1 00:00:02,769 --> 00:00:04,804 Pilot: Going down, 1862, going down! Going down! 2 00:00:04,871 --> 00:00:06,740 Narrator: A 747 cargo jet 3 00:00:06,806 --> 00:00:08,675 plunges into an apartment complex. 4 00:00:08,742 --> 00:00:10,944 Man: No! 5 00:00:11,010 --> 00:00:12,746 Man: Cut it like a knife. 6 00:00:12,812 --> 00:00:14,914 Pilot: El al 1862, mayday, mayday. 7 00:00:14,981 --> 00:00:16,349 Narrator: Amid wild rumors... 8 00:00:16,416 --> 00:00:17,584 Man: There was speculation 9 00:00:17,650 --> 00:00:20,086 that a missile had struck the aircraft. 10 00:00:20,153 --> 00:00:21,721 Man: We need those black boxes! 11 00:00:21,788 --> 00:00:23,957 Narrator: Crash investigators search for the cause 12 00:00:24,023 --> 00:00:26,626 of the Netherlands' worst air disaster. 13 00:00:26,693 --> 00:00:28,428 Man: There was a lot of pressure 14 00:00:28,495 --> 00:00:33,066 to come up with some findings as quickly as possible. 15 00:00:33,133 --> 00:00:34,200 Man: The only trouble is 16 00:00:34,267 --> 00:00:36,970 the investigators didn't know the answers, 17 00:00:37,036 --> 00:00:40,039 which were simply not available. 18 00:00:40,106 --> 00:00:42,108 Narrator: Preventing an even greater disaster 19 00:00:42,175 --> 00:00:44,577 may now be a race against time. 20 00:00:44,644 --> 00:00:48,047 Man: We were extremely worried and concerned 21 00:00:48,114 --> 00:00:52,185 that the next airplane might have been a passenger airplane. 22 00:00:53,453 --> 00:00:54,320 Flight attendant: Ladies and gentlemen, 23 00:00:54,387 --> 00:00:55,388 we are starting our approach. 24 00:00:55,455 --> 00:00:56,723 Pilot: We lost both engines! 25 00:00:56,790 --> 00:00:58,091 Flight attendant: Put the mask over your nose. 26 00:00:58,158 --> 00:00:59,025 Emergency descent. 27 00:00:59,092 --> 00:01:00,126 Pilot: Mayday, mayday! 28 00:01:00,193 --> 00:01:02,028 Flight attendant: Brace for impact! 29 00:01:02,095 --> 00:01:03,263 Controller: I think I lost one. 30 00:01:03,329 --> 00:01:06,299 Man: Investigation starting into this tragedy... 31 00:01:06,366 --> 00:01:08,101 Man: He's gonna crash! 32 00:01:26,319 --> 00:01:28,021 Narrator: It's a quiet Sunday evening 33 00:01:28,087 --> 00:01:30,657 at Amsterdam's Schiphol airport. 34 00:01:33,326 --> 00:01:35,128 Yitzhak Fuchs: Everybody ready for takeoff? 35 00:01:35,195 --> 00:01:37,096 Arnon Ohad: It's all looking good. 36 00:01:37,163 --> 00:01:39,265 Narrator: An el al cargo jet is fueled 37 00:01:39,332 --> 00:01:42,268 and ready to depart for Tel Aviv. 38 00:01:42,335 --> 00:01:45,405 Fuchs: El al 1862, good evening. 39 00:01:45,472 --> 00:01:47,841 Controller: Good evening, el al 1862. 40 00:01:47,907 --> 00:01:51,244 Line up in sequence 0-1 left. 41 00:01:51,311 --> 00:01:52,745 Fuchs: Roger. 42 00:01:52,812 --> 00:01:58,885 Narrator: The Boeing 747 is loaded with 140 tons of freight. 43 00:01:58,952 --> 00:02:02,121 The crew is under the command of Yitzhak Fuchs. 44 00:02:02,188 --> 00:02:04,023 Like all el al pilots, 45 00:02:04,090 --> 00:02:07,360 he earned his wings in the Israeli military. 46 00:02:07,427 --> 00:02:10,129 Guri Palter: He was, uh, many years in the company already 47 00:02:10,196 --> 00:02:12,198 and flew for the air force at first, 48 00:02:12,265 --> 00:02:14,767 so I believe he had something 49 00:02:14,834 --> 00:02:19,539 like 20,000, 25,000 hours of flying. 50 00:02:19,606 --> 00:02:20,840 Ohad: How's our fuel? 51 00:02:20,907 --> 00:02:22,008 Gedalya Sofer: Yeah. 52 00:02:22,075 --> 00:02:24,344 More than enough for a four-hour flight. 53 00:02:24,410 --> 00:02:27,180 Narrator: Gedalya Sofer is the flight engineer. 54 00:02:27,247 --> 00:02:30,450 It's his job to monitor the performance of the aircraft, 55 00:02:30,517 --> 00:02:33,620 including the engines and fuel consumption. 56 00:02:33,686 --> 00:02:37,290 Palter: The flight engineer was also very, very experienced, 57 00:02:37,357 --> 00:02:40,159 very professional, flying with the company many years. 58 00:02:40,226 --> 00:02:44,564 I think he was about to retire at that time. 59 00:02:44,631 --> 00:02:51,104 Controller: El al 1862 is clear for takeoff, 0-1 left. 60 00:02:51,170 --> 00:02:53,172 Fuchs: Clear for takeoff, 0-1 left, roger. 61 00:02:53,239 --> 00:02:55,108 Arnon, she's all yours. 62 00:02:55,174 --> 00:02:57,076 Ohad: Thanks, Yitzhak. 63 00:02:57,143 --> 00:02:59,412 Narrator: First officer Arnon Ohad will be handling 64 00:02:59,479 --> 00:03:02,849 the controls for this flight. 65 00:03:02,916 --> 00:03:05,051 Ohad: On the roll. 66 00:03:05,118 --> 00:03:09,622 Palter: The legs of the flight are divided by both captains 67 00:03:09,689 --> 00:03:13,626 and first officers to get the same experience. 68 00:03:13,693 --> 00:03:16,696 Narrator: The freighter's four massive Pratt andamp; Whitney engines 69 00:03:16,763 --> 00:03:19,999 pump out 200,000 pounds of thrust. 70 00:03:25,572 --> 00:03:26,739 Fuchs: V-1. 71 00:03:31,611 --> 00:03:33,079 Rotate. 72 00:03:39,085 --> 00:03:41,087 David Learmount: The visibility was good. 73 00:03:41,154 --> 00:03:47,126 It was cool, but, um, there was no, no weather to worry about. 74 00:03:47,193 --> 00:03:48,561 Ohad: Gear up. 75 00:03:50,897 --> 00:03:52,231 Fuchs: Gear up. 76 00:03:52,298 --> 00:03:56,836 Learmount: It was a routine flight back to base. 77 00:03:56,903 --> 00:03:59,439 Narrator: Flight 1862 will now head east 78 00:03:59,505 --> 00:04:02,241 over the suburbs of Amsterdam's, 79 00:04:02,308 --> 00:04:05,011 then turn south to fly across central Europe 80 00:04:05,078 --> 00:04:06,813 before landing in Tel Aviv. 81 00:04:11,250 --> 00:04:16,789 Controller: El al 1862, climb flight level 2-1-0. 82 00:04:16,856 --> 00:04:19,626 Fuchs: Flight level 2-1-0, roger. 83 00:04:19,692 --> 00:04:24,230 Narrator: The controller clears them for a climb to 21,000 feet. 84 00:04:31,504 --> 00:04:33,640 Sofer: Engines are looking good. 85 00:04:33,706 --> 00:04:36,843 Climb power's set. 86 00:04:36,909 --> 00:04:40,113 Palter: It's quite normal and routine 87 00:04:40,179 --> 00:04:43,216 climbing out of the, of the airport. 88 00:04:43,282 --> 00:04:46,753 They were expecting to be home in about four hours. 89 00:04:51,257 --> 00:04:52,692 Narrator: Everything seems normal 90 00:04:52,759 --> 00:04:55,662 for the first seven minutes of flight. 91 00:05:04,637 --> 00:05:05,905 Ohad: What the hell? 92 00:05:08,975 --> 00:05:11,344 Learmount: What happened was not only dramatic, 93 00:05:11,411 --> 00:05:13,346 it was completely sudden. 94 00:05:13,413 --> 00:05:17,150 There was no warning whatsoever. 95 00:05:17,216 --> 00:05:20,286 Narrator: The 747 is rolling violently to the right, 96 00:05:20,353 --> 00:05:23,022 and the crew has no idea why. 97 00:05:23,089 --> 00:05:24,991 Fuchs: I have control. 98 00:05:25,058 --> 00:05:28,161 Ohad: You have control. 99 00:05:28,227 --> 00:05:31,297 Narrator: The captain takes over flying the plane. 100 00:05:31,364 --> 00:05:34,467 Palter: The, uh, wings are banking to the right. 101 00:05:34,534 --> 00:05:37,970 Fuchs: Sofer, what can you tell me? 102 00:05:38,037 --> 00:05:41,207 Sofer: Engines three and four are out. 103 00:05:41,274 --> 00:05:45,845 Narrator: Both engines on the right wing have suddenly died. 104 00:05:45,912 --> 00:05:48,848 Learmount: This is a very dramatic situation. 