 00:14:00,673 --> 00:14:02,508 NARRATOR: As day breaks, wreckage 277 00:14:02,575 --> 00:14:09,582 begins to wash up onshore. 278 00:14:10,749 --> 00:14:15,788 Navy ships recover floating debris, 279 00:14:15,854 --> 00:14:18,457 and some human remains. 280 00:14:18,524 --> 00:14:22,027 It's painfully obvious there are no survivors. 281 00:14:22,094 --> 00:14:26,865 The Lebanese army have recovered seven bodies. 282 00:14:26,932 --> 00:14:33,439 NARRATOR: 82 passengers and eight crew are dead. 283 00:14:34,473 --> 00:14:37,543 Most of the plane is still missing. 284 00:14:37,610 --> 00:14:39,878 Without more wreckage, investigators 285 00:14:39,945 --> 00:14:46,685 may never know what happened. 286 00:14:46,752 --> 00:14:49,588 At the airport, controller's eyewitness accounts 287 00:14:49,655 --> 00:14:54,226 seem to support a possible terrorist attack. 288 00:14:54,293 --> 00:14:55,928 I saw a bright orange flash. 289 00:14:55,995 --> 00:14:58,831 It looked like the plane exploded. 290 00:14:58,897 --> 00:15:02,067 The controller he saw a ball of fire at the place. 291 00:15:02,134 --> 00:15:04,837 He presumed that the plane crashed. 292 00:15:04,903 --> 00:15:11,877 So some people they say that it could be an explosion. 293 00:15:17,483 --> 00:15:19,118 NARRATOR: Hard evidence of sabotage 294 00:15:19,184 --> 00:15:25,958 requires a close examination of the wreckage. 295 00:15:26,959 --> 00:15:31,330 You have to go back to the evidence 296 00:15:31,397 --> 00:15:33,766 because the evidence speaks. 297 00:15:33,832 --> 00:15:35,968 The part itself of the plane can tell 298 00:15:36,035 --> 00:15:38,570 you how the accident happened. 299 00:15:38,637 --> 00:15:41,006 NARRATOR: And so far, the inexperienced team is having 300 00:15:41,073 --> 00:15:44,710 trouble locating the plane. 301 00:15:44,777 --> 00:15:46,178 No luck yet. 302 00:15:46,245 --> 00:15:48,814 Have you searched this sector here? 303 00:15:48,881 --> 00:15:49,815 Yeah, we looked everywhere. 304 00:15:49,882 --> 00:15:52,818 We looked here, here, here. 305 00:15:52,885 --> 00:15:55,954 We were able to determine where probably the aircraft 306 00:15:56,021 --> 00:16:00,125 would have been, yet when the Navy and the Air Force 307 00:16:00,192 --> 00:16:06,799 started to search for the plane, they could not find it. 308 00:16:07,966 --> 00:16:09,301 NARRATOR: A Navy ship is searching for signals 309 00:16:09,368 --> 00:16:12,538 from the plane's black boxes. 310 00:16:12,604 --> 00:16:14,306 These begin transmitting an alert 311 00:16:14,373 --> 00:16:18,777 as soon as they come in contact with water. 312 00:16:18,844 --> 00:16:20,279 That is what we call a pinger, 313 00:16:20,346 --> 00:16:25,250 and that emits a signal for about 30 days after the crash. 314 00:16:25,317 --> 00:16:29,688 NARRATOR: But two days in, the search hits a major hurdle. 315 00:16:29,755 --> 00:16:32,424 Investigators learned the Navy sonar they've been using 316 00:16:32,491 --> 00:16:34,660 can't home in on the signals. 317 00:16:34,727 --> 00:16:37,529 It's not precise enough. 318 00:16:37,596 --> 00:16:38,764 We'll never find them this way. 319 00:16:38,831 --> 00:16:41,567 We don't have the right equipment. 320 00:16:41,633 --> 00:16:42,835 We could not sleep. 321 00:16:42,901 --> 00:16:45,270 We were always thinking that we need the recorders. 322 00:16:45,337 --> 00:16:47,439 NARRATOR: Chaouk contacts aviation authorities 323 00:16:47,506 --> 00:16:48,807 in France for help. 324 00:16:48,874 --> 00:16:51,610 We're hoping you can come immediately. 325 00:16:51,677 --> 00:16:54,146 Yeah, it's quite urgent. 326 00:16:54,213 --> 00:16:56,014 NARRATOR: They have the equipment and the expertise 327 00:16:56,081 --> 00:16:57,583 to find the recorders. 328 00:16:57,649 --> 00:16:58,584 OK, great. 329 00:16:58,650 --> 00:16:59,918 All right, thanks. 330 00:16:59,985 --> 00:17:00,919 Great. 331 00:17:00,986 --> 00:17:02,154 They're on their way. 332 00:17:02,221 --> 00:17:05,524 It was a learning curve for everybody, the leaders 333 00:17:05,591 --> 00:17:08,761 or divers or the Navy people. 334 00:17:08,827 --> 00:17:10,062 NARRATOR: With the right gear-- 335 00:17:10,129 --> 00:17:12,064 Thank you for coming. 336 00:17:12,131 --> 00:17:15,567 NARRATOR: --the team should be able to search more quickly. 337 00:17:15,634 --> 00:17:17,870 But valuable time has already been lost, 338 00:17:17,936 --> 00:17:21,240 and other people could be at risk. 339 00:17:21,306 --> 00:17:23,375 These type of airplanes are flying all over the world. 340 00:17:23,442 --> 00:17:25,544 And if there is a problem, we need 341 00:17:25,611 --> 00:17:29,381 to take whatever corrective action that's needed. 342 00:17:29,448 --> 00:17:32,451 NARRATOR: The United States also sends help. 343 00:17:32,518 --> 00:17:35,254 Because the 737 is American-made, 344 00:17:35,320 --> 00:17:37,256 the National Transportation Safety Board's 345 00:17:37,322 --> 00:17:39,958 Dennis Jones joins the team. 346 00:17:40,025 --> 00:17:40,959 Welcome to Beirut. 347 00:17:41,026 --> 00:17:42,594 Thanks. 348 00:17:42,661 --> 00:17:44,496 We still don't have a crash site, per se, 349 00:17:44,563 --> 00:17:45,998 the flight recorder, which is always 350 00:17:46,064 --> 00:17:48,901 a big concern of interest, was still yet to be found. 351 00:17:48,967 --> 00:17:50,235 We got the flight track. 