1
00:00:01,569 --> 00:00:04,004
Narrator: AN AIRLINER
IS CRIPPLED AFTER TAKEOFF

2
00:00:04,038 --> 00:00:05,873
FROM NEW YORK'S
LaGUARDIA AIRPORT.

3
00:00:05,906 --> 00:00:07,675
Pilot: BRACE FOR IMPACT.

4
00:00:09,143 --> 00:00:10,844
Narrator: ANOTHER
CATASTROPHIC FAILURE

5
00:00:10,878 --> 00:00:13,881
STRIKES HIGH ABOVE
THE CANADIAN PRAIRIES.

6
00:00:13,914 --> 00:00:15,749
Officer: WE JUST
LOST BOTH ENGINES.

7
00:00:15,783 --> 00:00:17,718
Man: I'M TALKING TO A DEAD MAN.

8
00:00:17,751 --> 00:00:20,088
Narrator: AND A VIOLENT
THUNDERSTORM WREAKS HAVOC

9
00:00:20,121 --> 00:00:23,791
ON A BOEING 737
OVER THE GULF OF MEXICO.

10
00:00:23,824 --> 00:00:24,858
Man: EVERYTHING WENT BLACK.

11
00:00:24,892 --> 00:00:27,461
ALL THE ALARMS
JUST START SOUNDING.

12
00:00:27,495 --> 00:00:29,697
Narrator: THREE PLANES
HEADED FOR DISASTER.

13
00:00:29,730 --> 00:00:32,200
Man: AND NO ONE'S GONNA BE ABLE
TO REACH UP AND GRAB YOU

14
00:00:32,233 --> 00:00:33,967
AND BRING YOU SAFELY BACK.

15
00:00:34,001 --> 00:00:35,636
Pilot: WHERE DO I
PUT THIS THING DOWN?

16
00:00:35,669 --> 00:00:36,837
Flight attendant: STAY DOWN!

17
00:00:36,870 --> 00:00:39,140
Narrator: THE SURVIVAL OF
THE PASSENGERS LIES IN THE HANDS

18
00:00:39,173 --> 00:00:41,842
OF THE MEN AND WOMEN
IN THE COCKPIT.

19
00:00:41,875 --> 00:00:43,344
Pilot: I GUESS
I'LL JUST SLIP IT.

20
00:00:43,377 --> 00:00:44,878
HERE WE GO.

21
00:00:44,912 --> 00:00:45,979
Pilot: THIS IS IT.

22
00:00:46,013 --> 00:00:47,014
Pilot: WE'RE GONNA BE
IN THE HUDSON.

23
00:00:47,047 --> 00:00:48,282
Flight attendant:
BRACE FOR LANDING.

24
00:00:48,316 --> 00:00:52,620
*

25
00:00:54,955 --> 00:00:56,023
Flight attendant:
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,

26
00:00:56,056 --> 00:00:57,191
WE ARE STARTING OUR APPROACH.

27
00:00:57,225 --> 00:00:58,492
Pilot: WE LOST BOTH ENGINES!

28
00:00:58,526 --> 00:00:59,727
Flight attendant:
PUT THE MASK OVER YOUR NOSE.

29
00:00:59,760 --> 00:01:00,728
EMERGENCY DESCENT.

30
00:01:00,761 --> 00:01:01,829
Pilot: MAYDAY, MAYDAY!

31
00:01:01,862 --> 00:01:03,831
Flight attendant:
BRACE FOR IMPACT!

32
00:01:03,864 --> 00:01:05,065
Controller: I THINK I LOST ONE.

33
00:01:05,099 --> 00:01:07,935
Man: INVESTIGATION STARTING
INTO THIS TRAGEDY...

34
00:01:07,968 --> 00:01:08,936
Man: HE'S GONNA CRASH!

35
00:01:08,969 --> 00:01:20,881
*

36
00:01:20,914 --> 00:01:22,516
Narrator: CAPTAIN
CHESLEY SULLENBERGER

37
00:01:22,550 --> 00:01:26,820
IS AN EXPERIENCED PILOT
WITH U.S. AIRWAYS.

38
00:01:26,854 --> 00:01:30,858
TODAY HE'S ON BOARD
FLIGHT 1549.

39
00:01:30,891 --> 00:01:33,661
Chesley Sullenberger:
CLEAR TO PUSH.

40
00:01:33,694 --> 00:01:35,696
Narrator: THE 57-YEAR-OLD
COMMANDER HAS SERVED

41
00:01:35,729 --> 00:01:39,467
AS A COMMERCIAL PILOT
FOR OVER 29 YEARS.

42
00:01:39,500 --> 00:01:42,703
Sullenberger:
YOUR BRAKES, YOUR AIRCRAFT.

43
00:01:42,736 --> 00:01:46,006
Narrator: FIRST OFFICER
JEFFREY SKILES IS 49.

44
00:01:46,039 --> 00:01:48,742
HE'S FRESH
OUT OF PILOT TRAINING.

45
00:01:48,776 --> 00:01:50,211
Controller: 28, BRAKES RELEASED.

46
00:01:50,244 --> 00:01:53,681
Jeffrey Skiles:
SPOT 28 FOR CACTUS 1549.

47
00:01:55,783 --> 00:02:00,053
Narrator: 150 PASSENGERS
ARE ON BOARD AN AIRBUS A320

48
00:02:00,087 --> 00:02:02,856
DEPARTING NEW YORK'S
LaGUARDIA AIRPORT.

49
00:02:02,890 --> 00:02:06,594
Patrick Harten: CACTUS 1549,
RUNWAY 4, CLEAR FOR TAKEOFF.

50
00:02:06,627 --> 00:02:09,330
Sullenberger: CACTUS 1549
CLEAR FOR TAKEOFF.

51
00:02:12,733 --> 00:02:15,135
Narrator: FIRST OFFICER SKILES
IS AT THE CONTROLS

52
00:02:15,169 --> 00:02:16,904
DURING TAKEOFF.

53
00:02:20,641 --> 00:02:22,810
THIS FLIGHT TO CHARLOTTE,
NORTH CAROLINA,

54
00:02:22,843 --> 00:02:23,811
MARKS THE FINAL LEG

55
00:02:23,844 --> 00:02:27,981
OF A FOUR-DAY SEQUENCE
OF FLIGHTS FOR BOTH MEN.

56
00:02:28,015 --> 00:02:30,050
Skiles: WE MADE
OUR STANDARD CALL-OUTS.

57
00:02:30,083 --> 00:02:31,685
IT WAS JUST A NORMAL TAKEOFF,

58
00:02:31,719 --> 00:02:34,888
NORMAL PROCEDURES
ON THE CLIMB OUT.

59
00:02:34,922 --> 00:02:36,590
THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY
NOTHING AT ALL

60
00:02:36,624 --> 00:02:38,192
TO INDICATE THAT THIS
WOULD BE ANY DIFFERENT

61
00:02:38,226 --> 00:02:41,262
THAN ANY OTHER TAKEOFF
IN MY ENTIRE CAREER.

62
00:02:41,295 --> 00:02:43,964
GEAR UP, PLEASE.

63
00:02:43,997 --> 00:02:46,567
Sullenberger: GEAR UP.

64
00:02:46,600 --> 00:02:48,536
Narrator: PATRICK HARTEN
IS ONE OF THE CONTROLLERS

65
00:02:48,569 --> 00:02:51,539
HANDLING TRAFFIC
OUT OF LaGUARDIA TODAY.

66
00:02:51,572 --> 00:02:54,808
HE HAS ONE OF THE MOST
STRESSFUL JOBS IN THE WORLD.

67
00:02:54,842 --> 00:02:57,044
Harten: WHEN I SIT DOWN
IN FRONT OF A RADAR,

68
00:02:57,077 --> 00:02:59,079
I'M RESPONSIBLE FOR EVERY PERSON

69
00:02:59,112 --> 00:03:02,783
ON EVERY AIRPLANE
UNDER MY CONTROL.

70
00:03:02,816 --> 00:03:05,953
CACTUS 1549, NEW YORK
DEPARTURE, RADAR CONTACT.

71
00:03:05,986 --> 00:03:08,622
CLIMB AND MAINTAIN 1,500.

72
00:03:08,656 --> 00:03:11,225
Narrator: THE FLIGHT WILL CLIMB
NORTHEAST OUT OF LaGUARDIA

73
00:03:11,259 --> 00:03:14,562
AND THEN BEGIN A SLOW TURN SOUTH
TOWARDS CHARLOTTE.

74
00:03:17,097 --> 00:03:18,499
Harten: IT WAS JUST
A NORMAL DEPARTURE,

75
00:03:18,532 --> 00:03:21,535
JUST ANOTHER FLIGHT THAT
I'VE HANDLED A MILLION TIMES.

76
00:03:24,004 --> 00:03:27,174
Narrator: RIDING THE THRUST
OF TWO GENERAL ELECTRIC ENGINES,

77
00:03:27,207 --> 00:03:30,544
THE AIRCRAFT
POWERS INTO THE SKY.

78
00:03:30,578 --> 00:03:35,182
Sullenberger: CACTUS 1549,
700, CLIMBING 5,000.

79
00:03:35,215 --> 00:03:37,117
Narrator:
FLIGHT 1549 IS TRAVELING

80
00:03:37,150 --> 00:03:39,787
AT ALMOST 250 MILES PER HOUR.

81
00:03:39,820 --> 00:03:42,890
IT'S BEEN IN THE AIR
FOR JUST A MINUTE AND A HALF.

82
00:03:42,923 --> 00:03:45,259
Skiles: I CAUGHT SOMETHING
OUT OF THE CORNER OF MY EYE,

83
00:03:45,293 --> 00:03:46,560
AND SLIGHTLY TO OUR RIGHT

84
00:03:46,594 --> 00:03:48,796
BUT STILL AHEAD OF US
WAS A LINE OF...

85
00:03:48,829 --> 00:03:49,763
Sullenberger: BIRDS.

86
00:03:49,797 --> 00:03:51,565
Skiles: ...AND THEY WERE
VERY, VERY CLOSE,

87
00:03:51,599 --> 00:03:53,901
TOO CLOSE FOR US
TO MANEUVER AROUND.

