1 00:00:01,401 --> 00:00:03,003 Pilot: REQUEST DESCENT FOR FINAL APPROACH. 2 00:00:03,003 --> 00:00:05,339 Narrator: A 737 HEADS FOR A BRAZILIAN AIRPORT 3 00:00:05,339 --> 00:00:07,507 ON THE EDGE OF THE AMAZON. 4 00:00:07,507 --> 00:00:09,676 Man: AREN'T WE SUPPOSED TO BE LANDING IN BELEM? 5 00:00:09,676 --> 00:00:11,144 Pilot: I THINK WE'RE CLOSE. 6 00:00:11,144 --> 00:00:15,182 Narrator: BUT VARIG FLIGHT 254 NEVER REACHES ITS DESTINATION. 7 00:00:15,182 --> 00:00:17,985 Man: SOMETHING IS VERY, VERY, VERY WRONG HERE. 8 00:00:17,985 --> 00:00:19,453 Co-pilot: NO VISIBLE LIGHTS, CAPTAIN. 9 00:00:19,453 --> 00:00:21,388 Narrator: 54 PEOPLE AND THE JETLINER 10 00:00:21,388 --> 00:00:23,223 HAVE VANISHED WITHOUT A TRACE. 11 00:00:23,223 --> 00:00:25,259 Man: WHEN THE FLIGHT DIDN'T LAND, 12 00:00:25,259 --> 00:00:27,694 IT WAS DECLARED AN EMERGENCY. 13 00:00:27,694 --> 00:00:31,164 Man: AS THEY TOOK THE REPORTED POSITION OF THE AIRPLANE, 14 00:00:31,164 --> 00:00:32,666 IT WASN'T THERE. 15 00:00:32,666 --> 00:00:34,868 Narrator: THE DESPERATE HUNT FOR A MISSING PLANE... 16 00:00:34,868 --> 00:00:36,670 Man: THIS IS OUR SEARCH AREA RIGHT HERE. 17 00:00:36,670 --> 00:00:39,039 Narrator: WILL LEAD TO AN ASTONISHING FIND. 18 00:00:39,039 --> 00:00:42,576 Man: IT'S SOMETHING I'M STILL MYSTIFIED BY. 19 00:00:42,576 --> 00:00:44,611 Flight attendant: LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE ARE STARTING OUR APPROACH. 20 00:00:44,611 --> 00:00:45,846 Pilot: WE LOST BOTH ENGINES! 21 00:00:45,846 --> 00:00:47,114 Flight attendant: PUT THE MASK OVER YOUR NOSE. 22 00:00:47,114 --> 00:00:47,948 EMERGENCY DESCENT. 23 00:00:47,948 --> 00:00:49,016 Pilot: MAYDAY, MAYDAY. 24 00:00:49,016 --> 00:00:51,051 Flight attendant: BRACE FOR IMPACT! 25 00:00:51,051 --> 00:00:52,052 Controller: I THINK I LOST ONE. 26 00:00:52,052 --> 00:00:54,187 Man: INVESTIGATION STARTING... 27 00:00:55,289 --> 00:00:56,990 Man: HE'S GONNA CRASH! 28 00:01:06,166 --> 00:01:10,604 Narrator: BRAZIL IN THE LATE 1980s IS A COUNTRY IN TRANSITION. 29 00:01:10,604 --> 00:01:12,406 SOUTH AMERICA'S LARGEST NATION 30 00:01:12,406 --> 00:01:14,675 IS PREPARING FOR ITS FIRST PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION 31 00:01:14,675 --> 00:01:17,077 IN ALMOST 30 YEARS. 32 00:01:17,077 --> 00:01:21,248 BUT TODAY, ALL EYES ARE INTENTLY FOCUSED ON ANOTHER CONTEST. 33 00:01:21,248 --> 00:01:23,517 [ANNOUNCER SPEAKING PORTUGUESE} 34 00:01:23,517 --> 00:01:26,420 MILLIONS OF SOCCER-MAD BRAZILIANS TUNE IN 35 00:01:26,420 --> 00:01:29,790 AS THEIR BELOVED TEAM TAKES ON ARCHRIVAL CHILE 36 00:01:29,790 --> 00:01:34,027 IN A CRUCIAL WORLD CUP QUALIFYING MATCH. 37 00:01:34,027 --> 00:01:37,998 Ivan Sant' Anna: THAT FOOTBALL MATCH WAS VERY IMPORTANT 38 00:01:37,998 --> 00:01:41,068 BECAUSE IF BRAZIL LOST THEY WOULD BE ELIMINATED 39 00:01:41,068 --> 00:01:45,339 FOR THE FIRST TIME IN WORLD CUP HISTORY. 40 00:01:48,608 --> 00:01:49,810 Narrator: THE CRITICAL MATCH IN RIO 41 00:01:49,810 --> 00:01:53,914 IS ALL ANYONE IS TALKING ABOUT. 42 00:01:53,914 --> 00:01:56,483 EVEN A THOUSAND MILES AWAY AT MARABA AIRPORT, 43 00:01:56,483 --> 00:01:58,652 WHERE THE CREW OF VARIG FLIGHT 254 44 00:01:58,652 --> 00:02:01,221 IS GETTING READY FOR TAKEOFF. 45 00:02:01,221 --> 00:02:03,023 Nilson Zille: EXTERIOR CHECK COMPLETE. 46 00:02:03,023 --> 00:02:07,194 Cezar Garcez: SO, NILSON, YOU THINK CHILE HAS A CHANCE TONIGHT? 47 00:02:07,194 --> 00:02:09,096 Zille: WHEN IT COMES TO THE WORLD CUP, CAPTAIN, 48 00:02:09,096 --> 00:02:12,099 NOBODY HAS A CHANCE AGAINST BRAZIL, HUH. 49 00:02:15,268 --> 00:02:16,870 Narrator: VARIG FLIGHT 254 50 00:02:16,870 --> 00:02:18,338 IS SCHEDULED TO FLY NORTH 51 00:02:18,338 --> 00:02:20,040 FROM THE MINING TOWN OF MARABA 52 00:02:20,040 --> 00:02:22,943 TO BELEM, NEAR THE MOUTH OF THE AMAZON RIVER. 53 00:02:22,943 --> 00:02:25,912 THE CREW CHECKS THE FORECAST AND DIALS IN A COMPASS HEADING 54 00:02:25,912 --> 00:02:28,548 TO GUIDE THEM TO THEIR DESTINATION. 55 00:02:28,548 --> 00:02:32,519 John Cox: IN THE 737-200s, WHICH IS AN OLDER GENERATION AIRPLANE, 56 00:02:32,519 --> 00:02:36,423 THEY DON'T HAVE THE MODERN FLIGHT MANAGEMENT COMPUTERS. 57 00:02:36,423 --> 00:02:38,425 THEY'RE USING AN OLDER TECHNOLOGY 58 00:02:38,425 --> 00:02:41,728 OF GROUND-BASED RADIO NAVIGATION AIDS. 59 00:02:43,497 --> 00:02:45,465 Narrator: THERE ARE 48 PASSENGERS ON BOARD, 60 00:02:45,465 --> 00:02:49,036 INCLUDING CARLOS SIQUEIRA. 61 00:02:50,771 --> 00:02:52,639 Carlos Siqueira, translated: I WAS TAKING TIME OFF. 62 00:02:52,639 --> 00:02:55,575 I WORKED FOR A MINING COMPANY IN MARABA, 63 00:02:55,575 --> 00:02:58,879 AND I WAS RETURNING HOME TO MY CITY OF BELEM. 64 00:03:02,783 --> 00:03:04,317 Garcez: HERE WE GO. 65 00:03:09,723 --> 00:03:13,160 Narrator: CAPTAIN CEZAR GARCEZ IS FLYING THE PLANE TONIGHT, 66 00:03:13,160 --> 00:03:16,830 WHILE FIRST OFFICER NILSON ZILLE MONITORS THE INSTRUMENTS. 67 00:03:16,830 --> 00:03:20,067 Zille: V-1. ROTATE. 68 00:03:22,969 --> 00:03:27,541 Narrator: AT 5:35 PM, THE BOEING 737 GETS AIRBORNE. 69 00:03:29,910 --> 00:03:32,813 Sant' Anna: IT WAS A VERY ROUTINE FLIGHT. 70 00:03:32,813 --> 00:03:34,448 IT WAS A CLEAR DAY. 71 00:03:34,448 --> 00:03:36,249 THERE WERE NO WEATHER ISSUES. 72 00:03:36,249 --> 00:03:39,986 THERE WASN'T ANY REASON FOR THEM TO BE WORRIED ABOUT ANYTHING. 73 00:03:41,354 --> 00:03:44,658 Narrator: THE FLIGHT NORMALLY TAKES LESS THAN AN HOUR. 74 00:03:44,658 --> 00:03:46,359 Siqueira: SINCE I WORKED IN MARABA, 75 00:03:46,359 --> 00:03:49,796 I USUALLY TOOK THAT FLIGHT EVERY 20 DAYS. 76 00:03:52,933 --> 00:03:55,402 Narrator: AFTER 23 MINUTES, THE FLIGHT COMPUTER 77 00:03:55,402 --> 00:03:58,505 TELLS THE CAPTAIN THAT THEY'RE GETTING CLOSE TO BELEM. 78 00:03:58,505 --> 00:04:01,174 Cox: THIS AIRPLANE HAD THE PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM 79 00:04:01,174 --> 00:04:04,978 WHERE THEY COULD ENTER THE DISTANCE TO THE DESTINATION, 80 00:04:04,978 --> 00:04:08,048 AND IT WOULD HELP IMPROVE THE FUEL EFFICIENCY. 81 00:04:08,048 --> 00:04:11,618 Garcez: LOOKS LIKE WE'RE NEARLY THERE. 82 00:04:11,618 --> 00:04:14,721 Narrator: THE PILOTS TRY TO CONTACT CONTROLLERS ON THE GROUND. 83 00:04:14,721 --> 00:04:18,592 Zille: BELEM TOWER, VARIG 254, REQUESTING DESCENT. 84 00:04:18,592 --> 00:04:23,029 Narrator: STRANGELY, THEY GET NO RESPONSE FROM THE TOWER. 85 00:04:23,029 --> 00:04:25,699 Zille: BELEM TOWER, VARIG 254. 86 00:04:27,934 --> 00:04:29,903 BELEM TOWER, DO YOU READ? 87 00:04:34,441 --> 00:04:35,809 Garcez: LET ME TRY. 88 00:04:35,809 --> 00:04:38,411 BELEM TOWER, VARIG 254. 89 00:04:40,380 --> 00:04:44,184 Cox: THE PILOTS, I THINK, WOULD HAVE BEEN SURPRISED. 90 00:04:44,184 --> 00:04:47,921 FIRST, DID THEY HAVE A COMMUNICATION RADIO PROBLEM? 91 00:04:47,921 --> 00:04:50,323 WHY CAN'T THEY TALK TO AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL? 92 00:04:50,323 --> 00:04:51,791 Zille: THAT'S FUNNY. 93 00:04:51,791 --> 00:04:53,927 Garcez: WHAT? 94 00:04:53,927 --> 00:04:57,097 Zille: WE'RE NOT PICKING UP THE BEACON, EITHER. 95 00:04:57,097 --> 00:04:58,398 Narrator: AIRPORTS ARE EQUIPPED 96 00:04:58,398 --> 00:05:01,501 WITH VERY HIGH FREQUENCY OMNI-DIRECTIONAL RANGE BEACONS, 97 00:05:01,501 --> 00:05:03,436 OR VOR BEACONS. 98 00:05:03,436 --> 00:05:07,107 THEY SEND OUT SIGNALS THAT PLANES FOLLOW TO THE RUNWAY. 99 00:05:07,107 --> 00:05:09,042 Zille: YEAH. I'VE GOT NOTHING. 100 00:05:09,042 --> 00:05:11,545 Narrator: VARIG 254 ISN'T PICKING UP THE SIGNAL 101 00:05:11,545 --> 00:05:13,480 FROM BELEM AIRPORT. 102 00:05:13,480 --> 00:05:16,316 Garcez: I'LL CALL THE TOWER ON HF. 103 00:05:16,316 --> 00:05:18,919 Narrator: THE CAPTAIN SWITCHES HIS RADIO TO HIGH FREQUENCY 104 00:05:18,919 --> 00:05:21,154 AND TRIES MAKING CONTACT AGAIN. 105 00:05:21,154 --> 00:05:24,191 Garcez: BELEM TOWER, VARIG 254. 