1 00:00:00,968 --> 00:00:04,938 CAPT. WIYOGO: Come on, climb! Climb! Climb! 2 00:00:04,972 --> 00:00:08,609 NARRATOR: An Airbus A300 veers fatally off course. 3 00:00:08,642 --> 00:00:11,011 CAPT. WIYOGO: No! No! Nooooo! 4 00:00:11,044 --> 00:00:13,380 [Crash] 5 00:00:13,413 --> 00:00:18,819 SANTOSO: It was the biggest human loss in Indonesian history. 6 00:00:18,852 --> 00:00:20,787 ROBERT: It really was overwhelming. 7 00:00:20,821 --> 00:00:23,056 SANTOSO: These are two pieces we need to find. 8 00:00:23,090 --> 00:00:25,626 SANTOSO: The task was to find the black box. 9 00:00:25,659 --> 00:00:28,161 NARRATOR: As investigators begin to examine the evidence... 10 00:00:28,195 --> 00:00:32,332 AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER: Indonesia 152, turn right heading zero-four-six. 11 00:00:32,366 --> 00:00:34,701 SANTOSO: Here, right on course. 12 00:00:34,735 --> 00:00:38,138 NARRATOR: ... each new clue is more perplexing than the last. 13 00:00:38,172 --> 00:00:39,506 ROBERT: That's go-around power. 14 00:00:39,540 --> 00:00:41,008 SANTOSO: We cannot figure it out. 15 00:00:41,041 --> 00:00:43,343 ROBERT: The impact point was nowhere near 16 00:00:43,377 --> 00:00:45,512 where we would expect the aircraft to be. 17 00:00:45,546 --> 00:00:46,880 ROBERT: Where did they think they were going? 18 00:00:46,914 --> 00:00:49,716 We just didn't understand that. 19 00:00:49,750 --> 00:01:02,796 [♪ theme music ] 20 00:01:07,234 --> 00:01:20,981 ♪ 21 00:01:21,081 --> 00:01:23,450 NARRATOR: There are 222 passengers on board 22 00:01:23,483 --> 00:01:28,889 Garuda Indonesia Flight 152. 23 00:01:28,922 --> 00:01:30,858 They're on their way to the city of Medan 24 00:01:30,891 --> 00:01:33,727 on the Indonesian island of Sumatra. 25 00:01:41,335 --> 00:01:43,837 CAPT. WIYOGO: Let's stay on autopilot as long as we can. 26 00:01:43,871 --> 00:01:45,939 FO. ZUWALDI: Yes, sir. 27 00:01:45,973 --> 00:01:48,809 NARRATOR: Captain Rachmo Wiyogo has been flying in Indonesia 28 00:01:48,842 --> 00:01:51,011 for nearly twenty years. 29 00:01:51,111 --> 00:01:55,015 He's very familiar with today's flight path. 30 00:01:55,115 --> 00:01:56,683 CAPT. WIYOGO: For missed approach, climb straight ahead 31 00:01:56,717 --> 00:02:01,355 to 2,500 and contact ATC. 32 00:02:01,388 --> 00:02:04,191 You don't have to write this down. Just relax. 33 00:02:04,224 --> 00:02:06,193 FO. ZUWALDI: Yes. Okay, sir. 34 00:02:06,226 --> 00:02:07,961 NARRATOR: Tahta Zuwaldi has only recently upgraded 35 00:02:08,061 --> 00:02:13,066 from flight engineer to first officer. 36 00:02:13,100 --> 00:02:16,069 The plane they're flying is an Airbus A300, 37 00:02:16,103 --> 00:02:24,545 one of the most reliable commercial airliners in the sky. 38 00:02:24,578 --> 00:02:27,648 Flight 152 left the Indonesian capital of Jakarta 39 00:02:27,681 --> 00:02:29,716 nearly ninety minutes ago. 40 00:02:29,750 --> 00:02:33,320 Headed northwest, it is expected to arrive at its destination 41 00:02:33,353 --> 00:02:35,656 in about half an hour. 42 00:02:35,689 --> 00:02:39,993 ATIS: Surface winds calm. Visibility 400 meters. 43 00:02:40,093 --> 00:02:42,162 NARRATOR: An automatic weather report alerts the crew 44 00:02:42,196 --> 00:02:46,333 to one factor about their flight that's not routine. 45 00:02:46,366 --> 00:02:50,604 ATIS: Present weather: smoke. 46 00:02:50,637 --> 00:02:52,472 NARRATOR: Forest fires in Sumatra have sent 47 00:02:52,506 --> 00:02:58,478 a thick blanket of smoke across all of Southeast Asia. 48 00:02:58,512 --> 00:03:03,417 It's wreaking havoc on people's health and on air traffic. 49 00:03:03,450 --> 00:03:06,186 DAVID: Smoke is limiting visibility to a degree 50 00:03:06,220 --> 00:03:08,755 that would make the descent and the approach 51 00:03:08,789 --> 00:03:11,358 really quite difficult -- not impossible, 52 00:03:11,391 --> 00:03:15,062 but really quite difficult. 53 00:03:15,062 --> 00:03:17,831 NARRATOR: The cabin crew of Flight 152 begins preparing 54 00:03:17,865 --> 00:03:23,337 for the upcoming descent. 55 00:03:23,370 --> 00:03:25,305 On the ground, it's a busy afternoon 56 00:03:25,339 --> 00:03:27,708 for Medan air traffic controllers. 57 00:03:27,741 --> 00:03:31,879 FO. ZUWALDI: Indonesia 152 requesting descent clearance. 58 00:03:31,912 --> 00:03:34,548 NARRATOR: They're handling flights from several domestic airlines, 59 00:03:34,581 --> 00:03:40,254 including Merpati, Bouraq and Garuda Indonesia. 60 00:03:40,287 --> 00:03:44,157 AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER: Confirming descent to flight level one-four-zero. 61 00:03:44,191 --> 00:03:48,595 NARRATOR: The controller clears Garuda 152 to begin its descent. 62 00:03:48,629 --> 00:03:51,098 FO. ZUWALDI: Descending to flight level one-four-zero, 63 00:03:51,131 --> 00:03:53,133 Indonesia 152. 64 00:03:58,372 --> 00:04:02,376 NARRATOR: Medan Airport has just one runway. 65 00:04:02,409 --> 00:04:05,245 Right now, the controller has a Bouraq Airlines flight 66 00:04:05,279 --> 00:04:08,882 ready to take off. 67 00:04:08,916 --> 00:04:11,351 He needs to slow the approaching Garuda flight 68 00:04:11,385 --> 00:04:14,321 until that plane clears the runway. 69 00:04:14,354 --> 00:04:18,325 AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER: Indonesia 152, descend to 3,000 feet 70 00:04:18,358 --> 00:04:24,731 for runway zero-five. Reduce speed two-two-zero. 71 00:04:24,765 --> 00:04:33,073 FO. ZUWALDI: Reduce speed to two-two- zero knots, Indonesia 152. 72 00:04:33,073 --> 00:04:37,077 Seat belt, no smoking. 73 00:04:38,478 --> 00:04:42,549 NARRATOR: Less than fifteen minutes from the airport, 74 00:04:42,583 --> 00:04:48,922 Flight 152 descends through 10,000 feet. 75 00:04:48,956 --> 00:04:52,759 CAPT. WIYOGO: It's smoky here below 10,000. 76 00:04:52,793 --> 00:04:56,930 FO. ZUWALDI: Oh yeah. 77 00:04:56,964 --> 00:05:00,067 DAVID: The pilot would never have been able to get 78 00:05:00,100 --> 00:05:04,238 any external visual cues. 79 00:05:04,271 --> 00:05:07,341 He would have been flying entirely on instruments. 80 00:05:07,374 --> 00:05:12,412 ♪ 81 00:05:12,446 --> 00:05:14,314 NARRATOR: The reduced visibility puts added pressure 82 00:05:14,348 --> 00:05:18,452 on the controllers. 83 00:05:18,485 --> 00:05:22,656 DAVID: If there is smoke all the way down to the ground, 84 00:05:22,689 --> 00:05:28,962 the controller knows the pilot is going to encounter problems. 85 00:05:29,062 --> 00:05:31,732 They're gonna need all the help they can get, 86 00:05:31,765 --> 00:05:37,871 and the controlling should be very accurate. 87 00:05:37,905 --> 00:05:43,277 NARRATOR: The captain adjusts the power to his engines. 88 00:05:43,310 --> 00:05:45,078 AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER: Merpati 152, turn left 89 00:05:45,078 --> 00:05:48,782 heading two-four-zero to intercept runway zero-five. 90 00:05:48,815 --> 00:05:50,417 CAPT. WIYOGO: Number one always lags behind a bit, 91 00:05:50,450 --> 00:05:54,121 so keep an eye on it for me. FO. ZUWALDI: Okay. 92 00:05:54,154 --> 00:05:59,092 AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER: Indonesia 152, do you read? 93 00:05:59,092 --> 00:06:02,696 FO. ZUWALDI: Indonesia 152. Say again? 