88
00:03:53,934 --> 00:03:54,868
WHOA!

89
00:03:54,902 --> 00:03:57,338
AND THAT FAST, WE WERE
JUST ON TOP OF THEM.

90
00:04:00,541 --> 00:04:02,943
Narrator: CLAY PRESLEY
IS ONE OF 150 PASSENGERS

91
00:04:02,976 --> 00:04:05,846
ON BOARD FLIGHT 1549.

92
00:04:05,879 --> 00:04:07,014
Clay Presley: YOU CAN JUST FEEL

93
00:04:07,047 --> 00:04:08,882
THE POWER OF THE PLANE
GOING FORWARD,

94
00:04:08,916 --> 00:04:12,185
AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN,
THERE WAS THIS GIGANTIC BOOM.

95
00:04:12,219 --> 00:04:14,221
IT SEEMED LIKE
IT STOPPED IN MIDAIR,

96
00:04:14,254 --> 00:04:15,689
LIKE YOU HIT A BRICK WALL.

97
00:04:15,723 --> 00:04:16,990
Passenger: OH, MY GOD!
THE ENGINE'S ON FIRE!

98
00:04:17,024 --> 00:04:18,158
Presley: AND THEN
ALL OF A SUDDEN,

99
00:04:18,191 --> 00:04:21,028
SOMEBODY SAID,
"THE LEFT ENGINE'S ON FIRE!"

100
00:04:21,061 --> 00:04:22,162
Skiles: UH-OH.

101
00:04:22,195 --> 00:04:24,698
BEFORE WE COULD EVEN
ASSESS THE SITUATION...

102
00:04:24,732 --> 00:04:26,066
Sullenberger:
WE'VE GOT ONE ROLL,

103
00:04:26,099 --> 00:04:27,501
BOTH OF THEM ROLLING BACK.

104
00:04:27,535 --> 00:04:29,202
Skiles: ...BOTH ENGINES
ROLLED BACK TO IDLE.

105
00:04:29,236 --> 00:04:31,839
Sullenberger: IGNITION START.

106
00:04:31,872 --> 00:04:35,409
Narrator: SULLENBERGER TAKES
CONTROL OF THE STRUGGLING PLANE.

107
00:04:38,011 --> 00:04:39,279
Sullenberger: MY AIRCRAFT.

108
00:04:39,313 --> 00:04:41,815
Skiles: YOUR AIRCRAFT.

109
00:04:41,849 --> 00:04:44,685
Sullenberger: GET THE QRH,
LOSS OF THRUST IN BOTH ENGINES.

110
00:04:44,718 --> 00:04:46,754
Narrator: THE QRH,
OR QUICK REFERENCE HANDBOOK,

111
00:04:46,787 --> 00:04:51,692
IS A STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE
TO DEALING WITH EMERGENCIES.

112
00:04:51,725 --> 00:04:52,926
Sullenberger:
MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY.

113
00:04:52,960 --> 00:04:54,495
THIS IS CACTUS 1549.

114
00:04:54,528 --> 00:04:56,163
HIT BIRDS, WE'VE LOST THRUST
IN BOTH ENGINES.

115
00:04:56,196 --> 00:04:58,766
WE'RE TURNING BACK
TOWARDS LaGUARDIA.

116
00:04:58,799 --> 00:05:00,233
Harten: OKAY, YOU NEED
TO RETURN TO LaGUARDIA.

117
00:05:00,267 --> 00:05:02,836
TURN LEFT, HEADING 2-2-0.

118
00:05:02,870 --> 00:05:04,538
Sullenberger: 2-2-0.

119
00:05:04,572 --> 00:05:05,839
Skiles: WHAT I'M THINKING IS,

120
00:05:05,873 --> 00:05:07,908
YOU KNOW, WE'RE JUST GONNA
HAVE TO RESTART AN ENGINE.

121
00:05:07,941 --> 00:05:11,011
THRUST LEVERS, CONFIRM IDLE.

122
00:05:11,044 --> 00:05:12,446
Narrator:
FOLLOWING THE HANDBOOK,

123
00:05:12,480 --> 00:05:16,183
FIRST OFFICER SKILES EXECUTES
AN ENGINE RESTART ATTEMPT.

124
00:05:16,216 --> 00:05:17,518
Sullenberger: IDLE.

125
00:05:17,551 --> 00:05:19,520
Skiles: THE PROCEDURE IS
TO TRY TO RESTART THE ENGINES,

126
00:05:19,553 --> 00:05:22,590
AND I, I ALWAYS HAD FAITH
WE COULD DO THAT.

127
00:05:22,623 --> 00:05:27,828
AIRSPEED OPTIMUM RELIGHT,
300 KNOTS.

128
00:05:27,861 --> 00:05:29,262
WE DON'T HAVE THAT.

129
00:05:29,296 --> 00:05:30,864
Sullenberger: WE DON'T.

130
00:05:30,898 --> 00:05:33,100
Harten: HEY, CACTUS 1549,
IF WE CAN GET IT FOR YOU,

131
00:05:33,133 --> 00:05:36,069
YOU WANT TO TRY
AND LAND ON RUNWAY 13.

132
00:05:36,103 --> 00:05:39,507
Sullenberger: WE'RE UNABLE.

133
00:05:39,540 --> 00:05:41,108
Harten: THE CONVERSATIONS
WITH CAPTAIN SULLENBERGER

134
00:05:41,141 --> 00:05:42,676
WERE VERY SHORT
AND TO THE POINT,

135
00:05:42,710 --> 00:05:45,813
WHICH WAS VERY APPROPRIATE
FOR THE EMERGENCY.

136
00:05:45,846 --> 00:05:47,815
HE HAD HIS HANDS FULL
FLYING THE AIRPLANE,

137
00:05:47,848 --> 00:05:51,151
SO MY JOB IS JUST TO MOVE ON
TO THE NEXT OPTION.

138
00:05:51,184 --> 00:05:52,586
ALL RIGHT, CACTUS 1549,

139
00:05:52,620 --> 00:05:55,055
IT'S GONNA TO BE TRAFFIC
FOR RUNWAY 31.

140
00:05:55,088 --> 00:05:56,056
Sullenberger: UNABLE.

141
00:05:56,089 --> 00:05:58,091
Narrator: HARTEN STILL
WANTS THE JET TO RETURN

142
00:05:58,125 --> 00:05:59,827
TO LaGUARDIA AIRPORT,

143
00:05:59,860 --> 00:06:04,898
BUT FLIGHT 1549 IS NOW JUST
1,400 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND.

144
00:06:04,932 --> 00:06:06,734
Harten: CACTUS 1549,
RUNWAY 4'S AVAILABLE

145
00:06:06,767 --> 00:06:08,669
IF YOU WANT TO MAKE A LEFT,
TRAFFIC RUNWAY 4.

146
00:06:08,702 --> 00:06:10,904
Sullenberger: I'M NOT SURE
WE CAN MAKE ANY RUNWAY.

147
00:06:10,938 --> 00:06:11,705
WHAT'S TO OUR RIGHT?

148
00:06:11,739 --> 00:06:13,974
ANYTHING IN NEW JERSEY?
TETERBORO?

149
00:06:14,007 --> 00:06:16,009
Harten: OKAY, YEAH, UH,
OFF TO YOUR RIGHT SIDE

150
00:06:16,043 --> 00:06:17,177
IS TETERBORO AIRPORT.

151
00:06:17,210 --> 00:06:18,779
DO YOU WANT TO TRY
TO GO TO TETERBORO?

152
00:06:18,812 --> 00:06:20,948
Sullenberger: YES.

153
00:06:20,981 --> 00:06:22,816
Narrator: TETERBORO
IS A SMALL AIRPORT

154
00:06:22,850 --> 00:06:25,619
ON THE NEW JERSEY SIDE
OF THE HUDSON RIVER,

155
00:06:25,653 --> 00:06:28,756
BUT IT'S SEVERAL MILES AWAY,
AND WITHOUT THEIR ENGINES,

156
00:06:28,789 --> 00:06:32,793
FLIGHT 1549 IS DROPPING FAST.

157
00:06:32,826 --> 00:06:34,061
Skiles: I LOOKED AT IT,
AND I STOPPED,

158
00:06:34,094 --> 00:06:34,995
AND I WAS KIND OF CONCERNED

159
00:06:35,028 --> 00:06:36,997
THAT HE WAS ACTUALLY
GOING TO TRY FOR IT.

160
00:06:37,030 --> 00:06:38,699
I DIDN'T THINK WE COULD MAKE IT.

161
00:06:38,732 --> 00:06:41,835
Narrator: CAPTAIN SULLENBERGER
NEEDS TO DECIDE WHAT TO DO.

162
00:06:41,869 --> 00:06:44,705
IF THE PLANE'S ENGINES
DON'T RESTART,

163
00:06:44,738 --> 00:06:46,273
HE WON'T MAKE IT TO TETERBORO.

164
00:06:46,306 --> 00:06:47,908
Sullenberger: GO AHEAD.
TRY NUMBER ONE.

165
00:06:47,941 --> 00:06:49,710
Narrator: WHILE THE CREW
STRUGGLES TO RESTART

166
00:06:49,743 --> 00:06:52,079
THE ENGINES
ON THEIR STRICKEN PLANE...

167
00:06:52,112 --> 00:06:53,213
Skiles: NO RELIGHT.

168
00:06:53,246 --> 00:06:54,281
Narrator:
...CONTROLLER PATRICK HARTEN

169
00:06:54,314 --> 00:06:56,784
IS STILL TRYING
TO FIND THEM A RUNWAY.

170
00:06:56,817 --> 00:07:00,721
Harten: HEY, CACTUS 1549, YOU
CAN LAND RUNWAY 1 AT TETERBORO.

171
00:07:00,754 --> 00:07:02,756
Sullenberger: CAN'T DO IT.

172
00:07:02,790 --> 00:07:04,224
WE'RE GONNA BE IN THE HUDSON.

173
00:07:04,257 --> 00:07:06,026
Harten: I'M SORRY.
SAY AGAIN, CACTUS?