352 00:17:50,302 --> 00:17:52,037 NARRATOR: With no wreckage to study, 353 00:17:52,104 --> 00:17:53,939 Jones and Chaouk turned to a record 354 00:17:54,006 --> 00:17:55,441 of the plane's flight path. 355 00:17:55,507 --> 00:17:57,543 We got the radar track from the airport. 356 00:17:57,609 --> 00:18:00,312 This should show us exactly what they did. 357 00:18:00,379 --> 00:18:02,381 When we first got there, some of the information 358 00:18:02,448 --> 00:18:03,982 we had that was helpful was the radar 359 00:18:04,049 --> 00:18:07,286 data and air traffic control information in general. 360 00:18:07,352 --> 00:18:08,987 So we were able to start evaluating 361 00:18:09,054 --> 00:18:11,390 that pretty quickly. 362 00:18:11,457 --> 00:18:14,560 NARRATOR: The radar paints a baffling picture. 363 00:18:14,626 --> 00:18:16,495 It's like no one's flying. 364 00:18:16,562 --> 00:18:19,531 Exactly. 365 00:18:19,598 --> 00:18:23,569 NARRATOR: Almost from takeoff, the plane follows 366 00:18:23,635 --> 00:18:27,840 an unusual and erratic path. 367 00:18:27,906 --> 00:18:29,608 Once you see what happened to the plane, 368 00:18:29,675 --> 00:18:36,215 you would wonder really what's happening. 369 00:18:36,281 --> 00:18:38,350 As if there were no crew in the cockpit. 370 00:18:38,417 --> 00:18:39,885 It is almost similar-- 371 00:18:39,952 --> 00:18:42,488 270. 372 00:18:42,554 --> 00:18:49,294 --of a situation where nobody is in control of the plane. 373 00:18:50,662 --> 00:18:51,930 NARRATOR: Now that they've seen the strange flight path. 374 00:18:51,997 --> 00:18:53,999 OK, so here's the track. 375 00:18:54,066 --> 00:18:57,269 So they could be anywhere along here. 376 00:18:57,336 --> 00:18:58,370 NARRATOR: Investigators are more 377 00:18:58,437 --> 00:19:00,339 anxious than ever to get at the wreckage 378 00:19:00,405 --> 00:19:02,641 and search for answers. 379 00:19:02,708 --> 00:19:03,942 Let's take a look at that monitor. 380 00:19:04,009 --> 00:19:06,845 Now, what we're seeing is basically an external view 381 00:19:06,912 --> 00:19:09,581 with the radar data and air traffic control, 382 00:19:09,648 --> 00:19:12,184 but we didn't get an idea of what was actually going 383 00:19:12,251 --> 00:19:18,090 on board the aircraft itself. 384 00:19:18,156 --> 00:19:24,162 So we became even more eager to get the recorder. 385 00:19:24,229 --> 00:19:25,397 That's it. 386 00:19:25,464 --> 00:19:26,465 That's it. 387 00:19:26,532 --> 00:19:28,333 That's exactly what we're looking for. 388 00:19:28,400 --> 00:19:31,270 NARRATOR: Finally, eight days after the crash, 389 00:19:31,336 --> 00:19:34,573 the French equipment detects the vital signals. 390 00:19:34,640 --> 00:19:38,644 It was found 45 meters deep and 5 kilometers 391 00:19:38,710 --> 00:19:43,849 southwest of Beirut airport. 392 00:19:43,916 --> 00:19:45,951 NARRATOR: Cameras mounted on unmanned subs 393 00:19:46,018 --> 00:19:50,556 captured the first images of what remains of flight 409. 394 00:19:50,622 --> 00:19:52,758 We heard the Odyssey submarine 395 00:19:52,824 --> 00:19:55,394 that had been used for taking photos 396 00:19:55,460 --> 00:19:59,731 and survey for the wreckage located on the seabed. 397 00:19:59,798 --> 00:20:01,733 NARRATOR: It's too expensive to bring all the wreckage 398 00:20:01,800 --> 00:20:04,303 to the surface, so investigators 399 00:20:04,369 --> 00:20:06,471 focus on the tail section where the two 400 00:20:06,538 --> 00:20:12,511 black boxes are stored. 401 00:20:12,578 --> 00:20:16,515 They retrieved the tail, the horizontal stabilizer, 402 00:20:16,582 --> 00:20:18,183 with the tail comb as well. 403 00:20:18,250 --> 00:20:20,319 They were still attached together. 404 00:20:20,385 --> 00:20:25,691 And they found the FDR located underneath. 405 00:20:25,757 --> 00:20:27,626 We were quite delighted about that, 406 00:20:27,693 --> 00:20:29,995 and the Lebanese government immediately 407 00:20:30,062 --> 00:20:32,431 started making plans so having that transported 408 00:20:32,497 --> 00:20:35,567 to a facility to be evaluated. 409 00:20:35,634 --> 00:20:38,136 NARRATOR: But they only find the Flight Data Recorder. 410 00:20:38,203 --> 00:20:39,605 What of the CVR? 411 00:20:39,671 --> 00:20:46,445 NARRATOR: The Cockpit Voice Recorder is still missing. 412 00:20:47,446 --> 00:20:48,580 So it's got to be in this sector. 413 00:20:48,647 --> 00:20:51,850 That's what we think. 414 00:20:51,917 --> 00:20:55,721 NARRATOR: As divers continue to search for the CVR, 415 00:20:55,787 --> 00:21:00,759 investigators study underwater video of the wreckage. 416 00:21:00,826 --> 00:21:04,529 OK, let's start mapping this out. 417 00:21:04,596 --> 00:21:06,965 NARRATOR: When a plane explodes in midair, 418 00:21:07,032 --> 00:21:09,735 the debris falls in a circular pattern. 419 00:21:09,801 --> 00:21:12,037 But if a plane hits the water intact, 420 00:21:12,104 --> 00:21:16,575 the debris will fall in a linear pattern. 421 00:21:16,642 --> 00:21:18,710 The underwater video allows investigators 422 00:21:18,777 --> 00:21:22,381 to map the position of every piece of wreckage. 423 00:21:22,447 --> 00:21:28,887 Another one here lining up nice and neat. 424 00:21:28,954 --> 00:21:31,289 In this case, we found all the pieces 425 00:21:31,356 --> 00:21:33,959 laying in the bed of the water in almost 426 00:21:34,026 --> 00:21:37,496 300 meter straight line. 427 00:21:37,562 --> 00:21:40,932 NARRATOR: They also search for any sign of fire damage. 