94 00:06:02,729 --> 00:06:06,266 AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER: Okay. Turn left heading two-four-zero, 95 00:06:06,300 --> 00:06:10,938 two-three-five now to intercept runway zero-five. 96 00:06:11,038 --> 00:06:14,808 FO. ZUWALDI: Roger, left heading two-three-five, Indonesia 152. 97 00:06:18,078 --> 00:06:22,082 NARRATOR: The plane below has now taken off. The runway is clear. 98 00:06:22,115 --> 00:06:27,621 AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER: Bouraq 683, turn left heading one-two-zero. 99 00:06:27,654 --> 00:06:31,825 Indonesia 152, traffic clear. Descend to 2,000 feet. 100 00:06:31,859 --> 00:06:35,929 FO. ZUWALDI: Descending to 2,000 feet, Indonesia 152. 101 00:06:35,963 --> 00:06:37,531 NARRATOR: If it weren't for the heavy smoke, 102 00:06:37,564 --> 00:06:41,301 passengers would be able to see the ground by now. 103 00:06:41,335 --> 00:06:43,804 DAVID: They had very limited visibility. 104 00:06:43,837 --> 00:06:47,074 Anybody who's driven a car in fog 105 00:06:47,107 --> 00:06:51,345 will know what I'm talking about. 106 00:06:51,378 --> 00:06:55,949 AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER: Indonesia 152, turn right heading zero-four-six. 107 00:06:55,983 --> 00:07:02,723 FO. ZUWALDI: Turn right heading zero-four-six, Indonesia 152. 108 00:07:02,756 --> 00:07:04,558 CAPT. WIYOGO: Flaps 8. 109 00:07:04,591 --> 00:07:07,027 FO. ZUWALDI: Speed check. Flaps 8. 110 00:07:07,060 --> 00:07:11,098 CAPT. WIYOGO: The cockpit is hot. See what you can do. It's so hot. 111 00:07:11,131 --> 00:07:14,735 FO. ZUWALDI: It's set to cool, sir. It should be fine. 112 00:07:14,768 --> 00:07:16,737 NARRATOR: Any second now, the controller expects 113 00:07:16,770 --> 00:07:20,774 to see Flight 152 turn onto final approach. 114 00:07:20,807 --> 00:07:32,286 ♪ 115 00:07:32,319 --> 00:07:33,487 CAPT. WIYOGO: What? 116 00:07:37,257 --> 00:07:38,692 NARRATOR: The Airbus has somehow become 117 00:07:38,725 --> 00:07:40,894 dangerously close to the ground. 118 00:07:40,928 --> 00:07:44,331 CAPT. WIYOGO: Come on, climb! Climb! Climb! 119 00:07:44,364 --> 00:07:46,500 NARRATOR: The crew struggles to raise the plane's nose 120 00:07:46,533 --> 00:07:49,503 and gain altitude. 121 00:07:49,536 --> 00:07:53,173 But the 130-ton jet takes time to respond, 122 00:07:53,207 --> 00:07:55,943 time they don't have. 123 00:07:55,976 --> 00:07:57,778 [Chaos] 124 00:07:57,811 --> 00:07:59,646 CAPT. WIYOGO: No! 125 00:07:59,680 --> 00:08:03,083 [Screaming] 126 00:08:03,116 --> 00:08:08,055 No! No! Noooo! Noooooo! 127 00:08:08,088 --> 00:08:12,593 [Crash] 128 00:08:12,626 --> 00:08:23,036 ♪ 129 00:08:23,036 --> 00:08:24,638 NARRATOR: Locals rush to the crash site, 130 00:08:24,671 --> 00:08:28,942 seventeen miles from Medan airport. 131 00:08:29,042 --> 00:08:34,181 It's soon clear there's nothing they can do to help. 132 00:08:34,214 --> 00:08:40,153 All 234 people onboard the flight are dead. 133 00:08:40,187 --> 00:08:46,693 This is the deadliest aviation accident in Indonesia's history. 134 00:08:46,727 --> 00:08:49,897 The entire nation wants answers. 135 00:08:49,930 --> 00:08:55,903 MARDJONO: We should come to the answer on not only what happened, 136 00:08:55,936 --> 00:08:59,439 how it happened but also why it happened. 137 00:08:59,473 --> 00:09:01,542 NARRATOR: Investigators soon join the throngs 138 00:09:01,575 --> 00:09:05,312 of police and locals already at the crash site. 139 00:09:05,345 --> 00:09:07,481 SANTOSO: Let's see how far back this wreckage goes. 140 00:09:07,514 --> 00:09:11,251 NARRATOR: Santoso Sayogo is a key member of the investigative team, 141 00:09:11,285 --> 00:09:14,688 and the accident has affected him personally. 142 00:09:14,721 --> 00:09:18,926 SANTOSO: I knew both the captain and first officer 143 00:09:19,026 --> 00:09:21,795 for a long, long time. 144 00:09:21,828 --> 00:09:26,533 When you found out that your two friends 145 00:09:26,567 --> 00:09:29,770 was the victim of the accident, 146 00:09:29,803 --> 00:09:33,040 it's quite a shocking experience. 147 00:09:33,073 --> 00:09:38,912 ROBERT: Santoso! We'll need to secure the site somehow. 148 00:09:38,946 --> 00:09:41,114 NARRATOR: The Air Accidents Investigation Branch 149 00:09:41,148 --> 00:09:45,519 sends Rob Carter to assist with the investigation. 150 00:09:45,552 --> 00:09:49,623 ROBERT: The site was chaotic. There were lots of people around, 151 00:09:49,656 --> 00:09:53,794 some in uniform but it didn't seem like very many. 152 00:09:53,827 --> 00:09:56,163 There was no overall control. 153 00:09:56,196 --> 00:10:00,033 Lots of people doing different things, very little 154 00:10:00,067 --> 00:10:05,038 that seemed to be related to accident investigation. 155 00:10:05,072 --> 00:10:08,509 The smell was almost overpowering at that stage, 156 00:10:08,542 --> 00:10:13,213 coupled with the heat and the humidity and the pollution. 157 00:10:13,247 --> 00:10:16,450 It really was overwhelming. 158 00:10:16,483 --> 00:10:19,753 NARRATOR: The chaotic scene is an immediate concern for Carter. 159 00:10:19,786 --> 00:10:21,388 He's worried the lack of security 160 00:10:21,421 --> 00:10:24,658 could compromise the investigation. 161 00:10:24,691 --> 00:10:26,460 ROBERT: A tremendous number of local people 162 00:10:26,493 --> 00:10:29,463 were going over the wreckage in different ways 163 00:10:29,496 --> 00:10:32,232 and they were carrying pieces away. 164 00:10:32,266 --> 00:10:35,402 We worried that they might be carrying away bits of aircraft, 165 00:10:35,435 --> 00:10:38,105 which we'd be really interested in. 166 00:10:38,138 --> 00:10:40,440 NARRATOR: If authorities can't gain control of the site 167 00:10:40,474 --> 00:10:43,443 and protect valuable evidence, the truth about what happened 168 00:10:43,477 --> 00:10:47,314 to Garuda Indonesia Flight 152 may never be known. 169 00:10:49,149 --> 00:10:50,117 ♪ 170 00:10:50,150 --> 00:10:55,923 SANTOSO: Okay, good. 171 00:10:55,956 --> 00:10:59,260 The left engine was found here. 172 00:10:59,293 --> 00:11:00,995 ROBERT: Excellent. 173 00:11:01,028 --> 00:11:03,163 NARRATOR: The wreckage from Flight 152 lies 174 00:11:03,197 --> 00:11:08,602 seventeen miles southwest of Medan airport. 175 00:11:08,636 --> 00:11:11,705 The compact nature of the crash zone tells investigators 176 00:11:11,739 --> 00:11:15,976 that the plane was in one piece when it hit the ground. 177 00:11:16,010 --> 00:11:18,846 ROBERT: It looked as if we had most of, if not all, 178 00:11:18,879 --> 00:11:22,983 of the aircraft within an area 120 by 80. 179 00:11:23,017 --> 00:11:25,519 That's pretty compact. 180 00:11:25,552 --> 00:11:28,355 NARRATOR: The wreckage tells investigators something else as well -- 181 00:11:28,389 --> 00:11:33,627 something they can't explain. 182 00:11:33,661 --> 00:11:35,896 The debris field shows that the plane was flying 183 00:11:35,930 --> 00:11:38,899 away from the airport when it slammed into a hillside 184 00:11:38,933 --> 00:11:41,068 southwest of the runway. 185 00:11:41,101 --> 00:11:42,937 It's exactly opposite from the direction 186 00:11:42,970 --> 00:11:45,172 they should have been flying. 187 00:11:45,205 --> 00:11:48,275 ROBERT: One of the things that seemed so strange was 188 00:11:48,309 --> 00:11:50,544 where the impact point was. 189 00:11:50,577 --> 00:11:53,914 It was nowhere near where we would expect the aircraft to be 190 00:11:53,948 --> 00:11:57,818 for the proper sort of approach into the airport. 