1 00:00:01,784 --> 00:00:03,655 Narrator: INTERNATIONAL AIR CRASH INVESTIGATIONS 2 00:00:03,699 --> 00:00:05,788 DEPEND ON TEAMWORK. 3 00:00:05,831 --> 00:00:07,398 Investigator: LET'S SEE WHAT WE HAVE TO WORK WITH. 4 00:00:07,442 --> 00:00:09,661 Man: IT DOES NOT ADVANCE SAFETY TO GET THE WRONG CAUSE. 5 00:00:09,705 --> 00:00:12,360 Narrator: SOMETIMES THE INVESTIGATORS DISAGREE. 6 00:00:12,403 --> 00:00:13,796 Man: TWO DIFFERENT PEOPLE 7 00:00:13,839 --> 00:00:15,363 LISTENING TO THE SAME VOICE RECORDING 8 00:00:15,406 --> 00:00:17,191 MIGHT COME UP WITH TWO DIFFERENT INTERPRETATIONS. 9 00:00:17,234 --> 00:00:19,106 Investigator: THEY DIDN'T WANT THE PLANE TO LAND. 10 00:00:19,149 --> 00:00:22,674 Narrator: STAKES RAMP UP WHEN THE VICTIMS ARE HIGH PROFILE. 11 00:00:22,718 --> 00:00:27,288 A CRASH KILLS THE PRESIDENT OF POLAND. 12 00:00:27,331 --> 00:00:29,159 WAS IT SABOTAGE? 13 00:00:29,203 --> 00:00:31,422 Man: CONSPIRACY THEORIES SPRUNG UP IMMEDIATELY. 14 00:00:31,466 --> 00:00:33,468 Man: THEREFORE YOU HAVE NO EVIDENCE OF TERRORISM! 15 00:00:33,511 --> 00:00:34,860 Narrator: ON THE EAST COAST OF CANADA... 16 00:00:34,904 --> 00:00:36,558 First Officer: AIRSPEED! 17 00:00:36,601 --> 00:00:39,909 Narrator: ...U.S. MILITARY PERSONNEL DIE IN A FIERY BLAZE. 18 00:00:39,952 --> 00:00:41,998 Man: CRASH INVESTIGATORS ARE ALWAYS UNDER PRESSURE 19 00:00:42,042 --> 00:00:44,914 TO COME UP WITH AN ANSWER SOONER THAN THEY WOULD LIKE. 20 00:00:44,957 --> 00:00:46,437 Narrator: THE CRASH OF A FLIGHT 21 00:00:46,481 --> 00:00:48,178 CARRYING THE MANCHESTER UNITED SOCCER TEAM... 22 00:00:48,222 --> 00:00:51,181 Captain: CHRIST! WE'RE NOT GOING TO MAKE IT! 23 00:00:51,225 --> 00:00:53,096 Narrator: ...SPARKS AN INTERNATIONAL DISPUTE. 24 00:00:53,140 --> 00:00:54,532 Man: IT'S NONSENSE. 25 00:00:54,576 --> 00:00:55,577 Narrator: POLITICAL AND PUBLIC PRESSURES 26 00:00:55,620 --> 00:00:57,187 COMPLICATE THE PROCESS. 27 00:00:57,231 --> 00:00:59,537 Man: THIS INVESTIGATION APPEARS TO INVOLVE A COVER-UP. 28 00:00:59,581 --> 00:01:02,410 Man: FINALLY I HAVE TO DECIDE, WHOSE EXPERTS DO I TRUST? 29 00:01:04,064 --> 00:01:05,065 Flight attendant: LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, 30 00:01:05,108 --> 00:01:06,066 WE ARE STARTING OUR APPROACH. 31 00:01:06,109 --> 00:01:07,589 Pilot: WE LOST BOTH ENGINES! 32 00:01:07,632 --> 00:01:08,590 Flight attendant: PUT THE MASK OVER YOUR NOSE. 33 00:01:08,633 --> 00:01:09,721 EMERGENCY DESCENT. 34 00:01:09,765 --> 00:01:11,114 Pilot: MAYDAY, MAYDAY! 35 00:01:11,158 --> 00:01:12,855 Flight attendant: BRACE FOR IMPACT! 36 00:01:12,898 --> 00:01:14,422 Controller: I THINK I LOST ONE. 37 00:01:14,465 --> 00:01:17,033 Man: INVESTIGATION STARTING INTO THIS TRAGEDY... 38 00:01:17,077 --> 00:01:18,078 Man: HE'S GONNA CRASH! 39 00:01:18,121 --> 00:01:26,216 ♪ 40 00:01:26,260 --> 00:01:29,741 Narrator: A LIGHT SNOW FALLS ON MUNICH AIRPORT, WEST GERMANY. 41 00:01:31,482 --> 00:01:34,355 A BRITISH EUROPEAN AIRWAYS AIRSPEED AMBASSADOR 42 00:01:34,398 --> 00:01:37,619 WAITS ON THE TARMAC. 43 00:01:37,662 --> 00:01:40,274 THE LUXURIOUS TWIN-ENGINE AIRCRAFT IS ALSO KNOWN 44 00:01:40,317 --> 00:01:42,014 AS THE ELIZABETHAN. 45 00:01:42,058 --> 00:01:45,148 THE CAPTAIN IS 36-YEAR-OLD JAMES THAIN. 46 00:01:45,192 --> 00:01:48,499 HE'S A FORMER RAF PILOT WITH AN IMPECCABLE SERVICE RECORD. 47 00:01:48,543 --> 00:01:49,805 James Thain: HAPPILY. 48 00:01:51,807 --> 00:01:54,157 Narrator: 38-YEAR-OLD CO-PILOT KENNETH RAYMENT 49 00:01:54,201 --> 00:01:56,246 IS A WORLD WAR II ACE. 50 00:01:58,335 --> 00:01:59,641 THEY'RE BRINGING HOME 51 00:01:59,684 --> 00:02:02,165 AN EXTRAORDINARY GROUP OF PASSENGERS, 52 00:02:02,209 --> 00:02:05,821 THE MANCHESTER UNITED SOCCER TEAM. 53 00:02:05,864 --> 00:02:07,388 IN THE 1950s, 54 00:02:07,431 --> 00:02:10,956 THEY ARE SOME OF THE MOST FAMOUS SPORTSMEN ON THE PLANET. 55 00:02:11,000 --> 00:02:13,089 Announcer: ONLY THE DAY BEFORE, THEY HAD MET RED STAR 56 00:02:13,133 --> 00:02:16,875 IN BELGRADE IN THEIR EUROPEAN CUP TIE. 57 00:02:16,919 --> 00:02:18,181 Stephen Morrin: MANCHESTER UNITED IS PROBABLY 58 00:02:18,225 --> 00:02:20,401 THE MOST PREMIER TEAM, MOST FAMOUS TEAM 59 00:02:20,444 --> 00:02:22,620 THIS COUNTRY HAD EVER SEEN BEFORE. 60 00:02:22,664 --> 00:02:26,450 Narrator: HARRY GREGG IS THE TEAM'S STAR GOALKEEPER. 61 00:02:26,494 --> 00:02:27,973 Harry Gregg: WE WERE A YOUNG AND WONDERFUL TEAM, 62 00:02:28,017 --> 00:02:31,281 WHICH I AM VERY PROUD TO HAVE BEEN PART OF. 63 00:02:31,325 --> 00:02:34,458 Narrator: AFTER QUALIFYING FOR THE EUROPEAN CUP SEMIFINAL, 64 00:02:34,502 --> 00:02:37,200 THE 17 PLAYERS ARE AMONG THE 38 PASSENGERS 65 00:02:37,244 --> 00:02:41,248 HEADING BACK TO THE UK. 66 00:02:41,291 --> 00:02:45,469 Thain: MUNICH, 609 ZULU UNIFORM, I AM READY TO TAKE OFF. 67 00:02:45,513 --> 00:02:49,865 Controller: B-LINE 609, UH, YOUR CLEARANCE EXPIRES AT 3-1. 68 00:02:49,908 --> 00:02:51,910 THE TIME NOW IS 3-0. 69 00:02:51,954 --> 00:02:54,696 CLEARED FOR TAKEOFF, RIGHT TURN OUT. 70 00:02:54,739 --> 00:02:56,001 Thain: THANK YOU. ROLLING. 71 00:02:58,830 --> 00:03:00,397 Narrator: WITH THE TEMPERATURE HOVERING 72 00:03:00,441 --> 00:03:04,227 AROUND THE FREEZING MARK AND THE SNOW CONTINUING TO FALL, 73 00:03:04,271 --> 00:03:08,623 THAIN STARTS HIS TAKEOFF RUN. 74 00:03:08,666 --> 00:03:10,233 Controller: FULL POWER. 75 00:03:10,277 --> 00:03:12,192 Thain: FULL POWER. 76 00:03:12,235 --> 00:03:13,541 Gregg: I HAD BEEN READING A BOOK 77 00:03:13,584 --> 00:03:15,456 THAT ONE OF THE LADS HAD PASSED TO ME. 78 00:03:15,499 --> 00:03:16,674 I WAS READING THAT, 79 00:03:16,718 --> 00:03:18,807 AND WE STARTED OFF DOWN THE RUNWAY, 80 00:03:18,850 --> 00:03:20,461 AND I LOOKED OUT THE WINDOW. 81 00:03:20,504 --> 00:03:22,941 NO BIG DEAL AT ALL. 82 00:03:22,985 --> 00:03:27,381 Thain: TEMPERATURES AND PRESSURES OKAY. 83 00:03:27,424 --> 00:03:29,121 90. 84 00:03:29,165 --> 00:03:30,514 100. 85 00:03:33,125 --> 00:03:35,084 Narrator: THEY'RE NOT GETTING ENOUGH THRUST. 86 00:03:35,127 --> 00:03:37,042 THE PLANE CAN'T TAKE OFF. 87 00:03:37,086 --> 00:03:40,089 Kenneth Rayment: ABANDON TAKEOFF. 88 00:03:40,132 --> 00:03:41,351 Gregg: ALL OF A SUDDEN, 89 00:03:41,395 --> 00:03:45,094 I WATCHED THE WHEELS LOCK AND UNLOCK, 90 00:03:45,137 --> 00:03:47,357 AND THE PLANE STARTED TO SPIN. 91 00:03:47,401 --> 00:03:51,056 WE STOPPED SLIGHTLY SIDE-ON. 92 00:03:51,100 --> 00:03:53,276 Rayment: SORRY ABOUT THAT. ENGINE FLUCTUATING. 93 00:03:53,320 --> 00:03:55,887 Thain: 609, WE ARE ABANDONING THE TAKEOFF. 94 00:03:55,931 --> 00:03:57,498 Controller: TOWER, PLEASE SAY AGAIN. 95 00:03:57,541 --> 00:03:59,630 Thain: WE ARE ABANDONING THE TAKEOFF. 96 00:03:59,674 --> 00:04:02,546 MAY WE BACKTRACK? OVER. 97 00:04:02,590 --> 00:04:04,287 Rayment: ENGINE BOOSTING. 98 00:04:04,331 --> 00:04:05,941 Thain: I WOULD THINK SO, YES. 99 00:04:05,984 --> 00:04:07,464 Morrin: UH, THE PROBLEM WAS A BOOST SURGE, 100 00:04:07,508 --> 00:04:09,161 AND IT HAPPENED WITH THAT PARTICULAR ENGINE 101 00:04:09,205 --> 00:04:10,511 ON THAT PARTICULAR AIRCRAFT. 102 00:04:10,554 --> 00:04:12,687 IT WAS A BRISTOL CENTAURUS ENGINE. 103 00:04:12,730 --> 00:04:14,297 IT WAS PRONE TO DOING THIS, 104 00:04:14,341 --> 00:04:16,168 ESPECIALLY AT AIRPORTS WHICH ARE AT HIGH ALTITUDES, 105 00:04:16,212 --> 00:04:17,692 AND ONE OF THE PROBLEMS WAS 106 00:04:17,735 --> 00:04:20,999 THAT THE THRUSTS SOMETIMES OPENED TOO FAST. 107 00:04:21,043 --> 00:04:22,566 Thain: HI THERE. 108 00:04:22,610 --> 00:04:25,656 WE'VE BEEN GETTING A BOOST SURGE IN THE PORT ENGINE. 109 00:04:25,700 --> 00:04:27,092 Steve Moss: THEY RECEIVED AN EXPLANATION 110 00:04:27,136 --> 00:04:29,399 THAT THIS WAS A FAIRLY COMMON PHENOMENON 111 00:04:29,443 --> 00:04:33,055 WHEN OPERATING THE ELIZABETHAN FROM MUNICH 112 00:04:33,098 --> 00:04:34,622 BECAUSE OF THE HIGH ALTITUDE, 113 00:04:34,665 --> 00:04:36,101 THAT IT WAS NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT 114 00:04:36,145 --> 00:04:37,712 AND THEY WERE GIVEN ADVICE 115 00:04:37,755 --> 00:04:41,063 WHEN ADVANCING THE THROTTLES IF THEY GOT THE SURGING 116 00:04:41,106 --> 00:04:45,415 WAS TO JUST RETARD THE SURGING ENGINE SLIGHTLY, REDUCE POWER, 117 00:04:45,459 --> 00:04:49,463 AND THEN TAKE IT UP AGAIN TO FULL POWER MORE SLOWLY. 118 00:04:49,506 --> 00:04:51,769 Thain: WINGS? 119 00:04:51,813 --> 00:04:53,205 STILL LOOK GOOD. 120 00:04:53,249 --> 00:04:55,773 NO NEED TO DE-ICE. 121 00:04:55,817 --> 00:04:57,906 Narrator: WITH NO CHANGE IN THE WEATHER CONDITIONS, 122 00:04:57,949 --> 00:05:00,300 THAIN AND RAYMENT TRY AGAIN. 