428 00:21:40,999 --> 00:21:43,201 You would look for a certain signature 429 00:21:43,268 --> 00:21:46,505 to show us perhaps there might have been some heat 430 00:21:46,571 --> 00:21:47,572 damage or fire damage. 431 00:21:47,639 --> 00:21:48,573 Go back. 432 00:21:48,640 --> 00:21:52,577 I want to see that piece again. 433 00:21:52,644 --> 00:21:54,312 NARRATOR: But there's no sign that the metal was 434 00:21:54,379 --> 00:21:57,549 ripped open by a blast and no burn marks 435 00:21:57,616 --> 00:22:00,419 on any of the wreckage. 436 00:22:00,485 --> 00:22:01,853 We looked at the footage. 437 00:22:01,920 --> 00:22:05,323 We couldn't identify any black spot, black soot 438 00:22:05,390 --> 00:22:06,792 or anything of the sort. 439 00:22:06,858 --> 00:22:09,828 We saw none at all. 440 00:22:09,895 --> 00:22:13,265 There's no sign of any explosion. 441 00:22:13,331 --> 00:22:15,500 Ethiopian 409 Beirut. 442 00:22:15,567 --> 00:22:17,035 NARRATOR: They conclude that the tower 443 00:22:17,102 --> 00:22:20,405 controller may have been fooled by a trick of the light. 444 00:22:20,472 --> 00:22:22,808 It was a stormy night, so throughout the night, 445 00:22:22,874 --> 00:22:29,514 you were hearing thunderstorms, lightning, 446 00:22:29,581 --> 00:22:32,217 and they do sound exactly like explosion, 447 00:22:32,284 --> 00:22:35,320 and they give you a bright light even stronger 448 00:22:35,387 --> 00:22:38,924 than any big explosion. 449 00:22:38,990 --> 00:22:40,692 NARRATOR: Next, investigators focus 450 00:22:40,759 --> 00:22:47,199 on the flight data recorder or FDR found in the wreckage. 451 00:22:47,265 --> 00:22:49,034 Nothing so far. 452 00:22:49,101 --> 00:22:52,671 NARRATOR: There are more than 1,000 parameters to analyze. 453 00:22:52,738 --> 00:22:55,440 The flight data recorder records essentially 454 00:22:55,507 --> 00:22:59,277 the instrument and other parameters from the aircraft, 455 00:22:59,344 --> 00:23:02,714 basically what the aircraft is doing. 456 00:23:02,781 --> 00:23:09,321 And that retains, in this case, 25 hours of information. 457 00:23:09,387 --> 00:23:11,790 NARRATOR: Almost all the data is normal, 458 00:23:11,857 --> 00:23:15,794 but one number stands out. 459 00:23:15,861 --> 00:23:22,134 Take a look at that stabilizer setting. 460 00:23:22,200 --> 00:23:25,637 It's a bit low, but still in the green. 461 00:23:25,704 --> 00:23:28,406 NARRATOR: The stabilizer is part of the tail. 462 00:23:28,473 --> 00:23:30,242 Pilots adjust its angle depending 463 00:23:30,308 --> 00:23:32,444 on the weight of the plane. 464 00:23:32,511 --> 00:23:35,180 Move it up, and the plane pitches up. 465 00:23:35,247 --> 00:23:39,284 Move it down, and it forces the nose down. 466 00:23:39,351 --> 00:23:41,186 OK. 467 00:23:41,253 --> 00:23:44,656 Fuel is good. 468 00:23:44,723 --> 00:23:47,459 Load is calculated. 469 00:23:47,526 --> 00:23:48,460 Check complete. 470 00:23:48,527 --> 00:23:50,362 No problems. 471 00:23:50,428 --> 00:23:51,997 NARRATOR: The FDR reveals that flight 472 00:23:52,063 --> 00:23:57,102 409 stabilizer was set further down the normal for takeoff. 473 00:23:57,169 --> 00:23:59,938 Such a small variation probably wouldn't cause the pilots 474 00:24:00,005 --> 00:24:03,542 to lose control of their plane, but investigators won't know 475 00:24:03,608 --> 00:24:06,011 its effect until they can test the configuration 476 00:24:06,077 --> 00:24:08,880 in a flight simulator. 477 00:24:08,947 --> 00:24:12,417 At that point, obviously, everything was on the table. 478 00:24:12,484 --> 00:24:18,323 We knew we had a lot more factual finding to do. 479 00:24:18,390 --> 00:24:19,324 We got it. 480 00:24:19,391 --> 00:24:20,692 Oh, here it is. 481 00:24:20,759 --> 00:24:22,360 NARRATOR: In the Mediterranean Sea, 482 00:24:22,427 --> 00:24:25,697 the arduous search for the CVR finally pays off. 483 00:24:25,764 --> 00:24:28,133 Oh, yeah, that's it. 484 00:24:28,200 --> 00:24:29,768 Hey, Aziz. 485 00:24:29,835 --> 00:24:31,336 We got it. 486 00:24:31,403 --> 00:24:32,337 Oh, you found it? 487 00:24:32,404 --> 00:24:33,438 Yeah. 488 00:24:33,505 --> 00:24:35,440 I have to praise the Lebanese Navy diver 489 00:24:35,507 --> 00:24:37,309 because, with the equipment they had, 490 00:24:37,375 --> 00:24:41,146 had to do a real hand search 45 meters underwater, which 491 00:24:41,213 --> 00:24:43,415 is quite difficult, but they were 492 00:24:43,481 --> 00:24:45,717 able to recover it at the end. 493 00:24:45,784 --> 00:24:47,052 NARRATOR: Investigators can only 494 00:24:47,118 --> 00:24:49,955 hope that the pilot said something that will reveal 495 00:24:50,021 --> 00:24:55,293 why their plane went down. 496 00:24:55,360 --> 00:24:57,128 PILOT (ON RECORDER): Fuel's good. 497 00:24:57,195 --> 00:24:58,864 Load is calculated. 498 00:24:58,930 --> 00:25:01,766 NARRATOR: Investigators sync up the conversation on the CVR. 499 00:25:01,833 --> 00:25:03,335 PILOT (ON RECORDER): Exterior check's complete. 500 00:25:03,401 --> 00:25:04,636 NARRATOR: With the plane's known flight path. 501 00:25:04,703 --> 00:25:05,637 FIRST OFFICER (ON RECORDER): Roger. 502 00:25:05,704 --> 00:25:07,005 Check complete. No problems. 