106 00:05:24,191 --> 00:05:26,793 Cox: THERE WERE NOT ABLE TO RAISE AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL 107 00:05:26,793 --> 00:05:30,096 ON THEIR VHF COMMUNICATION RADIOS. 108 00:05:30,096 --> 00:05:34,634 IT HAPPENS OCCASIONALLY, AND IT REQUIRES THEN THE USE 109 00:05:34,634 --> 00:05:37,704 OF A MUCH LONGER-RANGE RADIO SYSTEM. 110 00:05:37,704 --> 00:05:40,974 Garcez: BELEM TOWER, VARIG 254. 111 00:05:40,974 --> 00:05:43,043 Narrator: THE STRATEGY WORKS. 112 00:05:43,043 --> 00:05:46,046 Controller: VARIG 254, BELEM TOWER. GO AHEAD. 113 00:05:46,046 --> 00:05:48,548 Cox: AS YOU APPROACH THE DESTINATION, 114 00:05:48,548 --> 00:05:51,518 YOU HAVE RADIO NAVIGATION TUNED UP 115 00:05:51,518 --> 00:05:54,120 TO THAT SPECIFIC BEACON ON THE GROUND. 116 00:05:54,120 --> 00:05:56,823 Garcez: BELEM, WE'RE ON APPROACH, BUT WE AREN'T SEEING THE VOR. 117 00:05:56,823 --> 00:05:58,325 IS THE BEACON DOWN? 118 00:05:58,325 --> 00:05:59,993 Controller: NEGATIVE, 254. 119 00:05:59,993 --> 00:06:02,495 LOOKS LIKE IT'S ON YOUR END. 120 00:06:02,495 --> 00:06:05,131 Cox: IN THIS CASE, THEY WEREN'T RECEIVING THAT. 121 00:06:05,131 --> 00:06:06,533 Garcez: UNDERSTOOD. 122 00:06:06,533 --> 00:06:09,869 Cox: AND THEY WERE DOING WHAT IS DEDUCED RECKONING, 123 00:06:09,869 --> 00:06:12,239 OR DEAD RECKONING. 124 00:06:12,239 --> 00:06:14,574 Narrator: THE CAPTAIN CHECKS HIS PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM 125 00:06:14,574 --> 00:06:17,444 AND CALCULATES WHEN THEY'LL ARRIVE AT THEIR DESTINATION. 126 00:06:17,444 --> 00:06:19,879 Garcez: BELEM, WE'RE 25 MINUTES OUT. 127 00:06:19,879 --> 00:06:22,616 REQUEST DESCENT FOR FINAL APPROACH. 128 00:06:22,616 --> 00:06:29,256 Controller: ROGER. VARIG 254, CLEARED TO FLIGHT LEVEL 2-0-0. 129 00:06:29,256 --> 00:06:33,393 Narrator: THE CONTROLLER CLEARS THE CREW DOWN TO 20,000 FEET. 130 00:06:33,393 --> 00:06:36,630 Garcez: FLIGHT LEVEL 2-0-0, VARIG 254. 131 00:06:36,630 --> 00:06:39,899 Cox: AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS IN NON-RADAR ENVIRONMENTS 132 00:06:39,899 --> 00:06:42,068 SEPARATE THE AIRPLANES BY TIME, 133 00:06:42,068 --> 00:06:44,904 SO THESE POSITION REPORTS ARE VERY CRITICAL, 134 00:06:44,904 --> 00:06:48,608 AND IT'S REQUIRED THAT IF YOUR ESTIMATE TO A FIX 135 00:06:48,608 --> 00:06:50,343 CHANGES BY MORE THAN THREE MINUTES, 136 00:06:50,343 --> 00:06:52,979 YOU'RE REQUIRED TO ADVISE AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL 137 00:06:52,979 --> 00:06:55,515 OF THAT REVISED ESTIMATE. 138 00:06:55,515 --> 00:06:58,318 Narrator: THE PLANE SHOULD SOON BE AT THE AIRPORT. 139 00:06:58,318 --> 00:07:01,488 Siqueira: WHEN THE PLANE WAS DESCENDING, 140 00:07:01,488 --> 00:07:04,090 IT SEEMED LIKE IT WAS A NORMAL LANDING. 141 00:07:06,660 --> 00:07:08,762 Narrator: AS THE PLANE DROPS BELOW THE CLOUDS, 142 00:07:08,762 --> 00:07:12,766 THE CAPTAIN LOOKS FOR THE LIGHTS OF BELEM. 143 00:07:12,766 --> 00:07:14,301 Cox: THEY BREAK OUT OF THE CLOUDS 144 00:07:14,301 --> 00:07:18,371 EXPECTING TO SEE TERRAIN THAT THEY'RE FAMILIAR WITH. 145 00:07:18,371 --> 00:07:19,506 Garcez: WHERE ARE THE LIGHTS? 146 00:07:19,506 --> 00:07:22,342 Cox: AND EXPECTING TO SEE THE AIRPORT. 147 00:07:22,342 --> 00:07:24,377 Garcez: WHERE'S THE AIRPORT? 148 00:07:24,377 --> 00:07:26,313 Cox: AND TO VISUALLY ALIGN THE AIRPLANE 149 00:07:26,313 --> 00:07:27,414 WITH THE LANDING RUNWAY. 150 00:07:27,414 --> 00:07:29,949 THEY DON'T SEE THAT. 151 00:07:29,949 --> 00:07:31,751 Narrator: INSTEAD, THERE'S ONLY DARKNESS 152 00:07:31,751 --> 00:07:34,087 AS FAR AS THE EYE CAN SEE. 153 00:07:37,157 --> 00:07:39,259 Siqueira: THAT'S WHEN EVERYBODY THOUGHT, 154 00:07:39,259 --> 00:07:41,428 WHERE IS HE GONNA LAND IF THERE'S NO RUNWAY? 155 00:07:41,428 --> 00:07:43,596 BELEM IS NOT THERE. 156 00:07:43,596 --> 00:07:46,733 AREN'T WE SUPPOSED TO BE LANDING IN BELEM? 157 00:07:46,733 --> 00:07:48,735 PANIC STARTED BUILDING IN THE AIRPLANE. 158 00:07:48,735 --> 00:07:52,272 PEOPLE WERE ASKING, WHY AREN'T WE LANDING IN BELEM? 159 00:07:52,272 --> 00:07:54,574 WHAT'S...WHAT'S GOING ON? 160 00:07:59,546 --> 00:08:01,614 Garcez: WAIT A MINUTE. 161 00:08:01,614 --> 00:08:03,750 I THINK WE JUST OVERSHOT THE AIRPORT. 162 00:08:03,750 --> 00:08:06,252 Narrator: THE CREW MAY HAVE DISCOVERED THE PROBLEM. 163 00:08:06,252 --> 00:08:08,121 THE PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM SHOWS 164 00:08:08,121 --> 00:08:11,725 THAT THEY'VE FLOWN 30 MILES PAST THEIR DESTINATION. 165 00:08:11,725 --> 00:08:13,159 Zille: YOU WANT TO DO A 180? 166 00:08:13,159 --> 00:08:14,227 Garcez: YEAH. 167 00:08:14,227 --> 00:08:18,198 TURN RIGHT, HEADING ZERO-NINER-ZERO. 168 00:08:18,198 --> 00:08:24,637 Zille: TURNING RIGHT, HEADING ZERO-NINER-ZERO. 169 00:08:24,637 --> 00:08:26,840 Cox: THE CREW REALLY BEGAN TO REALIZE, OK, 170 00:08:26,840 --> 00:08:29,342 WE'VE MADE A SMALL NAVIGATION MISTAKE. 171 00:08:29,342 --> 00:08:33,513 WE NEED TO FIND THE AIRPORT AND GO AHEAD AND LAND. 172 00:08:33,513 --> 00:08:36,049 Siqueira: THE PILOT DIDN'T OFFER ANY EXPLANATION. 173 00:08:36,049 --> 00:08:38,718 HE SIMPLY PROCEEDED TO MANEUVER AND TURN AROUND. 174 00:08:38,718 --> 00:08:41,054 AND IT WAS ALREADY NIGHTTIME. 175 00:08:43,790 --> 00:08:45,225 Garcez: BELEM, WE ARE VERY CLOSE. 176 00:08:45,225 --> 00:08:48,862 REQUESTING FURTHER DESCENT TO FLIGHT LEVEL 4-0. 177 00:08:48,862 --> 00:08:53,967 Controller: 254, YOU ARE CLEARED FOR DESCENT, FLIGHT LEVEL 4-0. 178 00:08:53,967 --> 00:08:56,336 Narrator: THE CONTROLLER CLEARS THE PLANE TO DESCEND FURTHER, 179 00:08:56,336 --> 00:09:00,273 TO 4,000 FEET. 180 00:09:00,273 --> 00:09:03,209 Sant' Anna: THE CAPTAIN EXPECTED HE WOULD BE LANDING IN BELEM 181 00:09:03,209 --> 00:09:05,745 IN ABOUT FIVE MINUTES. 182 00:09:05,745 --> 00:09:09,649 Narrator: ON THE SOCCER FIELD, BRAZIL HAS TAKEN THE LEAD. 183 00:09:09,649 --> 00:09:14,254 THEIR GOAL OF REACHING THE WORLD CUP IS IN SIGHT. 184 00:09:14,254 --> 00:09:15,855 BUT IN THE AIR... 185 00:09:15,855 --> 00:09:17,590 Zille: NO VISIBLE LIGHTS, CAPTAIN. 186 00:09:17,590 --> 00:09:19,626 Narrator: THE PILOTS OF VARIG 254 187 00:09:19,626 --> 00:09:23,229 ARE NO CLOSER TO FINDING THE RUNWAY. 188 00:09:23,229 --> 00:09:28,601 Cox: THEIR ACTIONS INDICATE A SLOW REALIZATION 189 00:09:28,601 --> 00:09:30,804 THAT THEY ARE NOT WHERE THEY THINK THEY ARE. 190 00:09:30,804 --> 00:09:33,273 Garcez: WHAT'S OUR FUEL? 191 00:09:33,273 --> 00:09:38,044 Cox: NOW THE QUESTION ARISES IS WHAT ARE THEY GONNA DO ABOUT IT? 192 00:09:42,182 --> 00:09:43,616 Narrator: AT BELEM AIRPORT, 193 00:09:43,616 --> 00:09:46,186 THE CONTROLLER IS GROWING CONCERNED. 194 00:09:46,186 --> 00:09:49,589 FLIGHT 254 SHOULD HAVE LANDED 10 MINUTES AGO. 195 00:09:53,393 --> 00:09:55,762 Zille: NO VISIBLE LIGHTS, CAPTAIN. 196 00:09:58,965 --> 00:10:01,968 Sant' Anna: THEY KNEW NOW THERE WAS A SERIOUS PROBLEM. 197 00:10:01,968 --> 00:10:05,672 WHEN THE FLIGHT DIDN'T LAND, IT WAS DECLARED AN EMERGENCY. 198 00:10:08,007 --> 00:10:09,609 Narrator: ON FLIGHT 254, 199 00:10:09,609 --> 00:10:12,345 THE SITUATION IS BECOMING CRITICAL. 200 00:10:12,345 --> 00:10:13,847 Zille: WE NEED TO LAND SOON 201 00:10:13,847 --> 00:10:15,548 OR ELSE WE'RE GONNA RUN OUT OF FUEL! 202 00:10:15,548 --> 00:10:17,417 Garcez: I THINK WE'RE CLOSE. 203 00:10:17,417 --> 00:10:20,253 Sant' Anna: WHEN HE FLEW OVER WHERE HE THOUGHT BELEM SHOULD BE, 204 00:10:20,253 --> 00:10:21,621 HE DIDN'T FIND IT. 205 00:10:21,621 --> 00:10:23,490 IT'S VERY EASY TO FIND BELEM. 206 00:10:23,490 --> 00:10:25,725 HE DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHAT WAS HAPPENING. 207 00:10:25,725 --> 00:10:27,060 Garcez: WHY DON'T WE SEE IF WE CAN PICK UP 208 00:10:27,060 --> 00:10:29,963 A LOCAL RADIO STATION FROM BELEM? 