123 00:05:04,260 --> 00:05:07,872 Thain: MUNICH TOWER, B-LINE 609 ZULU UNIFORM. 124 00:05:07,916 --> 00:05:10,527 I'M READY TO TAXI. OVER. 125 00:05:10,571 --> 00:05:13,704 Narrator: THE RUNWAY IS OVER A MILE LONG. 126 00:05:13,748 --> 00:05:16,707 EVEN WITH THEIR PLAN FOR A GRADUAL ACCELERATION, 127 00:05:16,751 --> 00:05:18,709 THE ELIZABETHAN SHOULD BE ABLE TO LIFT OFF 128 00:05:18,753 --> 00:05:21,321 JUST PAST THREE-QUARTERS OF A MILE. 129 00:05:24,019 --> 00:05:25,586 Morrin: BOTH ENGINES SOUND AN EVEN NOTE, 130 00:05:25,629 --> 00:05:27,675 AND WE'RE GOING DOWN THE RUNWAY NOW FOR A TAKEOFF. 131 00:05:27,718 --> 00:05:29,241 EVERYTHING SEEMS OKAY. 132 00:05:33,158 --> 00:05:35,117 Thain: 105. 133 00:05:35,160 --> 00:05:36,684 V-1. 134 00:05:36,727 --> 00:05:40,035 Narrator: VELOCITY-ONE IS THE POINT OF NO RETURN. 135 00:05:40,078 --> 00:05:42,124 THE PLANE IS MOVING TOO FAST TO STOP 136 00:05:42,167 --> 00:05:45,170 BUT NOT FAST ENOUGH YET TO TAKE OFF. 137 00:05:45,214 --> 00:05:46,781 Morrin: RAYMENT NOW IS WAITING. 138 00:05:46,824 --> 00:05:49,610 HE'S ANTICIPATING NOW THAIN TO CALL OUT 119 KNOTS, 139 00:05:49,653 --> 00:05:51,307 WHICH IS V-2. 140 00:05:51,351 --> 00:05:55,398 Narrator: AT 119 KNOTS, THE PLANE CAN BECOME AIRBORNE. 141 00:05:55,442 --> 00:05:57,182 BUT SOMETHING GOES WRONG. 142 00:05:57,226 --> 00:06:00,055 THEY SUDDENLY LOSE SPEED. 143 00:06:00,098 --> 00:06:01,752 Thain: CHRIST! WE'RE NOT GOING TO MAKE IT! 144 00:06:01,796 --> 00:06:11,980 ♪ 145 00:06:12,023 --> 00:06:17,333 Gregg: DARKNESS AND DAYLIGHT AND SPARKS AND THUMPS AND SMACKS, 146 00:06:17,377 --> 00:06:21,163 AND YOU CAN'T DESCRIBE IT. 147 00:06:21,206 --> 00:06:29,432 [EXPLOSION] 148 00:06:29,476 --> 00:06:32,914 AND THEN IT WAS JUST COMPLETE AND TOTAL DARKNESS. 149 00:06:32,957 --> 00:06:34,568 I THOUGHT I WAS DEAD. 150 00:06:36,570 --> 00:06:38,920 Narrator: THE ELIZABETHAN HAS CRASHED THROUGH A FENCE, 151 00:06:38,963 --> 00:06:41,183 HITTING A HOUSE AND A FUEL SHED 152 00:06:41,226 --> 00:06:45,274 300 YARDS BEYOND THE END OF THE RUNWAY. 153 00:06:45,317 --> 00:06:48,799 Thain: OUT! EVERYONE OUT! NOW! IT'S GOING TO EXPLODE! 154 00:06:48,843 --> 00:06:50,192 Narrator: COMING TO HIS SENSES, 155 00:06:50,235 --> 00:06:54,109 HARRY GREGG CRAWLS OUT OF THE WRECKAGE. 156 00:06:54,152 --> 00:06:55,850 WITHIN MINUTES OF THE CRASH, 157 00:06:55,893 --> 00:06:59,070 HELP BEGINS TO ARRIVE FROM THE AIRPORT AND NEARBY FARMS. 158 00:07:02,552 --> 00:07:04,511 TWO GERMAN RESCUERS CLIMB UP ON THE WING 159 00:07:04,554 --> 00:07:07,122 AND FREE KENNETH RAYMENT FROM THE WRECKAGE. 160 00:07:07,165 --> 00:07:08,993 HE'S BADLY INJURED. 161 00:07:12,083 --> 00:07:14,085 21 PEOPLE ARE DEAD. 162 00:07:14,129 --> 00:07:18,089 TEN ARE MANCHESTER UNITED PLAYERS AND STAFF. 163 00:07:20,222 --> 00:07:23,051 MANY MORE PASSENGERS ARE GRAVELY INJURED. 164 00:07:26,837 --> 00:07:30,275 MANCHESTER UNITED, ONE OF THE WORLD'S GREATEST SOCCER TEAMS, 165 00:07:30,319 --> 00:07:33,583 IS DEVASTATED. 166 00:07:33,627 --> 00:07:38,501 Gregg: IT WAS A WONDERFUL THING THAT SADLY WENT WRONG. 167 00:07:40,198 --> 00:07:42,070 Narrator: SIX HOURS AFTER THE CRASH, 168 00:07:42,113 --> 00:07:44,376 WITH THE PRESS CONVERGING ON THE SCENE, 169 00:07:44,420 --> 00:07:46,378 GERMANY'S CHIEF ACCIDENT INVESTIGATOR, 170 00:07:46,422 --> 00:07:49,425 HANS REICHEL, BEGINS HIS HUNT FOR ANSWERS. 171 00:07:52,950 --> 00:07:54,778 Moss: OF COURSE, UPPERMOST IN HIS MIND 172 00:07:54,822 --> 00:07:58,173 WAS THE POSSIBILITY OF ICE ON THE WINGS, 173 00:07:58,216 --> 00:08:01,742 SO HE WENT LOOKING FOR THAT AND, SURE ENOUGH, HE FOUND IT. 174 00:08:01,785 --> 00:08:04,005 Narrator: ICE ON THE WING WOULD HAVE PREVENTED THE PLANE 175 00:08:04,048 --> 00:08:07,748 FROM GAINING ENOUGH LIFT TO GET AIRBORNE AT TAKEOFF SPEED. 176 00:08:07,791 --> 00:08:09,358 Hans Reichel: THE WRECKED AIRCRAFT WAS COVERED 177 00:08:09,401 --> 00:08:14,102 BY A LAYER OF SNOW ABOUT EIGHT CENTIMETERS THICK. 178 00:08:14,145 --> 00:08:16,670 Narrator: REICHEL FINDS THE ONLY SURFACES FREE OF ICE 179 00:08:16,713 --> 00:08:18,541 ARE NEAR THE ENGINES. 180 00:08:18,585 --> 00:08:22,502 HE ASSUMES THE ENTIRE WING WAS COATED IN ICE BEFORE THE CRASH 181 00:08:22,545 --> 00:08:24,242 AND THAT, DURING THE TAKEOFF ATTEMPT, 182 00:08:24,286 --> 00:08:28,333 THE PROPELLERS BLEW AWAY THE ICE BEHIND THEM. 183 00:08:28,377 --> 00:08:30,161 AS THE INVESTIGATION DEVELOPS, 184 00:08:30,205 --> 00:08:33,643 CO-PILOT KEVIN RAYMENT DIES FROM HIS INJURIES... 185 00:08:36,603 --> 00:08:38,561 ...LEAVING PILOT JAMES THAIN TO FACE 186 00:08:38,605 --> 00:08:42,173 THE OFFICIAL GERMAN INQUIRY INTO THE CRASH ON HIS OWN. 187 00:08:44,611 --> 00:08:46,308 Reichel: SHALL I BEGIN? 188 00:08:46,351 --> 00:08:48,049 Moss: THE GERMAN INVESTIGATION, 189 00:08:48,092 --> 00:08:51,313 STRAIGHTAWAY IT SEEMED TO BE INTO THIS ADVERSARIAL ROLE 190 00:08:51,356 --> 00:08:57,145 OF SOMEBODY BEING ON TRIAL AND HAVING TO PROVE HIS INNOCENCE. 191 00:08:57,188 --> 00:08:59,321 Narrator: HANS REICHEL DRAWS ON WITNESS TESTIMONY 192 00:08:59,364 --> 00:09:00,844 OF SNOW ON THE WINGS 193 00:09:00,888 --> 00:09:05,588 AND THAIN'S OWN ACCOUNT THAT HE DID NOT DE-ICE. 194 00:09:05,632 --> 00:09:08,025 Thain: AND WINGS? 195 00:09:08,069 --> 00:09:09,505 STILL LOOK GOOD. 196 00:09:09,549 --> 00:09:13,074 NO NEED TO DE-ICE. 197 00:09:13,117 --> 00:09:15,250 Narrator: JAMES THAIN EXPLAINS THAT THE TEMPERATURE 198 00:09:15,293 --> 00:09:16,686 THE AFTERNOON OF THE CRASH 199 00:09:16,730 --> 00:09:18,819 HOVERED AROUND THE FREEZING MARK. 200 00:09:21,691 --> 00:09:23,127 Morrin: THAIN SAW THE WATER 201 00:09:23,171 --> 00:09:25,695 ACTUALLY DRIPPING OFF THE LEADING EDGE, 202 00:09:25,739 --> 00:09:27,958 SO HE KNEW THE SNOW WAS ACTUALLY MELTING, 203 00:09:28,002 --> 00:09:29,830 SO OBVIOUSLY THAT CONVINCED HIM AGAIN 204 00:09:29,873 --> 00:09:32,659 THAT IT JUST DIDN'T REQUIRE DE-ICING. 205 00:09:32,702 --> 00:09:34,138 Narrator: BUT THEN HANS REICHEL 206 00:09:34,182 --> 00:09:36,445 PRESENTS A CONTROVERSIAL PIECE OF EVIDENCE, 207 00:09:36,488 --> 00:09:39,622 A PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN THE DAY OF THE CRASH. 208 00:09:39,666 --> 00:09:42,625 Moss: IT APPEARED TO SHOW A WHITE AREA, 209 00:09:42,669 --> 00:09:45,280 UM, ON THE TOP OF THE WINGS, 210 00:09:45,323 --> 00:09:50,546 WHICH CERTAINLY WAS INTERPRETED AS BEING A LAYER OF SNOW OR ICE. 211 00:09:50,590 --> 00:09:52,766 Narrator: EVERY OTHER AIRCRAFT THAT LEFT MUNICH THAT DAY 212 00:09:52,809 --> 00:09:55,638 WAS DE-ICED, BUT NOT THE ELIZABETHAN. 213 00:09:58,685 --> 00:10:02,123 FOR INVESTIGATOR HANS REICHEL, THE CREW'S FAILURE TO DE-ICE 214 00:10:02,166 --> 00:10:04,647 IS THE LEADING CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT. 215 00:10:04,691 --> 00:10:06,693 Reichel: APART FROM THIS ICING, 216 00:10:06,736 --> 00:10:09,696 I COULD FIND NOTHING WHICH MIGHT HAVE BEEN A CAUSE 217 00:10:09,739 --> 00:10:13,656 FOR THE ACCIDENT OR TO HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO IT. 218 00:10:13,700 --> 00:10:17,138 [SPEAKING GERMAN] 219 00:10:17,181 --> 00:10:21,359 Narrator: IN MARCH 1959, A YEAR AFTER THE TRAGEDY AT MUNICH, 220 00:10:21,403 --> 00:10:24,406 THE GERMAN GOVERNMENT RELEASES ITS OFFICIAL REPORT. 221 00:10:24,449 --> 00:10:27,975 IT LAYS THE FULL BLAME ON CAPTAIN JAMES THAIN. 222 00:10:28,018 --> 00:10:29,716 Sebuda Thain: ICE. 223 00:10:29,759 --> 00:10:33,589 ICE ON THE WINGS, WHICH THEY SAY WAS THERE BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. 224 00:10:33,633 --> 00:10:35,199 SIMPLE. 225 00:10:35,243 --> 00:10:36,766 Morrin: AND THEY SAID, "CAPTAIN THAIN, 226 00:10:36,810 --> 00:10:39,421 HE'S THE ONE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DEATHS OF 23 PEOPLE 227 00:10:39,464 --> 00:10:42,554 AND DECIMATING THE MANCHESTER UNITED FOOTBALL TEAM." 228 00:10:42,598 --> 00:10:44,818 THAT IS ONE HELL OF A BURDEN TO TAKE ON. 229 00:10:44,861 --> 00:10:46,602 Gregg: HE WAS DEFINITELY BADLY TREATED. 230 00:10:46,646 --> 00:10:48,778 HE WAS MADE THE SCAPEGOAT. 231 00:10:48,822 --> 00:10:50,388 Narrator: BUT CAPTAIN THAIN IS CERTAIN 232 00:10:50,432 --> 00:10:53,478 ICE ON THE WINGS DID NOT CAUSE THE CRASH. 233 00:10:53,522 --> 00:10:56,307 HE LAUNCHES HIS OWN INVESTIGATION. 234 00:10:56,351 --> 00:10:57,874 Sebuda Thain: I CAN REMEMBER MUM AND DAD 235 00:10:57,918 --> 00:11:01,008 SITTING UP FOR ALL HOURS OF THE NIGHT TALKING ABOUT THIS 236 00:11:01,051 --> 00:11:03,445 BECAUSE DAD WAS CONVINCED 237 00:11:03,488 --> 00:11:06,056 THAT THERE HAD BEEN SOME EXTERNAL FORCE 238 00:11:06,100 --> 00:11:09,494 THAT HAD AFFECTED THE TAKEOFF RUN. 239 00:11:09,538 --> 00:11:11,018 Narrator: IN 1959, 240 00:11:11,061 --> 00:11:14,456 THERE ARE NO FLIGHT DATA OR COCKPIT VOICE RECORDERS. 