105 00:05:48,915 --> 00:05:53,186 The wing where the engines have failed drops 106 00:05:53,252 --> 00:05:55,021 and the other wing rises. 107 00:05:57,223 --> 00:05:59,125 Ohad: We need to level off. 108 00:05:59,192 --> 00:06:00,493 Fuchs: Working on it. 109 00:06:00,560 --> 00:06:04,997 Narrator: The captain struggles to bring the plane level. 110 00:06:05,064 --> 00:06:07,166 Sofer: We're losing hydraulics on system three. 111 00:06:07,233 --> 00:06:08,935 No, three and four. 112 00:06:09,001 --> 00:06:11,571 Narrator: Critical flight controls are failing. 113 00:06:11,637 --> 00:06:15,208 Learmount: The hydraulics power the controls. 114 00:06:15,274 --> 00:06:17,744 This is such a big airplane 115 00:06:17,810 --> 00:06:22,181 that pilots can't control it with muscle alone. 116 00:06:22,248 --> 00:06:24,317 Fuchs: Full left rudder. 117 00:06:24,383 --> 00:06:26,586 Learmount: The only way you can get the aircraft 118 00:06:26,652 --> 00:06:28,721 level and straight again 119 00:06:28,788 --> 00:06:32,358 is to put the rudder on with your left foot 120 00:06:32,425 --> 00:06:37,029 and try and pick up the right wing. 121 00:06:37,096 --> 00:06:38,364 Ohad: Wings coming up. 122 00:06:47,173 --> 00:06:53,045 Narrator: Captain Fuchs can barely control the plane. 123 00:06:53,112 --> 00:06:58,684 Controller: Speed bird 943, climb flight level 2-8-0. 124 00:06:58,751 --> 00:07:00,787 Narrator: At Schiphol air traffic control, 125 00:07:00,853 --> 00:07:03,923 the evening routine is about to be shattered. 126 00:07:03,990 --> 00:07:08,194 Ohad: El al 1862. 127 00:07:08,261 --> 00:07:10,429 Mayday, mayday. We have an emergency. 128 00:07:10,496 --> 00:07:11,664 Palter: They realize right away 129 00:07:11,731 --> 00:07:14,333 that they are in a real bad situation. 130 00:07:14,400 --> 00:07:17,670 Controller: El al 1862, do you wish to return to Schiphol? 131 00:07:17,737 --> 00:07:19,071 Ohad: Affirmative. 132 00:07:19,138 --> 00:07:21,808 Mayday, mayday, mayday. 133 00:07:21,874 --> 00:07:25,478 Controller: Turn right heading 2-6-0. 134 00:07:25,545 --> 00:07:28,581 Narrator: The crew now has a heading back to the airport. 135 00:07:28,648 --> 00:07:30,683 But with hydraulics failing, 136 00:07:30,750 --> 00:07:32,518 the captain is having more and more difficulty 137 00:07:32,585 --> 00:07:35,154 controlling the plane. 138 00:07:40,059 --> 00:07:41,594 Ohad: Watch your pitch. 139 00:07:54,307 --> 00:07:57,143 Narrator: Then, the crisis gets much worse. 140 00:07:57,210 --> 00:07:58,811 Ohad: We have a fire in number three. 141 00:07:58,878 --> 00:08:00,346 Narrator: A new warning tells the crew 142 00:08:00,413 --> 00:08:03,282 one of the engines is on fire. 143 00:08:03,349 --> 00:08:05,718 Sofer: Shutting down engine three. 144 00:08:05,785 --> 00:08:07,119 Ohad: We have a fire in engine three. 145 00:08:07,186 --> 00:08:09,922 Controller: Roger. 146 00:08:09,989 --> 00:08:12,291 Learmount: You've got to get the fire out quickly, 147 00:08:12,358 --> 00:08:15,361 because if fire starts, that's serious, 148 00:08:15,428 --> 00:08:17,997 because it will structurally damage the airplane 149 00:08:18,064 --> 00:08:20,032 very rapidly. 150 00:08:20,099 --> 00:08:21,601 Ohad: Number three fire extinguisher. 151 00:08:25,071 --> 00:08:26,939 Fuchs: Pull it. 152 00:08:27,006 --> 00:08:30,243 Narrator: The crew triggers the fire extinguisher 153 00:08:30,309 --> 00:08:32,712 and waits for it to douse the flames. 154 00:08:38,117 --> 00:08:40,086 Learmount: They had not only to keep control 155 00:08:40,152 --> 00:08:42,989 of this really stricken airplane, 156 00:08:43,055 --> 00:08:45,391 they also had to go through the routine 157 00:08:45,458 --> 00:08:47,193 for putting the fire out. 158 00:08:47,260 --> 00:08:50,863 Ohad: Okay, we still have a fire warning. 159 00:08:50,930 --> 00:08:53,866 Narrator: The procedure has no effect. 160 00:08:53,933 --> 00:08:56,569 The crew can't see their engines from the cockpit. 161 00:08:56,636 --> 00:09:00,406 They have no idea how bad the fire might be. 162 00:09:00,473 --> 00:09:02,308 Palter: When it doesn't work 163 00:09:02,375 --> 00:09:03,643 you are getting into real pressure 164 00:09:03,709 --> 00:09:07,280 to put the aircraft back on the, on the ground very quick. 165 00:09:07,346 --> 00:09:08,414 Fuchs: We need to land. 166 00:09:08,481 --> 00:09:12,084 See if they can get us down on runway 2-7. 167 00:09:12,151 --> 00:09:14,921 Ohad: We have a fire in engine three, 168 00:09:14,987 --> 00:09:18,357 engine three and four inoperative. 169 00:09:18,424 --> 00:09:21,227 Request runway 2-7 for landing. 170 00:09:21,294 --> 00:09:23,195 Narrator: The captain knows the airport. 171 00:09:23,262 --> 00:09:26,899 He wants to land on the longest runway at Schiphol. 172 00:09:26,966 --> 00:09:32,939 Controller: In that case, heading 3-6-0, heading 3-6-0. 173 00:09:33,005 --> 00:09:35,074 Ohad: Roger, 3-6-0. 174 00:09:35,141 --> 00:09:40,079 Learmount: It's the pilot who decides what can be done, 175 00:09:40,146 --> 00:09:41,213 especially with an airplane 176 00:09:41,280 --> 00:09:43,816 which is as badly stricken as this one. 177 00:09:43,883 --> 00:09:47,253 The air traffic controller's job is to facilitate 178 00:09:47,320 --> 00:09:50,256 that request from the air. 179 00:09:50,323 --> 00:09:51,924 Controller: That'll give you a right turn 180 00:09:51,991 --> 00:09:54,193 to cross the localizer. 181 00:09:54,260 --> 00:09:58,230 You only have seven miles to go from current position. 182 00:09:58,297 --> 00:10:00,700 Fuchs: Damn it! 183 00:10:00,766 --> 00:10:05,638 Narrator: The crew is now facing another huge challenge. 184 00:10:05,705 --> 00:10:08,240 Fuchs: There's no way that we can slow down at this distance. 185 00:10:08,307 --> 00:10:10,076 We're gonna have to go around again. 186 00:10:10,142 --> 00:10:12,178 Ohad: Agreed. 187 00:10:12,244 --> 00:10:14,080 Narrator: They're too close to the airport 188 00:10:14,146 --> 00:10:17,016 to slow down in time to land. 189 00:10:17,083 --> 00:10:21,187 Captain Fuchs decides to make a descending turn over Amsterdam's 190 00:10:21,253 --> 00:10:23,289 so he can lose speed and altitude 191 00:10:23,356 --> 00:10:25,224 before coming in to land. 192 00:10:27,960 --> 00:10:33,032 Palter: They have no power on the right side, no hydraulics. 193 00:10:33,099 --> 00:10:34,800 Learmount: These pilots had an airplane 194 00:10:34,867 --> 00:10:42,208 which was scarcely flyable, but they didn't know why. 195 00:10:42,274 --> 00:10:45,277 Ohad: There's Schiphol at our three o'clock. 196 00:10:45,344 --> 00:10:47,113 Fuchs: Got it. 197 00:10:47,179 --> 00:10:49,315 Narrator: The crew has to make one final turn 198 00:10:49,382 --> 00:10:53,085 to line up with the runway. 199 00:10:53,152 --> 00:10:55,621 Controller: 1862, your speed is? 200 00:10:55,688 --> 00:10:57,690 Ohad: Speed is 2-6-0. 201 00:10:57,757 --> 00:11:00,292 Narrator: Despite the unexplained damage to his plane, 202 00:11:00,359 --> 00:11:04,430 Fuchs manages to guide the 747 toward the runway. 