209 00:10:29,963 --> 00:10:33,166 Narrator: THE CAPTAIN TRIES TO HOME IN ON A LOCAL RADIO SIGNAL, 210 00:10:33,166 --> 00:10:36,503 HOPING IT WILL HELP GUIDE THEM TOWARD THE CITY. 211 00:10:36,503 --> 00:10:39,672 Cox: THE AUTOMATIC DIRECTION FINDERS, OR ADFs, 212 00:10:39,672 --> 00:10:43,476 ARE CAPABLE OF TUNING UP A.M. RADIO STATIONS, 213 00:10:43,476 --> 00:10:45,011 COMMERCIAL A.M. RADIO STATIONS, 214 00:10:45,011 --> 00:10:47,347 AND THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN VERY CRITICAL 215 00:10:47,347 --> 00:10:50,650 BECAUSE THIS IS A LOW POPULATION AREA. 216 00:10:50,650 --> 00:10:54,354 THERE'S NOT A LOT OF GEOGRAPHIC VISUAL CLUES. 217 00:10:54,354 --> 00:10:56,756 YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE AMAZON. 218 00:10:56,756 --> 00:10:58,258 Narrator: THE DO-OR-DIE SOCCER GAME 219 00:10:58,258 --> 00:11:01,861 IS BEING BROADCAST BY RADIO STATIONS ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY. 220 00:11:01,861 --> 00:11:04,764 BRAZIL LEADS 1-0 WITH 20 MINUTES TO GO 221 00:11:04,764 --> 00:11:08,902 WHEN SUDDENLY CONTROVERSY ERUPTS ON THE FIELD. 222 00:11:12,238 --> 00:11:14,574 Sant' Anna: ONE OF THE FANS THREW A FLARE 223 00:11:14,574 --> 00:11:18,645 THAT FELL RIGHT NEXT TO THE CHILEAN GOALIE. 224 00:11:18,645 --> 00:11:21,180 THE GOALIE PRETENDED THAT THE FLARE HIT HIM 225 00:11:21,180 --> 00:11:23,950 AND CUT HIMSELF WITH A RAZOR BLADE. 226 00:11:26,786 --> 00:11:28,988 HIS FACE WAS COVERED WITH BLOOD, 227 00:11:28,988 --> 00:11:33,826 AND THE CHILEAN TEAM ABANDONED THE FIELD. 228 00:11:33,826 --> 00:11:37,063 IF CHILE LEFT THE MATCH FOR SECURITY REASONS, 229 00:11:37,063 --> 00:11:40,166 THEY COULD BE DECLARED THE WINNERS OF THE MATCH. 230 00:11:42,769 --> 00:11:45,572 Narrator: ABOARD FLIGHT 254, THE PILOTS HAVE MANAGED 231 00:11:45,572 --> 00:11:48,775 TO PICK UP A LOCAL STATION BROADCASTING THE MATCH. 232 00:11:48,775 --> 00:11:52,345 Garcez: NOW WE CAN FOLLOW THE SIGNAL TOWARDS BELEM. 233 00:11:52,345 --> 00:11:55,615 Zille: TURNING RIGHT, HEADING 1-6-5. 234 00:11:57,617 --> 00:12:03,156 Narrator: PASSENGERS CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE PLANE IS TURNING YET AGAIN. 235 00:12:03,156 --> 00:12:06,926 Siqueira: WE WERE GETTING EXTREMELY WORRIED. 236 00:12:06,926 --> 00:12:09,796 THE PLANE IS GOING BACK AND FORTH. 237 00:12:09,796 --> 00:12:12,098 THE STARS AND THE MOON WERE ON ONE SIDE, 238 00:12:12,098 --> 00:12:15,768 AND NOW THEY'RE ON THE OTHER SIDE. 239 00:12:15,768 --> 00:12:17,503 THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG HERE. 240 00:12:17,503 --> 00:12:19,939 WHAT'S GOING ON? 241 00:12:19,939 --> 00:12:22,575 Narrator: THE CAPTAIN IS CONFIDENT HE'S NOW ON COURSE. 242 00:12:22,575 --> 00:12:24,644 HE'S SPOTTED A LANDMARK ON HIS RADAR. 243 00:12:24,644 --> 00:12:28,114 Garcez: THERE WE GO. 244 00:12:28,114 --> 00:12:31,117 WE'RE OVER THE AMAZON NOW. 245 00:12:31,117 --> 00:12:33,419 Narrator: BELEM IS NEAR THE MOUTH OF THE AMAZON. 246 00:12:33,419 --> 00:12:36,689 FOLLOWING THE RIVER SHOULD LEAD THE PILOTS TO THE CITY. 247 00:12:36,689 --> 00:12:40,126 BUT MOMENTS LATER, THERE'S SERIOUS TROUBLE. 248 00:12:40,126 --> 00:12:41,794 Zille: WE'VE GOT A FUEL WARNING! 249 00:12:41,794 --> 00:12:44,797 Narrator: FLIGHT 254 IS RUNNING OUT OF FUEL. 250 00:12:44,797 --> 00:12:48,768 THE PILOTS SUDDENLY REALIZE THEY CAN'T MAKE IT TO BELEM. 251 00:12:48,768 --> 00:12:50,136 Zille: DO YOU WANT TO PUT ON SOME FLAPS 252 00:12:50,136 --> 00:12:51,204 IN CASE WE LOSE POWER? 253 00:12:51,204 --> 00:12:53,006 Garcez: YEAH. 254 00:12:53,006 --> 00:12:57,443 Narrator: THEY'LL HAVE TO CRASH LAND IN THE DENSE AMAZON RAINFOREST. 255 00:12:57,443 --> 00:12:59,579 Garcez: FLAPS TO TWO. 256 00:12:59,579 --> 00:13:03,149 WE NEED TO DO A CONTROLLED DESCENT. 257 00:13:03,149 --> 00:13:05,184 I BETTER PREPARE THE PASSENGERS. 258 00:13:07,787 --> 00:13:09,188 LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, 259 00:13:09,188 --> 00:13:11,791 WE HAVE HAD A MALFUNCTION WITH OUR NAVIGATION INSTRUMENTS 260 00:13:11,791 --> 00:13:15,094 AND WE WILL BE MAKING A FORCED LANDING. 261 00:13:16,929 --> 00:13:19,298 Siqueira: HE SAID THERE WAS GOING TO BE A FORCED LANDING 262 00:13:19,298 --> 00:13:22,201 AND THAT WE SHOULD ALL TAKE OUR EMERGENCY POSITIONS, 263 00:13:22,201 --> 00:13:27,473 BEND YOUR HEAD DOWN AND HOLD YOUR LEGS TOGETHER. 264 00:13:27,473 --> 00:13:31,044 AND MAY GOD HELP US. THOSE WERE HIS WORDS. 265 00:13:31,044 --> 00:13:33,146 Garcez: AND MAY GOD HELP US. 266 00:13:36,416 --> 00:13:41,788 Narrator: PANIC BEGINS TO TAKE HOLD IN THE CABIN. 267 00:13:41,788 --> 00:13:44,090 Sant' Anna: SOME PEOPLE WERE PRAYING. 268 00:13:44,090 --> 00:13:48,294 OTHERS RAIDED THE BAR AND DRANK EVERYTHING. 269 00:13:48,294 --> 00:13:53,599 OTHERS WERE LOOKING FOR THE BEST SPOT IN CASE OF A CRASH. 270 00:13:53,599 --> 00:13:57,637 ANOTHER PASSENGER SAT IN THE LAST ROW 271 00:13:57,637 --> 00:13:59,472 AND HE GRABBED ALL THE PILLOWS 272 00:13:59,472 --> 00:14:02,909 AND COMPLETELY COVERED HIMSELF WITH THEM. 273 00:14:02,909 --> 00:14:07,947 Narrator: AT 8:45 PM, FLIGHT 254 RUNS OUT OF FUEL. 274 00:14:07,947 --> 00:14:10,616 THE LEFT ENGINE IS THE FIRST TO DIE. 275 00:14:12,652 --> 00:14:14,787 Zille: WE JUST LOST AN ENGINE! 276 00:14:14,787 --> 00:14:16,823 Garcez: HANG ON. 277 00:14:16,823 --> 00:14:18,925 I'M GOING TO PUT HER DOWN. 278 00:14:22,662 --> 00:14:25,264 Zille: THERE GOES THE OTHER ONE! 279 00:14:25,264 --> 00:14:27,600 Narrator: WITH THE SECOND ENGINE GONE, 280 00:14:27,600 --> 00:14:32,271 THE 37-TON JET FALLS CLOSER AND CLOSER TO THE GROUND BELOW. 281 00:14:37,877 --> 00:14:41,748 Siqueira: YOU HAVE YOUR EYES CLOSED, YOUR LIFE FLASHING BEFORE YOU. 282 00:14:41,748 --> 00:14:43,316 YOU ASK GOD FORGIVENESS 283 00:14:43,316 --> 00:14:48,254 FOR ALL THE WRONG THINGS YOU DID IN YOUR LIFE. 284 00:14:48,254 --> 00:14:51,090 Narrator: THE INEVITABLE IMPACT IS JUST SECONDS AWAY. 285 00:14:51,090 --> 00:14:53,192 Computer: TERRAIN. TERRAIN. PULL UP. 286 00:14:53,192 --> 00:14:56,863 Garcez: I JUST NEED TO BRING US DOWN... 287 00:14:56,863 --> 00:14:59,899 NICE AND SLOW. 288 00:15:02,401 --> 00:15:03,870 Siqueira: THEN WHAT HAPPENED 289 00:15:03,870 --> 00:15:07,106 WAS IT STARTED TO TOUCH THE TOP OF THE TREES. 290 00:15:10,243 --> 00:15:12,178 YOU'RE EXPECTING THE WORST. 291 00:15:38,671 --> 00:15:40,973 Sant' Anna: HE MADE THE MOST DIFFICULT FORCED LANDING 292 00:15:40,973 --> 00:15:42,809 IN THE HISTORY OF AVIATION. 293 00:15:51,417 --> 00:15:53,920 Siqueira: WHEN THE PLANE STOPPED, 294 00:15:53,920 --> 00:15:55,454 I FELT MYSELF ALL OVER 295 00:15:55,454 --> 00:15:59,759 TO SEE IF I HAD ANY CUTS OR BROKEN BONES. 296 00:16:01,961 --> 00:16:05,031 AND THEN I THOUGHT, AM I IN HEAVEN? 297 00:16:05,031 --> 00:16:08,167 HAVE I DIED AND I'M ALREADY IN HEAVEN? 298 00:16:10,336 --> 00:16:15,441 Narrator: OF THE 54 PASSENGERS AND CREW, 48 HAVE SURVIVED. 299 00:16:15,441 --> 00:16:19,512 MANY ARE BADLY HURT, INCLUDING FIRST OFFICER ZILLE. 300 00:16:19,512 --> 00:16:22,381 Sant' Anna: THE FIRST OFFICER, NILSON ZILLE, 301 00:16:22,381 --> 00:16:25,151 WAS PIERCED ON ONE SIDE BY A TREE BRANCH 302 00:16:25,151 --> 00:16:26,886 AND HE WAS BADLY INJURED. 303 00:16:26,886 --> 00:16:29,222 HE FRACTURED HIS LEG AND HIS SHOULDER. 304 00:16:29,222 --> 00:16:30,656 Garcez: NILSON. 305 00:16:30,656 --> 00:16:33,492 Narrator: CAPTAIN GARCEZ QUICKLY TAKES CONTROL OF THE SITUATION. 306 00:16:33,492 --> 00:16:34,694 Garcez: I'LL COME BACK AND HELP YOU. 307 00:16:34,694 --> 00:16:36,028 I HAVE TO CHECK THE PASSENGERS, OK? 308 00:16:36,028 --> 00:16:37,330 I'LL BE RIGHT BACK. 309 00:16:37,330 --> 00:16:39,365 Sant' Anna: CAPTAIN GARCEZ DIDN'T GET HURT. 310 00:16:39,365 --> 00:16:41,367 HE DIDN'T EVEN HAVE A SCRATCH. 311 00:16:51,010 --> 00:16:53,012 AT THAT POINT, 312 00:16:53,012 --> 00:16:56,549 GARCEZ DID EVERYTHING THAT A CAPTAIN MUST DO. 313 00:16:56,549 --> 00:16:59,385 HE HELPED THOSE THAT HE COULD HELP. 314 00:16:59,385 --> 00:17:01,153 HE FREED WHOEVER HE COULD, 315 00:17:01,153 --> 00:17:04,957 THOSE WHO WERE TRAPPED IN THE METAL DEBRIS. 