503 00:25:07,072 --> 00:25:09,441 NARRATOR: They listen for any sign of trouble. 504 00:25:09,507 --> 00:25:11,810 We want to try to get a better understanding if there 505 00:25:11,877 --> 00:25:14,346 might have been some kind of mechanical problem 506 00:25:14,412 --> 00:25:16,648 based on what they were perceiving. 507 00:25:16,715 --> 00:25:18,617 European 409, wind's nearly calm. 508 00:25:18,683 --> 00:25:21,086 Cleared for takeoff 2-1 immediate right turn 509 00:25:21,152 --> 00:25:22,087 to Chekka. 510 00:25:22,153 --> 00:25:23,088 PILOT (ON RECORDER): Roger. 511 00:25:23,154 --> 00:25:24,856 Cleared for takeoff runway 2-1. 512 00:25:24,923 --> 00:25:29,094 Immediate right turn to Chekka, Ethiopian 409. 513 00:25:29,160 --> 00:25:31,930 Everything seemed to be going just right. 514 00:25:31,997 --> 00:25:35,834 Now, once they took off, the first part of the takeoff 515 00:25:35,901 --> 00:25:41,139 was normal. 516 00:25:41,206 --> 00:25:44,309 Turn right, initially heading 315. 517 00:25:44,376 --> 00:25:46,845 315, roger. 518 00:25:46,912 --> 00:25:49,281 NARRATOR: Investigators hear the controller give the pilots 519 00:25:49,347 --> 00:25:51,349 a new heading, but the plane goes 520 00:25:51,416 --> 00:25:54,786 off in a different direction. 521 00:25:54,853 --> 00:25:57,489 As they approached the heading 522 00:25:57,555 --> 00:26:00,692 that they had been assigned, they overshot the heading. 523 00:26:00,759 --> 00:26:07,098 He was supposed to turn this far, but he just kept going. 524 00:26:07,165 --> 00:26:08,099 Mark? 525 00:26:08,166 --> 00:26:09,701 They're way off course. 526 00:26:09,768 --> 00:26:11,136 Sir, I suggest that, due to the weather, 527 00:26:11,202 --> 00:26:14,539 you follow heading 270 to be in the clear. 528 00:26:14,606 --> 00:26:18,576 NARRATOR: Each time the pilots tried to correct their course, 529 00:26:18,643 --> 00:26:21,980 they turned too far and banked too steeply. 530 00:26:22,047 --> 00:26:27,252 It's a sure indication that the airplane has lost control. 531 00:26:27,319 --> 00:26:30,255 Ethiopian 409, you are going into the mountain. 532 00:26:30,322 --> 00:26:34,225 Turn right now, heading 270. 533 00:26:34,292 --> 00:26:38,129 The airplane was rolling into an ever steeper bank. 534 00:26:38,196 --> 00:26:41,232 Its lift vector was decreasing, so the nose 535 00:26:41,299 --> 00:26:48,306 was dropping toward the sea, ultimately 536 00:26:50,275 --> 00:26:53,445 leading to a spiral. 537 00:26:54,512 --> 00:26:59,818 Oh, God. 538 00:26:59,884 --> 00:27:03,722 The plane was out of control. 539 00:27:03,788 --> 00:27:05,690 NARRATOR: But there's nothing on the recording indicating 540 00:27:05,757 --> 00:27:07,926 a mechanical failure. 541 00:27:07,993 --> 00:27:10,128 And we just were not hearing anything 542 00:27:10,195 --> 00:27:15,533 that showed a malfunction which was consistent with the flight 543 00:27:15,600 --> 00:27:16,634 data recorder. 544 00:27:16,701 --> 00:27:17,936 It was just something that we certainly 545 00:27:18,003 --> 00:27:24,042 didn't have any answers for in the beginning. 546 00:27:25,043 --> 00:27:26,244 NARRATOR: Desperate to know what 547 00:27:26,311 --> 00:27:30,615 brought down the 737, investigators dig 548 00:27:30,682 --> 00:27:33,318 into maintenance records. 549 00:27:33,385 --> 00:27:35,420 They learn that some 737 sevens 550 00:27:35,487 --> 00:27:40,992 have a small but dangerous flaw in a vital part of a tail. 551 00:27:41,059 --> 00:27:44,162 Hey, Dennis, I think we need to check those trim tabs. 552 00:27:44,229 --> 00:27:46,698 NARRATOR: Trim tabs are small control surfaces set 553 00:27:46,765 --> 00:27:48,733 into the tail of the plane. 554 00:27:48,800 --> 00:27:50,335 They counteract the powerful flow 555 00:27:50,402 --> 00:27:52,370 of air pushing against the tail, 556 00:27:52,437 --> 00:27:56,474 making it easier for the pilot to fly the plane. 557 00:27:56,541 --> 00:27:59,611 To use an analogy with cars, it's like a power steering as 558 00:27:59,677 --> 00:28:02,347 compared to manual steering. 559 00:28:02,414 --> 00:28:04,249 NARRATOR: If the trim tabs were damaged, 560 00:28:04,315 --> 00:28:06,718 it could explain why the captain was struggling 561 00:28:06,785 --> 00:28:11,689 to control the aircraft. 562 00:28:11,756 --> 00:28:14,292 Left heading 270. 563 00:28:14,359 --> 00:28:15,293 Roger. 564 00:28:15,360 --> 00:28:19,597 Left heading 270. 565 00:28:19,664 --> 00:28:22,033 My experiences of flying an airplane out of trim it 566 00:28:22,100 --> 00:28:24,903 can make it extremely difficult to fly. 567 00:28:24,969 --> 00:28:28,073 It can even go beyond the forces 568 00:28:28,139 --> 00:28:35,146 that the pilot could actually use or input to counter it. 569 00:28:38,249 --> 00:28:40,919 You can bring that over here. 570 00:28:40,985 --> 00:28:43,488 NARRATOR: Investigators are in luck. 571 00:28:43,555 --> 00:28:45,090 The stabilizer and trim tabs are 572 00:28:45,156 --> 00:28:46,558 among the few pieces of wreckage 573 00:28:46,624 --> 00:28:51,362 recovered from the sea. 574 00:28:51,429 --> 00:28:55,366 The team assembled to evaluate this aircraft 575 00:28:55,433 --> 00:28:57,235 hit the water close to 400 knots, 576 00:28:57,302 --> 00:28:59,571 so we're expecting a lot of things to be damaged. 