203 00:11:04,497 --> 00:11:06,032 Palter: Very difficult controlling the aircraft 204 00:11:06,098 --> 00:11:07,533 in this situation, 205 00:11:07,600 --> 00:11:12,838 but they controlled the aircraft the full 360 degrees back. 206 00:11:12,905 --> 00:11:15,975 Ohad: Speed's a little high. 207 00:11:16,042 --> 00:11:18,144 Are we stable enough to make the runway? 208 00:11:18,210 --> 00:11:19,645 Fuchs: We'll see. 209 00:11:22,548 --> 00:11:24,650 Narrator: The crew has no doubt. 210 00:11:24,717 --> 00:11:28,554 This will be the riskiest landing they've ever attempted. 211 00:11:30,890 --> 00:11:32,925 Fuchs: Here we go. 212 00:11:46,672 --> 00:11:51,911 Narrator: Flight 1862 is less than three minutes from landing. 213 00:11:51,977 --> 00:11:54,980 Fuchs: Alright. Let's get the gear down. 214 00:11:57,883 --> 00:12:00,619 Ohad: Gear down. Three green. 215 00:12:00,686 --> 00:12:05,224 Narrator: Amsterdam's airport is tantalizingly close. 216 00:12:05,291 --> 00:12:07,493 Fuchs: Reducing speed. 217 00:12:07,560 --> 00:12:09,728 Narrator: Captain Yitzhak Fuchs slows his plane 218 00:12:09,795 --> 00:12:11,564 and calls for the flaps. 219 00:12:11,630 --> 00:12:13,566 Fuchs: Flaps two. 220 00:12:13,632 --> 00:12:17,470 Narrator: He wants to increase the wings' surface area... 221 00:12:17,536 --> 00:12:19,371 Ohad: Flaps two. 222 00:12:19,438 --> 00:12:21,307 Narrator: ...to add lift at the slower speed 223 00:12:21,373 --> 00:12:24,343 he needs for landing. 224 00:12:24,410 --> 00:12:29,281 Fuchs: Alright, nice and easy. 225 00:12:29,348 --> 00:12:31,217 Easy... 226 00:12:33,419 --> 00:12:34,520 Easy! 227 00:12:34,587 --> 00:12:36,222 No, no, no, no! 228 00:12:36,288 --> 00:12:37,723 Ohad: We're losing it. 229 00:12:37,790 --> 00:12:40,092 Narrator: The plane is once again rolling to the right, 230 00:12:40,159 --> 00:12:42,128 and this time it's worse. 231 00:12:42,194 --> 00:12:46,098 Learmount: The pilot realized that by going slower 232 00:12:46,165 --> 00:12:51,704 he was having even more control problems than he already had. 233 00:12:51,770 --> 00:12:58,010 Controller: El al, further right heading 3-1-0, heading 3-1-0. 234 00:12:58,077 --> 00:12:59,612 Narrator: Controllers urge the pilots 235 00:12:59,678 --> 00:13:02,348 to correct their course to the runway. 236 00:13:02,414 --> 00:13:05,050 Fuchs: I can't hold it! I can't hold it! 237 00:13:05,117 --> 00:13:07,720 Ohad: Uh, we have a controlling problem. 238 00:13:07,786 --> 00:13:10,022 Learmount: They realized that their aircraft 239 00:13:10,089 --> 00:13:12,158 was uncontrollable. 240 00:13:12,224 --> 00:13:14,493 Fuchs: No, no, no! Come on! 241 00:13:14,560 --> 00:13:15,728 Ohad: Going down. 242 00:13:18,130 --> 00:13:20,366 Going down, 1862, going down. 243 00:13:21,100 --> 00:13:22,134 Going down. 244 00:13:24,403 --> 00:13:26,305 Fuchs: Come on! 245 00:13:31,777 --> 00:13:36,215 Palter: Hit the building and, and cut it like a knife. 246 00:13:36,282 --> 00:13:38,817 Narrator: El al 1862 has slammed 247 00:13:38,884 --> 00:13:44,690 into an 11-story apartment block. 248 00:13:44,757 --> 00:13:46,959 The Bijlmermeer apartment complex, 249 00:13:47,026 --> 00:13:50,963 home to thousands of people, is engulfed in flames. 250 00:13:53,566 --> 00:13:56,535 Henk Van Rooij: You prepare yourself for a lot of things, 251 00:13:56,602 --> 00:14:01,207 but this was more than I ever expected. 252 00:14:01,273 --> 00:14:03,175 Narrator: Henk Van Rooij is one of hundreds 253 00:14:03,242 --> 00:14:06,445 of Amsterdam firefighters who rush to the crash site. 254 00:14:11,317 --> 00:14:13,419 Van Rooij: When I arrived there and I looked at the site, 255 00:14:13,485 --> 00:14:18,123 and there was a big hole in it, and there was a massive fire. 256 00:14:20,292 --> 00:14:25,531 It's the biggest fire I've ever seen in my life. 257 00:14:25,598 --> 00:14:29,168 Narrator: The intensity of the inferno is overwhelming. 258 00:14:29,235 --> 00:14:31,370 Van Rooij: The cargo plane was fueled up in Schiphol 259 00:14:31,437 --> 00:14:33,606 with 80 tons of kerosene. 260 00:14:36,909 --> 00:14:40,079 Narrator: Rescuers race to pull the injured to safety. 261 00:14:40,145 --> 00:14:42,014 In the chaos, it's hard to know 262 00:14:42,081 --> 00:14:46,051 how many victims there actually are. 263 00:14:46,118 --> 00:14:49,154 Van Rooij: I was expecting 200 people dead, just killed, 264 00:14:49,221 --> 00:14:51,657 and 600 people injured. 265 00:15:01,066 --> 00:15:03,836 Narrator: The next morning, daylight reveals 266 00:15:03,902 --> 00:15:08,073 the overwhelming scale of the disaster. 267 00:15:08,140 --> 00:15:11,277 Pim Van Santen: It was traumatic to see the damage 268 00:15:11,343 --> 00:15:14,280 and what it did to the people living there. 269 00:15:14,346 --> 00:15:17,216 Narrator: The plummeting jet has cut the apartment block 270 00:15:17,283 --> 00:15:19,418 completely in two. 271 00:15:19,485 --> 00:15:22,254 There's almost nothing left of the plane. 272 00:15:22,321 --> 00:15:26,925 No one aboard has survived. 273 00:15:26,992 --> 00:15:30,195 Learmount: It was quite clear that a lot of lives 274 00:15:30,262 --> 00:15:34,700 had been lost on the ground, let alone in the air. 275 00:15:34,767 --> 00:15:37,236 Narrator: Though the exact number isn't yet known, 276 00:15:37,303 --> 00:15:40,873 dozens are dead. 277 00:15:40,939 --> 00:15:42,808 The eyes of the world soon focus 278 00:15:42,875 --> 00:15:47,513 on the Netherlands' worst ever aviation disaster. 279 00:15:47,579 --> 00:15:51,517 Learmount: The spectacular nature of this accident 280 00:15:51,583 --> 00:15:56,055 was such that, you know, all the cameras were quickly there. 281 00:16:04,129 --> 00:16:06,765 Narrator: The Dutch government assigns Pim Van Santen 282 00:16:06,832 --> 00:16:09,268 to the crash investigation. 283 00:16:09,335 --> 00:16:12,171 Van Santen: How soon can I get my team in here? 284 00:16:12,237 --> 00:16:13,372 Thank you. 285 00:16:13,439 --> 00:16:15,607 Narrator: He's well aware that his entire nation 286 00:16:15,674 --> 00:16:18,677 will soon be demanding answers. 287 00:16:18,744 --> 00:16:21,246 Van Santen: There was a lot of pressure, 288 00:16:21,313 --> 00:16:24,016 both from the public, from the press, 289 00:16:24,083 --> 00:16:29,021 to come up with some findings as quickly as possible. 290 00:16:29,088 --> 00:16:31,857 Narrator: Van Santen faces a frustrating delay. 291 00:16:31,924 --> 00:16:34,093 He's not allowed to examine the debris 292 00:16:34,159 --> 00:16:37,062 until rescuers complete their search for victims 293 00:16:37,129 --> 00:16:39,031 in the demolished building. 294 00:16:39,098 --> 00:16:40,165 Van Santen: We're just waiting. 295 00:16:40,232 --> 00:16:42,601 They're, they're clearing out the bodies. 296 00:16:42,668 --> 00:16:49,375 We were basically walking around and getting as close as possible 297 00:16:49,441 --> 00:16:53,345 without disturbing the rescue people. 298 00:16:53,412 --> 00:16:57,383 Narrator: For now, vital evidence remains out of reach. 299 00:17:11,163 --> 00:17:12,364 Van Santen: Go ahead, please. 300 00:17:12,431 --> 00:17:14,299 Narrator: With the crash site off limits, 301 00:17:14,366 --> 00:17:16,101 Van Santen turns to recordings 302 00:17:16,168 --> 00:17:18,270 made by Schiphol air traffic control 303 00:17:18,337 --> 00:17:20,272 on the night of the accident. 