316 00:17:04,957 --> 00:17:06,759 Garcez: WE HAVE TO GET YOU OUT OF HERE, OK? 317 00:17:06,759 --> 00:17:09,228 CAN YOU HEAR ME? 318 00:17:09,228 --> 00:17:10,796 Narrator: SURVIVING THE CRASH LANDING 319 00:17:10,796 --> 00:17:13,766 FEELS LIKE A MIRACLE TO MANY OF THE PASSENGERS. 320 00:17:13,766 --> 00:17:16,936 BUT THEY NOW FACE A NEW THREAT TO THEIR SURVIVAL. 321 00:17:16,936 --> 00:17:19,605 THEY'RE STRANDED IN THE VAST AMAZON RAINFOREST 322 00:17:19,605 --> 00:17:21,841 WITH NO FOOD, NO WATER, 323 00:17:21,841 --> 00:17:24,911 AND NO GUARANTEE THAT THEY'LL EVER BE FOUND. 324 00:17:34,754 --> 00:17:37,256 THE SHATTERED FUSELAGE OF THE 737 325 00:17:37,256 --> 00:17:43,329 IS NOW THE ONLY SHELTER FOR SURVIVORS OF VARIG FLIGHT 254. 326 00:17:43,329 --> 00:17:46,432 THE PLANE'S SUDDEN DISAPPEARANCE OVER THE AMAZON RAINFOREST 327 00:17:46,432 --> 00:17:48,334 HAS LEFT BRAZILIAN AVIATION AUTHORITIES 328 00:17:48,334 --> 00:17:50,937 GRASPING FOR ANSWERS. 329 00:17:50,937 --> 00:17:53,105 THEY TURN TO COLONEL RONALDO JENKINS, 330 00:17:53,105 --> 00:17:55,975 AN AIR CRASH INVESTIGATOR WITH THE BRAZILIAN AIR FORCE. 331 00:17:59,211 --> 00:18:02,148 Ronaldo Jenkins, translated: THEY CALLED ME AND SAID THERE'S A COMMERCIAL AIRCRAFT 332 00:18:02,148 --> 00:18:05,618 THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO ARRIVE IN BELEM AND IT DIDN'T ARRIVE, 333 00:18:05,618 --> 00:18:08,988 BUT NO ONE KNEW EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED TO THE PLANE. 334 00:18:11,857 --> 00:18:19,198 THEY LEFT MARABA ON TIME, BUT NEVER GOT TO BELEM. 335 00:18:20,967 --> 00:18:23,502 THIS IS OUR SEARCH AREA RIGHT HERE, GENTLEMEN. 336 00:18:26,472 --> 00:18:29,108 Douglas Machado, translated: THE FIRST CHALLENGE IS TO LOCATE THE AIRCRAFT 337 00:18:29,108 --> 00:18:30,977 AND FIGURE OUT THE BEST WAY TO REACH IT, 338 00:18:30,977 --> 00:18:34,680 BECAUSE INITIALLY WE WEREN'T SURE WHERE IT WAS. 339 00:18:40,086 --> 00:18:42,121 Narrator: INVESTIGATORS INTERVIEW THE LAST PERSON 340 00:18:42,121 --> 00:18:44,924 TO BE IN CONTACT WITH FLIGHT 254, 341 00:18:44,924 --> 00:18:47,126 THE BELEM AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER. 342 00:18:47,126 --> 00:18:49,462 Jenkins: ACCORDING TO THE CONTROLLERS, 343 00:18:49,462 --> 00:18:52,131 THE COMMUNICATIONS WERE QUITE NORMAL 344 00:18:52,131 --> 00:18:55,034 OTHER THAN THE STRANGE FACT THAT THEY WEREN'T RECEIVING A SIGNAL 345 00:18:55,034 --> 00:19:00,473 FROM THE GROUND-BASED EQUIPMENT, THE VOR BEACON, AT BELEM. 346 00:19:00,473 --> 00:19:04,377 Controller: HE SAID HE WAS CLOSE AND HE ASKED ME FOR DESCENT. 347 00:19:04,377 --> 00:19:07,113 Narrator: BELEM AIRPORT IS NOT EQUIPPED WITH RADAR. 348 00:19:07,113 --> 00:19:09,081 THE CONTROLLER CAN ONLY TELL INVESTIGATORS 349 00:19:09,081 --> 00:19:11,650 THE PILOT'S LAST REPORTED POSITION. 350 00:19:11,650 --> 00:19:14,120 Cox: BECAUSE THERE WAS NO RADAR, THE AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER 351 00:19:14,120 --> 00:19:18,991 RELIES ON THE PROPER NAVIGATION SKILLS OF THE PILOTS 352 00:19:18,991 --> 00:19:21,327 AND THEIR TIMELY REPORTS. 353 00:19:21,327 --> 00:19:22,928 Narrator: WITH LITTLE ELSE TO GO ON, 354 00:19:22,928 --> 00:19:27,733 RESCUERS CONCENTRATE THE SEARCH IN A SMALL RADIUS AROUND BELEM. 355 00:19:27,733 --> 00:19:31,737 THEY FIND NO SIGN OF FLIGHT 254. 356 00:19:31,737 --> 00:19:33,739 Jenkins: YOU NEVER START WITH A PRECONCEIVED IDEA 357 00:19:33,739 --> 00:19:35,307 THAT SUCH AND SUCH HAPPENED-- 358 00:19:35,307 --> 00:19:39,979 EXPLODED MIDFLIGHT, LOST AN ENGINE, NONE OF THIS. 359 00:19:39,979 --> 00:19:42,281 IN OTHER WORDS, YOU GO IN SEARCH OF THE AIRCRAFT 360 00:19:42,281 --> 00:19:43,682 THAT LEFT ONE LOCATION 361 00:19:43,682 --> 00:19:46,318 AND WAS SUPPOSED TO ARRIVE IN ANOTHER. 362 00:19:46,318 --> 00:19:49,855 Narrator: INVESTIGATORS ALSO COMB THROUGH SATELLITE DATA, 363 00:19:49,855 --> 00:19:51,257 HOPING TO FIND A SIGNAL 364 00:19:51,257 --> 00:19:53,959 FROM THE PLANE'S EMERGENCY TRANSMITTER. 365 00:19:53,959 --> 00:19:57,530 THE DISTRESS BEACON IS DESIGNED TO ACTIVATE AFTER AN ACCIDENT 366 00:19:57,530 --> 00:20:00,599 TO HELP GUIDE RESCUERS TO THE PLANE. 367 00:20:00,599 --> 00:20:03,702 Jenkins: THE IMPACT SHOULD HAVE SET OFF THEIR LOCATOR. 368 00:20:03,702 --> 00:20:09,208 ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS FIGURE OUT WHICH ONE IS FLIGHT 254. 369 00:20:09,208 --> 00:20:10,843 Narrator: BUT THE SIGNAL FROM THOSE BEACONS 370 00:20:10,843 --> 00:20:14,046 IS ON THE SAME FREQUENCY AS OTHER EMERGENCY TRANSMISSIONS, 371 00:20:14,046 --> 00:20:18,117 MAKING IT HARD TO PINPOINT THE PLANE. 372 00:20:18,117 --> 00:20:19,885 Jenkins: EVERY TIME YOU USE THIS FREQUENCY 373 00:20:19,885 --> 00:20:21,554 OR SPEAK ON THIS FREQUENCY, 374 00:20:21,554 --> 00:20:23,522 THE SATELLITE RECEIVES THOSE MESSAGES, 375 00:20:23,522 --> 00:20:25,724 AND SO IT'S A LOT OF WORK TO IDENTIFY WHICH ONE 376 00:20:25,724 --> 00:20:28,727 IS THE REAL POSITION OF THE AIRPLANE. 377 00:20:33,699 --> 00:20:36,669 Narrator: MEANWHILE, SOMEWHERE IN THE AMAZON RAINFOREST, 378 00:20:36,669 --> 00:20:41,107 THE SURVIVORS OF FLIGHT 254 ARE STRUGGLING TO STAY ALIVE. 379 00:20:43,075 --> 00:20:45,077 Siqueira: I WAS PART OF A GROUP 380 00:20:45,077 --> 00:20:48,280 THAT WENT OUT TO SEARCH FOR WATER. 381 00:20:51,317 --> 00:20:53,853 THERE WAS A STREAM NEARBY. 382 00:20:53,853 --> 00:20:56,188 WE DRANK SOME WATER, AND WE TOOK SOME BACK 383 00:20:56,188 --> 00:20:58,390 FOR THE PEOPLE WHO WERE IN THE PLANE. 384 00:20:58,390 --> 00:21:01,627 HERE'S SOME WATER. 385 00:21:01,627 --> 00:21:03,195 HEY, HAVE SOME WATER, MAN. 386 00:21:03,195 --> 00:21:07,633 Narrator: BUT CARLOS SIQUEIRA'S EFFORTS CAN'T SAVE EVERYONE. 387 00:21:07,633 --> 00:21:09,001 Sant' Anna: THERE WERE PEOPLE THERE 388 00:21:09,001 --> 00:21:11,670 WHO WERE SEVERELY INJURED AND IN HORRIFIC PAIN, 389 00:21:11,670 --> 00:21:14,940 AND SOME OF THE PASSENGERS STARTED DYING. 390 00:21:14,940 --> 00:21:19,311 Narrator: IF HELP DOESN'T ARRIVE SOON, MORE WILL DIE. 391 00:21:19,311 --> 00:21:21,413 THE CAPTAIN HAD HOPED RESCUERS FROM BELEM 392 00:21:21,413 --> 00:21:25,251 WOULD FIND THE CRASH SITE WITHIN HOURS. 393 00:21:25,251 --> 00:21:29,054 NOW, A DAY LATER, HE FEARS THE PLANE'S EMERGENCY BEACON 394 00:21:29,054 --> 00:21:32,057 ISN'T SENDING OUT A SIGNAL. 395 00:21:32,057 --> 00:21:33,659 Garcez: I THINK I CAN GET THIS WORKING 396 00:21:33,659 --> 00:21:35,594 IF WE CAN JUST GET IT SUBMERGED. 397 00:21:35,594 --> 00:21:37,396 Narrator: SOME BEACONS ARE DESIGNED TO ACTIVATE 398 00:21:37,396 --> 00:21:40,266 ONLY WHEN A PLANE IS LOST AT SEA. 399 00:21:40,266 --> 00:21:43,169 Cox: IN THE CASE OF THE VARIG AIRPLANE, IT WAS... 400 00:21:43,169 --> 00:21:45,404 THE EMERGENCY LOCATOR TRANSMITTER 401 00:21:45,404 --> 00:21:49,608 ONLY TRANSMITTED WHEN IT WAS IMMERSED IN WATER. 402 00:21:49,608 --> 00:21:51,844 Narrator: WITH PRECIOUS WATER IN SHORT SUPPLY, 403 00:21:51,844 --> 00:21:54,713 GARCEZ COMES UP WITH A CREATIVE SOLUTION. 404 00:21:59,718 --> 00:22:01,954 Sant' Anna: THEY URINATED ON IT TO SUBMERGE IT 405 00:22:01,954 --> 00:22:04,523 SO THAT IT WOULD BE ACTIVATED. 406 00:22:08,627 --> 00:22:10,129 Jenkins: I WANT TO SEND A HELICOPTER 407 00:22:10,129 --> 00:22:14,800 TO GO AND CONFIRM THE IDENTITY OF THIS SIGNAL HERE. 408 00:22:14,800 --> 00:22:17,102 Machado: YOU GET ANXIOUS TO FIND THE PLANE QUICKLY 409 00:22:17,102 --> 00:22:19,805 BECAUSE PEOPLE HAVE A BETTER CHANCE OF SURVIVAL 410 00:22:19,805 --> 00:22:22,107 DURING THE FIRST 48 HOURS. 411 00:22:22,107 --> 00:22:26,212 AFTER THAT, SURVIVORS ARE MORE LIKELY TO DIE. 412 00:22:26,212 --> 00:22:27,880 Narrator: AFTER TWO NIGHTS IN THE JUNGLE, 413 00:22:27,880 --> 00:22:33,285 THE SURVIVORS REALIZE THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO WAIT TO BE RESCUED. 