577 00:28:59,637 --> 00:29:01,406 So we wanted to kind of evaluate 578 00:29:01,473 --> 00:29:04,275 it to see if there was anything that was pre-existing 579 00:29:04,342 --> 00:29:06,177 that might have somehow contributed 580 00:29:06,244 --> 00:29:08,346 to this sequence of events. 581 00:29:08,413 --> 00:29:10,348 NARRATOR: But it's another dead end. 582 00:29:10,415 --> 00:29:14,385 A close inspection of the trim tabs reveals no damage at all. 583 00:29:14,452 --> 00:29:17,589 No sign of any malfunction. 584 00:29:17,655 --> 00:29:26,097 They did not affect the pilot's ability to steer the plane. 585 00:29:26,164 --> 00:29:32,804 Jones and the team have mechanical failure. 586 00:29:34,205 --> 00:29:37,008 Now they'll focus on the final part of the doomed aircraft, 587 00:29:37,075 --> 00:29:44,082 the cockpit. 588 00:29:48,686 --> 00:29:50,488 Investigators traveled to Seattle, 589 00:29:50,555 --> 00:29:52,757 Washington, to Boeing state-of-the-art 590 00:29:52,824 --> 00:29:57,162 flight simulator. 591 00:29:57,228 --> 00:30:01,065 OK, we're going to run the Ethiopian 409. 592 00:30:01,132 --> 00:30:04,536 Going to set the trim to match theirs. 593 00:30:04,602 --> 00:30:05,970 NARRATOR: The flight data has shown 594 00:30:06,037 --> 00:30:08,940 that flight 409 stabilizer was set to a shallower 595 00:30:09,007 --> 00:30:12,577 than normal takeoff angle. 596 00:30:12,644 --> 00:30:15,313 Investigators want to know if that affected the pilot's 597 00:30:15,380 --> 00:30:20,652 ability to handle the plane. 598 00:30:20,718 --> 00:30:23,121 You kind of get a front-row seat of perhaps what 599 00:30:23,188 --> 00:30:25,056 the flight crew were seeing at the time and how 600 00:30:25,123 --> 00:30:27,659 the aircraft was handling. 601 00:30:27,725 --> 00:30:34,732 OK, let's see how this thing is going to fly. 602 00:30:38,803 --> 00:30:40,138 NARRATOR: The low angle of the nose 603 00:30:40,205 --> 00:30:43,241 makes the plane difficult to handle at first. 604 00:30:43,308 --> 00:30:50,315 It's definitely not happy. 605 00:30:53,918 --> 00:30:57,722 The trim was mis-set for takeoff by a small margin 606 00:30:57,789 --> 00:31:03,161 but nevertheless by enough to create an undesirable pressure 607 00:31:03,228 --> 00:31:05,430 for the pilot on the controls. 608 00:31:05,496 --> 00:31:08,600 So the pilot was always fighting the airplane 609 00:31:08,666 --> 00:31:13,538 to one degree or another. 610 00:31:13,605 --> 00:31:16,674 NARRATOR: But in the simulator, the pilot has no difficulty 611 00:31:16,741 --> 00:31:22,680 correcting the problem. 612 00:31:22,747 --> 00:31:24,082 OK, well. 613 00:31:24,148 --> 00:31:30,755 Try it with no trim at all. 614 00:31:30,822 --> 00:31:33,658 Every single time we try to recover this aircraft, 615 00:31:33,725 --> 00:31:40,698 we are able to recover it. 616 00:31:45,570 --> 00:31:48,973 Well, they should have been able to recover. 617 00:31:49,040 --> 00:31:51,276 NARRATOR: They conclude that the low stabilizer setting 618 00:31:51,342 --> 00:31:53,811 did not cause this crash. 619 00:31:53,878 --> 00:32:00,718 Something else made the 737 spiral into the sea. 620 00:32:01,719 --> 00:32:03,421 Officials from Ethiopian Airlines 621 00:32:03,488 --> 00:32:06,624 still believe terrorism is to blame. 622 00:32:06,691 --> 00:32:09,527 They insist that an onboard bomb cannot be ruled out 623 00:32:09,594 --> 00:32:11,229 until more of the wreckage is recovered 624 00:32:11,296 --> 00:32:13,965 from the Mediterranean. 625 00:32:14,032 --> 00:32:16,434 The investigators don't agree. 626 00:32:16,501 --> 00:32:19,404 He told them that it's quite a remote possibility 627 00:32:19,470 --> 00:32:22,273 that there was something put on board that plane. 628 00:32:22,340 --> 00:32:24,542 When the plane explodes with a bomb on board, 629 00:32:24,609 --> 00:32:26,711 it flies its own route, and it explodes. 630 00:32:26,778 --> 00:32:30,815 It doesn't go up left and right and up and down, 631 00:32:30,882 --> 00:32:34,619 and then something explodes on the plane. 632 00:32:34,686 --> 00:32:37,355 NARRATOR: But stamping out rumors is never easy. 633 00:32:37,422 --> 00:32:38,589 Let's go over here. 634 00:32:38,656 --> 00:32:40,124 NARRATOR: Investigators are under growing pressure 635 00:32:40,191 --> 00:32:42,160 to explain what happened. 636 00:32:42,226 --> 00:32:46,898 If it wasn't a bomb, then what did bring down flight 409? 637 00:32:46,964 --> 00:32:49,033 An aircraft accident investigation, 638 00:32:49,100 --> 00:32:52,337 often the best approach is the Sherlock Holmes approach. 639 00:32:52,403 --> 00:32:59,110 What you do is eliminate everything you didn't happen. 640 00:33:00,144 --> 00:33:03,281 What's left is probably what did happen. 641 00:33:03,348 --> 00:33:05,516 The controllers did their job. 642 00:33:05,583 --> 00:33:07,785 Turn right, initially heading 315. 643 00:33:07,852 --> 00:33:10,588 The ground-based navigational systems were working. 644 00:33:10,655 --> 00:33:14,759 The airplane was functioning properly. 645 00:33:14,826 --> 00:33:18,963 So what we have left is the crew. 646 00:33:19,030 --> 00:33:21,999 NARRATOR: Investigators return to the CVR. 647 00:33:22,066 --> 00:33:24,569 They hope the crew's conversation can shed light 648 00:33:24,635 --> 00:33:28,139 on why two qualified pilots lost control of a mechanically 649 00:33:28,206 --> 00:33:29,140 sound airplane. 650 00:33:29,207 --> 00:33:30,908 Looks pretty normal. 