304 00:17:22,107 --> 00:17:24,276 Ohad: El al 1862, mayday, mayday. 305 00:17:24,343 --> 00:17:26,211 We have an emergency. 306 00:17:26,278 --> 00:17:28,614 Controller: El al 1862, do you wish to return to Schiphol? 307 00:17:28,680 --> 00:17:31,216 Narrator: It's not as detailed as the cockpit recording, 308 00:17:31,283 --> 00:17:33,218 but does capture the conversations 309 00:17:33,285 --> 00:17:36,221 between controllers and the el al crew. 310 00:17:36,288 --> 00:17:39,057 Van Santen: You hear those people speaking, 311 00:17:39,124 --> 00:17:42,761 and that makes it very, for me, at least, 312 00:17:42,828 --> 00:17:45,030 made it very emotional. 313 00:17:45,097 --> 00:17:46,698 You hear people speaking, 314 00:17:46,765 --> 00:17:49,268 but you also know that they are dead. 315 00:17:53,305 --> 00:17:55,140 Ohad: Uh, we have a controlling problem. 316 00:17:55,207 --> 00:17:56,375 Narrator: The recording reveals 317 00:17:56,442 --> 00:18:00,045 just how quickly the disaster unfolded. 318 00:18:00,112 --> 00:18:05,884 Controller: El al, further right heading 3-1-0, heading 3-1-0. 319 00:18:05,951 --> 00:18:07,586 Narrator: It captures the terrible moment 320 00:18:07,653 --> 00:18:10,589 when the crew lost control of their plane. 321 00:18:10,656 --> 00:18:12,558 Ohad: Going down, 1862, going down. 322 00:18:15,694 --> 00:18:20,232 Narrator: But what triggered the crisis remains a mystery. 323 00:18:20,299 --> 00:18:24,236 Van Santen: This isn't getting us anywhere. 324 00:18:24,303 --> 00:18:27,806 We need to find those flight recorders. 325 00:18:27,873 --> 00:18:29,608 We didn't hear anything 326 00:18:29,675 --> 00:18:36,114 which was really directing us at the actual cause. 327 00:18:36,181 --> 00:18:38,217 The only thing what was obvious 328 00:18:38,283 --> 00:18:43,722 was that the airplane was no longer controllable. 329 00:18:43,789 --> 00:18:45,557 Narrator: Van Santen pins his hopes 330 00:18:45,624 --> 00:18:49,261 on recovering the plane's black boxes. 331 00:18:49,328 --> 00:18:52,564 Every 747 carries a flight data recorder 332 00:18:52,631 --> 00:18:55,767 and a cockpit voice recorder in the tail. 333 00:18:55,834 --> 00:18:58,203 They capture detailed information about everything 334 00:18:58,270 --> 00:19:03,709 the pilots say and do during the flight. 335 00:19:03,775 --> 00:19:06,512 But finding those recorders won't be easy. 336 00:19:09,681 --> 00:19:12,217 City officials have ordered the crash debris 337 00:19:12,284 --> 00:19:16,288 to be trucked to dump sites around Amsterdam. 338 00:19:16,355 --> 00:19:20,058 Van Santen: The city wanted to have the crash site cleaned 339 00:19:20,125 --> 00:19:21,760 as quickly as possible, 340 00:19:21,827 --> 00:19:23,729 because for the people living there 341 00:19:23,795 --> 00:19:26,098 who may have lost relatives, 342 00:19:26,164 --> 00:19:28,867 it was extremely traumatic to see this, 343 00:19:28,934 --> 00:19:33,138 these buildings and parts of the airplane. 344 00:19:39,444 --> 00:19:41,013 Robert Benzon: Dig in, guys. 345 00:19:41,079 --> 00:19:43,415 We need those black boxes. 346 00:19:43,482 --> 00:19:46,018 Narrator: Robert Benzon is a veteran investigator 347 00:19:46,084 --> 00:19:49,221 with the U.S. National transportation safety board. 348 00:19:49,288 --> 00:19:52,424 He joins the team and knows just how crucial 349 00:19:52,491 --> 00:19:55,093 the voice and data recorders can be. 350 00:19:55,160 --> 00:19:57,362 Benzon: We use those extensively 351 00:19:57,429 --> 00:19:59,932 along with examination of wreckage 352 00:19:59,998 --> 00:20:04,002 to nail down almost to an nth degree 353 00:20:04,069 --> 00:20:07,005 what happened sometimes. 354 00:20:07,072 --> 00:20:09,241 Narrator: Investigators face a difficult search 355 00:20:09,308 --> 00:20:12,544 through a tangled mess of pulverized aircraft parts 356 00:20:12,611 --> 00:20:15,213 and building debris. 357 00:20:15,280 --> 00:20:16,715 Benzon: Hang on. 358 00:20:16,782 --> 00:20:18,150 That's an engine part. 359 00:20:18,216 --> 00:20:20,986 Goes over there. 360 00:20:21,053 --> 00:20:23,989 You'd be surprised how much building debris, 361 00:20:24,056 --> 00:20:28,493 pipes and things, can actually look like airplane parts. 362 00:20:28,560 --> 00:20:30,562 It gets confusing. 363 00:20:30,629 --> 00:20:32,264 Narrator: While investigators sort through 364 00:20:32,331 --> 00:20:34,199 the mountains of debris, 365 00:20:34,266 --> 00:20:37,803 witness reports provide a stunning lead. 366 00:20:37,869 --> 00:20:39,171 Learmount: The earliest information 367 00:20:39,237 --> 00:20:41,206 that I think the investigators had, 368 00:20:41,273 --> 00:20:46,144 which gave them clues that there was more to this crash 369 00:20:46,211 --> 00:20:50,315 than just the pilots losing power on two engines, 370 00:20:50,382 --> 00:20:53,018 was that witnesses saw things happening to the airplane, 371 00:20:53,085 --> 00:20:56,054 and they reported this. 372 00:20:56,121 --> 00:20:58,123 Narrator: Just minutes before the crash, 373 00:20:58,190 --> 00:21:00,892 they saw what looked like two jet engines 374 00:21:00,959 --> 00:21:04,329 falling into lake Gooimeer, east of the airport. 375 00:21:08,166 --> 00:21:12,204 Learmount: For an engine to fall off the wing of an airplane, 376 00:21:12,270 --> 00:21:16,241 it's not unheard of, but it's very, very unusual. 377 00:21:16,308 --> 00:21:19,711 Fuchs: Sofer, what can you tell me? 378 00:21:19,778 --> 00:21:22,748 Sofer: Engines three and four are out. 379 00:21:22,814 --> 00:21:27,586 Van Santen: Losing two engines for us was... 380 00:21:27,653 --> 00:21:31,089 We've never heard of that before. 381 00:21:31,156 --> 00:21:33,925 Two engines in this lake. 382 00:21:33,992 --> 00:21:35,360 Let's find them, please. 383 00:21:35,427 --> 00:21:36,728 Benzon: Two engines were missing, 384 00:21:36,795 --> 00:21:40,098 and that became the focus of the investigation. 385 00:21:40,165 --> 00:21:42,467 Narrator: Divers immediately take to the water 386 00:21:42,534 --> 00:21:45,337 in search of the fallen debris. 387 00:21:45,404 --> 00:21:48,774 What they find could solve this mystery. 388 00:21:54,312 --> 00:21:58,750 Meanwhile, across Amsterdam, rumors begin to spread, 389 00:21:58,817 --> 00:22:02,020 speculation about what could have torn two engines 390 00:22:02,087 --> 00:22:04,156 from a 747. 391 00:22:04,222 --> 00:22:08,126 Benzon: Well, the fact that the aircraft was an Israeli company, 392 00:22:08,193 --> 00:22:10,796 el al, led to early speculation 393 00:22:10,862 --> 00:22:14,099 that there may have been some kind of terrorist involvement. 394 00:22:17,169 --> 00:22:18,904 Narrator: The history of conflict 395 00:22:18,970 --> 00:22:21,006 between Israel and its Arab neighbors 396 00:22:21,073 --> 00:22:23,742 suggests a terrifying possibility. 397 00:22:23,809 --> 00:22:25,343 Benzon: There was early speculation 398 00:22:25,410 --> 00:22:27,279 that a missile had struck the aircraft. 399 00:22:32,050 --> 00:22:35,353 Narrator: Other rumors hint the 747 might have been carrying 400 00:22:35,420 --> 00:22:39,991 explosive military cargo for the Israeli army, 401 00:22:40,058 --> 00:22:43,695 cargo not listed on the official manifest. 