191 00:11:57,851 --> 00:12:00,955 We just didn't understand that. 192 00:12:00,988 --> 00:12:03,991 SANTOSO: These are two pieces we need to find. 193 00:12:04,024 --> 00:12:05,526 NARRATOR: They hope the plane's flight recorders 194 00:12:05,559 --> 00:12:07,995 can help clear up the mystery. 195 00:12:08,028 --> 00:12:14,234 SANTOSO: They should be in this area here. Okay, let's go. 196 00:12:14,268 --> 00:12:17,171 MARDJONO: Our principle is find the black box, 197 00:12:17,204 --> 00:12:24,078 and the clues and the evidence are there. 198 00:12:24,111 --> 00:12:26,246 NARRATOR: Investigators fear the boxes may have been 199 00:12:26,280 --> 00:12:28,115 carried off by looters. 200 00:12:28,148 --> 00:12:32,253 They recruit hundreds of local people to search for them. 201 00:12:32,286 --> 00:12:35,089 ROBERT: We were really looking very strongly for 202 00:12:35,122 --> 00:12:37,858 the cockpit voice recorder, flight data recorder 203 00:12:37,858 --> 00:12:44,531 really to fill in any sort of detail on how this had happened. 204 00:12:44,565 --> 00:12:46,567 NARRATOR: At the same time, they gather information 205 00:12:46,600 --> 00:12:48,669 from the air traffic controller, 206 00:12:48,702 --> 00:12:52,806 the last person to have communicated with Flight 152. 207 00:12:52,840 --> 00:12:55,175 AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER: They approached from the southeast. 208 00:12:55,209 --> 00:12:57,311 I was trying to bring them in this way, 209 00:12:57,344 --> 00:13:00,180 a left turn and a right turn 210 00:13:00,214 --> 00:13:03,217 that gets them into runway zero-five. 211 00:13:03,250 --> 00:13:04,885 NARRATOR: The controller suspects the captain 212 00:13:04,919 --> 00:13:07,354 somehow misinterpreted his instructions 213 00:13:07,388 --> 00:13:09,556 and missed the final turn. 214 00:13:09,590 --> 00:13:11,325 AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER: He didn't understand which way to turn. 215 00:13:11,358 --> 00:13:14,595 He made a left turn here instead. 216 00:13:14,628 --> 00:13:17,398 But without the cockpit recording and the flight data, 217 00:13:17,431 --> 00:13:21,969 it's impossible to say why the plane turned the wrong way. 218 00:13:22,002 --> 00:13:23,837 Perhaps there was a mechanical failure 219 00:13:23,837 --> 00:13:27,241 or some other last minute crisis. 220 00:13:27,274 --> 00:13:29,743 SOERJANTO: We could not determine why the captain 221 00:13:29,843 --> 00:13:33,247 make the aircraft turning to the left. 222 00:13:33,280 --> 00:13:39,453 This is a very interesting. This is... it's a big puzzle. 223 00:13:39,486 --> 00:13:42,056 NARRATOR: With no sign of the black boxes, investigators 224 00:13:42,089 --> 00:13:46,860 gather air traffic recordings made in the tower. 225 00:13:46,860 --> 00:13:49,463 It's hoped they can shed some light on why the plane turned 226 00:13:49,496 --> 00:13:53,167 away from the airport instead of towards it. 227 00:13:53,200 --> 00:13:54,568 ROBERT: We were still wondering whether it could be 228 00:13:54,602 --> 00:13:57,037 some sort of systems failure, possibly even 229 00:13:57,071 --> 00:13:59,807 some sort of mild structural failure, 230 00:13:59,807 --> 00:14:03,344 some distracting aspect for the pilots. 231 00:14:03,377 --> 00:14:06,981 It really left that pretty wide open. 232 00:14:07,014 --> 00:14:09,850 SANTOSO: Roll tape. 233 00:14:09,883 --> 00:14:13,721 AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER: Confirming descent to flight level one-four-zero. 234 00:14:13,821 --> 00:14:15,289 NARRATOR: The air traffic recordings capture 235 00:14:15,322 --> 00:14:19,260 only the radio calls between the pilots and the controller. 236 00:14:19,293 --> 00:14:23,364 AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER: Indonesia 152, descend to 3,000 feet 237 00:14:23,397 --> 00:14:25,966 for runway zero-five. 238 00:14:26,000 --> 00:14:28,469 NARRATOR: They're not as helpful as a CVR recording, which 239 00:14:28,502 --> 00:14:32,506 would reveal all sounds and conversation inside the cockpit. 240 00:14:32,539 --> 00:14:36,176 AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER: Reduce speed to two-two-zero. 241 00:14:36,210 --> 00:14:40,681 SANTOSO: He needs to get Bouraq 683 airborne. 242 00:14:40,714 --> 00:14:43,150 NARRATOR: But investigators listen closely for any clue 243 00:14:43,183 --> 00:14:49,790 as to why the A300 veered so badly off course. 244 00:14:49,790 --> 00:14:53,794 At first, the communication seems completely normal. 245 00:14:53,794 --> 00:14:56,030 AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER: Merpati 152, turn left heading 246 00:14:56,063 --> 00:14:58,966 two-four-zero to intercept runway zero-five 247 00:14:58,999 --> 00:15:01,201 from the right side. 248 00:15:01,235 --> 00:15:04,805 NARRATOR: But then, the controller uses the wrong call sign. 249 00:15:08,809 --> 00:15:14,248 SANTOSO: You have Merpati 152, and now he's got Garuda 152. 250 00:15:14,281 --> 00:15:16,450 NARRATOR: Records show that earlier in the day, 251 00:15:16,483 --> 00:15:18,986 the controller was talking to a Merpati flight 252 00:15:19,019 --> 00:15:22,356 with the same number, one five two. 253 00:15:22,389 --> 00:15:26,226 It seems that now he's mixed up the two call signs. 254 00:15:26,260 --> 00:15:30,864 DAVID: Instead of Garuda 152, he said Merpati 152. 255 00:15:30,898 --> 00:15:34,835 The Garuda pilot didn't pick this message up 256 00:15:34,868 --> 00:15:36,904 for obvious reasons. 257 00:15:36,937 --> 00:15:40,641 AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER: Indonesia 152, do you read? 258 00:15:40,674 --> 00:15:43,310 FO. ZUWALDI: Indonesia 152. Say again? 259 00:15:43,344 --> 00:15:45,846 DAVID: Then suddenly the controller realized 260 00:15:45,846 --> 00:15:47,748 that he'd given the wrong call sign, 261 00:15:47,848 --> 00:15:50,784 so he called up for a second time. 262 00:15:50,818 --> 00:15:52,686 AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER: Okay. Turn left heading 263 00:15:52,786 --> 00:15:55,556 two-four-zero... two-three-five now 264 00:15:55,589 --> 00:15:57,658 to intercept runway zero-five. 265 00:15:57,691 --> 00:16:00,794 SANTOSO: Left heading two-three-five. 266 00:16:00,794 --> 00:16:06,033 FO. ZUWALDI: Roger, left heading two-three-five, Indonesia 152. 267 00:16:06,066 --> 00:16:10,638 NARRATOR: It appears the misunderstanding is quickly cleared up. 268 00:16:10,671 --> 00:16:14,174 SANTOSO: The controller says they made that turn. 269 00:16:14,208 --> 00:16:16,210 NARRATOR: After the brief moment of confusion, 270 00:16:16,243 --> 00:16:19,013 the Garuda flight is exactly where it should be. 271 00:16:19,046 --> 00:16:26,053 FO. ZUWALDI: On heading two-one-five, Indonesia 152. 272 00:16:26,086 --> 00:16:32,927 SANTOSO: That puts them about here, right on course. 273 00:16:32,960 --> 00:16:37,965 One more right turn and he's lined up with the runway. 274 00:16:37,998 --> 00:16:42,336 AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER: Indonesia 152, turn right heading zero-four-six. 275 00:16:42,369 --> 00:16:44,338 SANTOSO: There it is. Clear as day. 276 00:16:44,371 --> 00:16:48,509 FO. ZUWALDI: Turn right heading zero-four-six, Indonesia 152. 277 00:16:48,542 --> 00:16:53,380 SANTOSO: Okay, stop there. 278 00:16:53,414 --> 00:16:56,951 They definitely understood turn right. 