241 00:11:14,499 --> 00:11:16,719 THAIN'S CO-PILOT HAS DIED. 242 00:11:16,763 --> 00:11:18,068 NUMEROUS WITNESSES BACK UP 243 00:11:18,112 --> 00:11:20,897 THE OFFICIAL GERMAN REPORT CONDEMNING HIM. 244 00:11:20,941 --> 00:11:24,596 THE ODDS AGAINST THAIN SEEM ABSOLUTELY INSURMOUNTABLE. 245 00:11:26,511 --> 00:11:29,863 BLAMED BY GERMAN AUTHORITIES FOR A TERRIBLE CRASH, 246 00:11:29,906 --> 00:11:32,561 CAPTAIN JAMES THAIN FIGHTS TO CLEAR HIS NAME. 247 00:11:32,604 --> 00:11:37,087 Sebuda Thain: DAD WAS A MAN OF GREAT INTEGRITY AND FORTITUDE, 248 00:11:37,131 --> 00:11:39,786 AND HE WAS DETERMINED THAT HE WOULD MAKE SURE 249 00:11:39,829 --> 00:11:42,919 THAT HE FOUND THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT. 250 00:11:42,963 --> 00:11:45,095 Narrator: THAIN SUSPECTS THE REAL CAUSE OF THE CRASH 251 00:11:45,139 --> 00:11:47,663 MIGHT BE SLUSH ON THE RUNWAY. 252 00:11:49,578 --> 00:11:51,623 HE DISCOVERS THAT NINE YEARS EARLIER 253 00:11:51,667 --> 00:11:53,713 A TRANS-CANADA AIRLINES PLANE 254 00:11:53,756 --> 00:11:58,239 FAILED TO TAKE OFF ON A SLUSHY VANCOUVER RUNWAY. 255 00:11:58,282 --> 00:12:00,415 Moss: THEY DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND 256 00:12:00,458 --> 00:12:04,114 THAT AS LITTLE AS FIVE CENTIMETERS OF SLUSH 257 00:12:04,158 --> 00:12:06,290 COULD REALLY ADVERSELY AFFECT 258 00:12:06,334 --> 00:12:09,946 THE AIRCRAFT'S ABILITY TO REACH TAKEOFF SPEED. 259 00:12:09,990 --> 00:12:14,429 ♪ 260 00:12:14,472 --> 00:12:15,430 Terry Townshend: SO, IMAGINE YOU'RE DRIVING 261 00:12:15,473 --> 00:12:17,737 ON A DRY ROAD DURING THE WINTER 262 00:12:17,780 --> 00:12:20,217 AND YOU SUDDENLY ENTER AN AREA OF SLUSH. 263 00:12:20,261 --> 00:12:21,610 IMMEDIATELY YOU'RE GONNA NOTICE 264 00:12:21,653 --> 00:12:24,526 RESISTANCE ON THE VEHICLE FROM THE SLUSH, 265 00:12:24,569 --> 00:12:27,311 AND THE SAME THING HAPPENS ON THE AIRCRAFT. 266 00:12:27,355 --> 00:12:28,791 Narrator: THAIN BELIEVES OTHER PLANES 267 00:12:28,835 --> 00:12:30,880 DIDN'T HAVE A SLUSH PROBLEM THAT DAY 268 00:12:30,924 --> 00:12:34,144 BECAUSE THEY TOOK OFF ON THE FIRST TWO-THIRDS OF THE RUNWAY. 269 00:12:34,188 --> 00:12:35,929 HE HAD TO ACCELERATE MORE SLOWLY 270 00:12:35,972 --> 00:12:38,932 TO COMPENSATE FOR A BOOST PRESSURE PROBLEM. 271 00:12:38,975 --> 00:12:40,542 BECAUSE OF THIS, 272 00:12:40,585 --> 00:12:43,023 THE PLANE REACHED THE UNUSED PART OF THE RUNWAY 273 00:12:43,066 --> 00:12:44,676 WITH DEEP SLUSH. 274 00:12:44,720 --> 00:12:47,462 Townshend: IT TAKES MORE POWER TO OVERCOME THAT SLUSH. 275 00:12:47,505 --> 00:12:49,377 Narrator: IN THE COURSE OF THAIN'S RESEARCH, 276 00:12:49,420 --> 00:12:51,727 BURIED EVIDENCE COMES TO LIGHT. 277 00:12:51,771 --> 00:12:54,469 EYEWITNESS ACCOUNTS FROM THE AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS 278 00:12:54,512 --> 00:12:56,471 ALSO SUPPORT THE SLUSH THEORY. 279 00:12:56,514 --> 00:12:57,864 Controller: B-LINE 609, 280 00:12:57,907 --> 00:13:00,475 UH, YOUR CLEARANCE EXPIRES AT 3-1. 281 00:13:00,518 --> 00:13:01,824 THE TIME NOW IS 3-0. 282 00:13:01,868 --> 00:13:04,435 Moss: THE MOST CRUCIAL EYEWITNESSES 283 00:13:04,479 --> 00:13:08,091 SAW THE AIRCRAFT START THE TAKEOFF RUN AS NORMAL. 284 00:13:08,135 --> 00:13:12,313 ABOUT HALFWAY DOWN THE RUNWAY, THEY SAW THE NOSE LIFT, 285 00:13:12,356 --> 00:13:14,794 WHICH WOULD BE STANDARD PROCEDURE, 286 00:13:14,837 --> 00:13:19,059 BUT THEN, UNUSUALLY, THEY SAW IT GO BACK DOWN ONTO THE RUNWAY, 287 00:13:19,102 --> 00:13:21,148 WHICH, OF COURSE, SHOULD NOT HAPPEN. 288 00:13:23,411 --> 00:13:28,503 Narrator: THEN CAPTAIN THAIN UNCOVERS ANOTHER SHOCKING LAPSE. 289 00:13:28,546 --> 00:13:31,636 Thain: WE QUITE FORTUITOUSLY CAME ACROSS A WITNESS 290 00:13:31,680 --> 00:13:34,770 WHO HAD MADE AN INSPECTION OF THE WRECKAGE 291 00:13:34,814 --> 00:13:38,513 IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE ACCIDENT. 292 00:13:38,556 --> 00:13:41,646 Narrator: KARL HEINZ SEFFER WAS AMONG THE FIRST AT THE SCENE. 293 00:13:41,690 --> 00:13:44,301 HE SAYS HE SAW NO ICE ON THE WINGS. 294 00:13:58,794 --> 00:14:00,927 Thain: BUT WHEN THIS REPORT WAS READ OUT 295 00:14:00,970 --> 00:14:05,888 TO THE FIRST GERMAN COMMISSION, ONLY PART OF IT WAS READ OUT. 296 00:14:05,932 --> 00:14:08,760 THAT PART WHICH INCLUDED THE EVIDENCE 297 00:14:08,804 --> 00:14:12,634 THAT HE COULDN'T FIND ANY ICE WAS LEFT OUT. 298 00:14:12,677 --> 00:14:14,331 Narrator: THAIN SUBMITS THE NEW EVIDENCE 299 00:14:14,375 --> 00:14:15,898 TO THE GERMAN AUTHORITIES, 300 00:14:15,942 --> 00:14:18,945 BUT THEY REFUSE TO REOPEN THE INVESTIGATION. 301 00:14:18,988 --> 00:14:20,555 Reichel: IT'S NONSENSE. 302 00:14:25,081 --> 00:14:30,391 Narrator: IN 1961, BEA OFFICIALLY FIRES THAIN. 303 00:14:30,434 --> 00:14:31,609 Sebuda Thain: WELL, THEY SACKED HIM, 304 00:14:31,653 --> 00:14:35,222 AND HE WAS DEVASTATED BY THIS. 305 00:14:35,265 --> 00:14:37,093 Narrator: THAIN BECOMES MORE DETERMINED THAN EVER 306 00:14:37,137 --> 00:14:38,790 TO CLEAR HIS NAME. 307 00:14:38,834 --> 00:14:41,054 HE APPEALS TO THE GERMAN AND BRITISH GOVERNMENTS 308 00:14:41,097 --> 00:14:43,491 TO REOPEN THE INVESTIGATION. 309 00:14:43,534 --> 00:14:47,190 IN 1965, THE GERMANS AGREE. 310 00:14:47,234 --> 00:14:49,236 Thain: THIS IS THE, UH, REPORT HERE 311 00:14:49,279 --> 00:14:51,194 THAT I GAVE TO THE GERMAN AUTHORITIES. 312 00:14:51,238 --> 00:14:52,848 WELL, THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT IT. 313 00:14:52,892 --> 00:14:56,983 THE AIRCRAFT RAN INTO A POOL OF SLUSH AND/OR WATER 314 00:14:57,026 --> 00:14:59,333 DURING THE TAKEOFF RUN. 315 00:14:59,376 --> 00:15:01,204 Sebuda Thain: INITIALLY WITH THE SECOND GERMAN INQUIRY, 316 00:15:01,248 --> 00:15:04,904 IT WAS FELT THAT, YES, THERE COULD BE A GLIMMER OF HOPE. 317 00:15:04,947 --> 00:15:06,296 Narrator: BUT ONCE AGAIN, 318 00:15:06,340 --> 00:15:08,864 THE GERMANS DISCOUNT THAIN'S SLUSH THEORY 319 00:15:08,908 --> 00:15:12,476 AND TAKE NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE CRASH. 320 00:15:12,520 --> 00:15:17,046 THAIN'S HOPES FOR VINDICATION SEEM CRUSHED FOREVER. 321 00:15:17,090 --> 00:15:20,615 THEN, IN 1967, PRIME MINISTER HAROLD WILSON 322 00:15:20,658 --> 00:15:23,444 SETS OFF A MEDIA FRENZY WHEN HE SAYS HE BELIEVES 323 00:15:23,487 --> 00:15:26,447 JAMES THAIN WAS A VICTIM OF INJUSTICE. 324 00:15:26,490 --> 00:15:29,929 IN 1968, BRITISH INVESTIGATORS RE-OPEN THE CASE 325 00:15:29,972 --> 00:15:32,757 AND CHALLENGE THE GERMAN CONCLUSION. 326 00:15:32,801 --> 00:15:35,935 A PHOTOGRAPH THE GERMANS CLAIMED SHOWED ICE ON THE WINGS 327 00:15:35,978 --> 00:15:38,763 IS EXAMINED BY THE BRITISH TEAM. 328 00:15:38,807 --> 00:15:40,983 Sebuda Thain: A NEW PICTURE WAS TAKEN 329 00:15:41,027 --> 00:15:42,767 FROM THE ORIGINAL NEGATIVE, 330 00:15:42,811 --> 00:15:46,206 WHICH SHOWED CLEARLY THE MARKINGS ON THE AIRCRAFT, 331 00:15:46,249 --> 00:15:48,686 SO THERE COULDN'T HAVE BEEN ICE. 332 00:15:48,730 --> 00:15:51,515 Narrator: BRITISH THINKING IS BACKED UP BY A STAR WITNESS-- 333 00:15:51,559 --> 00:15:55,606 REINHARDT MEYER, A PILOT WHO WAS FIRST ON THE SCENE OF THE CRASH. 334 00:15:55,650 --> 00:15:59,480 Morrin: IT TURNED OUT WHEN HE WAS CALLED TO GIVE EVIDENCE, 335 00:15:59,523 --> 00:16:02,352 UH, HE SAID, WELL, I SPOKE TO REICHEL PERSONALLY FACE TO FACE 336 00:16:02,396 --> 00:16:04,572 AND TOLD HIM WHAT HAD HAPPENED, THAT I'D GONE TO THE AIRCRAFT. 337 00:16:04,615 --> 00:16:06,226 I'D LOOKED FOR ICE IMMEDIATELY AFTER, 338 00:16:06,269 --> 00:16:08,097 WITHIN MINUTES OF THE CRASH, AND I FOUND NO ICE, 339 00:16:08,141 --> 00:16:10,056 JUST MELTING SNOW ONLY, AND THAT WAS IT. 340 00:16:10,099 --> 00:16:12,058 SO, EVERYONE WAS ASTONISHED AT THIS. 341 00:16:12,101 --> 00:16:13,711 Narrator: REICHEL HAS NO EXPLANATION 342 00:16:13,755 --> 00:16:15,713 FOR THE GLARING OMISSION. 343 00:16:15,757 --> 00:16:17,367 Morrin: SLUSH ON THE RUNWAY 344 00:16:17,411 --> 00:16:19,891 IS GOING TO BE THE GERMAN AIRPORT AUTHORITY'S FAULT, 345 00:16:19,935 --> 00:16:23,112 AND THEY'RE NOT GOING TO ACCEPT THAT. 346 00:16:23,156 --> 00:16:25,680 Narrator: IN MARCH 1969... 347 00:16:25,723 --> 00:16:27,029 Thain: GOOD NEWS. 348 00:16:27,073 --> 00:16:28,074 Narrator: ...THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT 349 00:16:28,117 --> 00:16:29,771 ACCEPTS THE SLUSH THEORY 350 00:16:29,814 --> 00:16:33,035 AND FORMALLY CLEARS JAMES THAIN. 