174
00:07:06,059 --> 00:07:07,227
I COULD HEAR HIM,

175
00:07:07,260 --> 00:07:08,962
BUT MY MIND REALLY DIDN'T
WANT TO COMPREHEND THOSE WORDS.

176
00:07:08,996 --> 00:07:10,263
Sullenberger:
WE'RE GONNA BE IN THE HUDSON.

177
00:07:10,297 --> 00:07:12,065
Harten: THAT WAS
A DEATH SENTENCE FOR HIM,

178
00:07:12,099 --> 00:07:15,836
AND I DIDN'T WANT TO ACCEPT
THE FACT THAT IT WAS OVER

179
00:07:15,869 --> 00:07:17,771
AND THERE WERE
NO MORE OPTIONS LEFT.

180
00:07:17,805 --> 00:07:19,540
Presley: SO, YOU'RE
SITTING THERE VERY QUIETLY.

181
00:07:19,573 --> 00:07:22,776
PEOPLE ARE ANXIOUSLY
WAITING FOR INFORMATION,

182
00:07:22,810 --> 00:07:27,915
AND THEY WANTED REASSURANCE
THAT THINGS WERE GONNA BE OKAY.

183
00:07:27,948 --> 00:07:31,218
YOU COULD HEAR
THE MICROPHONE COME ON.

184
00:07:31,251 --> 00:07:32,553
Sullenberger:
THIS IS THE CAPTAIN.

185
00:07:32,586 --> 00:07:35,088
Narrator: CAPTAIN SULLENBERGER
PREPARES THE PASSENGERS

186
00:07:35,122 --> 00:07:36,023
FOR WHAT'S AHEAD.

187
00:07:36,056 --> 00:07:38,125
Presley: WE'RE HOPING
HE WAS GONNA SAY,

188
00:07:38,158 --> 00:07:39,292
"I'VE GOT THIS UNDER CONTROL,

189
00:07:39,326 --> 00:07:40,794
WE'RE GONNA BE OKAY,
WE'RE GONNA MAKE IT,

190
00:07:40,828 --> 00:07:43,196
WE'RE GONNA TURN AROUND
AND GO BACK AND LAND."

191
00:07:43,230 --> 00:07:46,166
THAT'S WHAT YOU WERE
HOPING TO HEAR.

192
00:07:46,199 --> 00:07:47,868
Sullenberger: BRACE FOR IMPACT.

193
00:07:47,901 --> 00:07:49,737
Presley: WHAT DOES HE MEAN,
BRACE FOR IMPACT?

194
00:07:49,770 --> 00:07:52,873
AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN
IT REGISTERED--

195
00:07:52,906 --> 00:07:55,142
I THINK HE'S SAYING
WE'RE GONNA CRASH.

196
00:07:55,175 --> 00:07:57,978
Sullenberger: OKAY.

197
00:07:58,011 --> 00:08:00,313
LET'S GO.

198
00:08:00,347 --> 00:08:03,851
PUT THE FLAPS OUT.

199
00:08:03,884 --> 00:08:04,952
Skiles: AND I THOUGHT
TO MYSELF, GREAT.

200
00:08:04,985 --> 00:08:06,954
THE HUDSON RIVER
WAS OUR BEST OPPORTUNITY.

201
00:08:06,987 --> 00:08:08,689
IT WAS REALLY
THE ONLY THING IN SIGHT

202
00:08:08,722 --> 00:08:10,858
WHERE WE COULD LAND
THIS AIRPLANE.

203
00:08:10,891 --> 00:08:14,695
GOT FLAPS OUT,
250 FEET IN THE AIR.

204
00:08:14,728 --> 00:08:17,097
I STARTED CALLING OUT
AIR SPEEDS AND ALTITUDES...

205
00:08:17,130 --> 00:08:18,365
170 KNOTS.

206
00:08:18,398 --> 00:08:22,603
...TO GIVE HIM A SITUATIONAL
AWARENESS OF WHAT WAS GOING ON.

207
00:08:22,636 --> 00:08:25,005
GOT FLAPS TWO.
YOU WANT MORE?

208
00:08:25,038 --> 00:08:29,810
Sullenberger:
NO, LET'S STAY AT TWO.

209
00:08:29,843 --> 00:08:31,078
Narrator: BELOW 300 FEET,

210
00:08:31,111 --> 00:08:34,615
PATRICK HARTEN'S RADAR
CAN'T SEE THE PLANE.

211
00:08:34,648 --> 00:08:38,652
FLIGHT 1549 DISAPPEARS.

212
00:08:38,686 --> 00:08:40,921
Harten: WHEN THE AIRCRAFT
DISAPPEARED OFF MY RADAR,

213
00:08:40,954 --> 00:08:45,893
I JUST ASSUMED THAT THERE
WEREN'T GONNA BE ANY SURVIVORS.

214
00:08:45,926 --> 00:08:48,896
Narrator: IN THE CABIN, THE
PASSENGERS PREPARE FOR DISASTER.

215
00:08:48,929 --> 00:08:50,263
Flight attendant: HEADS DOWN!

216
00:08:50,297 --> 00:08:51,464
Passenger:
BE READY AT THE DOORS!

217
00:08:51,498 --> 00:08:52,766
Flight attendant: STAY DOWN!

218
00:08:52,800 --> 00:08:54,034
Presley: THE FOLKS AT THE DOOR
SAYS, "WE'RE READY."

219
00:08:54,067 --> 00:08:54,968
Flight attendant: BRACE.

220
00:08:55,002 --> 00:08:57,605
Presley: AND I WAS
JUST SCARED TO DEATH.

221
00:08:57,638 --> 00:08:59,339
Automation: PULL UP.

222
00:08:59,372 --> 00:09:01,241
Sullenberger:
WE'RE GOING TO BRACE.

223
00:09:01,274 --> 00:09:03,210
Automation: PULL UP. TERRAIN.

224
00:09:03,243 --> 00:09:11,685
*

225
00:09:11,719 --> 00:09:12,786
Skiles: IT LOOKED LIKE
THE AIRPLANE WAS GOING

226
00:09:12,820 --> 00:09:15,823
RIGHT FOR THE BOTTOM
OF THE HUDSON RIVER.

227
00:09:15,856 --> 00:09:20,661
ALL WE SAW WAS WATER CASCADING
OVER THE WINDSHIELD.

228
00:09:20,694 --> 00:09:22,796
Presley: IT WAS LIKE A TORNADO.

229
00:09:22,830 --> 00:09:25,599
PIECES OF THE PLANE
WERE BEING TORN APART.

230
00:09:25,633 --> 00:09:28,035
SOME PEOPLE WERE
THROWN AROUND PRETTY GOOD.

231
00:09:31,138 --> 00:09:36,009
Skiles: THEN THE AIRPLANE
POPPED UP,

232
00:09:36,043 --> 00:09:39,046
AND IT WAS JUST SORT OF
GENTLY ROCKING IN THE WAVES.

233
00:09:45,853 --> 00:09:47,755
Presley: WE ALL JUST SAT THERE.

234
00:09:47,788 --> 00:09:50,991
WE WERE ALL IN SHOCK, AND WE
WERE WAITING FOR WHAT'S NEXT.

235
00:09:53,794 --> 00:09:56,930
Narrator: U.S. AIRWAYS
FLIGHT 1549 WAS IN THE AIR

236
00:09:56,964 --> 00:10:00,600
FOR JUST FIVE MINUTES
AND EIGHT SECONDS.

237
00:10:00,634 --> 00:10:02,569
HAVING MADE
A REMARKABLE LANDING,

238
00:10:02,602 --> 00:10:06,139
THE PASSENGERS AND CREW
NOW FACE A NEW DANGER.

239
00:10:06,173 --> 00:10:10,010
THE ICE-COLD WATER OF THE HUDSON
IS POURING INTO THE CABIN.

240
00:10:14,014 --> 00:10:16,850
THE CREW OF FLIGHT 1549
HAS JUST PERFORMED

241
00:10:16,884 --> 00:10:19,920
AN EXTREMELY DIFFICULT
AVIATION FEAT,

242
00:10:19,953 --> 00:10:24,792
BUT THEY STILL HAVE
MORE WORK TO DO.

243
00:10:24,825 --> 00:10:26,927
CAPTAIN SULLENBERGER
HEADS FOR THE CABIN,

244
00:10:26,960 --> 00:10:29,863
WHILE FIRST OFFICER SKILES
SHUTS DOWN THE PLANE.

245
00:10:29,897 --> 00:10:33,033
Skiles: I STAYED BEHIND AND DID
THE EVACUATION CHECKLIST,

246
00:10:33,066 --> 00:10:34,835
AND SO IT WAS PROBABLY
ABOUT 45 SECONDS

247
00:10:34,868 --> 00:10:38,105
BEFORE I ACTUALLY WENT BACK
MYSELF IN THE CABIN

248
00:10:38,138 --> 00:10:40,908
AFTER WE LANDED.

249
00:10:40,941 --> 00:10:42,642
Narrator: THE $75 MILLION PLANE

250
00:10:42,676 --> 00:10:44,978
IS QUICKLY FILLING
WITH FREEZING WATER.

251
00:10:48,348 --> 00:10:50,383
Presley: THAT WATER WAS COLD.

252
00:10:50,417 --> 00:10:54,788
PEOPLE SAID, GET THE DOORS OPEN.
GET THE DOORS OPEN.

253
00:10:54,822 --> 00:10:57,891
Narrator: PASSENGERS NEAREST
THE EXITS OPEN THE DOORS QUICKLY

254
00:10:57,925 --> 00:10:59,893
WHILE SULLENBERGER
AND THE CABIN CREW

255
00:10:59,927 --> 00:11:01,895
BEGIN MANAGING THE EVACUATION.

256
00:11:01,929 --> 00:11:03,897
Presley: AND SO I WORKED
MY WAY OUT ONTO THE WING

257
00:11:03,931 --> 00:11:05,966
JUST A FEW STEPS TO START WITH.