402 00:22:43,762 --> 00:22:47,199 Learmount: Oh, el al, must have been sabotage, must have been. 403 00:22:47,265 --> 00:22:48,600 Might have been a missile. 404 00:22:48,667 --> 00:22:52,270 They were going for absolutely every possible explanation. 405 00:22:52,337 --> 00:22:53,839 The people standing in front of the cameras 406 00:22:53,905 --> 00:22:58,643 had to have something to say, so they said it. 407 00:22:58,710 --> 00:23:00,045 Narrator: Within hours, 408 00:23:00,112 --> 00:23:04,349 the search of lake Gooimeer pays off. 409 00:23:04,416 --> 00:23:07,552 Investigators recover one of flight 1862's 410 00:23:07,619 --> 00:23:09,955 right side engines. 411 00:23:13,325 --> 00:23:18,263 A look at the serial number reveals it's engine number four. 412 00:23:18,330 --> 00:23:22,200 The 747's engines are numbered from left to right. 413 00:23:22,267 --> 00:23:29,241 Number four is the outermost engine on the right wing. 414 00:23:29,307 --> 00:23:31,243 Searchers also recover debris 415 00:23:31,309 --> 00:23:34,246 from the forward edge of the right wing, 416 00:23:34,312 --> 00:23:36,214 control surfaces that are crucial 417 00:23:36,281 --> 00:23:37,949 for controlling the plane. 418 00:23:38,016 --> 00:23:39,618 Van Santen: Um, we've got... 419 00:23:39,684 --> 00:23:43,121 Benzon: The loss of leading edge components, flaps and slats, 420 00:23:43,188 --> 00:23:45,357 led us to believe that the aircraft 421 00:23:45,423 --> 00:23:49,261 was extremely difficult to fly safely. 422 00:23:49,327 --> 00:23:51,396 Narrator: The mystery now is what caused 423 00:23:51,463 --> 00:23:53,431 the engines to fall off. 424 00:23:53,498 --> 00:23:56,701 Was it terrorism, a mechanical failure 425 00:23:56,768 --> 00:23:59,337 or something else? 426 00:23:59,404 --> 00:24:03,375 Investigators rush the recovered wreckage to a forensic lab 427 00:24:03,441 --> 00:24:06,411 and test it for explosive residue. 428 00:24:06,478 --> 00:24:08,580 Benzon: You have to look at every single part 429 00:24:08,647 --> 00:24:11,249 to either rule it in or out. 430 00:24:11,316 --> 00:24:15,554 Narrator: But there's no evidence of any explosion. 431 00:24:15,620 --> 00:24:17,088 Benzon: And we looked at every single part 432 00:24:17,155 --> 00:24:19,624 and ruled out a missile. 433 00:24:19,691 --> 00:24:22,093 Narrator: One thing is now certain. 434 00:24:22,160 --> 00:24:25,597 The el al disaster has nothing to do with terrorism. 435 00:24:25,664 --> 00:24:28,133 But with engine three still missing, 436 00:24:28,200 --> 00:24:31,870 the case is far from being solved. 437 00:24:31,937 --> 00:24:36,942 Benzon: Finding both engines was a virtual necessity. 438 00:24:37,008 --> 00:24:39,077 We had other parts of the aircraft, of course, 439 00:24:39,144 --> 00:24:41,413 that went into the apartment complex, 440 00:24:41,479 --> 00:24:43,281 but they were heavily damaged, 441 00:24:43,348 --> 00:24:46,184 so we needed all the parts of the puzzle 442 00:24:46,251 --> 00:24:49,120 that we could possibly locate. 443 00:24:49,187 --> 00:24:51,256 Van Santen: Take a look at this. 444 00:24:51,323 --> 00:24:53,191 Narrator: News of another recent accident 445 00:24:53,258 --> 00:24:56,094 adds grave urgency to the search. 446 00:24:56,161 --> 00:25:00,332 Van Santen: I think the whole fleet could be in danger. 447 00:25:00,398 --> 00:25:03,501 Narrator: Investigators learn of another 747 448 00:25:03,568 --> 00:25:06,238 that lost two engines and crashed 449 00:25:06,304 --> 00:25:08,340 just nine months earlier. 450 00:25:08,406 --> 00:25:11,243 Benzon: It quickly became apparent that a similar accident 451 00:25:11,309 --> 00:25:15,313 occurred in, in Taiwan to a China Airlines 747, 452 00:25:15,380 --> 00:25:17,649 very similar in fact. 453 00:25:17,716 --> 00:25:21,119 Narrator: It suddenly seems possible that the 747 454 00:25:21,186 --> 00:25:25,257 may have a deadly design flaw. 455 00:25:25,323 --> 00:25:26,658 Benzon: That scares everybody, 456 00:25:26,725 --> 00:25:32,364 because there were a thousand 747s out there at the time. 457 00:25:32,430 --> 00:25:35,734 Van Santen: We were extremely worried and concerned 458 00:25:35,800 --> 00:25:40,872 that if this was a pattern, that the next airplane 459 00:25:40,939 --> 00:25:45,143 might have been a passenger airplane. 460 00:25:45,210 --> 00:25:47,646 Narrator: Thousands of lives could be at risk. 461 00:25:47,712 --> 00:25:49,447 Investigators must work quickly 462 00:25:49,514 --> 00:25:53,084 to find out what brought down flight 1862. 463 00:26:02,327 --> 00:26:06,264 The crash of a 747 near the heart of Amsterdam 464 00:26:06,331 --> 00:26:09,167 has shocked people all across that city. 465 00:26:15,240 --> 00:26:18,543 The Netherlands' queen Beatrix tours the devastation, 466 00:26:18,610 --> 00:26:20,912 sharing in her nation's grief. 467 00:26:24,215 --> 00:26:27,185 At least 43 people are dead. 468 00:26:29,521 --> 00:26:31,089 Learmount: A lot of people died, 469 00:26:31,156 --> 00:26:34,993 but it could have been much worse than that. 470 00:26:35,060 --> 00:26:37,996 Narrator: Pressure builds to find evidence. 471 00:26:38,063 --> 00:26:40,332 With engine three still missing, 472 00:26:40,398 --> 00:26:42,434 investigators call in the Dutch navy 473 00:26:42,500 --> 00:26:46,237 to search lake Gooimeer using sonar. 474 00:26:46,304 --> 00:26:47,973 Van Santen: It is not very deep there, 475 00:26:48,039 --> 00:26:49,441 maybe four or five meters, 476 00:26:49,507 --> 00:26:54,746 but that is deep enough to make it difficult to find. 477 00:26:54,813 --> 00:26:57,015 Narrator: Three days into the investigation, 478 00:26:57,082 --> 00:27:00,151 a major breakthrough. 479 00:27:00,218 --> 00:27:06,057 Searchers find a black box in the debris. 480 00:27:06,124 --> 00:27:09,995 It's the flight data recorder. 481 00:27:10,061 --> 00:27:11,796 Benzon: Okay. 482 00:27:11,863 --> 00:27:14,733 Let's see what the lab can do with this. 483 00:27:14,799 --> 00:27:17,035 Narrator: It should contain detailed information 484 00:27:17,102 --> 00:27:20,338 about the operation of the engines, 485 00:27:20,405 --> 00:27:23,441 but getting at that data may be impossible. 486 00:27:25,777 --> 00:27:28,113 The huge impact has taken a heavy toll 487 00:27:28,179 --> 00:27:31,282 on the critical recording device. 488 00:27:31,349 --> 00:27:34,019 Benzon: The FDR survived the accident, 489 00:27:34,085 --> 00:27:37,088 but it certainly wasn't intact. 490 00:27:37,155 --> 00:27:40,458 Narrator: The tape is badly damaged. 491 00:27:40,525 --> 00:27:44,929 Benzon: The tape had shattered upon impact in a couple places. 492 00:27:44,996 --> 00:27:48,833 Narrator: But Van Santen and his team are determined. 493 00:27:48,900 --> 00:27:51,036 They ship the recorder to Washington, 494 00:27:51,102 --> 00:27:55,073 where NTSB experts will try to repair the damage. 495 00:28:01,713 --> 00:28:05,784 More than a week after the Netherlands' worst air disaster, 496 00:28:05,850 --> 00:28:08,720 there's still no sign of the second black box, 497 00:28:08,787 --> 00:28:11,656 the cockpit voice recorder. 