351 00:16:33,079 --> 00:16:37,344 Thain: WELL, OF COURSE, MY FAMILY ARE VERY PLEASED, INDEED. 352 00:16:37,387 --> 00:16:40,477 Narrator: BUT BEA DOES NOT GIVE HIM HIS JOB BACK. 353 00:16:40,521 --> 00:16:43,437 CAPTAIN THAIN NEVER FLIES AGAIN. 354 00:16:43,480 --> 00:16:46,440 IN GERMANY, HANS REICHEL AND THE AVIATION AUTHORITIES 355 00:16:46,483 --> 00:16:48,616 NEVER EXONERATE HIM. 356 00:16:48,659 --> 00:16:50,096 Sebuda Thain: I THINK THERE WAS A HUGE AMOUNT 357 00:16:50,139 --> 00:16:54,491 OF STRESS AND STRAIN AND TENSION, 358 00:16:54,535 --> 00:16:56,232 AND HE DIED A YOUNG MAN. 359 00:16:56,276 --> 00:16:57,755 HE WAS 54. 360 00:17:00,106 --> 00:17:02,760 Narrator: THAIN'S REFUSAL TO ACCEPT A FLAWED REPORT 361 00:17:02,804 --> 00:17:04,980 EVENTUALLY LED TO A GREATER UNDERSTANDING 362 00:17:05,024 --> 00:17:08,157 OF THE DEADLY EFFECTS OF SLUSH ON RUNWAYS. 363 00:17:08,201 --> 00:17:10,072 Moss: THE PROBLEM IS TACKLED NOW, 364 00:17:10,116 --> 00:17:12,770 AND I WOULD SUGGEST IT WAS PROBABLY A DIRECT RESULT 365 00:17:12,814 --> 00:17:14,903 OF, UH, THE MUNICH ACCIDENT. 366 00:17:14,946 --> 00:17:19,429 AIRPORT AUTHORITIES APPROACH THE PROBLEM VERY, VERY DIFFERENTLY. 367 00:17:22,476 --> 00:17:24,173 John Griffin: WATCH THE TREES! 368 00:17:24,217 --> 00:17:29,700 Narrator: WHEN A PLANE CARRYING U.S. SOLDIERS CRASHES IN CANADA, 369 00:17:29,744 --> 00:17:32,094 INVESTIGATORS ARGUE OVER THE CAUSE. 370 00:17:32,138 --> 00:17:35,141 WAS IT BAD WEATHER, OR WERE TERRORIST FORCES AT WORK? 371 00:17:35,184 --> 00:17:37,360 David McNair: THEREFORE YOU HAVE NO EVIDENCE OF TERRORISM. 372 00:17:37,404 --> 00:17:38,448 THIS PROVES NOTHING. 373 00:17:38,492 --> 00:17:44,106 ♪ 374 00:17:44,150 --> 00:17:46,891 Narrator: ARROW AIR FLIGHT 1285IS NEARING THE END 375 00:17:46,935 --> 00:17:51,244 OF A 6,200-MILE JOURNEYFROM EGYPT TO THE UNITED STATES. 376 00:17:53,463 --> 00:17:57,598 ON BOARD ARE 8 CREW MEMBERS AND 248 PASSENGERS. 377 00:17:57,641 --> 00:17:59,121 MOST OF THEM ARE U.S. SOLDIERS 378 00:17:59,165 --> 00:18:01,645 WITH THE FAMED 101st AIRBORNE DIVISION, 379 00:18:01,689 --> 00:18:04,779 THE SCREAMING EAGLES. 380 00:18:04,822 --> 00:18:06,998 THE SOLDIERS HAVE BEEN ON A PEACEKEEPING MISSION 381 00:18:07,042 --> 00:18:09,610 IN THE SINAI FOR FIVE AND A HALF MONTHS. 382 00:18:09,653 --> 00:18:12,308 THEY'RE HEADING HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS. 383 00:18:12,352 --> 00:18:13,744 THE MILITARY HAS HIRED 384 00:18:13,788 --> 00:18:16,356 THE CIVILIAN CHARTER CARRIER ARROW AIR 385 00:18:16,399 --> 00:18:21,143 TO TAKE THE SOLDIERS TO FORT CAMPBELL, KENTUCKY. 386 00:18:21,187 --> 00:18:25,104 THE DOUGLAS DC-8 LANDS TO REFUEL IN BELOW FREEZING TEMPERATURES 387 00:18:25,147 --> 00:18:27,149 AT GANDER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT 388 00:18:27,193 --> 00:18:30,631 ON THE EASTERN EDGE OF NEWFOUNDLAND, CANADA. 389 00:18:30,674 --> 00:18:31,762 Griffin: OKAY, GUYS. 390 00:18:31,806 --> 00:18:32,981 I'D LIKE TO BE REFUELED, CHECKED, 391 00:18:33,024 --> 00:18:34,722 AND WHEELS UP IN 90 MINUTES. 392 00:18:34,765 --> 00:18:37,290 John Connelly: ROGER THAT. 393 00:18:37,333 --> 00:18:39,770 Narrator: CAPTAIN JOHN GRIFFIN HAS BEEN AN ARROW AIR PILOT 394 00:18:39,814 --> 00:18:41,598 FOR FOUR YEARS. 395 00:18:44,123 --> 00:18:46,821 FIRST OFFICER JOHN CONNELLY WILL BE AT THE CONTROLS 396 00:18:46,864 --> 00:18:50,172 WHEN FLIGHT 1285 LEAVES GANDER. 397 00:18:50,216 --> 00:18:53,610 Connelly: WE'RE GOOD TO GO. 398 00:18:53,654 --> 00:18:59,138 Controller: BIG A 9-5-0, YOU ARE CLEARED FOR TAKEOFF. 399 00:18:59,181 --> 00:19:00,922 Narrator: WITH LIGHT SNOW COMING DOWN, 400 00:19:00,965 --> 00:19:04,317 THE DC-8 ACCELERATES TO TAKEOFF SPEED. 401 00:19:04,360 --> 00:19:06,449 Griffin: 80 KNOTS. 402 00:19:06,493 --> 00:19:08,538 Connelly: CHECK. 403 00:19:09,931 --> 00:19:12,063 Griffin: V-1. 404 00:19:12,107 --> 00:19:14,240 ROTATE. 405 00:19:14,283 --> 00:19:17,243 Narrator: ARROW AIR 1285 LIFTS OFF FROM GANDER AIRPORT 406 00:19:17,286 --> 00:19:20,202 AT 6:46 A.M., 407 00:19:20,246 --> 00:19:22,204 BUT JUST SECONDS LATER... 408 00:19:22,248 --> 00:19:24,032 Connelly: SHE'S FLYING LIKE A PIG. 409 00:19:28,079 --> 00:19:30,256 Griffin: WATCH YOUR ALTITUDE! PULL UP. 410 00:19:30,299 --> 00:19:33,346 Connelly: COME ON, AIRSPEED! 411 00:19:33,389 --> 00:19:34,608 AIRSPEED! 412 00:19:36,958 --> 00:19:37,959 Griffin: WATCH THE TREES! 413 00:19:44,879 --> 00:19:47,360 [SCREAMING] 414 00:19:50,276 --> 00:19:51,451 [SCREAMING] 415 00:19:51,494 --> 00:19:56,064 [EXPLOSION] 416 00:19:58,719 --> 00:20:00,111 Narrator: THE CRASH HAS CLAIMED THE LIVES 417 00:20:00,155 --> 00:20:03,506 OF ALL 256 PEOPLE ON BOARD. 418 00:20:06,509 --> 00:20:09,251 INVESTIGATORS DAVID McNAIR AND PETER BOAG 419 00:20:09,295 --> 00:20:13,037 OF THE CANADIAN AVIATION SAFETY BOARD, OR CASB, 420 00:20:13,081 --> 00:20:17,955 ARRIVE TO A SCENE OF COMPLETE DEVASTATION. 421 00:20:17,999 --> 00:20:20,784 McNair: THE SIGHTS AND SMELLS, IT'S ALWAYS UNPLEASANT, 422 00:20:20,828 --> 00:20:22,308 BUT YOU JUST HAVE TO, YOU HAVE TO DO IT. 423 00:20:22,351 --> 00:20:24,353 IT'S PART OF YOUR JOB. 424 00:20:24,397 --> 00:20:26,007 Narrator: THEY WONDER IF THE WEATHER PLAYED A PART 425 00:20:26,050 --> 00:20:27,574 IN THE CRASH. 426 00:20:27,617 --> 00:20:29,619 McNair: DURING THE TIME, THE FORECAST WAS FOR ICING. 427 00:20:29,663 --> 00:20:30,881 Narrator: THEY DISCOVER THAT 428 00:20:30,925 --> 00:20:32,753 DESPITE THE FREEZING TEMPERATURES... 429 00:20:32,796 --> 00:20:35,321 McNair: DID YOU SEE THE FLIGHT ENGINEER INSPECT THE AIRCRAFT? 430 00:20:35,364 --> 00:20:38,628 Narrator: ...THE CREW OF FLIGHT 1285 HAD NOT DE-ICED THE WINGS 431 00:20:38,672 --> 00:20:40,804 BEFORE TAKING OFF. 432 00:20:40,848 --> 00:20:42,806 COULD ICE HAVE CAUSED THE CRASH? 433 00:20:42,850 --> 00:20:45,722 Peter Boag: HEY, THERE WERE TWO OTHER TAKEOFFS THIS MORNING. 434 00:20:45,766 --> 00:20:48,290 ONE DE-ICED, ONE DIDN'T. 435 00:20:48,334 --> 00:20:51,206 McNair: AND THEY TOOK OFF WITHIN TWO HOURS OF EACH OTHER. 436 00:20:51,250 --> 00:20:52,990 Narrator: AT THIS POINT, IT'S HARD TO SAY 437 00:20:53,034 --> 00:20:55,863 WHETHER ICE PLAYED ANY ROLE IN THIS CRASH. 438 00:20:58,518 --> 00:21:03,305 INVESTIGATORS TURN TO THE PLANE'S BLACK BOXES FOR ANSWERS, 439 00:21:03,349 --> 00:21:05,133 BUT THEY HIT A DEAD END. 440 00:21:05,176 --> 00:21:07,353 THE COCKPIT RECORDER WAS MALFUNCTIONING 441 00:21:07,396 --> 00:21:11,792 AND FAILED TO RECORD THE CREW'S CONVERSATIONS. 442 00:21:11,835 --> 00:21:13,315 McNair: WITH THE ABSENCE OF COCKPIT VOICE RECORDER, 443 00:21:13,359 --> 00:21:15,143 WE DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THE CREW WAS DOING 444 00:21:15,186 --> 00:21:16,927 OR WHAT THEY WERE FACING. 445 00:21:16,971 --> 00:21:19,321 Narrator: THE FLIGHT DATA RECORDER IS AN OLD DESIGN 446 00:21:19,365 --> 00:21:21,584 PROVIDING LITTLE INFORMATION. 447 00:21:24,065 --> 00:21:25,588 McNair: THE RECORDER FOR THE ARROW AIR ACCIDENT 448 00:21:25,632 --> 00:21:27,155 WAS EXTREMELY LIMITED. 449 00:21:27,198 --> 00:21:29,462 WE WERE ABLE TO DETERMINE FIRST OF ALL, SPEED, 450 00:21:29,505 --> 00:21:32,291 A LITTLE BIT OF ALTITUDE, AND HEADING OF THE AIRCRAFT. 451 00:21:32,334 --> 00:21:34,684 THERE WAS NO INDICATION ON THERE OF ENGINE POWER, 452 00:21:34,728 --> 00:21:38,427 BANK ANGLE, UH, PITCH ANGLE. 453 00:21:38,471 --> 00:21:41,212 Narrator: THEN, WITH THE INVESTIGATION ONLY HOURS OLD, 454 00:21:41,256 --> 00:21:43,345 IT TAKES A DRASTIC TURN. 455 00:21:43,389 --> 00:21:45,216 AN OVERSEAS U.S. CONSULATE 456 00:21:45,260 --> 00:21:47,567 RECEIVES WORD FROM A TERRORIST GROUP 457 00:21:47,610 --> 00:21:51,571 CLAIMING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE CRASH. 458 00:21:51,614 --> 00:21:55,096 DID A BOMB TAKE DOWN FLIGHT 1285? 459 00:21:57,011 --> 00:21:59,492 A ROYAL CANADIAN MOUNTED POLICE FORENSICS LAB 460 00:21:59,535 --> 00:22:02,669 TESTS PIECES OF THE WRECKAGE FOR BOMB RESIDUE. 461 00:22:02,712 --> 00:22:04,584 THEY FIND NO TRACES. 462 00:22:07,326 --> 00:22:09,980 THE TEAM ALSO SEARCHES FOR ANY FALLEN DEBRIS 463 00:22:10,024 --> 00:22:12,243 BETWEEN THE RUNWAY AND THE POINT OF IMPACT. 