258
00:11:08,869 --> 00:11:11,104
Narrator: SKILES HEADS BACK
TO HELP THE CREW IN THE CABIN

259
00:11:11,138 --> 00:11:14,574
GET THE PASSENGERS
OUT OF THE SINKING PLANE.

260
00:11:14,607 --> 00:11:17,644
Skiles: SULLY AND I WERE GETTING
SEAT CUSHIONS AND LIFE VESTS

261
00:11:17,677 --> 00:11:19,612
AND WERE PASSING THEM OUT.

262
00:11:19,646 --> 00:11:21,815
COME FORWARD!

263
00:11:21,849 --> 00:11:23,216
IS THERE ANYBODY HERE?

264
00:11:23,250 --> 00:11:26,820
WE WERE VERY CONFIDENT THERE
WAS NOBODY LEFT ON THE AIRPLANE,

265
00:11:26,854 --> 00:11:28,889
BUT WHAT WAS GOING ON
OUT ON THE WINGS,

266
00:11:28,922 --> 00:11:30,891
YOU KNOW, WE JUST HAD NO IDEA.

267
00:11:30,924 --> 00:11:33,360
Narrator: CAPTAIN SULLENBERGER
AND FIRST OFFICER SKILES

268
00:11:33,393 --> 00:11:36,830
ARE THE LAST ONES OFF THE PLANE.

269
00:11:36,864 --> 00:11:38,031
Man: I JUST SAW THE BIG SPLASH

270
00:11:38,065 --> 00:11:41,034
WHEN THE PLANE JUST
BOUNCED OVER THE WATER.

271
00:11:41,068 --> 00:11:43,636
Man: A SMALL COMMERCIAL AIRLINE
CRASHED INTO THE WATER.

272
00:11:43,670 --> 00:11:46,740
Woman: THEY'VE BEEN IN THE WATER
MORE THAN TEN MINUTES ALREADY.

273
00:11:48,075 --> 00:11:50,744
Narrator: EMERGENCY SERVICES
SCRAMBLE TO EVACUATE

274
00:11:50,778 --> 00:11:55,082
THE PASSENGERS
FROM THE SINKING PLANE.

275
00:11:55,115 --> 00:11:58,886
THE RESCUE IS BROADCAST LIVE
ACROSS THE UNITED STATES.

276
00:11:58,919 --> 00:12:01,789
THE ENTIRE NATION LOOKS ON
AS PASSENGERS AND CREW

277
00:12:01,822 --> 00:12:06,860
OF FLIGHT 1549
ARE BROUGHT TO SAFETY.

278
00:12:06,894 --> 00:12:08,395
Mayor Bloomberg:
A U.S. AIRWAYS PILOT

279
00:12:08,428 --> 00:12:10,931
MADE AN INCREDIBLY SKILLFUL
EMERGENCY LANDING

280
00:12:10,964 --> 00:12:12,866
IN THE HUDSON RIVER.

281
00:12:14,167 --> 00:12:18,005
Narrator: AUTHORITIES COMPARE
A LIST OF 155 RESCUED PEOPLE

282
00:12:18,038 --> 00:12:21,975
WITH THE MANIFEST, AND
MIRACULOUSLY, NO ONE IS MISSING.

283
00:12:27,314 --> 00:12:28,415
FOR INVESTIGATORS

284
00:12:28,448 --> 00:12:31,885
FROM THE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION
SAFETY BOARD, OR NTSB,

285
00:12:31,919 --> 00:12:34,554
IT'S AN UNUSUAL SITUATION.

286
00:12:34,587 --> 00:12:38,826
NORMALLY, THEIR MAIN TASK IS
TO UNCOVER THE CAUSE OF A CRASH.

287
00:12:38,859 --> 00:12:42,830
WITH FLIGHT 1549,
THE CAUSE SEEMS OBVIOUS.

288
00:12:42,863 --> 00:12:44,231
Sullenberger: BIRDS.

289
00:12:44,264 --> 00:12:45,232
Skiles: WHOA!

290
00:12:45,265 --> 00:12:47,835
Narrator: THE ORIGINAL
MAYDAY CALL WAS CLEAR.

291
00:12:47,868 --> 00:12:48,936
Sullenberger:
MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY.

292
00:12:48,969 --> 00:12:51,939
THIS IS CACTUS 1549.
HIT BIRDS.

293
00:12:53,006 --> 00:12:53,974
Robert Benzon:
I THINK EVERYBODY REALIZED

294
00:12:54,007 --> 00:12:56,176
THAT A BIRD STRIKE
HAD OCCURRED.

295
00:12:56,209 --> 00:12:59,813
WHAT PEOPLE DIDN'T KNOW
WAS WHAT KIND OF BIRDS

296
00:12:59,847 --> 00:13:01,181
BROUGHT THE AIRCRAFT DOWN,

297
00:13:01,214 --> 00:13:03,683
WHETHER IT MIGHT
HAVE BEEN A COMBINATION

298
00:13:03,716 --> 00:13:05,919
OF A BIRD STRIKE
PLUS SOMETHING ELSE,

299
00:13:05,953 --> 00:13:08,621
WHETHER THE CREW ACTED
AND FLEW THE AIRCRAFT

300
00:13:08,655 --> 00:13:10,257
AS THEY SHOULD HAVE.

301
00:13:11,724 --> 00:13:13,861
Narrator: TESTS CONFIRM
THAT CANADIAN GEESE

302
00:13:13,894 --> 00:13:15,896
INGESTED INTO FLIGHT 1549

303
00:13:15,929 --> 00:13:19,632
RIPPED APART
THE ENGINE'S COMPRESSORS.

304
00:13:19,666 --> 00:13:21,835
METAL SHARDS FROM
THESE BROKEN COMPRESSORS

305
00:13:21,869 --> 00:13:24,337
WERE SUCKED DEEP INTO THE CORES
OF BOTH ENGINES,

306
00:13:24,371 --> 00:13:25,738
SHUTTING THEM DOWN.

307
00:13:25,772 --> 00:13:26,806
Sullenberger: WE'VE LOST THRUST
IN BOTH ENGINES.

308
00:13:26,840 --> 00:13:29,943
WE'RE TURNING BACK
TOWARDS LaGUARDIA.

309
00:13:29,977 --> 00:13:31,778
Narrator:
DESPITE THE SAFE OUTCOME

310
00:13:31,811 --> 00:13:34,047
OF CAPTAIN SULLENBERGER'S
HEROIC LANDING,

311
00:13:34,081 --> 00:13:37,750
THERE'S ONE QUESTION
THAT NAGS INVESTIGATORS.

312
00:13:37,784 --> 00:13:39,119
Sullenberger: WE'RE GONNA BE
IN THE HUDSON.

313
00:13:39,152 --> 00:13:41,955
Narrator: DID SULLENBERGER
REALLY HAVE TO LAND THE AIRBUS

314
00:13:41,989 --> 00:13:43,056
IN THE HUDSON RIVER?

315
00:13:43,090 --> 00:13:44,424
Sullenberger:
THIS IS THE CAPTAIN.

316
00:13:44,457 --> 00:13:46,193
Narrator: OR COULD HE HAVE
MADE IT TO A RUNWAY?

317
00:13:46,226 --> 00:13:48,028
Sullenberger: BRACE FOR IMPACT.

318
00:13:51,564 --> 00:13:54,001
Narrator: USING A FLIGHT
SIMULATOR, INVESTIGATORS STUDY

319
00:13:54,034 --> 00:13:56,970
CHESLEY SULLENBERGER
AND JEFFREY SKILES' ACTIONS

320
00:13:57,004 --> 00:13:59,839
IN THE MOMENTS AFTER THEIR PLANE
COLLIDED WITH BIRDS.

321
00:13:59,873 --> 00:14:00,908
Sullenberger: IGNITION.

322
00:14:00,941 --> 00:14:01,942
Katherine Wilson:
WE WANTED TO KNOW,

323
00:14:01,975 --> 00:14:03,576
DID THE PILOTS
DO THE RIGHT THING?

324
00:14:03,610 --> 00:14:07,714
WAS THERE ENOUGH ENERGY
TO MAKE IT BACK TO LaGUARDIA?

325
00:14:07,747 --> 00:14:09,983
WHEN WE TOOK INTO CONSIDERATION
THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS

326
00:14:10,017 --> 00:14:11,985
THAT CAPTAIN SULLENBERGER
WENT THROUGH,

327
00:14:12,019 --> 00:14:14,187
WE REALIZED THAT
IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE

328
00:14:14,221 --> 00:14:16,789
TO MAKE IT BACK TO THE AIRPORT.

329
00:14:16,823 --> 00:14:18,225
Sullenberger: WE'RE GONNA BE
IN THE HUDSON.

330
00:14:18,258 --> 00:14:20,994
Narrator: PUTTING THE PLANE IN
THE HUDSON WAS THE RIGHT CALL.

331
00:14:21,028 --> 00:14:22,930
SULLENBERGER DIDN'T
HAVE ENOUGH ALTITUDE

332
00:14:22,963 --> 00:14:27,968
TO GLIDE TO EITHER LaGUARDIA
OR TETERBORO AIRPORTS.

333
00:14:28,001 --> 00:14:30,103
Wilson: WE HAD A VERY
EXPERIENCED FLIGHT CREW

334
00:14:30,137 --> 00:14:32,906
WITH VERY GOOD TRAINING.

335
00:14:32,940 --> 00:14:34,174
Narrator:
THE ACCIDENT ACCELERATES

336
00:14:34,207 --> 00:14:36,576
THE DEVELOPMENT
OF AVIAN RADAR,

337
00:14:36,609 --> 00:14:40,981
A TECHNOLOGY THAT COULD HELP
PILOTS EVADE FLOCKS OF BIRDS.

338
00:14:41,014 --> 00:14:42,182
IT'S A TOOL
THAT MAY HAVE PREVENTED

339
00:14:42,215 --> 00:14:46,119
THE CRISIS OVER THE HUDSON.

340
00:14:46,153 --> 00:14:48,488
BUT IT'S THE SUPREME
PILOTING SKILLS

341
00:14:48,521 --> 00:14:53,293
IN THE COCKPIT OF FLIGHT 1549
THAT SAVED LIVES IN THE END.