279 00:16:56,984 --> 00:16:58,786 NARRATOR: How the flight went so horribly wrong 280 00:16:58,786 --> 00:17:03,390 in the final few moments is baffling. 281 00:17:03,424 --> 00:17:10,364 SANTOSO: It's in the exact opposite direction they were told. 282 00:17:10,397 --> 00:17:12,199 Why? 283 00:17:12,232 --> 00:17:14,301 SANTOSO: The ATC give instruction, 284 00:17:14,335 --> 00:17:17,972 "Indonesia 152 turn right onto heading zero-four-six." 285 00:17:18,005 --> 00:17:20,975 But the aircraft turned to the left. 286 00:17:21,008 --> 00:17:25,179 At that stage we do not have any clue at all. 287 00:17:25,212 --> 00:17:28,649 NARRATOR: Investigators need the CVR if they hope to figure out 288 00:17:28,682 --> 00:17:32,553 what exactly went on in the cockpit of Flight 152. 289 00:17:34,588 --> 00:17:40,428 ♪ 290 00:17:40,461 --> 00:17:44,565 A week after the crash of Garuda Indonesia Flight 152, 291 00:17:44,598 --> 00:17:46,967 devastating scenes of loss and suffering 292 00:17:47,001 --> 00:17:52,773 underscore the accident's human toll. 293 00:17:52,807 --> 00:17:54,675 Indonesians from all walks of life 294 00:17:54,708 --> 00:18:00,714 want to know what caused this deadly tragedy. 295 00:18:02,349 --> 00:18:09,757 ♪ 296 00:18:09,790 --> 00:18:12,093 SANTOSO: They have to be somewhere. 297 00:18:12,126 --> 00:18:14,662 Let's go back to where we started and look again. 298 00:18:14,695 --> 00:18:17,164 Let's go. Come on. Let's go. 299 00:18:17,198 --> 00:18:20,067 NARRATOR: There's still no sign of the plane's black boxes. 300 00:18:20,101 --> 00:18:21,969 Investigators are beginning to worry that 301 00:18:22,002 --> 00:18:27,741 the answers so many people are hoping for may never be found. 302 00:18:27,775 --> 00:18:29,110 ROBERT: We've got to find them. 303 00:18:29,143 --> 00:18:31,045 ROBERT: It was very frustrating not having 304 00:18:31,078 --> 00:18:34,615 the cockpit voice recorder and the flight data recorder. 305 00:18:34,648 --> 00:18:37,451 They are really crucial to understanding the subtleties 306 00:18:37,485 --> 00:18:39,220 of an aircraft accident. 307 00:18:39,253 --> 00:18:43,724 ♪ 308 00:18:43,758 --> 00:18:47,895 NARRATOR: The terrible conditions at the accident site aren't helping. 309 00:18:47,995 --> 00:18:50,731 MARDJONO: At that time, it was rainy season, 310 00:18:50,765 --> 00:18:58,873 and you can imagine how wet it was and slippery as well. 311 00:18:58,906 --> 00:19:02,476 NARRATOR: Despite the setbacks, the team presses on. 312 00:19:02,510 --> 00:19:06,380 ROBERT: Let's see if we can figure out what this plane was doing. 313 00:19:06,413 --> 00:19:08,015 NARRATOR: They collect key pieces of wreckage, 314 00:19:08,015 --> 00:19:12,920 including flight instruments from the cockpit. 315 00:19:13,020 --> 00:19:14,388 Soerjanto Tjahjono of the 316 00:19:14,422 --> 00:19:16,690 National Transportation Safety Committee 317 00:19:16,724 --> 00:19:18,526 hopes those instruments will tell him 318 00:19:18,559 --> 00:19:20,327 how the plane was performing. 319 00:19:22,229 --> 00:19:24,198 SOERJANTO: We could not find the black boxes, 320 00:19:24,231 --> 00:19:29,303 so we used anything from the cockpit like the gauges, 321 00:19:29,336 --> 00:19:33,974 any instrument in the cockpit. 322 00:19:33,974 --> 00:19:36,343 NARRATOR: Many of the gauges on this version of the Airbus 323 00:19:36,377 --> 00:19:39,547 are electronic, which means that when they lose power they 324 00:19:39,580 --> 00:19:44,985 display their final readings like a snapshot in time. 325 00:19:44,985 --> 00:19:49,623 ROBERT: When electrical power goes off, the instrument freezes. 326 00:19:49,657 --> 00:19:51,725 NARRATOR: Those readings provide valuable insight 327 00:19:51,750 --> 00:19:54,220 into the final moments of Flight 152. 328 00:19:54,220 --> 00:20:01,370 ROBERT: There it is. It looks like one-point-five-five-two. 329 00:20:05,160 --> 00:20:07,460 That's go-around power. 330 00:20:07,500 --> 00:20:10,300 They were trying to fly out of trouble. 331 00:20:10,330 --> 00:20:11,970 ROBERT: The engine instruments showed us that the engines 332 00:20:12,000 --> 00:20:14,470 were actually at a very high level of thrust 333 00:20:14,500 --> 00:20:18,380 at the point that they lost electrical power. 334 00:20:18,410 --> 00:20:20,180 NARRATOR: The finding reveals that the pilots 335 00:20:20,210 --> 00:20:23,010 saw the danger ahead and tried desperately 336 00:20:23,050 --> 00:20:25,780 to get their plane to climb. 337 00:20:25,780 --> 00:20:30,450 ROBERT: The crew had responded by increasing the engine thrust 338 00:20:30,490 --> 00:20:33,990 when they realized they were close to the ground. 339 00:20:34,020 --> 00:20:36,090 NARRATOR: As the evidence begins to add up, 340 00:20:36,130 --> 00:20:39,600 the likelihood of a mechanical failure aboard Garuda 152 341 00:20:39,630 --> 00:20:43,130 looks increasingly remote. 342 00:20:43,170 --> 00:20:46,200 ROBERT: It sure seems like the aircraft was under control. 343 00:20:46,240 --> 00:20:48,570 ROBERT: Putting it all together, the instruments seemed 344 00:20:48,610 --> 00:20:52,040 to indicate to us that the aircraft was what we call 345 00:20:52,080 --> 00:20:55,510 "a going concern" when it hit that ridge, 346 00:20:55,550 --> 00:21:00,950 that it was some sort of controlled flight into terrain. 347 00:21:00,980 --> 00:21:03,490 DAVID: Controlled means that there's nothing wrong 348 00:21:03,520 --> 00:21:05,890 with the airplane. 349 00:21:05,920 --> 00:21:08,930 [Crash] 350 00:21:09,460 --> 00:21:14,770 And yet it plows into a mountainside. 351 00:21:14,770 --> 00:21:17,470 ♪ 352 00:21:17,500 --> 00:21:21,770 NARRATOR: It's been twenty-six days since the crash of Flight 152. 353 00:21:21,810 --> 00:21:24,840 Investigators still have no explanation for its mysterious 354 00:21:24,880 --> 00:21:28,780 final turns and fatal impact. 355 00:21:28,810 --> 00:21:30,980 But then they get their first big break. 356 00:21:37,820 --> 00:21:41,390 SANTOSO: Well, well, well. 357 00:21:41,430 --> 00:21:43,060 NARRATOR: It turns out that the plane's 358 00:21:43,090 --> 00:21:46,560 voice and data recorders were not carried off by looters, 359 00:21:46,600 --> 00:21:48,970 but they were almost completely hidden from sight 360 00:21:49,000 --> 00:21:52,570 in the dense Indonesian forest. 361 00:21:52,600 --> 00:21:56,270 SANTOSO: It was a surprise for us to find that 362 00:21:56,310 --> 00:21:59,810 the two black box were sitting there for 26 days 363 00:21:59,840 --> 00:22:05,320 until we found it in very soft soil and entangled 364 00:22:05,350 --> 00:22:10,250 with the root of the falling tree. 365 00:22:10,290 --> 00:22:13,190 SANTOSO: Let's hope they hold some answers. 366 00:22:13,220 --> 00:22:15,460 NARRATOR: They rush the boxes to a lab where technicians 367 00:22:15,490 --> 00:22:19,200 will work to recover cockpit sounds and conversation 368 00:22:19,230 --> 00:22:23,430 along with detailed aircraft performance data. 369 00:22:23,470 --> 00:22:27,940 The long wait for the most crucial evidence is almost over. 370 00:22:27,970 --> 00:22:32,280 SANTOSO: We tried to concentrate first on the FDR 371 00:22:32,310 --> 00:22:36,780 and try to figure out the flight path of the aircraft. 372 00:22:36,810 --> 00:22:39,520 NARRATOR: When investigators plot the newly found data, 373 00:22:39,550 --> 00:22:41,820 they see that it finally rules out any chance 374 00:22:41,850 --> 00:22:44,120 of a mechanical failure. 