464 00:22:12,287 --> 00:22:13,549 McNair: IF THE AIRCRAFT HAD EXPLODED 465 00:22:13,593 --> 00:22:15,334 BEFORE IT HIT THE TREES, 466 00:22:15,377 --> 00:22:17,205 ONE WOULD EXPECT SOMETHING WOULD COME OFF THE AIRCRAFT, 467 00:22:17,248 --> 00:22:18,815 AND WE WOULD HAVE FOUND IT. 468 00:22:18,859 --> 00:22:22,428 WE DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING, NOTHING AT ALL. 469 00:22:22,471 --> 00:22:25,126 Narrator: INVESTIGATORS DISMISS THE TERRORISM ANGLE 470 00:22:25,169 --> 00:22:27,650 AND TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THE FLIGHT DATA. 471 00:22:27,694 --> 00:22:31,393 SOMETHING UNUSUAL CATCHES THEIR EYE. 472 00:22:31,437 --> 00:22:34,396 LIFTOFF HAPPENED 1,000 FEET, OR 4 SECONDS, 473 00:22:34,440 --> 00:22:38,574 AFTER IT SHOULD HAVE. 474 00:22:38,618 --> 00:22:42,752 McNair: 4,300 FEET, 100 KNOTS. 475 00:22:42,796 --> 00:22:48,018 6,300 FEET, 144 KNOTS. 476 00:22:48,062 --> 00:22:51,282 Boag: THEY SHOULD BE LIFTING OFF NOW. 477 00:22:51,326 --> 00:22:54,938 McNair: 167 KNOTS. 478 00:22:54,982 --> 00:22:57,114 Boag: AN EXTRA THOUSAND FEET TO GET OFF THE GROUND. 479 00:23:00,422 --> 00:23:01,989 McNair: WHY'D IT TAKE THEM SO LONG? 480 00:23:02,032 --> 00:23:03,773 Narrator: WHAT DELAYED THE LIFTOFF? 481 00:23:03,817 --> 00:23:05,427 Griffin: V-1. 482 00:23:05,471 --> 00:23:07,386 Narrator: WAS THERE SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE PLANE? 483 00:23:12,565 --> 00:23:14,175 Griffin: ROTATE. 484 00:23:14,218 --> 00:23:15,263 Narrator: OR ARE THE INVESTIGATORS 485 00:23:15,306 --> 00:23:17,396 LOOKING IN THE WRONG PLACE? 486 00:23:22,792 --> 00:23:24,707 DETERMINED TO FIND OUT 487 00:23:24,751 --> 00:23:29,059 WHY ARROW AIR 1285 WAS SO SLOW TO TAKE OFF, 488 00:23:29,103 --> 00:23:30,583 INVESTIGATORS TURN THEIR ATTENTION 489 00:23:30,626 --> 00:23:32,585 TO THE WEIGHT OF THE AIRCRAFT. 490 00:23:35,283 --> 00:23:37,720 Griffin: IT'S 101,000 POUNDS FOR FUEL. 491 00:23:37,764 --> 00:23:41,202 PASSENGERS AND CARGO UNCHANGED. 492 00:23:41,245 --> 00:23:42,551 Narrator: THE CREW HAD CALCULATED 493 00:23:42,595 --> 00:23:44,292 THAT EACH PASSENGER PLUS THEIR BAGGAGE 494 00:23:44,335 --> 00:23:48,514 WOULD WEIGH 170 POUNDS, 495 00:23:48,557 --> 00:23:51,473 BUT THIS WAS NO COMMERCIAL FLIGHT. 496 00:23:51,517 --> 00:23:54,476 ALL 256 PASSENGERS WERE ADULTS, 497 00:23:54,520 --> 00:23:58,132 ALMOST ALL OF THEM LARGE MEN HAULING MILITARY GEAR. 498 00:23:58,175 --> 00:24:00,482 McNair: WE ESTIMATED THAT THE MORE REALISTIC WEIGHT 499 00:24:00,526 --> 00:24:03,093 WOULD HAVE BEEN 220 POUNDS PER PASSENGER. 500 00:24:03,137 --> 00:24:06,749 THAT INCLUDES THE PASSENGER, EVERYTHING THEY WERE CARRYING, 501 00:24:06,793 --> 00:24:09,665 AND, UH, AND THE EQUIPMENT THEY HAD. 502 00:24:09,709 --> 00:24:11,232 Narrator: INVESTIGATORS ESTIMATE THE WEIGHT 503 00:24:11,275 --> 00:24:14,017 AT MORE THAN 54,000 POUNDS. 504 00:24:14,061 --> 00:24:15,889 THAT'S 12,000 POUNDS HEAVIER 505 00:24:15,932 --> 00:24:19,675 THAN THE WEIGHT RECORDED ON THE LOAD SHEET. 506 00:24:19,719 --> 00:24:21,503 McNair: IT'S NOT EVEN CLOSE. 507 00:24:21,547 --> 00:24:23,200 Narrator: BUT THIS PLANE HAD BEEN FLYING 508 00:24:23,244 --> 00:24:26,160 WITH THAT WEIGHT ALL NIGHT, TAKING OFF FROM CAIRO, 509 00:24:26,203 --> 00:24:28,858 THEN FROM COLOGNE WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS. 510 00:24:31,208 --> 00:24:35,604 WHAT WAS IT ABOUT GANDER THAT MADE THE DIFFERENCE? 511 00:24:35,648 --> 00:24:38,564 McNair: OKAY. THIS HAS TO BE IT. 512 00:24:38,607 --> 00:24:41,088 ICE AND WEIGHT. 513 00:24:41,131 --> 00:24:42,829 WHY DIDN'T IT FLY? WE HAD TWO POWERFUL REASONS. 514 00:24:42,872 --> 00:24:44,265 ONE WAS WEIGHT. 515 00:24:44,308 --> 00:24:46,049 THE OTHER WAS EVEN PROBABLY MORE POWERFUL 516 00:24:46,093 --> 00:24:49,183 IS A SMALL AMOUNT OF ICE CONTAMINATION ON THE AIRCRAFT. 517 00:24:49,226 --> 00:24:51,402 Narrator: INVESTIGATORS CAN ONLY THEORIZE. 518 00:24:51,446 --> 00:24:55,798 NO ONE IN GANDER SAW THE ICE ON THE WINGS. 519 00:24:55,842 --> 00:24:57,147 THAT'S ONE PROBLEM. 520 00:24:57,191 --> 00:25:00,324 BUT NOW THEY MUST CONFRONT ANOTHER. 521 00:25:00,368 --> 00:25:02,675 SOME COLLEAGUES AT THE CANADIAN AIR SAFETY BOARD 522 00:25:02,718 --> 00:25:06,461 ARE RAISING SERIOUS DOUBTS ABOUT THE FINDINGS. 523 00:25:06,505 --> 00:25:07,854 ONE OF THOSE WITH QUESTIONS 524 00:25:07,897 --> 00:25:11,597 IS BOARD MEMBER AND AVIATION EXPERT LES FILOTAS. 525 00:25:11,640 --> 00:25:12,902 Les Filotas: THEY SAID THE AIRCRAFT, 526 00:25:12,946 --> 00:25:14,643 I BELIEVE THAT THE EXACT PHRASE WAS 527 00:25:14,687 --> 00:25:17,385 "DESTROYED BY A FUEL-FED FIRE." 528 00:25:17,428 --> 00:25:20,214 [EXPLOSION] 529 00:25:20,257 --> 00:25:22,782 THE EARLY REPORTS, EVERYBODY WHO WAS AROUND THERE 530 00:25:22,825 --> 00:25:27,003 MENTIONED THE MASSIVE EXPLOSION AND THE MUSHROOM CLOUD. 531 00:25:27,047 --> 00:25:28,918 Narrator: FILOTAS JOINS THOSE SPECULATING 532 00:25:28,962 --> 00:25:35,403 THAT ARROW AIR FLIGHT 1285 WAS THE VICTIM OF A TERRORIST PLOT. 533 00:25:35,446 --> 00:25:38,928 FILOTAS POINTS TO PHOTOGRAPHIC EVIDENCE TO BOLSTER HIS CASE. 534 00:25:42,802 --> 00:25:45,587 Filotas: MANY PHOTOS THAT SEEMED TO INDICATE THAT, UH, 535 00:25:45,631 --> 00:25:48,459 THERE WAS SOME KIND OF AN EXPLOSION ON BOARD. 536 00:25:48,503 --> 00:25:50,723 Narrator: ANOTHER KEY PIECE OF INFORMATION FOR FILOTAS 537 00:25:50,766 --> 00:25:53,160 COMES FROM AUTOPSIES OF SOME OF THE VICTIMS 538 00:25:53,203 --> 00:25:55,379 THAT INDICATE THERE WERE EXTREMELY HIGH LEVELS 539 00:25:55,423 --> 00:25:58,426 OF CARBON MONOXIDE IN THEIR BLOOD. 540 00:25:58,469 --> 00:25:59,645 Filotas: SO, IF THEY HAVE 541 00:25:59,688 --> 00:26:01,690 COMBUSTION PRODUCTS IN THEIR LUNGS, 542 00:26:01,734 --> 00:26:04,388 THE NATURAL INFERENCE IS THAT THEY MUST HAVE 543 00:26:04,432 --> 00:26:11,526 BREATHED IN SOME COMBUSTION PRODUCTS BEFORE THE CRASH. 544 00:26:11,570 --> 00:26:13,354 Griffin: WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT? 545 00:26:13,397 --> 00:26:14,442 SMOKE! 546 00:26:14,485 --> 00:26:16,357 SMOKE IN THE COCKPIT! SMOKE! 547 00:26:20,230 --> 00:26:21,275 Narrator: BUT THE LEAD INVESTIGATORS 548 00:26:21,318 --> 00:26:25,409 DISMISS THE SABOTAGE THEORIES. 549 00:26:25,453 --> 00:26:27,411 THE EXTREME INTENSITY OF THE FIRE 550 00:26:27,455 --> 00:26:30,284 COULD HAVE CAUSED THE ABNORMALLY HIGH LEVEL OF CARBON MONOXIDE 551 00:26:30,327 --> 00:26:33,504 IN THE VICTIMS' BLOOD. 552 00:26:33,548 --> 00:26:35,071 McNair: IT'S GOT NOTHING. 553 00:26:35,115 --> 00:26:38,771 WE HAD NO INDICATION THAT TERRORISM WAS A PLAYER, 554 00:26:38,814 --> 00:26:40,337 BUT WE DID HAVE A LOT OF INDICATION 555 00:26:40,381 --> 00:26:42,339 THAT THERE WAS AN AIRCRAFT PERFORMANCE PROBLEM 556 00:26:42,383 --> 00:26:44,341 AND THERE WERE ICING PROBLEMS. 557 00:26:44,385 --> 00:26:46,082 AS PART OF THE INVESTIGATION, 558 00:26:46,126 --> 00:26:48,128 WE DID A LOT OF RESEARCH ON THE EFFECTS OF ICE ON AIRCRAFT. 559 00:26:48,171 --> 00:26:49,520 Narrator: USING A WIND TUNNEL, 560 00:26:49,564 --> 00:26:51,653 INVESTIGATORS SPRAY A WING WITH ICE 561 00:26:51,697 --> 00:26:54,961 TO SEE HOW THAT AFFECTS THE LIFT. 562 00:26:55,004 --> 00:26:56,702 THE RESULTS ARE STARTLING. 563 00:26:56,745 --> 00:26:59,966 McNair: JUST A SMALL AMOUNT, SAY THE SIZE OF SOME SANDPAPER, 564 00:27:00,009 --> 00:27:01,837 IF THAT'S THE TYPE OF SURFACE YOU HAVE, 565 00:27:01,881 --> 00:27:04,492 IT CAN SERIOUSLY DEGRADE A LARGE AIRCRAFT. 566 00:27:04,535 --> 00:27:06,363 THAT WAS A SURPRISE TO ME. 567 00:27:06,407 --> 00:27:08,409 Griffin: WATCH YOUR ALTITUDE. PULL UP. 568 00:27:08,452 --> 00:27:10,933 Connelly: COME ON, AIRSPEED. 569 00:27:10,977 --> 00:27:12,674 AIRSPEED! 570 00:27:12,718 --> 00:27:14,154 McNair: IF YOU TAKE ONE OF THE FACTORS OUT, 571 00:27:14,197 --> 00:27:16,373 IF YOU TAKE THE ICE OUT AND HAVE THE SAME WEIGHT, 572 00:27:16,417 --> 00:27:18,071 MAYBE YOU DON'T HAVE THE ACCIDENT. 573 00:27:18,114 --> 00:27:19,768 IF YOU TAKE OUT THE HEAVY WEIGHT AND STILL HAVE THE ICING, 574 00:27:19,812 --> 00:27:21,596 MAYBE YOU WON'T HAVE THE ACCIDENT, 575 00:27:21,640 --> 00:27:24,904 BUT IF YOU HAVE THEM COMBINED TOGETHER, YOU HAVE THE ACCIDENT. 576 00:27:24,947 --> 00:27:27,646 Narrator: INVESTIGATORS BELIEVE THEY HAVE A CONVINCING REPORT 577 00:27:27,689 --> 00:27:34,217 THAT EXPLAINS THE COMPLEX CAUSE OF THE CRASH OF FLIGHT 1285. 578 00:27:34,261 --> 00:27:37,699 McNAIR: ICE AND WEIGHT. 579 00:27:37,743 --> 00:27:40,006 Narrator: BUT FOUR OF THE NINE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD 580 00:27:40,049 --> 00:27:42,704 DISAGREE WITH THE REPORT'S CONCLUSION. 581 00:27:42,748 --> 00:27:45,098 THE DISSENTERS TAKE THE UNPRECEDENTED STEP 582 00:27:45,141 --> 00:27:47,840 OF RELEASING THEIR OWN MINORITY REPORT, 583 00:27:47,883 --> 00:27:50,886 CITING AN ONBOARD EXPLOSION AS THE CAUSE. 