651 00:33:30,975 --> 00:33:33,644 Exterior checks complete? 652 00:33:33,711 --> 00:33:34,645 Check complete. 653 00:33:34,712 --> 00:33:36,514 No problems. 654 00:33:36,581 --> 00:33:39,283 NARRATOR: noticed something odd. 655 00:33:39,350 --> 00:33:43,921 The mood, even the speed of the voice or even the tone-- 656 00:33:43,988 --> 00:33:46,023 Feels good. 657 00:33:46,090 --> 00:33:47,291 Load calculated. 658 00:33:47,358 --> 00:33:50,128 --did not reflect what is really actually 659 00:33:50,194 --> 00:33:52,597 happening in the aircraft. 660 00:33:52,663 --> 00:33:54,365 During the takeoff roll-- 661 00:33:54,432 --> 00:33:55,633 Do you see that? 662 00:33:55,700 --> 00:33:58,069 --the captain saw something because he tells first 663 00:33:58,136 --> 00:33:59,370 officer did you see that? 664 00:33:59,437 --> 00:34:03,441 But then, there was no reaction from the first officer. 665 00:34:03,508 --> 00:34:09,647 NARRATOR: The first officer is uncharacteristically quiet. 666 00:34:09,714 --> 00:34:12,550 OK, engage the autopilot. 667 00:34:12,617 --> 00:34:14,352 NARRATOR: Even worse, he's not following 668 00:34:14,419 --> 00:34:15,987 his captain's commands. 669 00:34:16,053 --> 00:34:16,988 Hold on. 670 00:34:17,054 --> 00:34:20,191 Stop for a second. 671 00:34:20,258 --> 00:34:21,559 That would have changed things. 672 00:34:21,626 --> 00:34:24,829 The advantage of engaging the autopilot in that situation 673 00:34:24,896 --> 00:34:28,332 is that the pilot can then let the autopilot worry 674 00:34:28,399 --> 00:34:30,802 about the attitude of the airplane 675 00:34:30,868 --> 00:34:34,906 while he sits back and takes the big picture, 676 00:34:34,972 --> 00:34:39,677 maintain situational awareness. 677 00:34:39,744 --> 00:34:41,746 NARRATOR: The autopilot can adjust the throttles 678 00:34:41,813 --> 00:34:45,149 to maintain a safe airspeed and can keep the plane 679 00:34:45,216 --> 00:34:46,851 on the right heading. 680 00:34:46,918 --> 00:34:48,486 But investigators learned it was 681 00:34:48,553 --> 00:34:53,791 impossible for the autopilot to engage on flight 409. 682 00:34:53,858 --> 00:34:56,627 There's no way it could come on. 683 00:34:56,694 --> 00:34:57,628 PILOT (ON RECORDER): OK. 684 00:34:57,695 --> 00:35:00,598 Engage the autopilot. 685 00:35:00,665 --> 00:35:03,501 NARRATOR: It's designed not to switch on if one of the pilots 686 00:35:03,568 --> 00:35:07,538 is pulling other control column as the captain was. 687 00:35:07,605 --> 00:35:09,607 And for some reason, the first officer 688 00:35:09,674 --> 00:35:15,713 didn't tell the captain the autopilot wasn't on. 689 00:35:15,780 --> 00:35:19,383 Had the autopilot been engaged when the captain 690 00:35:19,450 --> 00:35:20,952 ordered the first pilot to engage, 691 00:35:21,018 --> 00:35:27,024 it would have saved the whole flight. 692 00:35:27,091 --> 00:35:29,494 The interaction between the crew members 693 00:35:29,560 --> 00:35:32,897 were not what we would expect from a professional crew 694 00:35:32,964 --> 00:35:34,365 at the time. 695 00:35:34,432 --> 00:35:37,335 NARRATOR: The crew's behavior is baffling. 696 00:35:37,401 --> 00:35:39,337 It forces investigators to consider 697 00:35:39,403 --> 00:35:42,340 an unlikely explanation for what went wrong, 698 00:35:42,406 --> 00:35:45,776 something called subtle incapacitation. 699 00:35:45,843 --> 00:35:47,111 It's very difficult to recognize 700 00:35:47,178 --> 00:35:49,013 a subtle incapacitation. 701 00:35:49,080 --> 00:35:52,149 If the pilot at the control has a stroke and slumps 702 00:35:52,216 --> 00:35:55,186 over the control wheel, there's no question that you've got 703 00:35:55,253 --> 00:35:57,088 a person who's incapacitated. 704 00:35:57,154 --> 00:35:59,423 Confirm heading 210. 705 00:35:59,490 --> 00:36:00,424 Negative, sir. 706 00:36:00,491 --> 00:36:01,859 To proceed, direct Chekka. 707 00:36:01,926 --> 00:36:07,999 Turn left now, heading 270. 708 00:36:08,065 --> 00:36:10,768 Left heading 270. 709 00:36:10,835 --> 00:36:11,769 Roger. 710 00:36:11,836 --> 00:36:13,271 Left heading 270. 711 00:36:13,337 --> 00:36:17,141 However, if the pilot at the controls 712 00:36:17,208 --> 00:36:21,512 starts to lose the picture and does so silently 713 00:36:21,579 --> 00:36:28,119 and starts to misapply controls or push the wrong buttons, 714 00:36:28,185 --> 00:36:31,255 it may take a while before the other crew members 715 00:36:31,322 --> 00:36:32,790 pick up on that failure. 716 00:36:32,857 --> 00:36:39,297 That sequence is called subtle incapacitation. 717 00:36:39,363 --> 00:36:40,932 NARRATOR: It's a controversial idea 718 00:36:40,998 --> 00:36:44,368 that goes beyond the usual definition of pilot error. 719 00:36:44,435 --> 00:36:46,470 What is it? 720 00:36:46,537 --> 00:36:48,239 Subtle incapacitation can come 721 00:36:48,306 --> 00:36:51,742 from physiological reasons, psychological reasons, 722 00:36:51,809 --> 00:36:54,278 or a combination of both. 723 00:36:54,345 --> 00:36:56,147 It could be something minor. 724 00:36:56,213 --> 00:36:57,715 Medications could cause it. 725 00:36:57,782 --> 00:36:59,283 Stress could cause it. 726 00:36:59,350 --> 00:37:04,322 Fatigue could it. 727 00:37:04,388 --> 00:37:06,157 NARRATOR: Because commercial aviation demands 728 00:37:06,223 --> 00:37:09,260 such high levels of performance, 729 00:37:09,327 --> 00:37:13,798 drug and alcohol use by pilots is closely scrutinized. 