498 00:28:11,723 --> 00:28:12,590 Benzon: Any luck? 499 00:28:15,226 --> 00:28:18,563 Narrator: It looks like investigators will have to solve this mystery 500 00:28:18,630 --> 00:28:21,232 without one of their best tools. 501 00:28:21,299 --> 00:28:25,403 Benzon: You have to remember there was a giant pile of rubble 502 00:28:25,470 --> 00:28:28,139 mixed in with an entire 747. 503 00:28:28,206 --> 00:28:30,108 It never showed up. 504 00:28:30,175 --> 00:28:34,345 My guess is that it probably was burned into a little cinder. 505 00:28:37,215 --> 00:28:40,018 Narrator: Underwater searchers are having better luck. 506 00:28:40,085 --> 00:28:43,555 They've found and recovered engine number three. 507 00:28:43,621 --> 00:28:45,857 Investigators now have both the engines 508 00:28:45,924 --> 00:28:48,326 from the right side of the plane. 509 00:28:48,393 --> 00:28:51,096 But a close examination of the newly recovered engine 510 00:28:51,162 --> 00:28:53,331 only adds to the mystery. 511 00:28:53,398 --> 00:28:59,104 Van Santen: Visual exam shows no sooting, no signs of fire. 512 00:29:01,272 --> 00:29:04,008 Ohad: We have a fire in number three. 513 00:29:04,075 --> 00:29:06,578 Benzon: In spite of what the flight crew said over the radio, 514 00:29:06,644 --> 00:29:09,380 there were absolutely no evidence of sooting, 515 00:29:09,447 --> 00:29:12,717 melted metal, things like that inside the engines. 516 00:29:14,953 --> 00:29:18,990 Sofer: Shutting down engine three. 517 00:29:19,057 --> 00:29:20,358 Narrator: Whatever went wrong, 518 00:29:20,425 --> 00:29:24,062 it not only caused the engines to separate from the wing, 519 00:29:24,129 --> 00:29:29,167 it also triggered a false fire alarm that misled the crew. 520 00:29:29,234 --> 00:29:31,569 Benzon: All they had to go on were lights and indications 521 00:29:31,636 --> 00:29:32,570 in the cockpit. 522 00:29:32,637 --> 00:29:34,973 I don't think they ever knew 523 00:29:35,039 --> 00:29:38,676 that they were missing two engines. 524 00:29:38,743 --> 00:29:41,646 Narrator: Investigators hope an unusual streak of paint 525 00:29:41,713 --> 00:29:44,015 found on the cowling of engine three 526 00:29:44,082 --> 00:29:47,685 will help explain what really happened. 527 00:29:47,752 --> 00:29:52,190 They take a sample of the paint for testing. 528 00:29:52,257 --> 00:29:53,291 Van Santen: Let's see if the lab can tell us 529 00:29:53,358 --> 00:29:55,593 where this came from. 530 00:29:55,660 --> 00:29:57,695 Narrator: While they wait for lab results, 531 00:29:57,762 --> 00:30:00,265 investigators turn their attention to the fittings 532 00:30:00,331 --> 00:30:03,334 that attach the engines to the wing. 533 00:30:03,401 --> 00:30:06,371 Known as pylons, they're designed to be strong enough 534 00:30:06,437 --> 00:30:10,508 to support the massive engines during all the rigors of flight. 535 00:30:13,244 --> 00:30:17,081 Learmount: If the airplane is in turbulence in the sky 536 00:30:17,148 --> 00:30:20,118 and the whole airplane is being shaken, 537 00:30:20,185 --> 00:30:22,086 the engines are being shaken as well, 538 00:30:22,153 --> 00:30:25,423 so the pylons have to be very, very strong. 539 00:30:25,490 --> 00:30:26,958 Fuchs: V-1. 540 00:30:27,025 --> 00:30:30,628 Narrator: Investigators know flight 1862 powered away safely 541 00:30:30,695 --> 00:30:32,063 from the runway. 542 00:30:32,130 --> 00:30:33,498 Fuchs: Rotate. 543 00:30:35,300 --> 00:30:39,637 Narrator: They wonder, did the 747 hit something in the air 544 00:30:39,704 --> 00:30:44,175 that somehow damaged the two right side engine mounts? 545 00:30:44,242 --> 00:30:47,111 Air force radar scans from the night of the crash 546 00:30:47,178 --> 00:30:48,980 reveal some intriguing data. 547 00:30:49,047 --> 00:30:53,651 Van Santen: So these blue areas are all flocks of birds? 548 00:30:53,718 --> 00:30:55,086 Wow. 549 00:30:55,153 --> 00:30:57,956 Narrator: There were unusually large flocks of birds 550 00:30:58,022 --> 00:31:00,658 around the airport the night of the crash. 551 00:31:00,725 --> 00:31:04,629 Van Santen: One of the scenarios was that there was bird impact. 552 00:31:04,696 --> 00:31:07,865 In October, November, we have lots of geese flying around 553 00:31:07,932 --> 00:31:11,035 Schiphol airport, and these are big birds. 554 00:31:11,102 --> 00:31:13,838 Narrator: Bird strikes can do incredible damage. 555 00:31:20,245 --> 00:31:22,146 Ohad: What the hell? 556 00:31:22,213 --> 00:31:24,816 Narrator: Finally, there might be an explanation... 557 00:31:24,882 --> 00:31:25,650 Fuchs: I have control. 558 00:31:25,717 --> 00:31:27,085 Ohad: You have control. 559 00:31:27,151 --> 00:31:31,356 Narrator: ...for what tore two engines off el al flight 1862. 560 00:31:37,895 --> 00:31:41,866 To test the bird strike theory, 561 00:31:41,933 --> 00:31:45,136 the team turns to the science of light. 562 00:31:45,203 --> 00:31:47,639 When exposed to ultraviolet light, 563 00:31:47,705 --> 00:31:53,278 blood and other organic remains will glow green. 564 00:31:53,344 --> 00:31:54,846 Van Santen: Looks clean. 565 00:31:54,912 --> 00:31:57,115 Narrator: But they can find no green fluorescence 566 00:31:57,181 --> 00:31:59,550 on any part of either engine. 567 00:31:59,617 --> 00:32:02,820 The investigation is back to square one. 568 00:32:02,887 --> 00:32:05,423 Van Santen: Bird impact was ruled out. 569 00:32:05,490 --> 00:32:08,326 Fire was ruled out. 570 00:32:08,393 --> 00:32:10,662 So basically then the conclusion was 571 00:32:10,728 --> 00:32:13,931 it must have been something else. 572 00:32:13,998 --> 00:32:15,500 So we know that... 573 00:32:15,566 --> 00:32:18,503 Learmount: The media of course are putting pressure on them 574 00:32:18,569 --> 00:32:20,038 to answer questions. 575 00:32:20,104 --> 00:32:22,507 The only trouble is the investigators 576 00:32:22,573 --> 00:32:26,411 didn't know the answers, either. 577 00:32:26,477 --> 00:32:30,982 Narrator: Then the investigation takes a dramatic turn. 578 00:32:31,049 --> 00:32:34,686 Lab results reveal the paint found on engine three 579 00:32:34,752 --> 00:32:36,854 came from the cone-shaped spinner 580 00:32:36,921 --> 00:32:39,257 at the front of another engine. 581 00:32:43,428 --> 00:32:45,296 Van Santen: Get everyone together. 582 00:32:45,363 --> 00:32:47,498 I think I know what happened. 583 00:32:47,565 --> 00:32:50,635 Narrator: Van Santen believes there's only one scenario 584 00:32:50,702 --> 00:32:53,037 that can explain the bizarre finding. 585 00:32:53,104 --> 00:32:58,309 Van Santen: Say this is engine three. 586 00:32:58,376 --> 00:33:03,614 Paint transfer is right there. 587 00:33:03,681 --> 00:33:06,918 No way engine four could come forward, 588 00:33:06,984 --> 00:33:09,787 but if engine three came off first, 589 00:33:09,854 --> 00:33:15,893 it could fly back, and the spinner would hit right here. 590 00:33:15,960 --> 00:33:17,328 Benzon: As in an automobile accident, 591 00:33:17,395 --> 00:33:19,731 if you find the paint of one color 592 00:33:19,797 --> 00:33:22,900 on a device made of another color, 593 00:33:22,967 --> 00:33:25,837 uh, there's an indication that they struck each other. 