584 00:27:50,930 --> 00:27:54,107 Filotas: IT'S IMPOSSIBLE THAT ICE WOULD HAVE BEEN A FACTOR. 585 00:27:54,150 --> 00:27:55,412 IT DOES NOT ADVANCE SAFETY 586 00:27:55,456 --> 00:27:57,763 TO GET THE WRONG CAUSE OF AN ACCIDENT. 587 00:27:57,806 --> 00:27:59,329 McNair: THE FACT THAT THERE WAS A LOT OF CONTROVERSY 588 00:27:59,373 --> 00:28:02,245 AROUND THIS INVESTIGATION WAS VERY UNFORTUNATE 589 00:28:02,289 --> 00:28:04,770 BECAUSE BASICALLY IT TOOK AWAY FROM THE SAFETY MESSAGE. 590 00:28:04,813 --> 00:28:06,249 A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE A HARD TIME BELIEVING 591 00:28:06,293 --> 00:28:07,990 THAT A LITTLE TINY BIT OF ICE ON A LARGE WING 592 00:28:08,034 --> 00:28:11,254 WILL HAVE A BIG EFFECT, BUT IT DOES. 593 00:28:11,298 --> 00:28:13,692 Narrator: THE OFFICIAL REPORT STILL STANDS, 594 00:28:13,735 --> 00:28:15,345 BUT TO THIS DAY, 595 00:28:15,389 --> 00:28:18,174 THE TWO SIDES DISAGREE ABOUT THE CAUSE OF THE CRASH. 596 00:28:18,218 --> 00:28:19,567 Wesley Wark: IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, OF COURSE, 597 00:28:19,610 --> 00:28:22,352 WHAT WE HAD WAS AN EXTRAORDINARY OUTCOME, 598 00:28:22,396 --> 00:28:24,398 WHERE YOU HAVE A MAJORITY AND A MINORITY REPORT 599 00:28:24,441 --> 00:28:26,705 WHICH ARE DEEPLY DIVERGENT, 600 00:28:26,748 --> 00:28:29,272 WHICH RAISE VERY DIFFERENT KINDSOF PICTURES 601 00:28:29,316 --> 00:28:32,580 ABOUT WHAT THE OUTCOME OF THIS CRASH WOULD BE. 602 00:28:32,623 --> 00:28:34,277 Narrator: IT'S LIKELY THE CONTROVERSY 603 00:28:34,321 --> 00:28:36,453 WILL NEVER BE RESOLVED. 604 00:28:36,497 --> 00:28:37,454 Phil Derner: I THINK THAT IF 605 00:28:37,498 --> 00:28:38,717 THERE IS A DEBATE, THERE IS 606 00:28:38,760 --> 00:28:39,805 ALWAYS GOING TO BE A DEBATE. 607 00:28:39,848 --> 00:28:40,806 A LOT OF THE PEOPLE THAT 608 00:28:40,849 --> 00:28:42,503 QUESTION A LOT OF THESE THEORIES 609 00:28:42,546 --> 00:28:46,289 WILL NEVER ULTIMATELY BE SATISFIED WITH THE RESULTS. 610 00:28:48,944 --> 00:28:50,641 Arkadiusz Protasiuk: CONTINUING OUR APPROACH. 611 00:28:50,685 --> 00:28:53,732 IF WE'RE UNSUCCESSFUL, WE'LL GO AROUND ON AUTOPILOT. 612 00:28:53,775 --> 00:28:56,212 Narrator: SOMETIMES, THE IMMEDIATE CAUSE OF A CRASH 613 00:28:56,256 --> 00:28:58,562 IS NOT THE ONLY THING IN DISPUTE. 614 00:28:58,606 --> 00:28:59,563 Todd Curtis: THE PILOT MADE 615 00:28:59,607 --> 00:29:00,564 DECISIONS OR TOOK ACTIONS 616 00:29:00,608 --> 00:29:01,565 BASED ON A LOT OF OTHER 617 00:29:01,609 --> 00:29:03,176 THINGS THAT HAPPENED. 618 00:29:03,219 --> 00:29:04,743 Controller: I JUST DON'T THINK WE SHOULD BRING HIM IN. 619 00:29:04,786 --> 00:29:07,180 IT MAKES NO SENSE RIGHT NOW. 620 00:29:07,223 --> 00:29:10,270 Narrator: IT BECOMES A QUESTION OF WHO IS ULTIMATELY TO BLAME? 621 00:29:10,313 --> 00:29:11,619 Curtis: AND TWO DIFFERENT PEOPLE 622 00:29:11,662 --> 00:29:13,577 LISTENING TO THE SAME VOICE RECORDING 623 00:29:13,621 --> 00:29:15,754 MIGHT COME UP WITH TWO DIFFERENT INTERPRETATIONS. 624 00:29:15,797 --> 00:29:17,712 Investigator: THEY DIDN'T WANT THE PLANE TO LAND. 625 00:29:21,194 --> 00:29:23,979 FLYING FROM POLAND TO RUSSIA, 626 00:29:24,023 --> 00:29:26,939 POLISH AIR FORCE FLIGHT 101 IS CARRYING 89 PASSENGERS, 627 00:29:26,982 --> 00:29:30,203 INCLUDING POLISH PRESIDENT LECH KACZYNSKI. 628 00:29:32,466 --> 00:29:33,815 THE PASSENGERS ARE ON THEIR WAY 629 00:29:33,859 --> 00:29:38,951 TO MARK A GRIM AND CONTROVERSIAL EVENT. 630 00:29:38,994 --> 00:29:41,823 [SPEAKING POLISH] 631 00:29:41,867 --> 00:29:43,390 Jerzy Miller, translated: THIS ANNIVERSARY WAS 632 00:29:43,433 --> 00:29:44,652 ON APRIL THE 10th. 633 00:29:44,695 --> 00:29:47,089 [SPEAKING POLISH] 634 00:29:47,133 --> 00:29:49,222 IT WAS A GREAT POLISH TRAGEDY-- 635 00:29:49,265 --> 00:29:53,617 THE MURDER OF POLISH SOLDIERS IN WORLD WAR II BY STALIN. 636 00:29:53,661 --> 00:29:55,924 [SPEAKING POLISH] 637 00:29:57,360 --> 00:29:59,798 Narrator: IN 1940, STALINIST FORCES 638 00:29:59,841 --> 00:30:03,410 MARCHED 22,000 POLISH OFFICERS AND INTELLECTUALS 639 00:30:03,453 --> 00:30:08,371 INTO RUSSIA'S KATYN FOREST TO BE EXECUTED. 640 00:30:08,415 --> 00:30:09,851 Konstanty Gebert: FOR THE FIRST TIME, 641 00:30:09,895 --> 00:30:12,506 THE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT WAS ACKNOWLEDGING 642 00:30:12,549 --> 00:30:14,203 THE CRIME COMMITTED 643 00:30:14,247 --> 00:30:19,078 AND THE PAIN THAT THE POLES STILL FEEL FOR THAT CRIME. 644 00:30:19,121 --> 00:30:22,124 Narrator: BY VISITING A MEMORIAL NEAR THE SITE OF THE MASSACRE, 645 00:30:22,168 --> 00:30:24,474 THE POLISH PRESIDENT IS TAKING AN IMPORTANT STEP 646 00:30:24,518 --> 00:30:26,607 TOWARDS RECONCILIATION. 647 00:30:28,304 --> 00:30:30,741 A HUGE RESPONSIBILITY LIES ON THE SHOULDERS 648 00:30:30,785 --> 00:30:33,005 OF CAPTAIN ARKADIUSZ PROTASIUK 649 00:30:33,048 --> 00:30:35,355 AND HIS CREW OF ELITE MILITARY AIRMEN 650 00:30:35,398 --> 00:30:37,923 FROM POLAND'S SPECIAL AVIATION REGIMENT. 651 00:30:37,966 --> 00:30:41,317 THEY'RE FLYING A TUPOLEV TU-154M, 652 00:30:41,361 --> 00:30:45,365 AN EXTREMELY POPULAR RUSSIAN-BUILT PLANE. 653 00:30:45,408 --> 00:30:47,846 Protasiuk: THROTTLE DOWN. 654 00:30:47,889 --> 00:30:49,760 Narrator: ONE HOUR INTO THEIR FLIGHT FROM WARSAW, 655 00:30:49,804 --> 00:30:51,327 JUST AFTER 10:00, 656 00:30:51,371 --> 00:30:57,029 THE PLANE BEGINS TO DESCEND TO SMOLENSK, RUSSIA. 657 00:30:57,072 --> 00:30:58,595 Protasiuk: POLISH 101. 658 00:30:58,639 --> 00:31:00,032 GOOD MORNING. 659 00:31:00,075 --> 00:31:03,383 Controller: POLISH 101, ACKNOWLEDGE. 660 00:31:03,426 --> 00:31:05,602 POLISH AIR FORCE, WE HAVE FOG. 661 00:31:05,646 --> 00:31:08,257 VISIBILITY IS 400 METERS. 662 00:31:08,301 --> 00:31:09,432 Protasiuk: UNDERSTOOD. 663 00:31:09,476 --> 00:31:12,261 POLISH AIR FORCE 101. 664 00:31:12,305 --> 00:31:14,568 HEAVY FOG. VISIBILITY'S ONLY 400 METERS. 665 00:31:14,611 --> 00:31:16,004 [SPEAKING POLISH] 666 00:31:16,048 --> 00:31:17,527 Sergey Yakimov, translated: THE FOG WAS SO DENSE, 667 00:31:17,571 --> 00:31:18,920 NOTHING WAS VISIBLE. 668 00:31:18,964 --> 00:31:20,704 YOU COULDN'T SEE YOUR HAND IN FRONT OF YOUR FACE 669 00:31:20,748 --> 00:31:24,186 OR THE PERSON STANDING NEXT TO YOU. 670 00:31:24,230 --> 00:31:26,145 Narrator: SMOLENSK AIR BASE DOESN'T HAVE THE EQUIPMENT 671 00:31:26,188 --> 00:31:29,539 NEEDED FOR A RADIO-GUIDED LANDING. 672 00:31:29,583 --> 00:31:32,542 THE PILOTS WILL FIRST HAVE TO DESCEND TO 300 FEET, 673 00:31:32,586 --> 00:31:34,370 THEN LOOK FOR THE RUNWAY. 674 00:31:34,414 --> 00:31:38,940 ONCE THEY SPOT IT, THEY WILL HAVE TO LAND MANUALLY. 675 00:31:38,984 --> 00:31:41,029 CAPTAIN PROTASIUK TAKES HIS PLANE LOWER 676 00:31:41,073 --> 00:31:44,032 TO GET A FIRSTHAND LOOK AT THE LANDING CONDITIONS. 677 00:31:47,035 --> 00:31:52,693 BUT AS THEY GET CLOSER, THE FOG GETS EVEN THICKER. 678 00:31:52,736 --> 00:31:54,738 Controller: APPROACHING OUTER MARKER. 679 00:31:54,782 --> 00:31:57,437 ON COURSE AND ON GLIDE SLOPE. 680 00:31:57,480 --> 00:31:58,655 Narrator: AS THEY DESCEND, 681 00:31:58,699 --> 00:32:01,310 SUDDENLY A GROUND WARNING SOUNDS. 682 00:32:01,354 --> 00:32:03,312 Computer: TERRAIN. TERRAIN. PULL UP. 683 00:32:06,098 --> 00:32:07,273 Navigator: 100 METERS. 684 00:32:07,316 --> 00:32:08,578 Computer: TERRAIN. PULL UP. 685 00:32:08,622 --> 00:32:09,579 Navigator: 90 METERS. 686 00:32:09,623 --> 00:32:11,233 Computer: PULL UP. 687 00:32:11,277 --> 00:32:13,757 Narrator: THE CAPTAIN DECIDES TO ABORT THE LANDING. 688 00:32:13,801 --> 00:32:15,934 Navigator: 40. 689 00:32:15,977 --> 00:32:19,067 Narrator: HE NEEDS TO CLIMB, BUT IT'S A STRUGGLE. 690 00:32:19,111 --> 00:32:20,068 Navigator: 20. 691 00:32:20,112 --> 00:32:33,952 ♪ 692 00:32:33,995 --> 00:32:38,957 Narrator: NO ONE ON BOARD FLIGHT 101 HAS SURVIVED. 693 00:32:39,000 --> 00:32:41,698 ONE OF THE DARKEST DAYS IN POLISH HISTORY, 694 00:32:41,742 --> 00:32:43,526 A DAY THAT WAS TO HAVE BEEN COMMEMORATED 695 00:32:43,570 --> 00:32:45,398 BY THE PRESIDENT HIMSELF, 696 00:32:45,441 --> 00:32:48,096 WILL NOW BE REMEMBERED FOR YET ANOTHER TRAGEDY. 697 00:32:51,273 --> 00:32:54,146 NEWS OF THE POLISH PRESIDENT'S DEATH ON RUSSIAN SOIL 698 00:32:54,189 --> 00:32:56,844 STUNS ALL OF POLAND. 699 00:32:56,887 --> 00:32:59,020 Gebert: BECAUSE OF THE DEEPLY HOSTILE RELATIONSHIP 700 00:32:59,064 --> 00:33:00,717 BETWEEN POLAND AND RUSSIA, 701 00:33:00,761 --> 00:33:03,416 CONSPIRACY THEORIES SPRUNG UP IMMEDIATELY. 