730 00:37:13,864 --> 00:37:17,902 Drug testing is part of any transportation employee, 731 00:37:17,969 --> 00:37:21,472 from baggage handlers all the way up to cockpit. 732 00:37:21,539 --> 00:37:23,741 Typically, it's done on a random basis. 733 00:37:23,808 --> 00:37:26,010 It's done. 734 00:37:26,077 --> 00:37:30,081 NARRATOR: But there's no formal test for fatigue. 735 00:37:30,147 --> 00:37:33,284 Other accidents with the same kind of sequence 736 00:37:33,351 --> 00:37:38,856 of events taking place. 737 00:37:38,923 --> 00:37:41,325 NARRATOR: In 2009, Colgan air flight 738 00:37:41,392 --> 00:37:45,062 3407 crashed outside Buffalo. 739 00:37:45,129 --> 00:37:48,833 The two overtired pilots failed to react properly to a Warning 740 00:37:48,899 --> 00:37:51,068 that the plane was about to stall. 741 00:37:51,135 --> 00:37:58,142 All 49 people on board were killed. 742 00:37:59,510 --> 00:38:01,312 PILOT (ON RECORDER): This room doesn't make you sleepy? 743 00:38:01,379 --> 00:38:03,214 NARRATOR: Investigators continue to analyze 744 00:38:03,280 --> 00:38:04,815 the cockpit recording. 745 00:38:04,882 --> 00:38:07,018 What are these guys doing? 746 00:38:07,084 --> 00:38:08,519 NARRATOR: They listen to what the pilots were 747 00:38:08,586 --> 00:38:10,421 saying just before takeoff. 748 00:38:10,488 --> 00:38:12,256 PILOT (ON RECORDER): This room doesn't make you sleepy? 749 00:38:12,323 --> 00:38:15,192 If you hear someone in the recorder saying sleep, 750 00:38:15,259 --> 00:38:18,562 immediately our antennas stick up. 751 00:38:18,629 --> 00:38:20,998 What are they doing up there? 752 00:38:21,065 --> 00:38:25,136 Was there weed in it? 753 00:38:25,202 --> 00:38:26,671 Did you feel dizzy? 754 00:38:26,737 --> 00:38:28,839 All right, I couldn't sleep. 755 00:38:28,906 --> 00:38:35,046 Well, me too. 756 00:38:35,112 --> 00:38:36,847 NARRATOR: Investigators are shocked to hear 757 00:38:36,914 --> 00:38:39,050 the pilots joking about being tired 758 00:38:39,116 --> 00:38:40,351 and the reference to weed. 759 00:38:40,418 --> 00:38:41,519 That would have changed things. 760 00:38:41,585 --> 00:38:43,688 NARRATOR: Subtle incapacitation may not be such 761 00:38:43,754 --> 00:38:45,723 an unlikely cause after all. 762 00:38:45,790 --> 00:38:48,025 Trying to explain the behavior of the pilots 763 00:38:48,092 --> 00:38:51,195 on that particular night was really the most difficult 764 00:38:51,262 --> 00:38:52,730 part of this investigation. 765 00:38:52,797 --> 00:38:56,167 And this is why we considered every single issue 766 00:38:56,233 --> 00:39:02,306 starting from the food they had the type of rest they had. 767 00:39:02,373 --> 00:39:04,842 NARRATOR: Piecing together the pilot's movements in the hours 768 00:39:04,909 --> 00:39:06,110 leading up to the crash. 769 00:39:06,177 --> 00:39:08,012 What time did he check in? 770 00:39:08,079 --> 00:39:13,718 NARRATOR: Is now the top priority. 771 00:39:13,784 --> 00:39:17,121 In the case of this accident, the pilot's bodies 772 00:39:17,188 --> 00:39:19,256 weren't recovered, so there was no way they could 773 00:39:19,323 --> 00:39:21,926 do post-mortem examinations. 774 00:39:21,992 --> 00:39:23,661 We immediately called the hotel 775 00:39:23,728 --> 00:39:26,831 to check the garbage if there was any bottle 776 00:39:26,897 --> 00:39:29,900 of alcohol or any drugs. 777 00:39:29,967 --> 00:39:35,506 Did they see the crew out having drinks or something? 778 00:39:35,573 --> 00:39:38,576 NARRATOR: Investigators study security footage for any signs 779 00:39:38,642 --> 00:39:42,446 that the pilots were impaired. 780 00:39:42,513 --> 00:39:45,149 We also looked at the footage of the crew 781 00:39:45,216 --> 00:39:46,417 coming into the airport. 782 00:39:46,484 --> 00:39:47,618 They were walking normally. 783 00:39:47,685 --> 00:39:49,420 Everybody we spoke to, they said no. 784 00:39:49,487 --> 00:39:55,893 No, they were normal. 785 00:39:56,894 --> 00:39:57,895 NARRATOR: Investigators traveled 786 00:39:57,962 --> 00:40:00,698 to Ethiopia to interview family members 787 00:40:00,765 --> 00:40:04,001 about the crew's habits. 788 00:40:04,068 --> 00:40:06,203 Thank you for taking the time to see me. 789 00:40:06,270 --> 00:40:08,706 I'm very sorry for your loss. 790 00:40:08,773 --> 00:40:11,408 I just wanted to ask you a few questions about your brother. 791 00:40:11,475 --> 00:40:13,244 Did he ever drink? 792 00:40:13,310 --> 00:40:14,378 No. 793 00:40:14,445 --> 00:40:16,514 There's no evidence to suggest either pilot 794 00:40:16,580 --> 00:40:19,150 abused alcohol or drugs. 795 00:40:19,216 --> 00:40:20,718 The captain didn't drink at all. 796 00:40:20,785 --> 00:40:27,424 So he was a sport guy concentrating on his sports. 797 00:40:27,491 --> 00:40:31,295 NARRATOR: Subtle incapacitation is difficult to prove. 798 00:40:31,362 --> 00:40:36,200 In the crash of Flight 409, the evidence so far is mixed. 799 00:40:36,267 --> 00:40:42,540 But what investigators discover next could tip the balance. 800 00:40:43,541 --> 00:40:44,742 Gear up. 801 00:40:44,809 --> 00:40:46,377 NARRATOR: Employment records detailing 802 00:40:46,443 --> 00:40:47,945 the pilot's flight hours. 803 00:40:48,012 --> 00:40:49,680 Heading select. 804 00:40:49,747 --> 00:40:50,714 Heading select. 