375 00:22:44,150 --> 00:22:50,390 ROBERT: So left away from the airport 376 00:22:50,430 --> 00:22:54,030 and then a right turn smack into the mountains. 377 00:22:54,060 --> 00:22:55,930 NARRATOR: It clearly shows that the pilots 378 00:22:55,970 --> 00:23:00,940 deliberately commanded that fatal turn. 379 00:23:00,970 --> 00:23:05,380 ROBERT: Where did they think they were going? 380 00:23:05,410 --> 00:23:07,580 Can you bring me the descent profile, please? 381 00:23:13,380 --> 00:23:20,390 SANTOSO: After we got the FDR, some questions got some answers. 382 00:23:20,420 --> 00:23:22,330 NARRATOR: The data also shows that the plane was 383 00:23:22,360 --> 00:23:25,630 in a steady descent until it hit a treetop... 384 00:23:25,660 --> 00:23:30,100 at about 1,500 feet. 385 00:23:30,130 --> 00:23:33,000 ROBERT: So why didn't they level off at 2,000 feet? 386 00:23:33,040 --> 00:23:35,340 AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER: Indonesia 152, traffic clear. 387 00:23:35,370 --> 00:23:38,080 Descend to 2,000 feet. 388 00:23:38,110 --> 00:23:39,880 NARRATOR: The crew was not cleared to descend 389 00:23:39,910 --> 00:23:46,250 any lower than 2,000 feet. They should have held that altitude. 390 00:23:46,280 --> 00:23:48,590 ♪ 391 00:23:48,620 --> 00:23:50,890 ROBERT: So here we were somehow with the aircraft 392 00:23:50,920 --> 00:23:55,590 hitting a tree about 500 feet below its last cleared altitude. 393 00:23:55,630 --> 00:23:59,460 [Crash] 394 00:23:59,500 --> 00:24:01,270 That was a real mystery. 395 00:24:04,270 --> 00:24:06,700 NARRATOR: Investigators now know the pilots turned 396 00:24:06,740 --> 00:24:09,870 in a direction opposite to the controller's instructions 397 00:24:09,910 --> 00:24:13,140 and dropped below their assigned altitude. 398 00:24:13,180 --> 00:24:16,250 What they still don't know is why. 399 00:24:16,280 --> 00:24:20,650 They hope the cockpit voice recorder can provide an answer. 400 00:24:20,680 --> 00:24:26,060 SANTOSO: Let's start with turn number one... here. 401 00:24:26,090 --> 00:24:33,600 ♪ 402 00:24:33,630 --> 00:24:37,600 FO. ZUWALDI: Indonesia 152 requesting descent clearance. 403 00:24:37,630 --> 00:24:40,100 NARRATOR: For Santoso Sayogo, the job of listening 404 00:24:40,140 --> 00:24:43,610 to the recording comes with an extra burden. 405 00:24:43,640 --> 00:24:48,750 SANTOSO: I knew both pilots, the captain and the first officer, 406 00:24:48,780 --> 00:24:53,780 and I personally can recognize whose voice 407 00:24:53,820 --> 00:24:56,990 are coming from the CVR. 408 00:24:57,020 --> 00:25:02,390 It's not easy listening to the tape. 409 00:25:02,430 --> 00:25:06,130 AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER: Merpati 152, turn left heading two-four-zero 410 00:25:06,160 --> 00:25:09,370 to intercept runway zero-five from the right side. 411 00:25:09,400 --> 00:25:12,600 SANTOSO: Okay, that's the confused call sign. 412 00:25:12,640 --> 00:25:14,100 CAPT. WIYOGO: Number one always lags behind a bit, 413 00:25:14,140 --> 00:25:16,610 so keep an eye on it for me. 414 00:25:16,640 --> 00:25:18,210 FO. ZUWALDI: Okay. 415 00:25:18,240 --> 00:25:20,410 NARRATOR: The tape reveals that the Garuda pilots 416 00:25:20,440 --> 00:25:22,410 don't respond to the first instruction 417 00:25:22,450 --> 00:25:25,750 because they don't think it's for them. 418 00:25:25,850 --> 00:25:30,450 AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER: Indonesia 152, do you read? 419 00:25:30,490 --> 00:25:33,960 FO. ZUWALDI: Indonesia 152. Say again? 420 00:25:33,990 --> 00:25:37,760 AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER: Okay. Turn left heading two-four-zero... 421 00:25:37,860 --> 00:25:41,400 two-three-five now to intercept runway zero-five. 422 00:25:41,430 --> 00:25:43,700 NARRATOR: The controller repeats himself. 423 00:25:43,730 --> 00:25:47,370 FO. ZUWALDI: Roger, left heading two-three-five, Indonesia 152. 424 00:25:54,750 --> 00:25:59,650 NARRATOR: The crew then makes the turn as instructed. 425 00:25:59,680 --> 00:26:02,820 CAPT. WIYOGO: Why so far out? SANTOSO: So far out? 426 00:26:02,820 --> 00:26:04,520 NARRATOR: And yet the recording leaves investigators 427 00:26:04,550 --> 00:26:06,960 with a disturbing impression. 428 00:26:06,990 --> 00:26:10,290 FO. ZUWALDI: 152, heading two-three-five. 429 00:26:10,330 --> 00:26:14,260 Confirm that we are clear of the mountainous area. 430 00:26:14,300 --> 00:26:17,330 SANTOSO: He doesn't sound sure of where he is. 431 00:26:17,370 --> 00:26:19,300 ROBERT: There seemed to be some degree of confusion 432 00:26:19,340 --> 00:26:22,840 between the pilots and the air traffic controller 433 00:26:22,840 --> 00:26:25,640 as to where the aircraft was. 434 00:26:25,680 --> 00:26:30,750 AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER: Confirm, sir. Continue turning left heading two-one-five. 435 00:26:30,850 --> 00:26:36,990 SANTOSO: They're on course. A right turn toward the runway is next. 436 00:26:37,020 --> 00:26:41,460 AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER: Indonesia 152, turn right heading zero-four-six. 437 00:26:41,490 --> 00:26:45,500 FO. ZUWALDI: Turn right heading zero-four-six, Indonesia 152. 438 00:26:45,530 --> 00:26:48,000 SANTOSO: They turned left instead. 439 00:26:48,030 --> 00:26:49,330 NARRATOR: What investigators hear next 440 00:26:49,370 --> 00:26:53,000 makes the left turn even more baffling. 441 00:26:53,040 --> 00:26:55,470 CAPT. WIYOGO: Flaps 8. 442 00:26:55,510 --> 00:26:57,870 FO. ZUWALDI: Speed check. Flaps 8. 443 00:26:57,870 --> 00:27:00,640 NARRATOR: Even though the crew is turning away from the airport, 444 00:27:00,680 --> 00:27:05,020 they're configuring their plane as though heading towards it. 445 00:27:05,050 --> 00:27:13,020 SANTOSO: Why would you extend flaps while turning away from the airport? 446 00:27:13,060 --> 00:27:16,160 What if he thinks he is turning towards the airport? 447 00:27:16,190 --> 00:27:21,030 What if he thinks he's here? 448 00:27:21,060 --> 00:27:25,000 He believes he has to turn left to get to the runway. 449 00:27:25,040 --> 00:27:27,270 NARRATOR: Feeling he may be close to a breakthrough, 450 00:27:27,300 --> 00:27:31,310 Santoso Sayogo reviews the airport approach chart. 451 00:27:31,340 --> 00:27:35,250 DAVID: The charts lay out what the normal approach is, 452 00:27:35,280 --> 00:27:40,520 and the pilots normally expect to fly that. 453 00:27:40,550 --> 00:27:45,590 NARRATOR: He discovers that Garuda 152 wasn't on the standard approach. 454 00:27:45,620 --> 00:27:48,660 The standard approach to Medan is from the left side, which 455 00:27:48,690 --> 00:27:53,860 involves making a final left turn to line up with the runway. 456 00:27:53,900 --> 00:27:56,430 But because there was an aircraft departing, 457 00:27:56,470 --> 00:27:58,540 the Garuda captain was instructed to approach 458 00:27:58,570 --> 00:28:00,670 from the right side of the runway, 459 00:28:00,700 --> 00:28:02,710 requiring something he wasn't used to -- 460 00:28:02,810 --> 00:28:05,840 a right turn before landing. 461 00:28:05,880 --> 00:28:08,810 DAVID: The controller took them in a direction 462 00:28:08,810 --> 00:28:10,880 which was not what they would have expected 463 00:28:10,910 --> 00:28:13,050 according to the approach charts. 