702 00:33:03,459 --> 00:33:04,983 Narrator: MANY POLES ARE CONVINCED 703 00:33:05,026 --> 00:33:07,855 THE WORLD HAS JUST WITNESSED AN ASSASSINATION, 704 00:33:07,898 --> 00:33:09,639 A TARGETED KILLING ORCHESTRATED 705 00:33:09,683 --> 00:33:13,078 BY PRESIDENT KACZYNSKI'S POLITICAL ADVERSARIES. 706 00:33:16,385 --> 00:33:18,039 RUSSIAN AIR ACCIDENT INVESTIGATORS 707 00:33:18,083 --> 00:33:21,303 ARRIVE AT THE CRASH SITE. 708 00:33:21,347 --> 00:33:23,697 THEY ARE MEMBERS OF THE INTERSTATE AVIATION COMMITTEE, 709 00:33:23,740 --> 00:33:27,483 KNOWN AS THE MAK. 710 00:33:27,527 --> 00:33:29,833 Investigator: WE NEED TO MAP EVERY QUADRANT. 711 00:33:29,877 --> 00:33:31,270 Gebert: IT'S NOT EVERY DAY 712 00:33:31,313 --> 00:33:33,707 THAT THEY HAVE TO INVESTIGATE A PLANE CRASH 713 00:33:33,750 --> 00:33:37,624 AND IT'S A MATTER OF TOP POLITICAL IMPORTANCE. 714 00:33:37,667 --> 00:33:38,973 Narrator: AT THE CRASH SITE, 715 00:33:39,017 --> 00:33:40,583 THE EVIDENCE IS POINTING IN A DIRECTION 716 00:33:40,627 --> 00:33:45,501 THAT WILL NOT SIT WELL WITH THE POLES. 717 00:33:45,545 --> 00:33:48,765 Investigator: WHY WOULD THEY EVEN TRY TO LAND IN THIS FOG? 718 00:33:48,809 --> 00:33:50,941 Narrator: SOME CLAIM THE POLISH PILOTS SHOULD NOT HAVE TRIED 719 00:33:50,985 --> 00:33:55,076 TO LAND IN THE HEAVY FOG. 720 00:33:55,120 --> 00:33:57,731 THE SUGGESTION RAISES ANGER IN POLAND. 721 00:33:57,774 --> 00:33:59,994 Gebert: FOR THE PARTISANS OF THE CONSPIRACY THEORY, 722 00:34:00,038 --> 00:34:02,649 IT WAS JUST ANOTHER RUSSIAN WHITEWASH. 723 00:34:08,394 --> 00:34:10,570 Narrator: THE POLISH GOVERNMENT SENDS THEIR OWN INVESTIGATORS 724 00:34:10,613 --> 00:34:13,529 TO WORK ALONGSIDE THE RUSSIANS. 725 00:34:13,573 --> 00:34:15,270 Polish Investigator: WHAT HAVE YOU GOT SO FAR? 726 00:34:18,882 --> 00:34:20,580 Narrator: THEY LAUNCH A PAINSTAKING SEARCH 727 00:34:20,623 --> 00:34:22,147 FOR ANY EVIDENCE THAT THE FLIGHT 728 00:34:22,190 --> 00:34:27,456 MAY HAVE BEEN BROUGHT DOWN BY ASSASSINS. 729 00:34:27,500 --> 00:34:31,852 CAREFUL ANALYSIS BY RUSSIAN AND POLISH EXPERTS COMES UP EMPTY. 730 00:34:31,895 --> 00:34:34,463 THEY FIND NO EXPLOSIVE RESIDUE ON THE WRECKAGE 731 00:34:34,507 --> 00:34:37,336 AND NO SIGN THAT THE PLANE WAS SHOT DOWN. 732 00:34:37,379 --> 00:34:40,600 FOR NOW, INVESTIGATORS ON BOTH SIDES AGREE-- 733 00:34:40,643 --> 00:34:46,606 THE CRASH IS A TRAGIC ACCIDENT, NOT A POLITICAL ASSASSINATION. 734 00:34:46,649 --> 00:34:50,740 BUT WHAT COULD HAVE CAUSED THE ACCIDENT? 735 00:34:50,784 --> 00:34:53,178 INVESTIGATORS EXAMINE THE FLIGHT DATA RECORDER 736 00:34:53,221 --> 00:34:58,139 TO SEARCH FOR ANY SIGN OF ONBOARD MECHANICAL FAILURE. 737 00:34:58,183 --> 00:35:00,228 Russian Investigator: IT LOOKS LIKE EVERYTHING WAS FUNCTIONING. 738 00:35:00,272 --> 00:35:01,882 Narrator: FLIGHT DATA CONFIRMS 739 00:35:01,925 --> 00:35:04,711 THAT UNTIL THE MOMENT THE PLANE STRUCK THE FIRST TREE, 740 00:35:04,754 --> 00:35:06,452 THERE WAS NO MALFUNCTION WHATSOEVER. 741 00:35:06,495 --> 00:35:08,193 Russian Investigator: WE'LL SEND YOU A COPY OF THE DATA. 742 00:35:08,236 --> 00:35:10,369 Narrator: IT'S BEGINNING TO LOOK LIKE THE INITIAL SPECULATION 743 00:35:10,412 --> 00:35:13,023 FROM THE RUSSIAN TEAM IS TRUE. 744 00:35:13,067 --> 00:35:15,287 Protasiuk: HEAVY FOG, VISIBILITY IS ONLY 400 METERS. 745 00:35:15,330 --> 00:35:17,941 Narrator: THE POLISH PILOTS MAY BE AT FAULT. 746 00:35:17,985 --> 00:35:20,161 [SPEAKING POLISH] 747 00:35:20,205 --> 00:35:22,424 Miller: ONLY BY COMBINING ALL THE PARAMETERS 748 00:35:22,468 --> 00:35:24,861 COULD WE ANSWER THE QUESTIONS. 749 00:35:24,905 --> 00:35:27,473 DID THE CREW FOLLOW PROCEDURES? 750 00:35:27,516 --> 00:35:30,040 WAS THE PLANE WORKING PROPERLY TO THE END? 751 00:35:30,084 --> 00:35:34,306 [SPEAKING POLISH] 752 00:35:34,349 --> 00:35:35,742 Narrator: BOTH TEAMS TURN THEIR ATTENTION 753 00:35:35,785 --> 00:35:37,613 TO THE COCKPIT VOICE RECORDER. 754 00:35:42,052 --> 00:35:44,446 Protasiuk: MR. DIRECTOR, FOG HAS ROLLED IN, 755 00:35:44,490 --> 00:35:47,754 AND THE CONDITIONS WE HAVE RIGHT NOW, 756 00:35:47,797 --> 00:35:49,582 WE'LL NOT BE ABLE TO LAND. 757 00:35:53,977 --> 00:35:56,023 Russian Investigator: WHO IS HE TALKING TO? 758 00:35:56,066 --> 00:35:58,808 Narrator: IT'S DEFINITELY NOT A CREW MEMBER. 759 00:35:58,852 --> 00:36:01,159 Protasiuk: MR. DIRECTOR, THE FOG HAS ROLLED IN. 760 00:36:01,202 --> 00:36:02,290 THE CONDITIONS WE HAVE RIGHT NOW, 761 00:36:02,334 --> 00:36:05,511 WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO LAND. 762 00:36:05,554 --> 00:36:09,036 WE'LL MAKE AN ATTEMPT, BUT IT PROBABLY WON'T WORK. 763 00:36:09,079 --> 00:36:12,213 Mariusz Kazana: THEN WE HAVE A PROBLEM. 764 00:36:12,257 --> 00:36:13,954 Narrator: POLISH INVESTIGATORS RECOGNIZE 765 00:36:13,997 --> 00:36:16,174 THE VOICE IN THE COCKPIT. 766 00:36:16,217 --> 00:36:17,349 Polish Investigator: IT SOUNDS LIKE KAZANA, 767 00:36:17,392 --> 00:36:19,089 THE DIRECTOR OF PROTOCOL. 768 00:36:19,133 --> 00:36:21,570 Russian Investigator: WHAT HE IS DOING IN THE COCKPIT? 769 00:36:21,614 --> 00:36:24,312 Narrator: PROTOCOL DIRECTOR MARIUSZ KAZANA NEEDS TO KNOW 770 00:36:24,356 --> 00:36:28,316 IF THE PLANE WILL LAND ON TIME. 771 00:36:28,360 --> 00:36:31,841 Kazana: SIR, I HAVE SOME NEWS FROM THE COCKPIT. 772 00:36:31,885 --> 00:36:33,626 [SPEAKING POLISH] 773 00:36:33,669 --> 00:36:35,367 Wieslaw Jedynak, translated: WE COULD HEAR VOICES OF PEOPLE 774 00:36:35,410 --> 00:36:37,064 WHO WERE DEFINITELY NOT CREW MEMBERS, 775 00:36:37,107 --> 00:36:39,675 AND THIS MEANT THAT THE COCKPITWAS ACCESSIBLE TO PEOPLE 776 00:36:39,719 --> 00:36:42,330 WHO WERE NOT PART OF THE FLIGHT CREW. 777 00:36:42,374 --> 00:36:45,246 Narrator: SAFETY RULES FORBID VISITORS IN THE COCKPIT 778 00:36:45,290 --> 00:36:47,596 AT KEY POINTS IN THE FLIGHT. 779 00:36:47,640 --> 00:36:49,555 Jedynak: THERE'S A RULE THAT BELOW A CERTAIN ALTITUDE, 780 00:36:49,598 --> 00:36:52,471 PILOTS SHOULD BE ISOLATED FROM THE REST OF THE PLANE 781 00:36:52,514 --> 00:36:54,603 SO THEY CAN CONCENTRATE ON THEIR TASKS. 782 00:36:54,647 --> 00:36:56,823 [SPEAKING POLISH] 783 00:36:56,866 --> 00:36:58,216 Narrator: IT NOW APPEARS THE PRESENCE 784 00:36:58,259 --> 00:37:00,653 OF SO MANY TOP OFFICIALS ON BOARD 785 00:37:00,696 --> 00:37:03,917 INFLUENCED THE DECISION TO LAND. 786 00:37:03,960 --> 00:37:05,919 Maciej Lasek, translated: WE DESCRIBE IT 787 00:37:05,962 --> 00:37:07,486 AS INDIRECT PRESSURE, 788 00:37:07,529 --> 00:37:09,836 THE PRESSURE RESULTING FROM THE WEIGHT OF THE TASK 789 00:37:09,879 --> 00:37:12,099 AND THE MISSION THE AIRCREW WAS COMPLETING. 790 00:37:12,142 --> 00:37:14,580 [SPEAKING POLISH] 791 00:37:14,623 --> 00:37:17,235 Protasiuk: MR. DIRECTOR, THE FOG HAS ROLLED IN. 792 00:37:17,278 --> 00:37:21,064 WE'LL MAKE AN ATTEMPT, BUT IT PROBABLY WON'T WORK. 793 00:37:21,108 --> 00:37:23,850 Narrator: THOUGH PROTASIUK KNEW THE LANDING WAS RISKY, 794 00:37:23,893 --> 00:37:25,634 HE MAY HAVE WANTED TO SHOW HIS PASSENGERS 795 00:37:25,678 --> 00:37:27,941 THAT HE WAS WILLING TO TRY. 796 00:37:27,984 --> 00:37:30,857 NO ONE WANTS TO DISAPPOINT A PRESIDENT. 797 00:37:30,900 --> 00:37:34,164 [SPEAKING POLISH] 798 00:37:34,208 --> 00:37:39,082 Lasek: TO BE CLEAR, THIS PERSON DID NOT GIVE ANY INSTRUCTIONS, 799 00:37:39,126 --> 00:37:40,997 BUT JUST HIS PRESENCE IN THE COCKPIT 800 00:37:41,041 --> 00:37:42,608 INTERRUPTED THE WORK FLOW, 801 00:37:42,651 --> 00:37:45,785 THE DECISION-MAKING, AND COMMUNICATION AMONG THE CREW. 802 00:37:45,828 --> 00:37:47,265 [SPEAKING POLISH] 803 00:37:49,005 --> 00:37:50,877 Controller: TURN ON YOUR LANDING LIGHTS. 804 00:37:50,920 --> 00:37:52,444 Protasiuk: LIGHTS ON. 805 00:37:52,487 --> 00:37:54,663 Narrator: INVESTIGATORS UNCOVER ANOTHER PUZZLING MOMENT 806 00:37:54,707 --> 00:37:56,099 IN THE COCKPIT. 807 00:37:56,143 --> 00:37:57,840 Computer: TERRAIN. PULL UP. 808 00:37:57,884 --> 00:37:59,146 Narrator: THEY HEAR A WARNING 809 00:37:59,189 --> 00:38:01,191 THAT THE PLANE IS DANGEROUSLY LOW, 810 00:38:01,235 --> 00:38:04,369 BUT, STRANGELY, THE PILOTS DON'T SEEM TO REACT TO IT. 811 00:38:04,412 --> 00:38:05,370 Protasiuk: YOU CAN'T SEE A THING. 812 00:38:05,413 --> 00:38:06,936 Computer: TERRAIN. TERRAIN. 813 00:38:06,980 --> 00:38:07,937 Polish Investigator: WHY AREN'T THEY CONCERNED 814 00:38:07,981 --> 00:38:09,591 ABOUT THEIR ALTITUDE? 815 00:38:09,635 --> 00:38:11,332 Russian Investigator: THEY SHOULD BE. 816 00:38:11,376 --> 00:38:14,335 Narrator: INVESTIGATORS COMPARE THE PLANE'S INTENDED FLIGHT PATH 817 00:38:14,379 --> 00:38:16,816 TO THE ALTITUDES CALLED OUT BY THE NAVIGATOR. 