414 00:22:33,285 --> 00:22:34,553 Siqueira: PEOPLE WERE WEAK 415 00:22:34,553 --> 00:22:38,090 BECAUSE WE HAD WATER BUT NO FOOD. 416 00:22:38,090 --> 00:22:40,125 GOOD LUCK. 417 00:22:40,125 --> 00:22:43,996 Narrator: A SMALL GROUP SETS OFF INTO THE JUNGLE TO FIND HELP. 418 00:22:52,137 --> 00:22:55,407 HOURS LATER, THEY STUMBLE ON A FARMHOUSE. 419 00:22:55,407 --> 00:22:57,843 THEIR TERRIFYING ORDEAL WILL SOON BE OVER. 420 00:22:59,311 --> 00:23:02,047 Jenkins: THEY FOUND SURVIVORS! 421 00:23:02,047 --> 00:23:03,782 Machado: IT'S SORT OF A RELIEF 422 00:23:03,782 --> 00:23:06,252 TO REALIZE THE SCENARIO IS NOT AS TRAGIC, 423 00:23:06,252 --> 00:23:08,854 AND THERE'S AN URGENT DESIRE TO GET TO THE LOCATION 424 00:23:08,854 --> 00:23:10,322 AND START TO WORK. 425 00:23:10,322 --> 00:23:12,491 Narrator: THEN INVESTIGATORS GET A SHOCK. 426 00:23:12,491 --> 00:23:14,693 Jenkins: WHERE DID YOU SAY THEY ARE? 427 00:23:14,693 --> 00:23:18,163 Narrator: THE CRASH SITE IS NOWHERE NEAR BELEM. 428 00:23:18,163 --> 00:23:21,700 Jenkins: IT CAME DOWN RIGHT HERE. 429 00:23:21,700 --> 00:23:23,736 Narrator: THE WRECKAGE OF FLIGHT 254 430 00:23:23,736 --> 00:23:28,040 IS LYING IN THE JUNGLE NEARLY 700 MILES AWAY. 431 00:23:29,508 --> 00:23:33,145 Jenkins: HOW ON EARTH DID THEY GET WAY OVER THERE? 432 00:23:33,145 --> 00:23:35,547 Jenkins: WE WERE REALLY VERY SURPRISED TO LEARN 433 00:23:35,547 --> 00:23:39,351 THAT THE PLANE WAS IN THAT LOCATION, 434 00:23:39,351 --> 00:23:41,987 VERY FAR SOUTH AND VERY FAR WEST 435 00:23:41,987 --> 00:23:46,325 OF THE POSITION WHERE IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN. 436 00:23:46,325 --> 00:23:49,128 NO WONDER WE COULDN'T SPOT THE BEACON. 437 00:23:49,128 --> 00:23:51,597 IT'S NOWHERE NEAR THE DESTINATION. 438 00:23:51,597 --> 00:23:54,967 Narrator: AS SEARCH AND RESCUE TEAMS SCRAMBLE TO THE REMOTE LOCATION, 439 00:23:54,967 --> 00:23:58,437 INVESTIGATORS ARE LEFT WITH AN URGENT QUESTION. 440 00:23:58,437 --> 00:24:01,674 Jenkins: THEY WERE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE IN THAT LOCATION, 441 00:24:01,674 --> 00:24:03,742 SO THEY GOT LOST DURING THE FLIGHT. 442 00:24:03,742 --> 00:24:08,013 NOW, WHAT CAUSED THEM TO GET LOST CONTINUES TO BE A MYSTERY. 443 00:24:13,018 --> 00:24:15,521 Narrator: THE BRAZILIAN MILITARY REACHES THE REMOTE CRASH SITE 444 00:24:15,521 --> 00:24:17,690 OF VARIG 254. 445 00:24:17,690 --> 00:24:20,025 THE SURVIVORS ARE AIRLIFTED OUT. 446 00:24:22,294 --> 00:24:24,930 FIVE HAVE DIED WAITING FOR RESCUE. 447 00:24:24,930 --> 00:24:28,434 ANOTHER DIES SOON AFTER. 448 00:24:28,434 --> 00:24:30,269 Siqueira: THERE WERE SOME PEOPLE WHO DIED, 449 00:24:30,269 --> 00:24:31,804 NOT DURING THE CRASH, 450 00:24:31,804 --> 00:24:34,640 BUT BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T GET ANY MEDICAL AID. 451 00:24:38,944 --> 00:24:40,412 Narrator: MANY BELIEVE MORE WOULD HAVE DIED 452 00:24:40,412 --> 00:24:42,681 IF NOT FOR THE SKILL OF CAPTAIN GARCEZ. 453 00:24:42,681 --> 00:24:45,017 Garcez: I PROMISE YOU. OK? 454 00:24:45,017 --> 00:24:48,153 Sant' Anna: GARCEZ WAS CONSIDERED A GREAT HERO 455 00:24:48,153 --> 00:24:50,155 BY THE BRAZILIAN PEOPLE 456 00:24:50,155 --> 00:24:54,460 BECAUSE HE WAS THE PILOT WHO WAS ABLE TO LAND A PLANE IN THE DARK 457 00:24:54,460 --> 00:24:58,630 AND SAVE 42 OUT OF 54 PASSENGERS. 458 00:25:02,634 --> 00:25:05,070 Machado: I KNOW THIS GUY. 459 00:25:05,070 --> 00:25:06,171 HE'S A GOOD PILOT. 460 00:25:06,171 --> 00:25:07,873 Garcez: I'M GOING TO PUT HER DOWN! 461 00:25:07,873 --> 00:25:09,308 Narrator: INVESTIGATORS ARE PUZZLED 462 00:25:09,308 --> 00:25:12,077 AS TO HOW A PILOT AS ACCOMPLISHED AS GARCEZ 463 00:25:12,077 --> 00:25:14,747 COULD HAVE FLOWN SO FAR OFF COURSE. 464 00:25:17,316 --> 00:25:20,018 Machado: WHILE I WORKED AS AN INSPECTOR FOR VARIG, 465 00:25:20,018 --> 00:25:22,321 TWICE I OVERSAW GARCEZ. 466 00:25:22,321 --> 00:25:23,856 TWICE. 467 00:25:23,856 --> 00:25:27,092 AND I COULD SEE THAT HE WAS A VERY DISCIPLINED PILOT 468 00:25:27,092 --> 00:25:29,294 AND EXTREMELY PROFESSIONAL. 469 00:25:29,294 --> 00:25:32,398 HE KNEW THE AIRCRAFT, KNEW THE PROCEDURES. 470 00:25:32,398 --> 00:25:35,200 HE DEFINITELY DID THINGS CORRECTLY. 471 00:25:37,469 --> 00:25:40,873 Garcez: OUR NAVIGATION INSTRUMENTS WEREN'T WORKING. 472 00:25:40,873 --> 00:25:42,274 IT'S VERY STRANGE. 473 00:25:42,274 --> 00:25:45,844 I'VE NEVER ENCOUNTERED SOMETHING LIKE THIS BEFORE. 474 00:25:45,844 --> 00:25:49,314 Narrator: THE CAPTAIN CLAIMS THE PLANE'S INSTRUMENTS MALFUNCTIONED. 475 00:25:49,314 --> 00:25:53,419 HE WAS FORCED TO NAVIGATE BY TUNING IN TO A RADIO STATION. 476 00:25:53,419 --> 00:25:55,687 Garcez: WE HAD TO IMPROVISE. 477 00:25:55,687 --> 00:25:57,322 WHY DON'T WE SEE IF WE CAN PICK UP 478 00:25:57,322 --> 00:25:59,958 A LOCAL RADIO STATION FROM BELEM? 479 00:25:59,958 --> 00:26:03,028 Narrator: NEWS THAT THE CREW TUNED IN TO A COMMERCIAL RADIO STATION 480 00:26:03,028 --> 00:26:06,165 SPARKS MEDIA SPECULATION THAT THE PILOTS BECAME LOST 481 00:26:06,165 --> 00:26:09,301 BECAUSE THEY WERE DISTRACTED BY THE SOCCER GAME. 482 00:26:11,970 --> 00:26:14,673 Cox: YOU HEAR A LOT OF THINGS 483 00:26:14,673 --> 00:26:17,109 DURING AN ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION, 484 00:26:17,109 --> 00:26:20,712 A LOT OF UNGROUNDED SPECULATION. 485 00:26:20,712 --> 00:26:25,751 I WOULD CALL THAT AN INCOMPLETE AND UNSUBSTANTIATED ACCUSATION. 486 00:26:25,751 --> 00:26:27,519 Narrator: AT THE AMAZON CRASH SITE, 487 00:26:27,519 --> 00:26:29,221 THERE'S BEEN A MAJOR BREAKTHROUGH-- 488 00:26:29,221 --> 00:26:34,059 THE DISCOVERY OF THE PLANE'S TWO FLIGHT RECORDERS. 489 00:26:34,059 --> 00:26:36,695 THE FLIGHT DATA RECORDER CAPTURES DETAILED INFORMATION 490 00:26:36,695 --> 00:26:39,131 ABOUT THE PLANE'S HEADING. 491 00:26:39,131 --> 00:26:40,732 INVESTIGATORS HOPE IT WILL REVEAL 492 00:26:40,732 --> 00:26:44,770 WHY FLIGHT 254 WAS SO BADLY OFF COURSE. 493 00:26:47,840 --> 00:26:51,043 Machado: WE WERE RELYING ON THE TWO FLIGHT DATA RECORDERS. 494 00:26:51,043 --> 00:26:52,778 BOTH PILOTS WERE ALIVE, 495 00:26:52,778 --> 00:26:56,348 SO WE THOUGHT WE WERE CERTAIN TO COME TO A CONCLUSION. 496 00:26:58,617 --> 00:27:01,019 Narrator: THEY ALSO RECOVER AS MANY DOCUMENTS FROM THE COCKPIT 497 00:27:01,019 --> 00:27:02,888 AS THEY CAN. 498 00:27:05,290 --> 00:27:07,259 Machado: THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS AT THAT MOMENT 499 00:27:07,259 --> 00:27:11,964 WERE NAVIGATION CHARTS, ALL OF THEM, MANUALS, RECORDS, 500 00:27:11,964 --> 00:27:14,299 ANYTHING THAT WOULD PROVIDE SUPPORT AND GUIDANCE 501 00:27:14,299 --> 00:27:17,236 FOR THE PILOTS TO FLY THE PLANE. 502 00:27:20,672 --> 00:27:23,041 Narrator: EACH FRAGILE PAGE IS CAREFULLY PHOTOGRAPHED 503 00:27:23,041 --> 00:27:25,978 TO PREVENT FURTHER DAMAGE. 504 00:27:25,978 --> 00:27:28,547 MEANWHILE, INVESTIGATORS USE THE HEADING DATA 505 00:27:28,547 --> 00:27:31,583 TO RECONSTRUCT THE PATH OF THE PLANE. 506 00:27:31,583 --> 00:27:37,856 Jenkins: THEY TOOK OFF DUE WEST, HEADING 2-7-0. 507 00:27:41,159 --> 00:27:43,629 THE FLIGHT DATA RECORDER WAS FUNDAMENTAL 508 00:27:43,629 --> 00:27:46,532 BECAUSE IT PROVIDED US WITH THE TRACK OF THE AIRPLANE, 509 00:27:46,532 --> 00:27:53,672 THE POSITIONS, THE TIMES, WHERE THE AIRPLANE FLEW. 510 00:27:53,672 --> 00:27:55,574 Narrator: BUT THE FLIGHT DATA 511 00:27:55,574 --> 00:27:57,242 PAINTS A CONFUSING PICTURE. 512 00:27:57,242 --> 00:27:59,578 INSTEAD OF FLYING NORTH TO BELEM, 513 00:27:59,578 --> 00:28:01,680 THE PLANE TOOK OFF WEST 514 00:28:01,680 --> 00:28:03,315 AND FLEW IN THE WRONG DIRECTION 515 00:28:03,315 --> 00:28:05,017 THROUGHOUT THE FLIGHT. 516 00:28:05,017 --> 00:28:08,153 Jenkins: THEY'RE FLYING THE WRONG WAY FOR THE ENTIRE FLIGHT. 517 00:28:11,657 --> 00:28:14,459 THIS BECAME A CENTRAL FOCUS OF THE INVESTIGATION, 518 00:28:14,459 --> 00:28:17,963 TO KNOW WHY THE AIRCRAFT WAS SO FAR OFF COURSE. 519 00:28:17,963 --> 00:28:19,598 Machado: WHY? 520 00:28:19,598 --> 00:28:22,601 Narrator: A BROKEN NAVIGATION SYSTEM COULD EXPLAIN THE MISTAKE. 