342
00:14:55,695 --> 00:14:56,829
Sullenberger: MY AIRCRAFT.

343
00:14:56,863 --> 00:14:58,898
Skiles: ALL YOUR TRAINING
THAT YOU'VE DONE,

344
00:14:58,932 --> 00:15:02,769
IT ALL JUST COMES BACK TO YOU
WHEN YOU NEED IT.

345
00:15:02,802 --> 00:15:03,903
Benzon: WELL,
AT THE SAFETY BOARD,

346
00:15:03,937 --> 00:15:06,006
WE DON'T REALLY DEAL
IN MIRACLES VERY OFTEN,

347
00:15:06,039 --> 00:15:08,708
BUT THIS EVENT HAD A LOT
OF THINGS THAT CAME TOGETHER

348
00:15:08,741 --> 00:15:10,843
AT THE RIGHT TIME
AND THE RIGHT PLACE,

349
00:15:10,877 --> 00:15:12,845
AND SO A LOT OF US ARE THINKING,

350
00:15:12,879 --> 00:15:15,215
"WELL, MAYBE WE
DO HAVE A MIRACLE HERE."

351
00:15:17,050 --> 00:15:19,686
Narrator: CAPTAIN SULLENBERGER
AND FIRST OFFICER SKILES

352
00:15:19,719 --> 00:15:22,189
ARE CELEBRATED
AS AVIATION HEROES,

353
00:15:22,222 --> 00:15:26,159
BUT BOTH PILOTS ARE QUICK
TO DEFLECT ANY PRAISE.

354
00:15:26,193 --> 00:15:27,760
John Nance: THESE GENTLEMEN
WILL LOOK YOU IN THE EYE

355
00:15:27,794 --> 00:15:29,129
AND SAY, "I'M NOT A HERO."

356
00:15:29,162 --> 00:15:30,297
WELL, YEAH, THEY ARE,

357
00:15:30,330 --> 00:15:33,433
AND YET THEY DON'T THINK
OF THEMSELVES THAT WAY.

358
00:15:33,466 --> 00:15:35,102
THEY NEVER STOPPED
FLYING THE AIRPLANE.

359
00:15:35,135 --> 00:15:36,769
THEY DIDN'T GIVE UP.

360
00:15:36,803 --> 00:15:38,972
THAT TO ME IS HEROISM.

361
00:15:43,776 --> 00:15:47,547
Narrator: A CANADIAN FLIGHT CREW
FACES A DISASTROUS SITUATION.

362
00:15:47,580 --> 00:15:49,716
Bob Pearson: HOW COME
I HAVE NO INSTRUMENTS?

363
00:15:49,749 --> 00:15:50,917
David Miller: NOBODY CAN PREDICT

364
00:15:50,950 --> 00:15:54,221
EVERYTHING THAT MAY GO WRONG
WITH AN AIRCRAFT.

365
00:15:54,254 --> 00:15:55,922
Pearson: OKAY, CHECKLIST.

366
00:15:55,955 --> 00:15:57,790
Miller: IF THE CHECKLIST
DOES NOT COVER

367
00:15:57,824 --> 00:15:59,059
THE SITUATION YOU'RE IN,

368
00:15:59,092 --> 00:16:01,794
THEN IT'S GONNA NEED
A LITTLE BIT OF FREE THINKING

369
00:16:01,828 --> 00:16:03,863
FROM THE CREW'S POINT OF VIEW.

370
00:16:03,896 --> 00:16:05,065
Pearson: I GUESS
I'LL JUST SLIP IT.

371
00:16:05,098 --> 00:16:07,000
Narrator: SOMETIMES
THAT MEANS COMMITTING

372
00:16:07,034 --> 00:16:09,669
TO AN UNTHINKABLE
EMERGENCY LANDING.

373
00:16:12,472 --> 00:16:14,974
HIGH ABOVE
THE CANADIAN PRAIRIE,

374
00:16:15,008 --> 00:16:18,878
AIR CANADA FLIGHT 143
CARRYING 61 PASSENGERS

375
00:16:18,911 --> 00:16:20,847
IS JUST PAST THE HALFWAY MARK

376
00:16:20,880 --> 00:16:23,650
FROM MONTREAL
TO EDMONTON, ALBERTA.

377
00:16:27,520 --> 00:16:29,889
THE CAPTAIN ON THIS FLIGHT
IS BOB PEARSON.

378
00:16:29,922 --> 00:16:31,058
HE'S 48 YEARS OLD,

379
00:16:31,091 --> 00:16:35,895
AND HE'S SPENT MORE THAN
15,000 HOURS IN THE AIR.

380
00:16:35,928 --> 00:16:37,664
HIS FIRST OFFICER
IS MAURICE QUINTAL,

381
00:16:37,697 --> 00:16:42,069
WHO HAS MORE THAN
7,000 HOURS OF FLYING TIME.

382
00:16:42,102 --> 00:16:45,105
Pearson: WE HAD, UH,
DEPARTED HEADING NORTHWEST,

383
00:16:45,138 --> 00:16:47,974
A NICE, CLEAR SUNNY DAY.

384
00:16:48,007 --> 00:16:51,078
WE HAD A FLIGHT PLAN
OF 39,000 FEET.

385
00:16:51,111 --> 00:16:52,479
Narrator: THE CREW
MAY HAVE ACCUMULATED

386
00:16:52,512 --> 00:16:56,783
A LOT OF HOURS IN THE AIR,
BUT VERY FEW IN THIS PLANE.

387
00:16:56,816 --> 00:17:02,855
IT'S BOEING'S LATEST AND MOST
ADVANCED WIDE-BODY JET, THE 767.

388
00:17:02,889 --> 00:17:07,460
THE PLANE HAS
ONLY 150 HOURS ON IT.

389
00:17:07,494 --> 00:17:08,828
Maurice Quintal:
THIS WAS A NEW AIRCRAFT

390
00:17:08,861 --> 00:17:11,064
FOR BOTH THE CAPTAIN AND I.

391
00:17:11,098 --> 00:17:13,933
AT THE TIME, I HAD
75 HOURS ON THAT AIRPLANE,

392
00:17:13,966 --> 00:17:16,969
SO EVERYTHING WAS NEW FOR ME.

393
00:17:17,003 --> 00:17:19,072
Narrator: PILOTS AND
MAINTENANCE CREWS ARE BOTH

394
00:17:19,106 --> 00:17:23,009
STILL GETTING TO KNOW
THIS AIRLINER.

395
00:17:23,042 --> 00:17:24,544
ONE OF THE PASSENGERS ON BOARD

396
00:17:24,577 --> 00:17:29,015
IS OFF-DUTY AIR CANADA
MAINTENANCE ENGINEER RICK DION.

397
00:17:29,048 --> 00:17:32,185
HE'S ORIENTING HIMSELF
TO THE NEW AIRCRAFT.

398
00:17:32,219 --> 00:17:34,387
*

399
00:17:34,421 --> 00:17:39,192
[ALARM BEEPING]

400
00:17:39,226 --> 00:17:41,094
Quintal: FUEL PRESSURE?

401
00:17:41,128 --> 00:17:42,695
WHY WOULD THAT BE?

402
00:17:42,729 --> 00:17:43,963
Pearson: WHOA.

403
00:17:43,996 --> 00:17:46,999
Narrator: A WARNING ALERTS THE
CREW TO CRITICALLY LOW PRESSURE

404
00:17:47,033 --> 00:17:49,035
AT ONE OF THE PLANE'S
FUEL PUMPS.

405
00:17:49,068 --> 00:17:50,837
Quintal: SOMETHING'S WRONG
WITH THE FUEL PUMP.

406
00:17:53,072 --> 00:17:55,041
Narrator: THE LOW PRESSURE
WARNING COULD MEAN

407
00:17:55,074 --> 00:17:57,110
THAT ONE OF THE PUMPS
NEEDS MAINTENANCE,

408
00:17:57,144 --> 00:17:59,912
BUT IT COULD ALSO BE
A MORE SERIOUS ISSUE,

409
00:17:59,946 --> 00:18:01,748
A LACK OF FUEL TO BE PUMPED.

410
00:18:01,781 --> 00:18:03,015
Pearson: LEFT FORWARD FUEL PUMP.

411
00:18:03,049 --> 00:18:05,952
I HOPE IT'S JUST A BLOODY PUMP
FAILING, I CAN TELL YOU THAT.

412
00:18:05,985 --> 00:18:09,656
Narrator: THEN, ANOTHER LOW
FUEL PRESSURE WARNING SOUNDS,

413
00:18:09,689 --> 00:18:13,760
THIS ONE FROM ANOTHER FUEL PUMP
ON THE PLANE'S LEFT SIDE.

414
00:18:13,793 --> 00:18:18,465
[ALARM BEEPING]

415
00:18:18,498 --> 00:18:22,135
Pearson: THIS SEEMED
QUITE ABNORMAL

416
00:18:22,169 --> 00:18:26,206
THAT TWO PUMPS WOULD FAIL
IN A BRAND-NEW AIRPLANE.

417
00:18:26,239 --> 00:18:30,109
WE HAD SOME KIND OF A PROBLEM
THAT WE DIDN'T UNDERSTAND.

418
00:18:30,143 --> 00:18:33,913
Rick Dion: YOU MIGHT BE LOW
ON THE LEFT TANK.

419
00:18:33,946 --> 00:18:35,081
Narrator: CAPTAIN PEARSON KNOWS

420
00:18:35,114 --> 00:18:37,850
THAT IF THE LEFT TANK
IS RUNNING LOW,

421
00:18:37,884 --> 00:18:39,952
THE RIGHT TANK
MAY BE LOW AS WELL.

422
00:18:39,986 --> 00:18:43,923
[BEEPING]

423
00:18:43,956 --> 00:18:47,694
Pearson: WHAT WAS THAT?

424
00:18:47,727 --> 00:18:49,996
Narrator: AND THEN,
A FUEL WARNING SOUNDS,

425
00:18:50,029 --> 00:18:54,701
CONFIRMING THAT FLIGHT 143 IS,
IN FACT, RUNNING OUT OF FUEL.