594 00:33:25,903 --> 00:33:27,638 Van Santen: In other words, 595 00:33:27,705 --> 00:33:32,777 engine three knocked engine four off the plane. 596 00:33:41,285 --> 00:33:44,222 Narrator: The four-ton engine would have hit with the force 597 00:33:44,288 --> 00:33:47,291 of a small bulldozer. 598 00:33:47,358 --> 00:33:50,795 Fuchs: Sofer, what can you tell me? 599 00:33:50,862 --> 00:33:53,531 Sofer: Engines three and four are out. 600 00:33:53,598 --> 00:33:55,400 Narrator: It's a critical discovery, 601 00:33:55,466 --> 00:33:58,569 but it leaves a huge question unanswered. 602 00:33:58,636 --> 00:34:03,341 Why did engine three fall off in the first place? 603 00:34:03,408 --> 00:34:05,376 To try to solve that mystery, 604 00:34:05,443 --> 00:34:08,346 investigators need to find the lugs and bolts 605 00:34:08,413 --> 00:34:12,917 that connected that engine to the wing. 606 00:34:12,984 --> 00:34:17,255 Learmount: In terms of finding the evidence, 607 00:34:17,321 --> 00:34:19,791 the physical parts of the airplane, 608 00:34:19,857 --> 00:34:25,730 so that you could find out what broke and how it broke, 609 00:34:25,797 --> 00:34:28,199 was going to be difficult. 610 00:34:28,266 --> 00:34:30,568 Narrator: The engine fittings could have fallen to earth 611 00:34:30,635 --> 00:34:34,772 at any point during the midair crisis, 612 00:34:34,839 --> 00:34:38,509 or they could be buried in the rubble from the crash site. 613 00:34:38,576 --> 00:34:41,345 Van Santen: You'll never have any guarantee 614 00:34:41,412 --> 00:34:43,881 that you will find all the parts, 615 00:34:43,948 --> 00:34:49,053 which are needed to determine this most likely cause. 616 00:34:49,120 --> 00:34:51,756 Narrator: Almost three weeks after the crash, 617 00:34:51,823 --> 00:34:55,460 the investigation has hit a major hurdle. 618 00:34:55,526 --> 00:34:58,830 Though it's clear why the el al crew declared a mayday... 619 00:34:58,896 --> 00:35:00,731 Ohad: Mayday, mayday, mayday. 620 00:35:00,798 --> 00:35:02,867 Narrator: Investigators still can't explain 621 00:35:02,934 --> 00:35:05,970 what started the deadly chain of events. 622 00:35:09,874 --> 00:35:13,511 Then, they get a lucky break. 623 00:35:13,578 --> 00:35:15,746 A painstaking search through the crash debris 624 00:35:15,813 --> 00:35:18,449 has recovered some key components from the fitting 625 00:35:18,516 --> 00:35:20,751 that held engine three to the plane, 626 00:35:20,818 --> 00:35:24,589 including one of four crucial bolts, or fuse pins, 627 00:35:24,655 --> 00:35:26,424 that secure the pylon to the wing 628 00:35:26,491 --> 00:35:28,759 and support the weight of the engine. 629 00:35:28,826 --> 00:35:33,397 Van Santen: There was luck involved, definitely, 630 00:35:33,464 --> 00:35:35,500 and that was really for us 631 00:35:35,566 --> 00:35:39,504 the point where pieces are falling into place. 632 00:35:39,570 --> 00:35:44,842 Narrator: Investigators study the pieces in search of clues. 633 00:35:44,909 --> 00:35:49,914 A metallurgical scan leads to a stunning discovery. 634 00:35:49,981 --> 00:35:51,749 There's a four-millimeter crack 635 00:35:51,816 --> 00:35:55,653 on the inside of the hollow fuse pin. 636 00:35:55,720 --> 00:35:58,856 Benzon: We discovered that it had pre-existing fatigue cracks. 637 00:35:58,923 --> 00:36:00,758 If there's a micro crack in it, 638 00:36:00,825 --> 00:36:07,765 it weakens the entire structure and makes it easier to break. 639 00:36:07,832 --> 00:36:11,569 Narrator: Investigators theorize that as soon as one pin failed, 640 00:36:11,636 --> 00:36:15,940 the entire engine fitting broke apart. 641 00:36:16,007 --> 00:36:21,379 They suspect the crack is the result of simple wear and tear. 642 00:36:21,445 --> 00:36:25,283 Every takeoff and landing puts stress on the crucial pin. 643 00:36:25,349 --> 00:36:27,418 Fuchs: Rotate. 644 00:36:27,485 --> 00:36:30,922 Narrator: Eventually, a tiny crack formed. 645 00:36:34,025 --> 00:36:35,893 Sofer: Climb power's set. 646 00:36:35,960 --> 00:36:39,730 Narrator: Over time, the crack grew worse and worse. 647 00:36:39,797 --> 00:36:42,934 Benzon: It can grow slowly and slowly and slowly for years 648 00:36:43,000 --> 00:36:45,836 until finally the part breaks. 649 00:36:52,076 --> 00:36:53,344 Fuchs: I have control. 650 00:36:53,411 --> 00:36:56,180 Benzon: Fatigue cracking is, is almost like 651 00:36:56,247 --> 00:36:59,550 a ticking time bomb going off. 652 00:36:59,617 --> 00:37:02,753 Narrator: There could be many more of those time bombs. 653 00:37:02,820 --> 00:37:04,889 Investigators studying the engine mount 654 00:37:04,956 --> 00:37:07,391 from the China Airlines crash 655 00:37:07,458 --> 00:37:10,661 determine that it, too, failed from metal fatigue. 656 00:37:10,728 --> 00:37:13,965 Learmount: These fuse pins were developing fatigue problems 657 00:37:14,031 --> 00:37:16,133 at a certain rate which was much faster 658 00:37:16,200 --> 00:37:19,971 than anybody had anticipated. 659 00:37:20,037 --> 00:37:22,440 Narrator: Just one final question remains 660 00:37:22,506 --> 00:37:26,544 for Van Santen and his team. 661 00:37:26,611 --> 00:37:29,280 The 747 has four engines. 662 00:37:29,347 --> 00:37:31,148 Even with two engines gone, 663 00:37:31,215 --> 00:37:35,519 the el al jet had enough power to fly back to the airport. 664 00:37:35,586 --> 00:37:38,022 Palter: Of course it's an emergency, half the power, 665 00:37:38,089 --> 00:37:39,790 but the aircraft is designed to do it, 666 00:37:39,857 --> 00:37:41,759 and we are practicing it in the simulator 667 00:37:41,826 --> 00:37:44,962 every time that we are making simulator. 668 00:37:45,029 --> 00:37:47,231 Narrator: Why was captain Fuchs able to descend 669 00:37:47,298 --> 00:37:49,734 to within sight of the runway... 670 00:37:49,800 --> 00:37:51,002 Fuchs: No, no, no! 671 00:37:51,068 --> 00:37:51,769 Come on! 672 00:37:51,836 --> 00:37:53,738 Ohad: Going down! 673 00:37:53,804 --> 00:37:55,806 Narrator: ...but not able to land? 674 00:38:02,279 --> 00:38:05,850 NTSB technicians have been able to repair the damaged tape 675 00:38:05,916 --> 00:38:08,653 from the flight data recorder. 676 00:38:08,719 --> 00:38:12,156 Investigators scour the data searching for answers. 677 00:38:12,223 --> 00:38:14,558 Benzon: It gave us a wealth of data-- 678 00:38:14,625 --> 00:38:18,562 airspeed, altitude, what control surfaces were doing, 679 00:38:18,629 --> 00:38:21,932 what hydraulic systems were still operating, 680 00:38:21,999 --> 00:38:23,968 a myriad, myriad of things. 681 00:38:24,035 --> 00:38:25,336 Narrator: With the new information... 682 00:38:25,403 --> 00:38:26,704 Fuchs: Rotate. 683 00:38:26,771 --> 00:38:28,906 Narrator: ...investigators hope finally to understand 684 00:38:28,973 --> 00:38:33,310 why el al flight 1862 never made it back to safety. 685 00:38:37,848 --> 00:38:40,851 Pim Van Santen pieces together the fatal flight. 686 00:38:40,918 --> 00:38:42,853 Van Santen: Okay, let's get started. 687 00:38:42,920 --> 00:38:44,755 Narrator: He combines flight data... 688 00:38:44,822 --> 00:38:46,157 Controller: El al 1862... 689 00:38:46,223 --> 00:38:49,160 Van Santen: Engines are working fine at takeoff. 690 00:38:49,226 --> 00:38:51,495 Narrator: ...with the recordings captured in the tower. 