521 00:28:22,601 --> 00:28:24,603 BUT WHEN INVESTIGATORS TRY TO GET MORE INFORMATION 522 00:28:24,603 --> 00:28:26,038 FROM THE CREW, 523 00:28:26,038 --> 00:28:28,640 THEY HIT AN UNEXPECTED ROADBLOCK. 524 00:28:28,640 --> 00:28:32,578 THE PILOTS' UNION FLIES GARCEZ AND ZILLE TO RIO DE JANEIRO, 525 00:28:32,578 --> 00:28:36,348 DENYING INVESTIGATORS ACCESS TO THEM FOR SEVERAL DAYS. 526 00:28:39,851 --> 00:28:42,054 Machado: THE UNION BELIEVED THE INVESTIGATORS 527 00:28:42,054 --> 00:28:45,691 WOULD HOLD THE PILOTS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CRASH. 528 00:28:48,093 --> 00:28:50,362 Narrator: FOR NOW, THE ONLY WORDS FROM THE PILOTS 529 00:28:50,362 --> 00:28:52,164 THAT INVESTIGATORS CAN HEAR 530 00:28:52,164 --> 00:28:54,866 ARE THOSE CAPTURED ON THE COCKPIT VOICE RECORDER. 531 00:28:54,866 --> 00:28:57,436 Machado: LET'S HEAR IT. 532 00:28:58,904 --> 00:29:01,306 Zille: WE JUST LOST AN ENGINE! 533 00:29:01,306 --> 00:29:03,475 Garcez: I JUST NEED TO BRING US DOWN... 534 00:29:03,475 --> 00:29:06,478 NICE AND SLOW. 535 00:29:06,478 --> 00:29:07,913 Narrator: IT'S THE TOUGHEST PART OF THE JOB 536 00:29:07,913 --> 00:29:10,349 FOR ANY AIR CRASH INVESTIGATOR-- 537 00:29:10,349 --> 00:29:13,318 HEARING FEAR IN A PILOT'S VOICE... 538 00:29:13,318 --> 00:29:15,053 Zille: WE JUST LOST THE OTHER ONE! 539 00:29:15,053 --> 00:29:17,656 Narrator: AND LISTENING AS A FATAL TRAGEDY UNFOLDS. 540 00:29:17,656 --> 00:29:19,124 Garcez: I'M GOING TO PUT HER DOWN. 541 00:29:19,124 --> 00:29:21,693 Machado: REWIND IT, PLEASE, ALL THE WAY TO THE BEGINNING. 542 00:29:21,693 --> 00:29:23,895 Narrator: INVESTIGATORS HOPE THE 30-MINUTE RECORDING 543 00:29:23,895 --> 00:29:28,200 CAN TELL THEM WHY THE PILOTS FLEW IN THE WRONG DIRECTION, 544 00:29:28,200 --> 00:29:29,635 BUT THEY'RE OUT OF LUCK. 545 00:29:29,635 --> 00:29:32,137 Garcez: THERE WE GO. 546 00:29:32,137 --> 00:29:35,240 WE'RE OVER THE AMAZON NOW. 547 00:29:35,240 --> 00:29:37,476 Narrator: BY THE TIME THE RECORDING STARTS, 548 00:29:37,476 --> 00:29:40,879 THE PILOTS ARE ALREADY DESPERATELY LOST. 549 00:29:40,879 --> 00:29:45,117 WHATEVER LED THEM OFF COURSE HAD HAPPENED EARLIER IN THE FLIGHT. 550 00:29:45,117 --> 00:29:47,686 Cox: COCKPIT VOICE RECORDERS TRADITIONALLY HAVE BEEN 551 00:29:47,686 --> 00:29:49,921 THE LAST 30 MINUTES OF FLIGHT. 552 00:29:49,921 --> 00:29:53,425 ONLY IN RECENT YEARS HAS THAT RECORDING LENGTH 553 00:29:53,425 --> 00:29:55,494 BEEN EXTENDED TO TWO HOURS. 554 00:29:58,196 --> 00:30:03,001 Jenkins: THE PROBLEM STARTED DURING THE FIRST MOMENTS OF THE FLIGHT. 555 00:30:03,001 --> 00:30:04,469 WE DIDN'T HAVE A RECORDING 556 00:30:04,469 --> 00:30:08,507 BECAUSE OF THE TIME LIMITATIONS ON THE COCKPIT VOICE RECORDER. 557 00:30:08,507 --> 00:30:11,376 Narrator: INVESTIGATORS ARE DESPERATE FOR MORE INFORMATION. 558 00:30:11,376 --> 00:30:13,045 THEY STUDY THE NAVIGATIONAL INSTRUMENTS 559 00:30:13,045 --> 00:30:15,247 RECOVERED FROM THE COCKPIT. 560 00:30:15,247 --> 00:30:17,783 Jenkins: WE SET OUT TO MAKE A COMPLETE ANALYSIS 561 00:30:17,783 --> 00:30:22,721 OF THE ENTIRE NAVIGATION SYSTEM OF THE AIRCRAFT. 562 00:30:22,721 --> 00:30:24,690 Narrator: THEY KNOW THE CAPTAIN REPORTED A MALFUNCTION 563 00:30:24,690 --> 00:30:26,124 IN THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM 564 00:30:26,124 --> 00:30:29,027 THAT PUT HIS PLANE HUNDREDS OF MILES OFF COURSE. 565 00:30:29,027 --> 00:30:30,228 Zille: THAT'S FUNNY. 566 00:30:30,228 --> 00:30:31,596 Garcez: WHAT? 567 00:30:31,596 --> 00:30:33,632 Zille: WE'RE NOT PICKING UP THE BEACON, EITHER. 568 00:30:33,632 --> 00:30:35,067 Narrator: THEY NEED TO FIGURE OUT 569 00:30:35,067 --> 00:30:38,070 WHAT COULD HAVE CAUSED SUCH A MALFUNCTION. 570 00:30:38,070 --> 00:30:40,772 IF THEY DON'T, THE LIVES OF PASSENGERS AROUND THE GLOBE 571 00:30:40,772 --> 00:30:43,709 COULD BE IN DANGER. 572 00:30:43,709 --> 00:30:45,510 Machado: WE WERE VERY CONCERNED 573 00:30:45,510 --> 00:30:48,447 BECAUSE THERE WERE AT LEAST 30 OTHER AIRCRAFT OF THE SAME MODEL 574 00:30:48,447 --> 00:30:50,382 FLYING IN BRAZIL. 575 00:30:50,382 --> 00:30:54,886 IF IT HAPPENED TO ONE, IT COULD HAPPEN TO OTHERS. 576 00:30:54,886 --> 00:30:57,956 Narrator: THE PRESSURE ON INVESTIGATORS IS HUGE. 577 00:31:00,759 --> 00:31:02,861 INVESTIGATORS LOOK INTO THE POSSIBILITY 578 00:31:02,861 --> 00:31:05,931 THAT THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM ON VARIG FLIGHT 254 579 00:31:05,931 --> 00:31:10,335 MALFUNCTIONED AND LED THE CREW OFF COURSE. 580 00:31:10,335 --> 00:31:13,405 Cox: IN A SITUATION WHERE THERE'S THIS MUCH CONFUSION 581 00:31:13,405 --> 00:31:15,073 ABOUT WHERE THEY ARE, 582 00:31:15,073 --> 00:31:17,876 ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT COME UP 583 00:31:17,876 --> 00:31:23,615 IS WHAT SYSTEMS HAVE, MAY HAVE MALFUNCTIONED. 584 00:31:23,615 --> 00:31:28,220 Narrator: THEY SUSPECT THE PLANE'S CARGO MAY HOLD THE KEY. 585 00:31:28,220 --> 00:31:31,223 THE 737 HAS A MAGNETIC SENSOR IN THE TAIL 586 00:31:31,223 --> 00:31:33,525 THAT ACTS AS THE PLANE'S COMPASS. 587 00:31:33,525 --> 00:31:35,994 IT TRACKS WHICH DIRECTION THE PLANE IS FLYING 588 00:31:35,994 --> 00:31:39,798 AND FEEDS THAT INFORMATION TO THE COCKPIT INSTRUMENTS. 589 00:31:39,798 --> 00:31:42,167 IF SOMETHING IN FLIGHT 254'S CARGO 590 00:31:42,167 --> 00:31:44,736 WAS GIVING OFF A STRONG MAGNETIC FIELD, 591 00:31:44,736 --> 00:31:46,972 IT MIGHT HAVE CONFUSED THE SENSOR. 592 00:31:46,972 --> 00:31:50,342 Jenkins: WE STUDIED EVERY ASPECT OF THE CARGO, 593 00:31:50,342 --> 00:31:52,577 EVEN THINGS THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN ON THE SHIPPING PALLETS 594 00:31:52,577 --> 00:31:55,981 THAT MIGHT HAVE INFLUENCED SOMETHING IN THIS REGARD. 595 00:31:55,981 --> 00:31:59,451 Narrator: THEY ALSO TEST EVERY COMPONENT OF THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM 596 00:31:59,451 --> 00:32:03,321 AND CHECK FOR ANY SIGN OF FAILURE. 597 00:32:03,321 --> 00:32:04,890 BUT THEY FIND NOTHING IN THE CARGO 598 00:32:04,890 --> 00:32:07,926 THAT COULD AFFECT THE COMPASS, 599 00:32:07,926 --> 00:32:10,695 AND THE INSTRUMENTS ARE WORKING PERFECTLY. 600 00:32:13,865 --> 00:32:15,500 Jenkins: WE VERIFIED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING 601 00:32:15,500 --> 00:32:19,771 THAT MIGHT HAVE CAUSED ELECTROMAGNETIC INTERFERENCE, 602 00:32:19,771 --> 00:32:23,842 NOTHING THAT COULD HAVE CHANGED THE HEADING 603 00:32:23,842 --> 00:32:27,612 OR INFLUENCED A CHANGE OF COURSE. 604 00:32:27,612 --> 00:32:29,581 Narrator: INVESTIGATORS CATCH A BREAK. 605 00:32:29,581 --> 00:32:33,819 FLIGHT 254'S FLIGHT PLAN HAS BEEN RECOVERED FROM THE COCKPIT. 606 00:32:33,819 --> 00:32:36,855 AIRLINES PROVIDE FLIGHT PLANS TO EVERY CREW. 607 00:32:36,855 --> 00:32:39,791 IT CONTAINS CRITICAL DETAILS ABOUT THE ROUTE THEY SHOULD FLY, 608 00:32:39,791 --> 00:32:43,128 INCLUDING THE HEADING THEY'RE MEANT TO TAKE. 609 00:32:43,128 --> 00:32:44,496 Jenkins: THANKS. 610 00:32:44,496 --> 00:32:47,766 LET'S SEE WHAT THIS WILL TELL US. 611 00:32:47,766 --> 00:32:51,770 Cox: THE AIRLINE PROVIDES THE FILED FLIGHT PLAN 612 00:32:51,770 --> 00:32:55,073 IN A COMPUTER PRINTOUT TO THE FLIGHT CREWS, 613 00:32:55,073 --> 00:32:58,276 AND THIS PROVIDES A SERIES OF WAY POINTS 614 00:32:58,276 --> 00:33:02,314 THAT THEY'RE TO LOOK FOR TO FLY THE GROUND TRACK. 615 00:33:02,314 --> 00:33:03,915 Narrator: BUT WHAT IF THE AIRLINES 616 00:33:03,915 --> 00:33:06,084 GAVE THE PILOTS A FAULTY FLIGHT PLAN, 617 00:33:06,084 --> 00:33:10,222 ONE THAT SENT THEM IN THE WRONG DIRECTION? 618 00:33:10,222 --> 00:33:13,625 THIS COULD BE THE LEAD THEY'VE BEEN WAITING FOR. 619 00:33:13,625 --> 00:33:16,394 Jenkins: I THINK I KNOW WHAT THEY DID WRONG. 620 00:33:16,394 --> 00:33:19,231 Narrator: A CLOSE LOOK AT VARIG 254'S FLIGHT PLAN 621 00:33:19,231 --> 00:33:20,999 PROVIDES A REVELATION. 