426
00:18:57,704 --> 00:19:01,974
WITHOUT POWER FROM THE ENGINES,
THE EMERGENCY WORSENS.

427
00:19:02,008 --> 00:19:04,177
[ALARM BEEPING]

428
00:19:07,180 --> 00:19:09,682
Pearson: HOW COME
I HAVE NO INSTRUMENTS?

429
00:19:09,716 --> 00:19:14,987
OUR BEAUTIFUL COLORED ENGINE
AND FLIGHT INSTRUMENT DISPLAYS

430
00:19:15,021 --> 00:19:17,924
SIMPLY WENT BLACK.

431
00:19:17,957 --> 00:19:20,860
Narrator: THE CREW IS STILL
MORE THAN 700 MILES AWAY

432
00:19:20,893 --> 00:19:26,132
FROM THEIR ORIGINAL
DESTINATION--EDMONTON, ALBERTA.

433
00:19:26,165 --> 00:19:28,801
THEY CONTACT THE CLOSEST
AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL CENTER

434
00:19:28,835 --> 00:19:32,705
TO HELP THEM FIND
THE NEAREST LANDING STRIP.

435
00:19:32,739 --> 00:19:35,041
Quintal: WINNIPEG CENTER,
AIR CANADA 143.

436
00:19:35,074 --> 00:19:36,976
Ron Hewett:
AIR CANADA 143, GO AHEAD.

437
00:19:37,009 --> 00:19:38,811
Quintal: WE JUST LOST
BOTH ENGINES.

438
00:19:38,845 --> 00:19:44,050
Hewett: WHEN BOTH ENGINES,
UH, SHUT OFF, UH,

439
00:19:44,083 --> 00:19:46,018
I THINK YOU SAID, HOLY...

440
00:19:46,052 --> 00:19:47,720
I'M TALKING TO A DEAD MAN.

441
00:19:47,754 --> 00:19:51,958
UH, 143, WE HAVE YOU
AT 45 MILES FROM GIMLI.

442
00:19:51,991 --> 00:19:54,827
Quintal: THAT IS A LONG RUNWAY.

443
00:19:54,861 --> 00:19:57,897
Pearson: UH, IS THERE
EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT AT GIMLI?

444
00:20:01,568 --> 00:20:03,736
Narrator: THE CLOSEST OPTION
FOR AN EMERGENCY LANDING

445
00:20:03,770 --> 00:20:09,542
IS A DECOMMISSIONED AIR FORCE
BASE IN GIMLI, MANITOBA.

446
00:20:09,576 --> 00:20:11,511
Hewett: NEGATIVE EMERGENCY
EQUIPMENT AT ALL,

447
00:20:11,544 --> 00:20:14,614
JUST ONE RUNWAY AVAILABLE,
I BELIEVE,

448
00:20:14,647 --> 00:20:18,117
AND, UH, NO CONTROL TOWER
AND NO INFORMATION ON IT.

449
00:20:18,150 --> 00:20:21,588
Narrator: IT'S A HIGHLY
DANGEROUS MOVE.

450
00:20:21,621 --> 00:20:24,757
THERE'S NO CONTROL TOWER
AT GIMLI

451
00:20:24,791 --> 00:20:28,261
AND NO EMERGENCY SERVICES.

452
00:20:28,295 --> 00:20:31,163
Pearson: WE'RE GONNA GO THERE.

453
00:20:31,197 --> 00:20:32,932
WE WERE TRAINED IN THE SIMULATOR

454
00:20:32,965 --> 00:20:35,234
TO HANDLE
A SINGLE ENGINE FAILURE.

455
00:20:35,268 --> 00:20:39,506
WE HAD NEVER PRACTICED
TOTAL ENGINE FAILURES.

456
00:20:39,539 --> 00:20:42,509
Narrator: BUT AS THE PLANE
GETS CLOSER TO THE GIMLI RUNWAY,

457
00:20:42,542 --> 00:20:45,244
BOB PEARSON REALIZES
HE'S MUCH TOO HIGH ABOVE IT

458
00:20:45,278 --> 00:20:48,014
TO LAND SAFELY.

459
00:20:48,047 --> 00:20:49,649
Quintal: WE'RE TOO CLOSE, HUH?

460
00:20:49,682 --> 00:20:52,084
IT'S GOING TO BE
TOO STEEP, TOO FAST.

461
00:20:52,118 --> 00:20:55,154
Pearson: YEAH, I KNOW.

462
00:20:55,187 --> 00:20:56,723
IN A NORMAL APPROACH,

463
00:20:56,756 --> 00:20:59,826
WE HAVE, UH, LEADING EDGE
AND TRAILING EDGE FLAPS,

464
00:20:59,859 --> 00:21:02,128
WHICH ALLOW US
TO SLOW THE AIRPLANE DOWN

465
00:21:02,161 --> 00:21:05,031
AND FLY AT A SLOWER SPEED
SAFELY.

466
00:21:05,064 --> 00:21:07,133
WE DID NOT HAVE THOSE FLAPS,

467
00:21:07,166 --> 00:21:09,869
AS THEY RUN OFF
THE MAIN HYDRAULIC SYSTEM.

468
00:21:11,904 --> 00:21:14,674
Narrator: IF HE COMES DOWN
AT A NORMAL DESCENT RATE,

469
00:21:14,707 --> 00:21:18,277
HE'LL MISS THE LANDING STRIP,
BUT IF HE COMES DOWN STEEPLY,

470
00:21:18,311 --> 00:21:20,980
HIS PLANE WILL GATHER
A DANGEROUS AMOUNT OF SPEED.

471
00:21:21,013 --> 00:21:25,818
HE WON'T BE ABLE TO STOP
BEFORE THE END OF THE RUNWAY.

472
00:21:25,852 --> 00:21:29,856
Pearson: WELL, I GUESS
I'LL JUST SLIP IT.

473
00:21:29,889 --> 00:21:33,660
Narrator: PEARSON DECIDES TO TRY
A MANEUVER CALLED A SIDESLIP,

474
00:21:33,693 --> 00:21:36,262
PRACTICALLY UNHEARD OF
ON COMMERCIAL AIRLINERS

475
00:21:36,295 --> 00:21:39,231
BUT SOMETIMES USED
BY GLIDER PILOTS.

476
00:21:39,265 --> 00:21:40,266
EVEN THOUGH BOB PEARSON

477
00:21:40,299 --> 00:21:42,835
HAS A LOT OF EXPERIENCE
FLYING GLIDERS,

478
00:21:42,869 --> 00:21:45,137
HE HAS NEVER PERFORMED
THIS MANEUVER.

479
00:21:45,171 --> 00:21:46,238
Pearson: I'M JUST GONNA
SLIP IT DOWN

480
00:21:46,272 --> 00:21:47,907
TILL WE'RE ALMOST
DOWN AT THE RUNWAY,

481
00:21:47,940 --> 00:21:50,009
THEN I'LL STRAIGHTEN IT OUT.

482
00:21:50,042 --> 00:21:51,110
Quintal: OKAY.

483
00:21:51,143 --> 00:21:52,211
Narrator: SIDESLIPPING INVOLVES

484
00:21:52,244 --> 00:21:54,981
WHAT'S KNOWN AS
CROSSING THE CONTROLS.

485
00:21:55,014 --> 00:21:55,915
Pearson: HERE WE GO.

486
00:21:59,318 --> 00:22:00,720
Narrator: PEARSON
FORCES THE AIRCRAFT

487
00:22:00,753 --> 00:22:05,057
INTO A SIDEWAYS FREEFALL,
USING HIS RUDDERS AND AILERONS

488
00:22:05,091 --> 00:22:06,859
TO TIP THE WINGS
IN ONE DIRECTION

489
00:22:06,893 --> 00:22:09,862
BUT TURN THE AIRCRAFT
IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION,

490
00:22:09,896 --> 00:22:14,967
PUSHING IT SIDEWAYS
INTO THE ONCOMING AIR.

491
00:22:15,001 --> 00:22:18,270
THE 767 LOSES ALTITUDE QUICKLY.

492
00:22:18,304 --> 00:22:20,873
Quintal: THE BANK ANGLE
WAS QUITE HIGH.

493
00:22:20,907 --> 00:22:22,274
IF IT WAS AWKWARD FOR ME,

494
00:22:22,308 --> 00:22:24,944
I CAN IMAGINE
FOR THE PASSENGERS,

495
00:22:24,977 --> 00:22:27,747
IT MUST REALLY HAVE FELT ODD.

496
00:22:31,317 --> 00:22:33,820
Narrator: AS FLIGHT 143
PLUMMETS TOWARDS

497
00:22:33,853 --> 00:22:37,824
A FORMER CANADIAN AIR FORCE BASE
IN GIMLI, MANITOBA,

498
00:22:37,857 --> 00:22:41,728
CAPTAIN BOB PEARSON FOCUSES
ON THE THRESHOLD OF THE RUNWAY.

499
00:22:41,761 --> 00:22:43,129
IF HE CAN'T
STRAIGHTEN OUT THE PLANE

500
00:22:43,162 --> 00:22:47,767
AND LINE UP WITH THE RUNWAY,
HE WON'T GET A SECOND CHANCE.

501
00:22:47,800 --> 00:22:49,736
Pearson:
I GOT TUNNEL VISION, UH,

502
00:22:49,769 --> 00:22:51,704
LIKE I'VE NEVER
HAD IT BEFORE.

503
00:22:51,738 --> 00:22:55,241
IT WAS JUST OUR SPEED
AND OUR RELATIONSHIP

504
00:22:55,274 --> 00:22:58,010
WITH THE THRESHOLD
OF THE RUNWAY.

505
00:22:58,044 --> 00:23:00,713
Narrator: BUT ONLY HUNDREDS
OF FEET FROM THE GROUND,

506
00:23:00,747 --> 00:23:03,916
PEARSON'S PROBLEMS MULTIPLY.

507
00:23:03,950 --> 00:23:07,987
THE GIMLI LANDING STRIP
HAS BEEN CONVERTED

508
00:23:08,020 --> 00:23:10,690
INTO A DRAG-RACING STRIP.