805 00:40:50,781 --> 00:40:52,116 Check. 806 00:40:52,183 --> 00:40:53,751 NARRATOR: Revealed critical information about the captain 807 00:40:53,818 --> 00:40:55,986 of flight 409. 808 00:40:56,053 --> 00:40:58,222 He'd been working almost non-stop 809 00:40:58,289 --> 00:41:00,157 for nearly two months. 810 00:41:00,224 --> 00:41:02,159 The 51 days he probably flew something 811 00:41:02,226 --> 00:41:04,862 like 45 days out of the 51. 812 00:41:04,929 --> 00:41:07,865 Daily, daily, daily flying, just taking the minimum rest. 813 00:41:07,932 --> 00:41:11,502 It's legal, but it is quite a lot of work. 814 00:41:11,569 --> 00:41:13,737 Ethiopian 409 wind's nearly calm. 815 00:41:13,804 --> 00:41:18,509 Prepare for takeoff 2-1. 816 00:41:18,576 --> 00:41:22,279 Work, work, work. 817 00:41:22,346 --> 00:41:24,048 NARRATOR: The crew's last chance to rest 818 00:41:24,114 --> 00:41:30,054 was a scheduled stopover after flying into Beirut. 819 00:41:30,120 --> 00:41:32,423 I could use some food that didn't come from an airplane. 820 00:41:32,489 --> 00:41:34,291 What do you say? 821 00:41:34,358 --> 00:41:35,292 Yeah. 822 00:41:35,359 --> 00:41:37,294 A good meal will be good. 823 00:41:37,361 --> 00:41:43,133 All right, let's do it. 824 00:41:43,200 --> 00:41:45,803 You have any a lot of water today? 825 00:41:45,870 --> 00:41:47,238 Yeah, she'll bring back something. 826 00:41:47,304 --> 00:41:50,474 She'll bring something. 827 00:41:50,541 --> 00:41:53,844 Oh, here we go. 828 00:41:53,911 --> 00:41:55,846 Prior to the flight, they had a heavy launch, 829 00:41:55,913 --> 00:41:58,082 and they were not able to rest properly, 830 00:41:58,148 --> 00:42:01,385 so they were commenting on not being able to rest 831 00:42:01,452 --> 00:42:03,520 properly prior to the flight. 832 00:42:03,587 --> 00:42:05,089 Did you feel dizzy? 833 00:42:05,155 --> 00:42:07,892 Oh, I couldn't sleep. 834 00:42:07,958 --> 00:42:10,394 NARRATOR: Investigators suspect that the heavy meal 835 00:42:10,461 --> 00:42:12,963 kept them awake at night. 836 00:42:13,030 --> 00:42:15,332 Indigestion and fatigue they definitely 837 00:42:15,399 --> 00:42:19,737 they affect the pilot behavior throughout the flight process. 838 00:42:19,803 --> 00:42:21,138 Sir, I suggest that, due to the weather, 839 00:42:21,205 --> 00:42:24,608 you follow heading 270 to be in the clear. 840 00:42:24,675 --> 00:42:31,048 2-1, say again. 841 00:42:31,115 --> 00:42:32,516 NARRATOR: The storm conditions likely 842 00:42:32,583 --> 00:42:39,590 added to the pilot's stress. 843 00:42:40,691 --> 00:42:42,826 The weather could be a factor in adding 844 00:42:42,893 --> 00:42:45,763 pressure on the pilots. 845 00:42:45,829 --> 00:42:48,032 NARRATOR: Fatigued and under increasing stress, 846 00:42:48,098 --> 00:42:50,401 they lost track of where they worked 847 00:42:50,467 --> 00:42:53,203 and what they were doing. 848 00:42:53,270 --> 00:42:58,175 This flight was in jeopardy from the outset. 849 00:42:58,242 --> 00:42:59,643 What is it? 850 00:42:59,710 --> 00:43:02,746 It seems that the crew was never fully 851 00:43:02,813 --> 00:43:05,382 on top of what was happening. 852 00:43:05,449 --> 00:43:06,383 Go around. 853 00:43:06,450 --> 00:43:07,384 Go around. 854 00:43:07,451 --> 00:43:09,186 Go around. 855 00:43:09,253 --> 00:43:10,187 Roger. 856 00:43:10,254 --> 00:43:13,190 Go around. 857 00:43:21,532 --> 00:43:24,001 NARRATOR: Investigators conclude the accident was 858 00:43:24,068 --> 00:43:25,936 caused by a crew that was simply 859 00:43:26,003 --> 00:43:28,238 too tired or too confused to recover 860 00:43:28,305 --> 00:43:30,741 from the first wrong turn. 861 00:43:30,808 --> 00:43:34,478 It's a textbook example of subtle incapacitation. 862 00:43:34,545 --> 00:43:38,048 We could prove that the symptoms that we saw 863 00:43:38,115 --> 00:43:40,851 are similar to the symptoms of somebody who 864 00:43:40,918 --> 00:43:43,721 has a subtle incapacitation. 865 00:43:43,787 --> 00:43:50,794 Oh, God. 866 00:43:51,895 --> 00:43:53,497 NARRATOR: The accident exposes a risk 867 00:43:53,564 --> 00:43:59,737 to aviation that no amount of engineering can overcome. 868 00:43:59,803 --> 00:44:03,073 After the crash of flight 409, investigators 869 00:44:03,140 --> 00:44:05,342 suggest Ethiopian Airlines introduce 870 00:44:05,409 --> 00:44:09,546 much more rigorous rules regarding crew rest. 871 00:44:09,613 --> 00:44:12,249 It's one thing to have the experience and the expertise 872 00:44:12,316 --> 00:44:15,285 to do the work, but you have to be in good condition 873 00:44:15,352 --> 00:44:18,722 in order to perform. 874 00:44:18,789 --> 00:44:22,793 As long as airplanes are operated by humans, fatigue, 875 00:44:22,860 --> 00:44:25,362 distraction, and other human weaknesses 876 00:44:25,429 --> 00:44:30,534 can only be managed, never erased. 877 00:44:30,601 --> 00:44:36,073 I'm not sure that we can prevent subtle incapacitation. 878 00:44:36,140 --> 00:44:38,409 But we should at least try to eliminate 879 00:44:38,475 --> 00:44:41,111 all the possibilities that are related to human factor 880 00:44:41,178 --> 00:44:43,414 because human factors are still the majority 881 00:44:43,480 --> 00:44:45,816 of most of the accidents. 882 00:44:45,883 --> 00:44:46,817 Check complete. 883 00:44:46,884 --> 00:44:48,619 No problems.