464 00:28:13,080 --> 00:28:16,920 But there shouldn't really have been a problem with that. 465 00:28:16,950 --> 00:28:19,660 Controllers are supposed to confirm the approach path 466 00:28:19,690 --> 00:28:23,960 with the pilots well before they get to the runway. 467 00:28:23,990 --> 00:28:30,000 SANTOSO: How could he not have known which approach he was flying? 468 00:28:30,030 --> 00:28:31,670 Back to 1:27, please. 469 00:28:31,700 --> 00:28:36,670 [Tape rewinding] 470 00:28:36,710 --> 00:28:38,340 AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER: Merpati 152, turn left 471 00:28:38,380 --> 00:28:41,950 heading two-four-zero to intercept runway zero-five 472 00:28:41,980 --> 00:28:44,050 from the right side. 473 00:28:44,080 --> 00:28:46,120 NARRATOR: As Santoso Sayogo listens again 474 00:28:46,150 --> 00:28:49,420 to what he thought was a harmless call sign mix-up, 475 00:28:49,450 --> 00:28:54,460 he suddenly realizes that it had major consequences. 476 00:28:54,490 --> 00:28:57,960 FO. ZUWALDI: Indonesia 152, say again. 477 00:28:58,000 --> 00:28:59,160 NARRATOR: When the controller repeats 478 00:28:59,200 --> 00:29:04,800 the approach instructions, he leaves out a critical detail. 479 00:29:04,800 --> 00:29:07,640 AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER: Turn left heading two-four-zero... 480 00:29:07,670 --> 00:29:11,640 two-three-five now to intercept runway zero-five. 481 00:29:11,680 --> 00:29:14,810 SANTOSO: He didn't repeat which side they were approaching from. 482 00:29:14,810 --> 00:29:16,150 DAVID: He should have made it clear: 483 00:29:16,180 --> 00:29:17,710 You're not going to come in 484 00:29:17,810 --> 00:29:20,880 from the left-hand side of the runway. 485 00:29:20,920 --> 00:29:24,150 You're going to come in from the right-hand side. 486 00:29:24,190 --> 00:29:26,620 SANTOSO: He thinks he's flown past the airport 487 00:29:26,660 --> 00:29:28,360 when he's told to make this turn. 488 00:29:28,390 --> 00:29:30,230 He's expecting the next turn to be a left turn 489 00:29:30,260 --> 00:29:33,830 but instead he's told to turn right. 490 00:29:33,860 --> 00:29:35,300 NARRATOR: It seems that the captain, 491 00:29:35,330 --> 00:29:38,000 still unable to see the ground through the smoke, 492 00:29:38,040 --> 00:29:41,000 dials in a left turn out of habit. 493 00:29:41,040 --> 00:29:44,540 It is a tragic error that leads to disaster. 494 00:29:44,570 --> 00:29:47,910 But investigators now wonder, why did the first officer 495 00:29:47,950 --> 00:29:51,280 not notice his captain's mistake? 496 00:29:51,320 --> 00:29:55,850 AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER: Indonesia 152, turn right heading zero-four-six. 497 00:29:55,890 --> 00:30:00,860 FO. ZUWALDI: Turn right heading zero-four-six, Indonesia 152. 498 00:30:00,860 --> 00:30:03,260 NARRATOR: First Officer Zuwaldi clearly acknowledges 499 00:30:03,290 --> 00:30:05,660 the instruction for a right turn. 500 00:30:05,700 --> 00:30:08,600 Yet seconds later, the plane turns left. 501 00:30:08,630 --> 00:30:10,970 It's almost impossible to understand. 502 00:30:14,710 --> 00:30:16,540 Investigators have established that 503 00:30:16,570 --> 00:30:20,980 the captain of Garuda Indonesia Flight 152 made a fatal turn 504 00:30:21,010 --> 00:30:23,080 after a radio call mix-up left him with 505 00:30:23,110 --> 00:30:27,080 a confused mental picture of the approach he was flying. 506 00:30:27,120 --> 00:30:30,420 DAVID: The vectors, the directions given them 507 00:30:30,450 --> 00:30:35,630 by the air traffic controller, can create a bit of confusion. 508 00:30:35,660 --> 00:30:39,730 Controllers didn't make it clear enough to the pilots 509 00:30:39,760 --> 00:30:43,500 that this was not going to be the standard pattern. 510 00:30:43,530 --> 00:30:48,040 AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER: Indonesia 152, turn right heading zero-four-six. 511 00:30:48,070 --> 00:30:55,180 FO. ZUWALDI: Turn right heading zero-four-six, Indonesia 152. 512 00:30:55,210 --> 00:30:57,510 NARRATOR: They focus on the words of the first officer 513 00:30:57,550 --> 00:30:59,720 in an attempt to understand why he didn't 514 00:30:59,750 --> 00:31:02,490 immediately react to the wrong turn. 515 00:31:02,520 --> 00:31:06,990 CAPT. WIYOGO: It's getting hot, isn't it? The cockpit is hot. 516 00:31:07,020 --> 00:31:11,200 See what you can do. It's so hot! 517 00:31:11,230 --> 00:31:13,700 SANTOSO: The captain asked the first officer 518 00:31:13,730 --> 00:31:16,100 to check the air conditioning. 519 00:31:16,130 --> 00:31:19,700 DAVID: The co-pilot turned his eyes upward to the panel 520 00:31:19,700 --> 00:31:23,010 where he checked the air conditioning controls. 521 00:31:23,040 --> 00:31:24,610 NARRATOR: The brief distraction diverts 522 00:31:24,710 --> 00:31:27,280 the first officer's attention from his instruments 523 00:31:27,310 --> 00:31:29,910 at a critical moment. 524 00:31:29,950 --> 00:31:32,350 FO. ZUWALDI: It's set to cool, sir. It should be fine. 525 00:31:32,380 --> 00:31:37,350 DAVID: As a result, the co-pilot missed crucial information 526 00:31:37,390 --> 00:31:41,330 from the instruments. 527 00:31:41,360 --> 00:31:42,590 FO. ZUWALDI: Turn right! 528 00:31:42,630 --> 00:31:43,790 SANTOSO: He looked back. 529 00:31:43,830 --> 00:31:50,300 He was surprised to find the aircraft turning to the left 530 00:31:50,330 --> 00:31:52,600 instead of turning to the right. 531 00:31:52,640 --> 00:31:55,340 CAPT. WIYOGO: Indonesia 152, confirm turning left or right 532 00:31:55,370 --> 00:31:57,210 heading zero-four-six. 533 00:31:57,240 --> 00:31:59,280 AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER: Turning right, sir. 534 00:31:59,310 --> 00:32:03,380 FO. ZUWALDI: Sorry, captain. Sorry. 535 00:32:06,920 --> 00:32:11,590 CAPT. WIYOGO: Roger, 152. 536 00:32:11,690 --> 00:32:15,330 AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER: 152, confirm you are turning left now. 537 00:32:15,360 --> 00:32:17,290 CAPT. WIYOGO: We are turning right now. 538 00:32:17,330 --> 00:32:21,000 AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER: 152, okay. Continue turning left. 539 00:32:21,030 --> 00:32:24,330 NARRATOR: In all the confusion over which way to turn... 540 00:32:24,370 --> 00:32:26,700 CAPT. WIYOGO: Turn left? We are turning right now. 541 00:32:26,700 --> 00:32:28,210 AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER: Oh God! Okay. 542 00:32:28,240 --> 00:32:32,710 NARRATOR: ... valuable seconds are lost. 543 00:32:32,710 --> 00:32:35,450 SANTOSO: They're flying straight towards the mountain. 544 00:32:35,480 --> 00:32:37,580 ROBERT: There were many confusing factors for him. 545 00:32:37,610 --> 00:32:40,080 CAPT. WIYOGO: What? 546 00:32:40,120 --> 00:32:43,120 ROBERT: The smoke pollution was certainly one of them. 547 00:32:43,150 --> 00:32:46,720 The confused instructions of air traffic control. 548 00:32:46,760 --> 00:32:49,560 He did not really have a good mental picture 549 00:32:49,590 --> 00:32:53,200 of where the aircraft was and where it was meant to be. 550 00:32:53,230 --> 00:32:57,900 CAPT. WIYOGO: Climb! Climb! Climb! 551 00:32:57,940 --> 00:33:02,770 SANTOSO: The moment they took the wrong turn, they were doomed. 552 00:33:02,810 --> 00:33:07,110 DAVID: It was this uncertainty, lack of clarity 553 00:33:07,140 --> 00:33:16,390 in the captain's head which really let this accident happen. 