509
00:23:13,793 --> 00:23:17,029
TODAY IS SATURDAY,
AND IT'S NOT JUST RACE DAY.

510
00:23:17,063 --> 00:23:18,865
IT'S FAMILY DAY.

511
00:23:21,033 --> 00:23:25,738
TWO CHILDREN HAVE DECIDED TO
PEDAL THE LENGTH OF THE RUNWAY.

512
00:23:25,772 --> 00:23:29,008
THEY DON'T HEAR THE PLANE
COMING TOWARD THEM.

513
00:23:29,041 --> 00:23:31,043
WITHOUT ENGINES, IT'S SILENT.

514
00:23:31,077 --> 00:23:36,849
AND ONE THING THE 767
DOESN'T HAVE IS A HORN.

515
00:23:36,883 --> 00:23:39,118
Flight attendant: BRACE!
BRACE FOR LANDING!

516
00:23:39,151 --> 00:23:49,562
*

517
00:23:49,596 --> 00:23:51,764
Pearson: THE NOSE HIT WITH
QUITE A BANG ON THE RUNWAY.

518
00:23:51,798 --> 00:23:54,867
IT SOUNDED LIKE A SHOTGUN
GOING OFF AT OUR FEET.

519
00:23:54,901 --> 00:23:56,803
Narrator: THE FRONT LANDING GEAR
GIVES OUT IMMEDIATELY

520
00:23:56,836 --> 00:23:59,839
AFTER FLIGHT 143 TOUCHES DOWN.

521
00:23:59,872 --> 00:24:03,576
PEARSON BRAKES HARD.
TWO TIRES BLOW OUT.

522
00:24:03,610 --> 00:24:06,145
THE BOTTOM OF THE RIGHT ENGINE
SCRAPES THE RUNWAY.

523
00:24:10,082 --> 00:24:15,655
Pearson: AND I LOOKED UP, AND I
COULD SEE TWO BOYS ON BICYCLES.

524
00:24:15,688 --> 00:24:18,891
AND I CAN STILL REMEMBER THE
LOOK OF TERROR ON THEIR FACES,

525
00:24:18,925 --> 00:24:23,763
SO THEY WERE CLOSE ENOUGH
FOR ME TO SEE THAT.

526
00:24:23,796 --> 00:24:24,831
Narrator: SKIDDING
DOWN THE RUNWAY

527
00:24:24,864 --> 00:24:28,067
AT MORE THAN
200 MILES AN HOUR...

528
00:24:28,100 --> 00:24:29,035
Quintal: SMOKE, BOB.

529
00:24:29,068 --> 00:24:30,803
Narrator: ...THE PLANE PLOWS
INTO A GUARDRAIL

530
00:24:30,837 --> 00:24:33,673
INSTALLED DOWN THE MIDDLE
OF THE RUNWAY.

531
00:24:45,117 --> 00:24:46,853
Pearson: PASSENGER
EVACUATION CHECKLIST.

532
00:24:46,886 --> 00:24:48,955
Quintal: PASSENGER CHECKLIST.

533
00:24:48,988 --> 00:24:51,891
Narrator: 17 MINUTES
AFTER RUNNING OUT OF FUEL,

534
00:24:51,924 --> 00:24:55,762
AIR CANADA FLIGHT 143 COMES
TO A FINAL STOP ON THE GROUND.

535
00:24:55,795 --> 00:24:56,863
Quintal: CHECKLIST COMPLETE.

536
00:24:56,896 --> 00:24:58,197
Pearson:
TIME TO GET OUT OF HERE.

537
00:24:58,230 --> 00:25:04,637
*

538
00:25:04,671 --> 00:25:08,641
ALL THE PASSENGERS ON BOARD
SURVIVE THE INCIDENT.

539
00:25:08,675 --> 00:25:10,843
Hewett: I HEARD
ON THE WEST RADAR FREQUENCY,

540
00:25:10,877 --> 00:25:14,313
HE'S DOWN OKAY,
HE'S IN ONE PIECE,

541
00:25:14,346 --> 00:25:18,084
AND THAT'S WHEN
OUR CHEER WENT UP.

542
00:25:18,117 --> 00:25:20,052
[LAUGHS]

543
00:25:20,086 --> 00:25:22,589
I SAID, OKAY!

544
00:25:22,622 --> 00:25:24,924
BECAUSE ALL OF THESE PEOPLE

545
00:25:24,957 --> 00:25:27,994
WERE GONNA SLEEP
IN THEIR OWN BED THAT NIGHT.

546
00:25:38,871 --> 00:25:42,842
Reporter: AIR CANADA FLIGHT 143
GLIDED SILENTLY, APPARENTLY...

547
00:25:42,875 --> 00:25:43,876
Narrator: THE EVENT MAKES

548
00:25:43,910 --> 00:25:46,478
INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES
IMMEDIATELY.

549
00:25:46,512 --> 00:25:49,381
PEOPLE ARE ALREADY ASKING HOW
ONE OF THE MOST SOPHISTICATED

550
00:25:49,415 --> 00:25:52,985
PASSENGER PLANES IN THE WORLD
COULD HAVE RUN OUT OF FUEL.

551
00:25:55,955 --> 00:25:57,757
FEDERAL INVESTIGATOR BILL TAYLOR

552
00:25:57,790 --> 00:26:00,860
WONDERS IF FUEL
ON BOARD FLIGHT 143

553
00:26:00,893 --> 00:26:04,664
COULD HAVE LEAKED OUT
DURING THE FLIGHT.

554
00:26:04,697 --> 00:26:05,932
Bill Taylor: I EVEN
WENT SO FAR AS TO GO

555
00:26:05,965 --> 00:26:08,601
INTO WHAT THEY CALL
THE DRY BAY OF THE AIRCRAFT.

556
00:26:08,635 --> 00:26:09,802
I HAD A LOOK AROUND
WITH THE FLASHLIGHT

557
00:26:09,836 --> 00:26:11,003
AND CONFIRMED THAT THERE WAS

558
00:26:11,037 --> 00:26:14,206
NO EVIDENCE OF FUEL
HAVING BEEN LOST IN THERE.

559
00:26:16,943 --> 00:26:19,045
Narrator: WITH NO EVIDENCE
OF A FUEL LEAK,

560
00:26:19,078 --> 00:26:22,749
THIS LEAVES INVESTIGATORS
WITH ONLY ONE CONCLUSION.

561
00:26:22,782 --> 00:26:26,653
THE PLANE TOOK OFF
WITHOUT ENOUGH FUEL.

562
00:26:26,686 --> 00:26:30,056
THEY NEED TO FIND OUT WHY.

563
00:26:30,089 --> 00:26:34,894
IN 1983, AIR CANADA'S 767
WAS THE FIRST PLANE

564
00:26:34,927 --> 00:26:38,898
TO HAVE METRIC FUEL GAUGES.

565
00:26:38,931 --> 00:26:42,101
INVESTIGATORS DISCOVER THAT
THE GROUND CREW MADE A MISTAKE

566
00:26:42,134 --> 00:26:47,674
CALCULATING THE PROPER AMOUNT
OF FUEL FOR THE AIRPLANE.

567
00:26:47,707 --> 00:26:51,077
Taylor: SO, DID YOU CONVERT
TO POUNDS OR TO KILOGRAMS?

568
00:26:53,746 --> 00:26:55,748
Man: NOW I DON'T KNOW
WHAT I DID.

569
00:27:00,486 --> 00:27:05,892
Narrator: IT TURNS OUT THEY USED
POUNDS INSTEAD OF KILOGRAMS.

570
00:27:05,925 --> 00:27:08,961
BECAUSE A POUND
IS LESS THAN HALF A KILOGRAM,

571
00:27:08,995 --> 00:27:12,799
THE PLANE GOT LESS THAN HALF
THE FUEL IT REQUIRED.

572
00:27:14,801 --> 00:27:18,938
TWO DAYS AFTER THE LANDING
AT GIMLI, AIR CANADA'S 767

573
00:27:18,971 --> 00:27:23,943
WAS BACK IN THE AIR ON ITS WAY
TO WINNIPEG FOR REPAIRS.

574
00:27:23,976 --> 00:27:27,279
THE PLANE IS GIVEN A NICKNAME
THAT BOB PEARSON EARNED FOR IT--

575
00:27:27,313 --> 00:27:29,015
THE GIMLI GLIDER.

576
00:27:29,048 --> 00:27:32,985
Pearson: AS MUCH AS I'VE TRAINED
FOR ALL THOSE YEARS,

577
00:27:33,019 --> 00:27:36,789
THERE'S ALWAYS THAT QUESTION
ABOUT HOW YOU'RE GONNA PERFORM

578
00:27:36,823 --> 00:27:38,024
WHEN THE CHIPS ARE DOWN.

579
00:27:38,057 --> 00:27:48,634
*

580
00:27:48,667 --> 00:27:50,636
Narrator: AFTER THE INCIDENT
AT GIMLI,

581
00:27:50,669 --> 00:27:52,671
PILOT TRAINING
FOR COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE

582
00:27:52,705 --> 00:27:54,841
IS PUT INTO EFFECT.

583
00:27:54,874 --> 00:27:56,175
Miller: I WAS FLYING
AT THE TIME,

584
00:27:56,208 --> 00:28:00,046
AND THE COMPANY INTRODUCED
A RANGE OF TRAINING SESSIONS

585
00:28:00,079 --> 00:28:04,851
IN THE SIMULATOR FLYING
AN AIRCRAFT WITH NO ENGINES,

586
00:28:04,884 --> 00:28:06,685
FLYING IT LIKE A GLIDER,

587
00:28:06,719 --> 00:28:08,320
TRYING TO APPRECIATE
ITS PERFORMANCE

588
00:28:08,354 --> 00:28:10,723
WITH NO THRUST AT ALL.

589
00:28:12,091 --> 00:28:13,926
Narrator: BUT ARE
TRAINING EFFORTS ENOUGH

590
00:28:13,960 --> 00:28:15,928
TO PREVENT A TWIN-ENGINE FAILURE

591
00:28:15,962 --> 00:28:19,498
FROM TURNING INTO A CATASTROPHIC
INCIDENT FIVE YEARS LATER?