622 00:33:20,999 --> 00:33:24,035 Cox: IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE WITH THE VARIG FLIGHT, 623 00:33:24,035 --> 00:33:27,305 VERY UNUSUALLY THEIR COMPUTER FLIGHT PLAN SYSTEM 624 00:33:27,305 --> 00:33:30,642 HAS FOUR DIGITS. 625 00:33:30,642 --> 00:33:32,310 THIS IS VERY, VERY UNUSUAL, 626 00:33:32,310 --> 00:33:36,114 AS THEY ALMOST ALWAYS HAVE ONLY THREE. 627 00:33:36,114 --> 00:33:44,022 THE NUMBER 0-2-7-0 WAS INTENDED TO MEAN 27.0 DEGREES. 628 00:33:46,925 --> 00:33:49,394 Jenkins: WHEN WE NOTICED THAT, IT GAVE US THE IDEA 629 00:33:49,394 --> 00:33:53,865 THAT INSTEAD OF ENTERING 0-2-7, WHICH WAS THE HEADING TO BELEM, 630 00:33:53,865 --> 00:33:56,902 HE HAD ENTERED 2-7-0. 631 00:33:59,004 --> 00:34:02,774 HE WAS SUPPOSED TO FLY NORTH, HEADING 0-2-7. 632 00:34:02,774 --> 00:34:07,145 Cox: THE CAPTAIN READ IT AS 2-7-0 DEGREES, OR DUE WEST, 633 00:34:07,145 --> 00:34:09,381 SO INSTEAD OF FLYING NORTHEAST... 634 00:34:09,381 --> 00:34:14,219 Jenkins: THEY WENT WEST INSTEAD, GOING 2-7-0. 635 00:34:14,219 --> 00:34:16,321 HE ENTERED THE WRONG HEADING. 636 00:34:16,321 --> 00:34:19,991 Cox: HE SET THE AIRPLANE UP TO DEPART WEST. 637 00:34:19,991 --> 00:34:23,295 Narrator: 270 DEGREES, OR DUE WEST ON THE COMPASS, 638 00:34:23,295 --> 00:34:25,130 IS MORE THAN 240 DEGREES 639 00:34:25,130 --> 00:34:30,135 PAST THE NORTHERLY HEADING OF 27 DEGREES THEY WERE GIVEN. 640 00:34:30,135 --> 00:34:31,536 THE MOMENT OF TRUTH ARRIVES 641 00:34:31,536 --> 00:34:33,438 WHEN THEY CALL CAPTAIN GARCEZ BACK IN 642 00:34:33,438 --> 00:34:37,242 TO GIVE HIS SIDE OF THE STORY. 643 00:34:37,242 --> 00:34:38,944 Garcez: I'LL TRY TO HELP YOU, 644 00:34:38,944 --> 00:34:43,481 BUT I THINK I'VE TOLD YOU EVERYTHING I KNOW ALREADY. 645 00:34:43,481 --> 00:34:49,054 Machado: WE TOLD GARCEZ, LOOK, WE HAVE THE ONBOARD CHARTS, 646 00:34:49,054 --> 00:34:53,458 WE HAVE THE TAPES AND ALL OF THE DOCUMENTS VERIFIED BY US. 647 00:34:53,458 --> 00:34:57,662 WHAT IS THE TRUTH? 648 00:34:57,662 --> 00:34:59,798 Narrator: AT FIRST, THE CAPTAIN IS RELUCTANT TO ADMIT 649 00:34:59,798 --> 00:35:01,766 HE MADE A MISTAKE. 650 00:35:01,766 --> 00:35:04,703 Machado: WE SAID, GARCEZ, TELL US THE TRUTH. 651 00:35:04,703 --> 00:35:05,904 YOU DIDN'T HAVE A PROBLEM 652 00:35:05,904 --> 00:35:08,707 WITH THE NAVIGATION INSTRUMENTS, DID YOU? 653 00:35:08,707 --> 00:35:10,241 Narrator: UNDER INTENSE QUESTIONING, 654 00:35:10,241 --> 00:35:13,378 GARCEZ FINALLY ADMITS HE MISREAD THE FLIGHT PLAN. 655 00:35:13,378 --> 00:35:16,614 Garcez: LOOK, IT WAS AN HONEST MISTAKE. 656 00:35:19,217 --> 00:35:20,685 Jenkins: FROM THAT MOMENT ON, 657 00:35:20,685 --> 00:35:25,824 THE CAUSE OR THE BASIC FRAMEWORK OF THE ACCIDENT WAS DETERMINED. 658 00:35:25,824 --> 00:35:27,459 Narrator: INVESTIGATORS LEARN THE AIRLINE 659 00:35:27,459 --> 00:35:30,595 BEGAN PRINTING THEIR FLIGHT PLANS THIS NEW WAY 660 00:35:30,595 --> 00:35:32,931 WHILE THE CAPTAIN WAS ON VACATION. 661 00:35:32,931 --> 00:35:37,268 Machado: IT'S EASY TO SEE HOW YOU'D GET CONFUSED. 662 00:35:37,268 --> 00:35:39,938 Sant' Anna: VARIG HAD BOUGHT SOME MORE SOPHISTICATED PLANES, 663 00:35:39,938 --> 00:35:45,010 WHICH HAD INSTRUMENTS THAT ACCEPTED DECIMAL PLACES, 664 00:35:45,010 --> 00:35:47,345 BUT THAT WOULDN'T MEAN ANYTHING ON THIS FLIGHT 665 00:35:47,345 --> 00:35:52,150 SINCE THE BOEING 737-200 DIDN'T HAVE DECIMAL PLACES. 666 00:35:54,019 --> 00:35:55,687 Narrator: BUT THERE'S ANOTHER QUESTION. 667 00:35:55,687 --> 00:35:57,956 THE FIRST OFFICER MUST ALSO ENTER THE HEADING 668 00:35:57,956 --> 00:35:59,424 FROM THE FLIGHT PLAN. 669 00:35:59,424 --> 00:36:03,828 Garcez: SO, NILSON, YOU THINK CHILE HAS A CHANCE TONIGHT? 670 00:36:03,828 --> 00:36:06,197 Narrator: WHY DID HE MAKE EXACTLY THE SAME MISTAKE 671 00:36:06,197 --> 00:36:08,333 AS THE CAPTAIN? 672 00:36:08,333 --> 00:36:11,469 AVIATION PSYCHOLOGIST KATHY MOSIER HAS AN ANSWER. 673 00:36:11,469 --> 00:36:14,239 Kathleen Mosier: THE CO-PILOT, PROBABLY AFTER MANY EXPERIENCES 674 00:36:14,239 --> 00:36:16,141 WITH CAPTAINS WHO HAD ALWAYS DONE IT RIGHT 675 00:36:16,141 --> 00:36:17,542 AND NEVER HAD TO DOUBLE CHECK, 676 00:36:17,542 --> 00:36:19,611 JUST ENTERED WHAT THE CAPTAIN HAD PUT IN 677 00:36:19,611 --> 00:36:21,646 AND ASSUMED THAT IT WAS THE RIGHT THING. 678 00:36:21,646 --> 00:36:23,948 SO IN THIS CASE YOUR SAFEGUARD IS GONE 679 00:36:23,948 --> 00:36:28,586 BECAUSE THE CO-PILOT IS NOT CROSS-CHECKING. 680 00:36:28,586 --> 00:36:29,954 Machado: HE COULD HAVE CAUGHT THIS MISTAKE 681 00:36:29,954 --> 00:36:32,891 BEFORE THEY TOOK OFF. 682 00:36:32,891 --> 00:36:34,259 Mosier: ONCE YOU TAKE OFF, 683 00:36:34,259 --> 00:36:38,863 THE AUTOMATION DOES WHAT YOU TOLD IT TO DO. 684 00:36:38,863 --> 00:36:42,467 Narrator: VARIG 254 TAKES OFF DUE WEST, INSTEAD OF NORTH, 685 00:36:42,467 --> 00:36:44,702 STRAIGHT INTO THE SETTING SUN. 686 00:36:44,702 --> 00:36:46,137 Garcez: GEAR UP. 687 00:36:46,137 --> 00:36:48,339 Narrator: IT'S AN INCOMPREHENSIBLE ERROR. 688 00:36:48,339 --> 00:36:51,976 Mosier: DID THEY NOT REALIZE THEY WERE FLYING INTO THE SUN? 689 00:36:51,976 --> 00:36:54,212 THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN A BIG CUE. 690 00:36:54,212 --> 00:36:57,849 THEY MUST HAVE BEEN VERY CONFIDENT 691 00:36:57,849 --> 00:37:01,119 THAT THEY HAD DONE THE RIGHT THING. 692 00:37:01,119 --> 00:37:04,956 Narrator: THE TWO PILOTS DISAGREE ABOUT HOW THINGS WENT WRONG. 693 00:37:04,956 --> 00:37:08,460 Zille: WE NEED TO LAND SOON OR WE'RE GONNA RUN OUT OF FUEL. 694 00:37:08,460 --> 00:37:10,161 Garcez: I THINK WE'RE CLOSE. 695 00:37:16,935 --> 00:37:19,537 Machado: THE FIRST OFFICER WAS PROTECTING HIMSELF, 696 00:37:19,537 --> 00:37:21,973 SUGGESTING THAT HE HAD DONE EVERYTHING RIGHT 697 00:37:21,973 --> 00:37:23,942 AND GARCEZ WAS AT FAULT. 698 00:37:23,942 --> 00:37:30,181 Cox: THE ORIGINAL NAVIGATION MISTAKE WAS THAT OF THE CAPTAIN. 699 00:37:30,181 --> 00:37:33,718 THE FAILURE TO INDEPENDENTLY VERIFY 700 00:37:33,718 --> 00:37:37,722 WAS A MISTAKE ON THE PART OF THE FIRST OFFICER. 701 00:37:37,722 --> 00:37:40,258 WHAT IS DISHEARTENING HERE 702 00:37:40,258 --> 00:37:44,762 IS THAT BOTH PILOTS WENT ALONG WITH IT. 703 00:37:44,762 --> 00:37:46,397 Narrator: IT IS NOW ALL TOO CLEAR 704 00:37:46,397 --> 00:37:49,367 THAT FLIGHT 254 WAS FLYING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION 705 00:37:49,367 --> 00:37:51,503 FROM THE MOMENT IT TOOK OFF, 706 00:37:51,503 --> 00:37:54,672 A MISTAKE EVEN SOME PASSENGERS NOTICED. 707 00:37:54,672 --> 00:37:58,676 Siqueira: WELL, WE, WE THOUGHT THE PERSON IN CHARGE HERE 708 00:37:58,676 --> 00:38:01,312 IS, IS THE CAPTAIN. 709 00:38:01,312 --> 00:38:02,947 Sant' Anna: AT LEAST THREE OF THE PASSENGERS 710 00:38:02,947 --> 00:38:04,415 WARNED THE FLIGHT ATTENDANTS 711 00:38:04,415 --> 00:38:07,051 THAT THE PLANE WAS FLYING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION, 712 00:38:07,051 --> 00:38:08,920 BUT THE FLIGHT ATTENDANTS THOUGHT, WELL, 713 00:38:08,920 --> 00:38:10,822 THE CAPTAIN KNOWS MORE ABOUT THIS, 714 00:38:10,822 --> 00:38:13,024 AND THEY DIDN'T REACH GARCEZ TO WARN HIM 715 00:38:13,024 --> 00:38:15,960 THAT HE WAS FLYING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION. 716 00:38:18,163 --> 00:38:22,834 Siqueira: WE THOUGHT THAT UP IN THE SKY THE CAPTAIN'S IN CHARGE, SO... 717 00:38:22,834 --> 00:38:25,003 Narrator: BUT IT'S WHAT THE CAPTAIN DOES NEXT 718 00:38:25,003 --> 00:38:28,706 THAT TURNS HIS ERROR INTO A CATASTROPHE. 719 00:38:34,145 --> 00:38:36,181 THE CREW OF VARIG 254 720 00:38:36,181 --> 00:38:40,118 MAKES YET ANOTHER CRITICAL ERROR IN JUDGMENT. 721 00:38:40,118 --> 00:38:42,820 Garcez: WE DECIDED TO TUNE IN TO A RADIO STATION, 722 00:38:42,820 --> 00:38:45,490 USE IT TO FIND OUR WAY. 723 00:38:45,490 --> 00:38:47,592 Narrator: INSTEAD OF RADIOING FOR HELP, 724 00:38:47,592 --> 00:38:51,095 THEY TRY TO GET BACK ON COURSE WITHOUT ADMITTING THEIR MISTAKE. 