554 00:33:16,420 --> 00:33:19,890 NARRATOR: The recording helps explain how Garuda Flight 152 555 00:33:19,920 --> 00:33:22,330 ended up so badly off course. 556 00:33:22,360 --> 00:33:26,000 But it doesn't answer another critical question. 557 00:33:26,030 --> 00:33:30,270 AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER: Indonesia 152, traffic clear. Descend to 2,000 feet. 558 00:33:30,300 --> 00:33:34,710 FO. ZUWALDI: Descending to 2,000 feet, Indonesia 152. 559 00:33:34,740 --> 00:33:36,840 NARRATOR: The crew was instructed to descend no lower 560 00:33:36,870 --> 00:33:39,410 than 2,000 feet, and their autopilot 561 00:33:39,440 --> 00:33:42,010 should have kept them at that altitude. 562 00:33:42,050 --> 00:33:44,410 DAVID: They had gone straight through 2,000 feet 563 00:33:44,450 --> 00:33:49,450 and were heading for 1,500, and that was too low. 564 00:33:49,490 --> 00:33:52,360 SANTOSO: How did they end up below 2,000 feet? 565 00:33:52,390 --> 00:33:55,730 ROBERT: Either the autopilot had failed in some way or other, 566 00:33:55,730 --> 00:34:02,470 which is unusual, or the crew had input the wrong altitude. 567 00:34:02,500 --> 00:34:04,570 NARRATOR: Unfortunately for investigators, 568 00:34:04,600 --> 00:34:09,270 the plane's autopilot system was destroyed in the crash. 569 00:34:09,310 --> 00:34:10,840 DAVID: This impact was so severe 570 00:34:10,870 --> 00:34:13,140 they could pick up the bits afterwards, 571 00:34:13,180 --> 00:34:15,680 but they couldn't establish whether there was 572 00:34:15,710 --> 00:34:20,680 something wrong with it on the day. 573 00:34:20,680 --> 00:34:22,390 NARRATOR: Maintenance records show no history 574 00:34:22,420 --> 00:34:25,960 of the autopilot ever failing to maintain proper altitude, 575 00:34:25,990 --> 00:34:31,400 so a malfunction seems unlikely. 576 00:34:31,430 --> 00:34:33,600 And a report from Airbus all but eliminates 577 00:34:33,700 --> 00:34:38,440 the possibility of autopilot failure. 578 00:34:38,470 --> 00:34:40,970 Engineers calculated that the odds of such a failure 579 00:34:41,000 --> 00:34:45,910 are less than one in two billion. 580 00:34:45,940 --> 00:34:52,820 ROBERT: It's almost impossible for it to fail. 581 00:34:52,850 --> 00:34:56,720 FO. ZUWALDI: Descending to 2,000 feet, Indonesia 152. 582 00:34:56,720 --> 00:34:59,320 NARRATOR: Investigators suspect the captain made an error 583 00:34:59,360 --> 00:35:01,760 while entering his minimum altitude. 584 00:35:01,790 --> 00:35:04,630 ROBERT: It was more probably crew missetting 585 00:35:04,730 --> 00:35:06,430 than it was autopilot failure. 586 00:35:06,460 --> 00:35:09,330 CAPT. WIYOGO: Indonesia 152, confirm turning left or right 587 00:35:09,370 --> 00:35:11,370 heading zero-four-six. 588 00:35:11,400 --> 00:35:13,700 AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER: Turning right, sir. 589 00:35:13,740 --> 00:35:19,940 FO. ZUWALDI: Sorry, captain. Sorry. 590 00:35:19,980 --> 00:35:23,510 CAPT. WIYOGO: Roger, 152. 591 00:35:23,550 --> 00:35:25,950 NARRATOR: As the aircraft passes below its target altitude 592 00:35:25,980 --> 00:35:28,220 of 2,000 feet... 593 00:35:28,250 --> 00:35:31,090 AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER: 152, confirm you are turning left now. 594 00:35:31,120 --> 00:35:32,690 CAPT. WIYOGO: We are turning right now. 595 00:35:32,690 --> 00:35:34,060 NARRATOR: ... the pilots are engaged in 596 00:35:34,090 --> 00:35:37,690 a confusing conversation about which direction to turn. 597 00:35:37,690 --> 00:35:42,030 AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER: 152, okay. Continue turning left. 598 00:35:42,070 --> 00:35:44,540 CAPT. WIYOGO: Turn left? We're turning right now. 599 00:35:50,510 --> 00:35:53,940 ROBERT: They were so preoccupied with their turn 600 00:35:53,980 --> 00:35:56,410 they didn't notice their altitude. 601 00:35:56,450 --> 00:35:58,620 SANTOSO: Both pilots didn't realize that 602 00:35:58,720 --> 00:36:02,420 the aircraft already left 2,000 feet. 603 00:36:02,450 --> 00:36:04,420 NARRATOR: By the time the first officer does notice 604 00:36:04,450 --> 00:36:07,860 the dangerously low altitude... 605 00:36:07,890 --> 00:36:11,700 FO. ZUWALDI: We're descending. CAPT. WIYOGO: What? 606 00:36:11,730 --> 00:36:14,430 NARRATOR: ... it's too late. 607 00:36:14,460 --> 00:36:18,370 DAVID: The quality of their monitoring of their instruments 608 00:36:18,400 --> 00:36:20,100 was not up to scratch. 609 00:36:20,140 --> 00:36:24,840 CAPT. WIYOGO: Come on, climb! Climb! Climb! 610 00:36:24,880 --> 00:36:27,710 DAVID: And that's why they got too low 611 00:36:27,740 --> 00:36:29,510 and they hit the high ground. 612 00:36:29,550 --> 00:36:31,780 ♪ 613 00:36:31,820 --> 00:36:34,790 [Crash] 614 00:36:40,490 --> 00:36:44,230 NARRATOR: It's finally clear how Garuda Indonesia Flight 152 615 00:36:44,260 --> 00:36:47,300 dropped below the minimum safe altitude. 616 00:36:47,330 --> 00:36:50,100 But there are still important questions to answer. 617 00:36:50,130 --> 00:36:55,540 AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER: Indonesia 152, traffic clear. Descend to 2,000 feet. 618 00:36:55,570 --> 00:36:57,470 NARRATOR: The controller in Medan had a read-out 619 00:36:57,510 --> 00:37:02,310 of Flight 152's altitude and direction. 620 00:37:02,350 --> 00:37:05,720 If he had recognized the danger and warned the crew, 621 00:37:05,750 --> 00:37:08,820 hundreds of lives could have been saved. 622 00:37:08,850 --> 00:37:10,520 Why didn't that happen? 623 00:37:14,360 --> 00:37:17,390 FO. ZUWALDI: Descending to 2,000 feet, Indonesia 152. 624 00:37:17,430 --> 00:37:19,360 NARRATOR: Investigators need to understand 625 00:37:19,400 --> 00:37:22,570 why the Medan controller never warned the Garuda pilots 626 00:37:22,670 --> 00:37:25,370 of impending danger. 627 00:37:25,400 --> 00:37:27,540 They pour over the technical specifications 628 00:37:27,570 --> 00:37:31,140 from Medan's radar system. 629 00:37:31,180 --> 00:37:36,080 Most advanced radar systems refresh every five seconds. 630 00:37:36,110 --> 00:37:38,680 But they soon discover that the radar in Medan 631 00:37:38,720 --> 00:37:41,050 is far from advanced. 632 00:37:41,080 --> 00:37:45,490 ROBERT: The radar only refreshed every twelve seconds. 633 00:37:45,520 --> 00:37:47,390 ♪ 634 00:37:47,420 --> 00:37:51,300 DAVID: That means the controller only gets an updated picture 635 00:37:51,330 --> 00:37:54,730 of where the airplane is every twelve seconds. 636 00:37:54,770 --> 00:37:58,140 AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER: 152, confirm you are turning left now. 637 00:37:58,170 --> 00:37:59,570 CAPT. WIYOGO: We are turning right now. 638 00:37:59,600 --> 00:38:02,510 DAVID: A lot can happen in twelve seconds. 639 00:38:02,540 --> 00:38:04,270 So when the pilot turned 640 00:38:04,310 --> 00:38:06,510 in completely the wrong direction... 641 00:38:06,540 --> 00:38:08,380 AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER: Continue turning left. 642 00:38:08,410 --> 00:38:10,450 DAVID: ... the controller was not seeing 643 00:38:10,480 --> 00:38:14,650 what the pilot was doing... 