691 00:38:51,562 --> 00:38:52,830 Fuchs: ...1-0. Roger. 692 00:38:55,232 --> 00:38:57,268 Sofer: Engines are looking good. 693 00:38:57,334 --> 00:38:58,769 Climb power's set. 694 00:38:58,836 --> 00:39:04,775 Van Santen: Then right here the pylon fails. 695 00:39:04,842 --> 00:39:09,847 Engine three breaks away. 696 00:39:15,286 --> 00:39:17,021 Ohad: What the hell? 697 00:39:17,088 --> 00:39:19,490 Benzon: The sound had to be very, very loud, 698 00:39:19,557 --> 00:39:24,595 perhaps a half a second or so when both pylons failed. 699 00:39:24,662 --> 00:39:26,464 Van Santen: Engine three moves sideways, 700 00:39:26,530 --> 00:39:27,932 tears off the leading edge 701 00:39:27,998 --> 00:39:32,303 and damages hydraulic lines before hitting engine four. 702 00:39:32,369 --> 00:39:34,438 Sofer: We're losing hydraulics on system three. 703 00:39:34,505 --> 00:39:37,141 No, three and four. 704 00:39:37,208 --> 00:39:38,809 Ohad: We need to level off. 705 00:39:38,876 --> 00:39:40,778 Fuchs: Working on it. 706 00:39:40,845 --> 00:39:42,680 Van Santen: They have a lot of damage, 707 00:39:42,747 --> 00:39:45,349 but they're still controlling the plane. 708 00:39:45,416 --> 00:39:49,653 Learmount: When you've lost half of your hydraulic power, 709 00:39:49,720 --> 00:39:53,324 that makes the controls heavier 710 00:39:53,390 --> 00:39:55,993 and slower than they were before. 711 00:39:56,060 --> 00:39:58,763 Ohad: El al 1862, mayday, mayday. 712 00:39:58,829 --> 00:40:00,498 We have an emergency. 713 00:40:00,564 --> 00:40:03,634 Van Santen: The damage also causes a false alarm. 714 00:40:04,869 --> 00:40:07,271 Ohad: We have a fire in engine three. 715 00:40:07,338 --> 00:40:10,608 Engine three and four inoperative. 716 00:40:10,674 --> 00:40:13,811 Van Santen: There never was any fire. 717 00:40:13,878 --> 00:40:17,882 They would have an indication in the cockpit 718 00:40:17,948 --> 00:40:19,617 that they would have a fire, 719 00:40:19,683 --> 00:40:23,988 but they couldn't verify that by looking at the engines, 720 00:40:24,054 --> 00:40:25,656 because you can't see them. 721 00:40:31,128 --> 00:40:33,697 They put out their flaps to slow down. 722 00:40:33,764 --> 00:40:35,166 Fuchs: Flaps two. 723 00:40:39,537 --> 00:40:41,739 Narrator: The flaps are designed to add lift 724 00:40:41,806 --> 00:40:44,742 at the lower speeds needed for landing. 725 00:40:44,809 --> 00:40:48,546 Van Santen: The flaps don't go out on the right side. 726 00:40:48,612 --> 00:40:50,514 Narrator: With the plane's right side hydraulics 727 00:40:50,581 --> 00:40:51,882 so badly damaged, 728 00:40:51,949 --> 00:40:56,587 the right wing flaps can't extend as they should. 729 00:40:56,654 --> 00:41:00,558 Van Santen: When the speed drops, so does the wing. 730 00:41:00,624 --> 00:41:01,725 Fuchs: Easy. 731 00:41:01,792 --> 00:41:03,694 No, no, no, no. 732 00:41:03,761 --> 00:41:06,564 Ohad: We're losing it! 733 00:41:06,630 --> 00:41:09,700 Benzon: More lift on the left, less on the right, 734 00:41:09,767 --> 00:41:13,938 causing a roll to the right, and as the aircraft slowed down, 735 00:41:14,004 --> 00:41:18,909 this rolling tendency got harder and harder to counteract. 736 00:41:18,976 --> 00:41:21,011 Fuchs: I can't hold it! I can't hold it! 737 00:41:21,078 --> 00:41:24,715 Narrator: It's a lethal imbalance of aerodynamic force. 738 00:41:24,782 --> 00:41:26,584 Fuchs: No, no, no! Come on! 739 00:41:26,650 --> 00:41:27,718 Ohad: Going down. 740 00:41:27,785 --> 00:41:29,820 Van Santen: We could see that the airplane 741 00:41:29,887 --> 00:41:33,657 went into an uncontrolled rolling motion. 742 00:41:33,724 --> 00:41:34,925 Fuchs: Come on! 743 00:41:34,992 --> 00:41:37,828 Ohad: Going down, 1862, going down. 744 00:41:37,895 --> 00:41:39,463 Going down. 745 00:41:39,530 --> 00:41:42,700 Van Santen: As soon as they extended their flaps, 746 00:41:42,766 --> 00:41:44,435 it was all over. 747 00:41:50,774 --> 00:41:53,878 Narrator: In the aftermath, some wonder what might have happened 748 00:41:53,944 --> 00:41:57,548 if the el al crew had known their true situation... 749 00:41:59,250 --> 00:42:01,619 That there could be no engine fire, 750 00:42:01,685 --> 00:42:05,522 because they had no engines at all on the right side. 751 00:42:05,589 --> 00:42:08,125 Ohad: There's Schiphol at our three o'clock. 752 00:42:08,192 --> 00:42:09,827 Fuchs: Got it. 753 00:42:09,894 --> 00:42:12,296 Narrator: Their only option would have been a desperate one, 754 00:42:12,363 --> 00:42:15,833 choosing not to deploy their flaps on final approach. 755 00:42:15,900 --> 00:42:17,935 It would have meant trying a high-risk landing 756 00:42:18,002 --> 00:42:21,105 at nearly 350 miles an hour. 757 00:42:21,171 --> 00:42:23,641 Learmount: The likelihood of the airplane 758 00:42:23,707 --> 00:42:27,244 and the crew surviving a landing at that speed, 759 00:42:27,311 --> 00:42:28,946 which is more than twice the speed 760 00:42:29,013 --> 00:42:30,814 that airplanes normally land at, 761 00:42:30,881 --> 00:42:35,653 the likelihood of their surviving was practically zero. 762 00:42:35,719 --> 00:42:39,790 Van Santen: 43 dead because of one small part. 763 00:42:39,857 --> 00:42:41,959 Narrator: Investigators conclude that the accident 764 00:42:42,026 --> 00:42:43,928 that killed 43 people 765 00:42:43,994 --> 00:42:47,231 is the result of the faulty fuse pin. 766 00:42:47,298 --> 00:42:50,601 Benzon: It's very rare for the failure of one tiny, little part 767 00:42:50,668 --> 00:42:54,071 like a fuse pin to actually bring down an airplane. 768 00:42:54,138 --> 00:42:57,374 Narrator: The Dutch-led team immediately calls on Boeing 769 00:42:57,441 --> 00:43:00,044 to redesign the critical engine fastener. 770 00:43:00,110 --> 00:43:04,782 Van Santen: They very quickly went back to the drawing board. 771 00:43:04,848 --> 00:43:07,318 Narrator: New, stronger fuse pins are installed 772 00:43:07,384 --> 00:43:11,789 on every single 747 around the world. 773 00:43:11,855 --> 00:43:13,857 Benzon: Boeing stepped up to the plate, 774 00:43:13,924 --> 00:43:16,860 did a massive redesign of the pylons, 775 00:43:16,927 --> 00:43:18,796 very expensive at the time, 776 00:43:18,862 --> 00:43:22,700 but to its credit, the company knew they had a problem, 777 00:43:22,766 --> 00:43:24,668 and they fixed it. 778 00:43:24,735 --> 00:43:26,070 Learmount: The safety record 779 00:43:26,136 --> 00:43:28,672 of subsequent generations of airplanes 780 00:43:28,739 --> 00:43:32,009 says that problem has been solved. 781 00:43:38,315 --> 00:43:40,150 Narrator: Today in Amsterdam, 782 00:43:40,217 --> 00:43:42,119 there's no sign of the jagged wreckage 783 00:43:42,186 --> 00:43:44,955 that once scarred the Bijlmermeer apartment complex, 784 00:43:45,022 --> 00:43:48,225 but the painful memories of the el al disaster 785 00:43:48,292 --> 00:43:50,894 will never be erased. 786 00:43:50,961 --> 00:43:52,663 Palter: The aircraft, the building, 787 00:43:52,730 --> 00:43:55,332 everything can be rebuilt or restored, 788 00:43:55,399 --> 00:43:58,268 but lives are the most important things, 789 00:43:58,335 --> 00:44:00,838 so this is a tragedy.