818 00:38:16,859 --> 00:38:18,513 Computer: TERRAIN. PULL UP. 819 00:38:18,557 --> 00:38:21,516 Navigator: 40. 820 00:38:21,560 --> 00:38:24,954 30. 821 00:38:24,998 --> 00:38:26,695 20. 822 00:38:26,739 --> 00:38:27,740 Computer: TERRAIN. 823 00:38:27,783 --> 00:38:28,741 Russian Investigator: STOP. 824 00:38:28,784 --> 00:38:30,351 Navigator: 40. 825 00:38:30,395 --> 00:38:32,571 Narrator: JUST AFTER THE NAVIGATOR CALLS OUT 20 METERS... 826 00:38:32,614 --> 00:38:33,615 Navigator: 20. 827 00:38:33,659 --> 00:38:34,964 [CRASH] 828 00:38:35,008 --> 00:38:36,226 Narrator: ...THE UNMISTAKABLE SOUND 829 00:38:36,270 --> 00:38:38,533 OF THE PLANE HITTING THE FIRST TREE. 830 00:38:38,577 --> 00:38:40,840 Russian Investigator: 20 METERS? 831 00:38:40,883 --> 00:38:44,844 Polish Investigator: THEY HIT THE TREE AT 11 METERS, NOT 20. 832 00:38:44,887 --> 00:38:46,411 Narrator: SOMETHING'S NOT RIGHT. 833 00:38:46,454 --> 00:38:48,761 THE NAVIGATOR IS CALLING OUT 20 METERS, 834 00:38:48,804 --> 00:38:51,807 BUT THE PLANE IS ONLY 11 METERS FROM THE GROUND. 835 00:38:51,851 --> 00:38:54,593 Russian Investigator: THEY DIDN'T KNOW THEIR ALTITUDE. 836 00:38:54,636 --> 00:38:57,857 Narrator: WHY DIDN'T THE CREW KNOW HOW LOW THEY WERE FLYING? 837 00:39:01,687 --> 00:39:03,341 POLISH INVESTIGATORS WONDER 838 00:39:03,384 --> 00:39:06,126 IF THERE WAS AN ALTIMETER MALFUNCTION ON FLIGHT 101. 839 00:39:06,169 --> 00:39:07,562 Polish Investigator: WHAT HAPPENS HERE? 840 00:39:07,606 --> 00:39:11,958 Narrator: WHAT THEY DISCOVER IS SHOCKING. 841 00:39:12,001 --> 00:39:16,919 Russian Investigator: SOMEONE RESET THE ALTIMETER. 842 00:39:16,963 --> 00:39:19,052 Narrator: ONE OF THE ALTIMETERS WAS RESET 843 00:39:19,095 --> 00:39:22,447 AND WOULD NOW GIVE INCORRECT ALTITUDE READINGS. 844 00:39:22,490 --> 00:39:29,149 ♪ 845 00:39:29,192 --> 00:39:30,716 Polish Investigator: WHY WOULD A PILOT DO THAT? 846 00:39:34,197 --> 00:39:36,678 Narrator: POLISH INVESTIGATORS TAKE THEIR QUESTIONS TO PILOTS 847 00:39:36,722 --> 00:39:39,551 FROM THE SAME SPECIAL REGIMENT THAT FLEW THE PRESIDENT. 848 00:39:39,594 --> 00:39:41,030 Polish Investigator: YOU'RE TELLING ME YOU ACTUALLY 849 00:39:41,074 --> 00:39:44,599 CHANGE THE ALTIMETER TO THE WRONG SETTING? 850 00:39:44,643 --> 00:39:46,296 Narrator: THEY FIND OUT PILOTS 851 00:39:46,340 --> 00:39:49,212 SOMETIMES RESET THE BAROMETRIC ALTIMETER 852 00:39:49,256 --> 00:39:51,214 TO SILENCE THE CONSTANT WARNINGS 853 00:39:51,258 --> 00:39:54,261 OF THE TERRAIN ALTITUDE WARNING SYSTEM, OR TAWS. 854 00:39:54,304 --> 00:39:56,176 Computer: SINK RATE. PULL UP. 855 00:39:56,219 --> 00:39:57,525 Polish Investigator: START PLAYBACK. 856 00:40:00,659 --> 00:40:01,921 Navigator: 90 METERS. 857 00:40:01,964 --> 00:40:04,445 Polish Investigator: STOP PLAYBACK. 858 00:40:04,489 --> 00:40:06,229 HE WAS USING HIS RADIO ALTIMETER. 859 00:40:06,273 --> 00:40:10,669 Narrator: INSTEAD, THE CREW WAS RELYING ON THE RADIO ALTIMETER. 860 00:40:10,712 --> 00:40:12,453 IT USES RADIO WAVES TO MEASURE 861 00:40:12,497 --> 00:40:15,935 THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE PLANE AND THE GROUND BELOW. 862 00:40:15,978 --> 00:40:19,025 BUT THE TERRAIN NEAR SMOLENSK AIR BASE IS UNEVEN. 863 00:40:19,068 --> 00:40:22,855 PLANES HAVE TO FLY OVER A VALLEY TO REACH IT. 864 00:40:22,898 --> 00:40:26,032 Polish Investigator: LOOK WHAT HAPPENS HERE. 865 00:40:26,075 --> 00:40:28,948 Narrator: WHEN THE RADIO ALTIMETER READ 100 METERS, 866 00:40:28,991 --> 00:40:32,647 THE AIR FORCE JET WAS NOT 100 METERS ABOVE THE AIRPORT. 867 00:40:32,691 --> 00:40:35,607 IT WAS 100 METERS FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE VALLEY. 868 00:40:35,650 --> 00:40:39,219 THE RADIO ALTIMETER WAS GIVING THEM MISLEADING INFORMATION. 869 00:40:39,262 --> 00:40:43,223 Navigator: 30. 870 00:40:43,266 --> 00:40:44,180 20. 871 00:40:45,747 --> 00:40:47,488 [SPEAKING POLISH] 872 00:40:47,532 --> 00:40:50,622 Lasek: USING THE RADIO ALTIMETER AT THIS EARLY STAGE OF APPROACH 873 00:40:50,665 --> 00:40:52,450 IS A SERIOUS MISTAKE. 874 00:41:00,719 --> 00:41:02,938 Narrator: BOTH SIDES AGREE THE POLISH CREW 875 00:41:02,982 --> 00:41:04,897 MISHANDLED THE APPROACH, 876 00:41:04,940 --> 00:41:06,725 BUT POLISH INVESTIGATORS ARGUE 877 00:41:06,768 --> 00:41:08,988 THAT RUSSIA SHOULD BEAR SOME OF THE BLAME. 878 00:41:11,991 --> 00:41:13,993 Controller: APPROACHING OUTER MARKER. 879 00:41:14,036 --> 00:41:18,998 ON COURSE AND ON GLIDE SLOPE. 880 00:41:19,041 --> 00:41:20,739 Narrator: POLISH INVESTIGATORS FOCUS ON THE ROLE 881 00:41:20,782 --> 00:41:24,917 PLAYED BY RUSSIAN AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL. 882 00:41:24,960 --> 00:41:29,661 Controller: POLISH AIR FORCE, ARE YOU AT 500 METERS? 883 00:41:29,704 --> 00:41:32,838 Protasiuk: WE ARE AT 500 METERS. 884 00:41:32,881 --> 00:41:34,666 Controller: I JUST DON'T THINK WE SHOULD BRING HIM IN. 885 00:41:34,709 --> 00:41:36,842 IT MAKES NO SENSE RIGHT NOW. 886 00:41:36,885 --> 00:41:39,671 Narrator: BEFORE THE PRESIDENT'S PLANE REACHED THE AIRPORT, 887 00:41:39,714 --> 00:41:41,455 THE RUSSIAN CONTROLLERS KNEW THE FOG 888 00:41:41,499 --> 00:41:43,805 WOULD MAKE LANDING A VERY HIGH RISK, 889 00:41:43,849 --> 00:41:49,550 BUT THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO TURN THE JET AWAY. 890 00:41:49,594 --> 00:41:51,683 Controller: WE HAVE TO FIND AN ALTERNATE FOR THE POLES. 891 00:41:51,726 --> 00:41:53,467 WE JUST DON'T HAVE THE WEATHER. 892 00:41:53,511 --> 00:41:55,251 Polish Investigator: THEY DIDN'T WANT THE PLANE TO LAND. 893 00:41:55,295 --> 00:41:57,776 Narrator: THE CONTROLLER WAS WAITING FOR CAPTAIN PROTASIUK 894 00:41:57,819 --> 00:42:00,343 TO MAKE THE DECISION NOT TO LAND. 895 00:42:00,387 --> 00:42:02,737 Controller: WE DO NOT HAVE LANDING CONDITIONS. 896 00:42:02,781 --> 00:42:04,434 Protasiuk: CONTINUING OUR APPROACH. 897 00:42:04,478 --> 00:42:09,309 IF WE'RE UNSUCCESSFUL, WE'LL GO AROUND ON AUTOPILOT. 898 00:42:09,352 --> 00:42:12,225 Controller: IT'S HIS CALL. LET THEM CONTINUE ON THEIR OWN. 899 00:42:12,268 --> 00:42:15,576 [SPEAKING POLISH] 900 00:42:15,620 --> 00:42:18,100 Lasek: I THINK THAT THE SAME INDIRECT PRESSURE 901 00:42:18,144 --> 00:42:22,844 THAT WAS EXPERIENCED BY THE CAPTAIN OF THE TU-154 AIRCRAFT 902 00:42:22,888 --> 00:42:25,412 WAS SHARED BY THE ATC CONTROLLERS 903 00:42:25,455 --> 00:42:27,849 BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF THIS FLIGHT. 904 00:42:27,893 --> 00:42:30,417 [SPEAKING POLISH] 905 00:42:32,550 --> 00:42:35,030 Narrator: POLISH INVESTIGATORS PRODUCE A SEPARATE REPORT 906 00:42:35,074 --> 00:42:38,643 CRITICIZING THE SMOLENSK AIRPORT FOR NOT TURNING AWAY THE PLANE 907 00:42:38,686 --> 00:42:41,167 AND FOR NOT BEING PROPERLY EQUIPPED. 908 00:42:44,518 --> 00:42:48,914 IN TURN, THE RUSSIANS DISPUTE THE REPORT'S CONCLUSIONS. 909 00:42:48,957 --> 00:42:52,613 THIS FAILURE TO REACH A CONSENSUS ONLY FUELS SUSPICION 910 00:42:52,657 --> 00:42:56,791 THAT THE PRESIDENT OF POLAND WAS ASSASSINATED. 911 00:42:56,835 --> 00:42:58,401 Gebert: YOU HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE DESPERATELY 912 00:42:58,445 --> 00:43:00,882 TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT HAPPENED, 913 00:43:00,926 --> 00:43:04,712 AND THEY ARE GIVEN INFORMATION THEY'RE NOT QUALIFIED TO ASSESS. 914 00:43:04,756 --> 00:43:06,061 I MEAN, I'M NOT QUALIFIED 915 00:43:06,105 --> 00:43:09,412 TO ASSESS INFORMATION OF THE RUSSIAN 916 00:43:09,456 --> 00:43:12,198 OR OF THE POLISH COMMISSION OR OF THE COUNTER EXPERTS. 917 00:43:12,241 --> 00:43:14,200 I'M NOT AN EXPERT. 918 00:43:14,243 --> 00:43:18,421 SO, FINALLY I HAVE TO DECIDE WHOSE EXPERTS DO I TRUST? 919 00:43:18,465 --> 00:43:20,119 Narrator: AND PERHAPS NO OFFICIAL REPORT 920 00:43:20,162 --> 00:43:21,816 COULD EVER SATISFY THE CRITICS 921 00:43:21,860 --> 00:43:24,950 ON EITHER SIDE OF THE RUSSIAN/POLISH DIVIDE. 922 00:43:24,993 --> 00:43:28,562 Miller: EVERY ACCIDENT MUST TEACH US A LESSON. 923 00:43:28,606 --> 00:43:30,520 [SPEAKING POLISH] 924 00:43:30,564 --> 00:43:32,871 UNFORTUNATELY, LEARNING THAT LESSON 925 00:43:32,914 --> 00:43:35,090 HAS COME AT A VERY HIGH COST. 926 00:43:35,134 --> 00:43:36,614 [SPEAKING POLISH] 927 00:43:45,448 --> 00:43:46,885 Derner: SOMETIMES THERE ARE POLITICAL DIFFERENCES 928 00:43:46,928 --> 00:43:48,713 AND OTHER CHALLENGES, 929 00:43:48,756 --> 00:43:51,977 BUT ULTIMATELY, THEORETICALLY, EVERYONE IS ON THE SAME TEAM. 930 00:43:52,020 --> 00:43:53,761 EVERYONE WANTS SAFER SKIES. 931 00:43:53,805 --> 00:43:58,984 ♪