644 00:38:14,650 --> 00:38:15,650 AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER: Oh God. 645 00:38:15,690 --> 00:38:17,790 DAVID: ...until it was getting to be too late. 646 00:38:17,820 --> 00:38:21,360 ♪ 647 00:38:21,390 --> 00:38:25,260 [Crash] 648 00:38:25,300 --> 00:38:27,800 ♪ 649 00:38:27,830 --> 00:38:29,930 NARRATOR: Investigators are close to fully understanding 650 00:38:29,970 --> 00:38:33,440 the tragic crash of Flight 152. 651 00:38:33,470 --> 00:38:36,370 There's just one last mystery to solve. 652 00:38:36,410 --> 00:38:38,710 Most commercial jets have a cockpit alarm 653 00:38:38,740 --> 00:38:43,080 that sounds when the plane flies too close to terrain. 654 00:38:43,110 --> 00:38:47,150 GPWS: Terrain. Terrain. Pull up. Pull up. 655 00:38:47,180 --> 00:38:49,790 NARRATOR: It's called the Ground Proximity Warning System, 656 00:38:49,820 --> 00:38:54,290 a loud automated voice alerting pilots to danger. 657 00:38:54,320 --> 00:38:56,860 ROBERT: One of the big questions for us was: 658 00:38:56,890 --> 00:38:59,500 Why did the accident happen when the aircraft 659 00:38:59,530 --> 00:39:04,330 was equipped with a Ground Proximity Warning System? 660 00:39:04,370 --> 00:39:06,470 NARRATOR: According to the flight data recorder, 661 00:39:06,500 --> 00:39:11,040 the GPWS on Flight 152 was triggered five times. 662 00:39:11,070 --> 00:39:13,140 The crew should have heard the first warning 663 00:39:13,180 --> 00:39:17,510 thirty-seven seconds before impact. 664 00:39:17,550 --> 00:39:19,680 But when they check the cockpit recording, 665 00:39:19,720 --> 00:39:22,650 they only hear the voice alarm once. 666 00:39:22,650 --> 00:39:26,190 FO. ZUWALDI: Pull up. Pull up. Pull up. 667 00:39:26,220 --> 00:39:29,490 NARRATOR: And it comes just four seconds before impact. 668 00:39:29,530 --> 00:39:31,300 Something's not right. 669 00:39:31,330 --> 00:39:33,300 They send the tape to an audio lab 670 00:39:33,330 --> 00:39:37,430 where sound technicians enhance the quality of the recording. 671 00:39:37,470 --> 00:39:42,810 ♪ 672 00:39:42,840 --> 00:39:44,680 Listening to the enhanced tape, 673 00:39:44,680 --> 00:39:47,140 investigators make a stunning discovery. 674 00:39:47,180 --> 00:39:51,550 ♪ 675 00:39:51,580 --> 00:39:54,380 FO. ZUWALDI: Pull up. Pull up. Pull up. 676 00:39:54,420 --> 00:39:56,290 NARRATOR: The alert "Pull up, pull up" 677 00:39:56,320 --> 00:40:02,460 is not the sound of an automated voice. 678 00:40:02,490 --> 00:40:08,800 SANTOSO: It's definitely Zuwaldi, the first officer. 679 00:40:08,830 --> 00:40:13,540 SANTOSO: Then we realized the recorded of "Pull up, pull up" 680 00:40:13,570 --> 00:40:23,080 wasn't from the GPWS, but it was from one of my friends. 681 00:40:23,110 --> 00:40:25,750 NARRATOR: It can mean only one thing. 682 00:40:25,780 --> 00:40:34,020 SOERJANTO: We knew that the GPWS was not working. 683 00:40:34,060 --> 00:40:36,490 NARRATOR: It's ultimately revealed that there is a flaw 684 00:40:36,530 --> 00:40:40,160 in the GPWS that prevents a warning from sounding 685 00:40:40,200 --> 00:40:41,400 when planes are descending 686 00:40:41,430 --> 00:40:45,570 over certain types of mountainous terrain. 687 00:40:45,600 --> 00:40:51,240 SANTOSO: The GPWS never give the warning to the pilot. 688 00:40:51,280 --> 00:40:55,650 ROBERT: Over the years, GPWS has saved countless lives. 689 00:40:55,680 --> 00:40:59,250 It was sad in this case that those lives weren't saved, 690 00:40:59,280 --> 00:41:03,020 and the modern systems, enhanced GPWS 691 00:41:03,050 --> 00:41:08,790 certainly would have worked way better. 692 00:41:08,830 --> 00:41:10,530 NARRATOR: Investigators have finally uncovered 693 00:41:10,560 --> 00:41:16,170 the tragic series of events that led to the loss of 234 lives. 694 00:41:16,200 --> 00:41:17,970 It all starts with a controller 695 00:41:18,000 --> 00:41:21,610 who confuses one call sign for another. 696 00:41:21,710 --> 00:41:25,310 AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER: Merpati 152, turn left heading two-four-zero 697 00:41:25,340 --> 00:41:26,840 to intercept runway zero. 698 00:41:26,880 --> 00:41:28,380 CAPT. WIYOGO: Number one always lags behind a bit, 699 00:41:28,410 --> 00:41:30,710 so keep an eye on it for me. 700 00:41:30,710 --> 00:41:33,580 NARRATOR: The mix-up means the crew of Flight 152 701 00:41:33,620 --> 00:41:35,950 never hear a critical instruction to approach the 702 00:41:35,990 --> 00:41:40,790 runway from the right side instead of the usual left. 703 00:41:40,820 --> 00:41:44,730 FO. ZUWALDI: Indonesia 152, say again. 704 00:41:44,760 --> 00:41:46,460 NARRATOR: The captain compounds the problem 705 00:41:46,500 --> 00:41:50,730 when he enters an incorrect altitude into the autopilot. 706 00:41:50,730 --> 00:41:55,270 AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER: Indonesia 152, traffic clear. Descend to 2,000 feet. 707 00:41:55,310 --> 00:41:58,840 FO. ZUWALDI: Descending to 2,000 feet, Indonesia 152. 708 00:41:58,880 --> 00:42:01,480 NARRATOR: The error keeps the autopilot from holding the plane 709 00:42:01,510 --> 00:42:05,750 at 2,000 feet as the crew expects. 710 00:42:05,780 --> 00:42:08,890 ♪ 711 00:42:08,920 --> 00:42:11,220 Thick smoke from forest fires obscures the view 712 00:42:11,260 --> 00:42:15,530 of landmarks on the ground. 713 00:42:15,560 --> 00:42:17,530 Thinking the runway is to his left, 714 00:42:17,560 --> 00:42:21,730 the captain turns away from the airport towards mountains. 715 00:42:21,770 --> 00:42:24,540 AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER: 152, confirm you are turning left now. 716 00:42:24,570 --> 00:42:26,070 CAPT. WIYOGO: We are turning right now. 717 00:42:26,100 --> 00:42:29,540 AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER: 152, okay. Continue turning left. 718 00:42:29,570 --> 00:42:32,140 NARRATOR: In the confusion over the turn, no one notices 719 00:42:32,180 --> 00:42:37,080 that the Airbus is dropping dangerously close to the ground. 720 00:42:37,110 --> 00:42:40,020 Ultimately, the warning that should alert them to the danger 721 00:42:40,050 --> 00:42:43,320 never sounds. 722 00:42:43,350 --> 00:42:49,730 CAPT. WIYOGO: What? Come on, climb! Climb! 723 00:42:49,730 --> 00:42:53,730 FO. ZUWALDI: Pull up! Pull up! Pull up! 724 00:42:57,470 --> 00:43:02,170 CAPT. WIYOGO: No! No! No! No! No! Nooooo! 725 00:43:02,210 --> 00:43:05,740 ♪ 726 00:43:05,740 --> 00:43:08,280 NARRATOR: In their final report, Indonesian investigators 727 00:43:08,310 --> 00:43:12,020 call for improved communications training for pilots 728 00:43:12,050 --> 00:43:15,390 as well as upgrades to Medan's radar system. 729 00:43:15,420 --> 00:43:18,260 They also advise against using the same flight number 730 00:43:18,290 --> 00:43:22,130 for more than one plane on the same route. 731 00:43:22,160 --> 00:43:26,460 ROBERT: I think what really hit home to me about this accident 732 00:43:26,500 --> 00:43:32,740 and the loss of so many lives was how avoidable it was. 733 00:43:32,770 --> 00:43:36,370 SANTOSO: At the end of the investigation, we were surprised 734 00:43:36,410 --> 00:43:41,780 that there were so many human errors 735 00:43:41,810 --> 00:43:45,420 that happened one after another. 736 00:43:45,450 --> 00:43:47,180 DAVID: All of these things came together 737 00:43:47,220 --> 00:43:50,790 to make an accident very much more likely. 738 00:43:50,820 --> 00:43:55,390 If you took away any one of those factors, 739 00:43:55,430 --> 00:43:57,830 the accident might not have happened.