725 00:38:51,095 --> 00:38:54,032 Machado: HIS PRIDE PREVENTED HIM FROM SAYING TO HIS COLLEAGUE, 726 00:38:54,032 --> 00:38:56,167 HELP ME, I'M IN TROUBLE. 727 00:38:56,167 --> 00:38:57,969 THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN A BETTER APPROACH. 728 00:38:57,969 --> 00:39:00,171 Narrator: AN ATTEMPT TO USE A COMMERCIAL RADIO STATION 729 00:39:00,171 --> 00:39:03,408 TO FIND THE AIRPORT EXACERBATES THE SITUATION. 730 00:39:03,408 --> 00:39:05,210 THEY ASSUME THE SIGNAL THEY HAVE TUNED IN TO 731 00:39:05,210 --> 00:39:06,678 IS COMING FROM BELEM, 732 00:39:06,678 --> 00:39:11,916 AND THEY FOLLOW IT AWAY FROM THEIR DESTINATION. 733 00:39:11,916 --> 00:39:13,851 Jenkins: WHEN YOU TUNE IN TO A RADIO BROADCAST, 734 00:39:13,851 --> 00:39:17,055 COMMERCIAL RADIO, IT'S POSSIBLE TO RECEIVE CONTENT 735 00:39:17,055 --> 00:39:22,327 ORIGINATING FROM DIFFERENT LOCATIONS. 736 00:39:22,327 --> 00:39:23,761 Zille: CHRIST, CAN YOU BELIEVE THIS? 737 00:39:23,761 --> 00:39:26,931 THEY, THEY STILL HAVEN'T RESTARTED THE MATCH! 738 00:39:26,931 --> 00:39:30,935 Cox: YOU NEED TO VERIFY THAT IT IS IN FACT THAT STATION, 739 00:39:30,935 --> 00:39:34,005 THAT IT IDENTIFIES ITS CALL LETTERS 740 00:39:34,005 --> 00:39:38,076 AND THAT YOU HAVE THAT VALIDATION. 741 00:39:38,076 --> 00:39:39,777 Garcez: CAN YOU BELIEVE THOSE GUYS? 742 00:39:39,777 --> 00:39:41,446 Narrator: THOUGH THERE IS NO HARD EVIDENCE, 743 00:39:41,446 --> 00:39:42,981 SOME CONTINUE TO BELIEVE 744 00:39:42,981 --> 00:39:45,984 THE SOCCER GAME DISTRACTED THE PILOTS. 745 00:39:48,286 --> 00:39:51,356 Siqueira: PEOPLE SAY HE WAS LISTENING TO THE BRAZIL-CHILE MATCH, 746 00:39:51,356 --> 00:39:55,226 AND THAT'S WHY HE DIDN'T NOTICE HIS MISTAKE. 747 00:39:55,226 --> 00:39:59,297 Narrator: INVESTIGATORS BELIEVE THERE MAY BE A PSYCHOLOGICAL EXPLANATION, 748 00:39:59,297 --> 00:40:00,865 A QUIRK OF HUMAN NATURE 749 00:40:00,865 --> 00:40:04,669 THAT CAN TRAP EVEN THE BEST-TRAINED PILOTS. 750 00:40:04,669 --> 00:40:06,337 Garcez: THERE WE GO. 751 00:40:06,337 --> 00:40:08,539 WE'RE OVER THE AMAZON NOW. 752 00:40:08,539 --> 00:40:10,174 Sant' Anna: THE CAPTAIN SPOTTED A RIVER, 753 00:40:10,174 --> 00:40:14,145 A RIVER THAT HE THOUGHT WAS PART OF THE AMAZON NORTH OF BELEM. 754 00:40:14,145 --> 00:40:17,115 Mosier: YOU DECIDE ON AN INITIAL JUDGMENT, 755 00:40:17,115 --> 00:40:19,417 AND YOU THINK THAT IT'S RIGHT, 756 00:40:19,417 --> 00:40:21,119 AND SO YOU LOOK AROUND FOR THINGS 757 00:40:21,119 --> 00:40:23,454 THAT SUPPORT YOUR POSITION. 758 00:40:23,454 --> 00:40:28,960 Narrator: THE CREW WAS LOOKING FOR SIGNS THAT THEY WERE CLOSE TO BELEM. 759 00:40:28,960 --> 00:40:30,862 Sant' Anna: HE DECIDED TO FOLLOW THAT RIVER SOUTH 760 00:40:30,862 --> 00:40:33,264 TO GET TO BELEM. 761 00:40:33,264 --> 00:40:37,035 Narrator: BUT THE RIVER THEY SAW WAS NOT THE AMAZON. 762 00:40:37,035 --> 00:40:39,137 IT WAS THE XINGU, 763 00:40:39,137 --> 00:40:43,508 A RIVER MORE THAN 600 MILES SOUTHWEST OF BELEM. 764 00:40:43,508 --> 00:40:46,077 Jenkins: THEY WERE FOLLOWING THE WRONG RIVER. 765 00:40:46,077 --> 00:40:50,882 HOW COULD THEY BE SO CONFUSED FOR SO LONG? 766 00:40:50,882 --> 00:40:53,384 Narrator: INVESTIGATORS CONCLUDE THE CREW WAS IN THE GRIP 767 00:40:53,384 --> 00:40:56,521 OF WHAT'S KNOWN AS CONFIRMATION BIAS, 768 00:40:56,521 --> 00:40:58,556 THE TENDENCY TO FAVOR INFORMATION 769 00:40:58,556 --> 00:41:01,659 THAT CONFIRMS SOMETHING WE ALREADY BELIEVE. 770 00:41:01,659 --> 00:41:04,395 Garcez: I THINK WE'RE CLOSE. 771 00:41:04,395 --> 00:41:07,699 Mosier: CONFIRMATION BIAS IS ONE OF THE COMMON 772 00:41:07,699 --> 00:41:11,803 DECISION-MAKING BIASES THAT PEOPLE ARE SUBJECT TO, 773 00:41:11,803 --> 00:41:13,638 AND THE THING THAT'S INSIDIOUS ABOUT IT 774 00:41:13,638 --> 00:41:15,640 IS THAT YOU DON'T OFTEN RECOGNIZE 775 00:41:15,640 --> 00:41:17,175 THAT THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE DOING. 776 00:41:17,175 --> 00:41:19,210 Garcez: WHEN I SAW THE RIVER, I WAS SURE. 777 00:41:19,210 --> 00:41:21,079 I WAS SURE WE WERE CLOSE TO BELEM. 778 00:41:21,079 --> 00:41:22,513 Mosier: IT JUST GOES TO SHOW YOU 779 00:41:22,513 --> 00:41:25,717 ANYBODY CAN FALL INTO DECISION TRAPS, 780 00:41:25,717 --> 00:41:29,854 AND EVEN EXPERTS HAVE TO ALWAYS BE ON GUARD. 781 00:41:29,854 --> 00:41:35,259 Cox: IN THREE PLUS DECADES OF DOING ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION, 782 00:41:35,259 --> 00:41:38,763 THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST UNUSUAL ACCIDENTS 783 00:41:38,763 --> 00:41:41,699 I HAVE EVER READ OR AM AWARE OF. 784 00:41:41,699 --> 00:41:43,501 Narrator: IN THE END THE ACCIDENT REPORT 785 00:41:43,501 --> 00:41:47,171 FAULTS BOTH PILOTS FOR THE DISASTER. 786 00:41:47,171 --> 00:41:50,208 Sant' Anna: AS THE DETAILS OF THE FLIGHT WERE DISCOVERED, 787 00:41:50,208 --> 00:41:52,443 THE TERRIBLE MISTAKE THAT HE MADE, 788 00:41:52,443 --> 00:41:57,014 THE CAPTAIN WENT FROM HERO TO VILLAIN. 789 00:41:57,014 --> 00:41:59,217 Narrator: THEY WERE BOTH CONVICTED FOR THEIR NEGLIGENCE 790 00:41:59,217 --> 00:42:02,019 AND SENTENCED TO COMMUNITY SERVICE. 791 00:42:02,019 --> 00:42:04,856 THE REPORT ALSO CRITICIZES THE BELEM CONTROLLER 792 00:42:04,856 --> 00:42:06,891 FOR NOT RAISING AN ALARM SOONER. 793 00:42:08,893 --> 00:42:10,695 Sant' Anna: THE CONTROLLER AT BELEM TOWER 794 00:42:10,695 --> 00:42:12,397 WAS VERY WORRIED ABOUT THE FOOTBALL MATCH 795 00:42:12,397 --> 00:42:15,199 BETWEEN BRAZIL AND CHILE. 796 00:42:15,199 --> 00:42:17,568 HE HAD ONE EAR ON THE BROADCAST OF THE MATCH 797 00:42:17,568 --> 00:42:21,105 AND THE OTHER PAYING ATTENTION TO THE FLIGHT. 798 00:42:21,105 --> 00:42:23,741 Controller: 254, YOU ARE CLEARED FOR DESCENT. 799 00:42:23,741 --> 00:42:25,643 Narrator: HE SHOULD HAVE REALIZED THERE WAS A PROBLEM 800 00:42:25,643 --> 00:42:27,578 WHEN THE PLANE COULD ONLY CONTACT THE TOWER 801 00:42:27,578 --> 00:42:29,514 ON HIGH FREQUENCY RADIO, 802 00:42:29,514 --> 00:42:35,319 A MAJOR CLUE THAT THE PLANE WAS PROBABLY VERY FAR AWAY. 803 00:42:35,319 --> 00:42:36,988 Mosier: EVERYBODY MAKES MISTAKES. 804 00:42:36,988 --> 00:42:38,923 ERRORS ARE NOT UNAVOIDABLE, 805 00:42:38,923 --> 00:42:40,825 SO THE WAY THAT YOU DEAL WITH THIS 806 00:42:40,825 --> 00:42:42,427 IS YOU BE AWARE OF THE THREAT, 807 00:42:42,427 --> 00:42:47,498 YOU TRY AND TRAP ERRORS IF THEY OCCUR, AND FIX THEM. 808 00:42:47,498 --> 00:42:51,068 Cox: I THINK IT WAS THE FAILURE OF THESE TWO PILOTS 809 00:42:51,068 --> 00:42:53,104 TO MAINTAIN THE HIGHEST STANDARDS 810 00:42:53,104 --> 00:42:54,639 OF PROFESSIONAL AIRMANSHIP. 811 00:42:54,639 --> 00:42:58,776 I THINK IN THAT POINT THEY DID NOT MEET THE NECESSARY MARK. 812 00:43:01,646 --> 00:43:05,316 Narrator: AFTER THE CRASH OF VARIG 254, 813 00:43:05,316 --> 00:43:07,785 THE AIRLINE CHANGES THEIR FLIGHT PLANS, 814 00:43:07,785 --> 00:43:11,522 SO THE DECIMAL PLACE IS CLEARLY MARKED. 815 00:43:11,522 --> 00:43:14,559 THEY ALSO IMPROVE PILOT TRAINING. 816 00:43:14,559 --> 00:43:17,829 BRAZIL'S NATIONAL RADAR SYSTEM IS MODERNIZED AND EXPANDED 817 00:43:17,829 --> 00:43:19,697 TO COVER THE ENTIRE COUNTRY, 818 00:43:19,697 --> 00:43:23,134 MAKING IT LESS LIKELY THAT A PLANE WILL GO MISSING. 819 00:43:23,134 --> 00:43:24,535 BRAZIL NEVER EVEN MADE IT 820 00:43:24,535 --> 00:43:27,738 TO THE QUARTERFINALS OF THE 1990 WORLD CUP, 821 00:43:27,738 --> 00:43:31,108 WHICH WAS WON BY WEST GERMANY. 822 00:43:31,108 --> 00:43:35,580 THE SCANDAL OF THE BRAZIL-CHILE GAME FADED OVER TIME, 823 00:43:35,580 --> 00:43:39,283 BUT THE LEGACY OF FLIGHT 254 ENDURES. 824 00:43:40,818 --> 00:43:43,120 Cox: THIS IS ONE OF THOSE CASES 825 00:43:43,120 --> 00:43:47,892 WHERE LOOKING AND UNDERSTANDING WHAT THIS CREW DID 826 00:43:47,892 --> 00:43:52,296 CAN SERVE AS AN ABSOLUTE BRIGHT EXAMPLE 827 00:43:52,296 --> 00:43:56,167 TO HELP CREWS IN THE FUTURE NOT MAKE THESE SAME MISTAKES.