592
00:28:19,531 --> 00:28:21,901
Dionisio Lopez: MAYDAY, MAYDAY.
TACA 110. WE LOST AN ENGINE!

593
00:28:21,934 --> 00:28:22,935
Carlos Dardano: BOTH ENGINES.

594
00:28:22,969 --> 00:28:25,938
Lopez: BOTH ENGINES, SIR!

595
00:28:25,972 --> 00:28:28,507
Dardano: OKAY,
WHERE DO I PUT THIS THING DOWN?

596
00:28:28,540 --> 00:28:31,210
[ALARM BEEPING]

597
00:28:31,243 --> 00:28:34,380
[THUNDER]

598
00:28:37,716 --> 00:28:40,887
Narrator: EL SALVADORAN
TACA AIRLINES FLIGHT 110

599
00:28:40,920 --> 00:28:43,956
FLIES ABOVE THE GULF OF MEXICO.

600
00:28:45,992 --> 00:28:47,927
THE PLANE IS CARRYING
38 PASSENGERS

601
00:28:47,960 --> 00:28:50,863
HEADED FOR NEW ORLEANS.

602
00:28:50,897 --> 00:28:52,999
Lee Burmeister: GRACIAS.

603
00:28:55,868 --> 00:28:57,804
Narrator: 30 MILES
FROM ITS DESTINATION,

604
00:28:57,837 --> 00:29:02,374
THE PLANE BEGINS
ITS FINAL DESCENT.

605
00:29:02,408 --> 00:29:03,976
IT WON'T BE A ROUTINE LANDING

606
00:29:04,010 --> 00:29:08,714
FOR CAPTAIN CARLOS DARDANO
AND HIS CREW.

607
00:29:08,747 --> 00:29:09,882
THERE'S A VIOLENT HAILSTORM

608
00:29:09,916 --> 00:29:12,718
BETWEEN THE PLANE
AND THE AIRPORT.

609
00:29:12,751 --> 00:29:15,621
Dardano: IT FEEL LIKE
YOU HIT A WALL.

610
00:29:15,654 --> 00:29:18,991
THERE WAS SEVERE TURBULENCE
IN THE COCKPIT

611
00:29:19,025 --> 00:29:23,830
WITH A LOT OF NOISE
WITH ICE HITTING THE AIRPLANE.

612
00:29:24,931 --> 00:29:26,032
Donald Eick: WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT THE EQUIVALENT

613
00:29:26,065 --> 00:29:28,367
OF AN ATOMIC BOMB GOING OFF.

614
00:29:28,400 --> 00:29:30,769
[THUNDER]

615
00:29:30,803 --> 00:29:33,873
A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF ENERGY.

616
00:29:33,906 --> 00:29:36,909
Burmeister: IT WAS AWFUL.
LOTS AND LOTS OF LIGHTNING.

617
00:29:36,943 --> 00:29:39,145
AND THE, THE PLANE WAS HAVING
A PRETTY ROUGH TRIP.

618
00:29:39,178 --> 00:29:42,181
WE WERE, WE WERE GETTING
TUMBLED AROUND PRETTY GOOD.

619
00:29:44,783 --> 00:29:48,120
Narrator: CAPTAIN CARLOS DARDANO
WAS BORN TO FLY.

620
00:29:48,154 --> 00:29:49,188
AT JUST 29,

621
00:29:49,221 --> 00:29:52,959
HE IS THE THIRD GENERATION
IN A FAMILY OF PILOTS.

622
00:29:52,992 --> 00:29:54,994
Dardano:
SINCE I WAS A LITTLE CHILD,

623
00:29:55,027 --> 00:29:58,664
I REMEMBER THAT I WAS DREAMING
ON BEING A PILOT

624
00:29:58,697 --> 00:30:01,733
AND BEING AROUND AIRPLANES
ALL THE TIME.

625
00:30:01,767 --> 00:30:04,636
Narrator: CAPTAIN DARDANO HAS
OVERCOME TREMENDOUS OBSTACLES

626
00:30:04,670 --> 00:30:06,873
TO EARN HIS WINGS.

627
00:30:06,906 --> 00:30:09,909
SIX YEARS EARLIER, IN 1982,
HE WAS FLYING

628
00:30:09,942 --> 00:30:13,846
FOR A SMALL GENERAL AVIATION
COMPANY IN EL SALVADOR.

629
00:30:13,880 --> 00:30:15,982
Dardano: I WAS DOING
A LITTLE AERO-TAXI BUSINESS

630
00:30:16,015 --> 00:30:17,984
AROUND THE COUNTRY.

631
00:30:18,017 --> 00:30:20,819
Narrator: EL SALVADOR
WAS CONSUMED BY A CIVIL WAR,

632
00:30:20,853 --> 00:30:23,822
AND DARDANO FOUND HIMSELF
CAUGHT IN THE CROSSFIRE.

633
00:30:23,856 --> 00:30:27,759
Dardano: I WAS SHOT
BY GUERRILLAS IN THE FACE.

634
00:30:27,793 --> 00:30:28,928
Narrator: BADLY WOUNDED,

635
00:30:28,961 --> 00:30:32,164
HE MANAGED TO FLY
HIS PASSENGERS TO SAFETY.

636
00:30:32,198 --> 00:30:35,935
Dardano: AND I FLEW 20 MINUTES
BACK TO THE MAIN AIRPORT.

637
00:30:35,968 --> 00:30:38,637
Narrator: THE BRUSH WITH DEATH
COST HIM HIS LEFT EYE.

638
00:30:38,670 --> 00:30:43,442
Dardano: I WAS SHOT OVER HERE.
THE BULLET WENT THROUGH.

639
00:30:43,475 --> 00:30:46,612
Narrator: BUT DARDANO
DID NOT GIVE UP ON HIS DREAM.

640
00:30:46,645 --> 00:30:48,014
DESPITE HIS IMPAIRED VISION,

641
00:30:48,047 --> 00:30:51,951
HE WENT ON TO BECOME
A CERTIFIED COMMERCIAL PILOT.

642
00:30:51,984 --> 00:30:54,987
Lopez: ANTI-ICE, ON.

643
00:30:55,021 --> 00:30:56,923
Narrator: FIRST OFFICER
DIONISIO LOPEZ

644
00:30:56,956 --> 00:30:59,091
HAS MORE THAN
12,000 FLIGHT HOURS.

645
00:30:59,125 --> 00:31:03,829
HE AND DARDANO HAVE
FLOWN TOGETHER MANY TIMES.

646
00:31:03,862 --> 00:31:05,898
Controller:
TACA 110, RUNWAY 28,

647
00:31:05,932 --> 00:31:08,867
DESCEND AT PILOT'S DISCRETION.
MAINTAIN 4,000.

648
00:31:08,901 --> 00:31:11,237
Lopez: TACA 110, 4,000.

649
00:31:13,239 --> 00:31:15,975
Narrator: CAPTAIN ARTURO SOLEY
IS A FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR

650
00:31:16,008 --> 00:31:17,209
WITH TACA AIRLINES.

651
00:31:17,243 --> 00:31:19,912
HE'S ON BOARD TODAY
TO OBSERVE THE PERFORMANCE

652
00:31:19,946 --> 00:31:23,082
OF THE NEW 737-300.

653
00:31:26,052 --> 00:31:29,088
Dardano: THIS HAIL IS
GOING TO SCRATCH THE PAINT.

654
00:31:33,225 --> 00:31:36,929
ASK THE FLIGHT ATTENDANTS
TO TAKE THEIR SEATS.

655
00:31:36,963 --> 00:31:40,099
Lopez: FLIGHT ATTENDANTS,
PLEASE TAKE YOUR SEATS.

656
00:31:40,132 --> 00:31:44,003
Narrator: SUDDENLY, LESS THAN
17,000 FEET FROM THE GROUND,

657
00:31:44,036 --> 00:31:46,205
THE FLIGHT BECOMES
MORE TERRIFYING.

658
00:31:46,238 --> 00:31:52,611
*

659
00:31:52,644 --> 00:31:53,679
Dardano: EVERYTHING WENT BLACK.

660
00:31:53,712 --> 00:31:57,950
ALL THE ALARMS JUST START
SOUNDING IN THE COCKPIT.

661
00:31:57,984 --> 00:32:00,953
ALL THE INSTRUMENTS WENT OUT.

662
00:32:00,987 --> 00:32:03,990
SO, I HIT THE THROTTLES
A COUPLE OF TIMES

663
00:32:04,023 --> 00:32:08,060
TRYING TO JUST GO TO BASICS,
CONTROL THE AIRPLANE.

664
00:32:08,094 --> 00:32:10,462
WE LOST POWER ON THE ENGINES.

665
00:32:10,496 --> 00:32:13,365
THEN I FIND OUT
THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY POWER.

666
00:32:13,399 --> 00:32:15,467
I'VE GOT NOTHING.

667
00:32:15,501 --> 00:32:17,803
Narrator: THE PLANE
HAS ENOUGH SPEED TO GLIDE,

668
00:32:17,836 --> 00:32:20,106
BUT NOT FOR LONG.

669
00:32:20,139 --> 00:32:23,575
IT'S RAPIDLY LOSING ALTITUDE.

670
00:32:23,609 --> 00:32:27,679
Lopez: WE ARE DROPPING
AT 1,500 FEET PER MINUTE.

671
00:32:27,713 --> 00:32:31,017
Dardano: WELL, WE KNEW
WE DIDN'T HAVE MUCH TIME.

672
00:32:31,050 --> 00:32:34,620
LOPEZ, WATCH THE GAUGES.

673
00:32:34,653 --> 00:32:36,888
Narrator: WITHOUT ENGINES,
THE ODDS OF SURVIVAL

674
00:32:36,922 --> 00:32:39,992
ARE DROPPING
WITH EVERY PASSING SECOND.

675
00:32:40,026 --> 00:32:41,927
Dardano: COMMUNICATE
TO NEW ORLEANS.

676
00:32:41,960 --> 00:32:44,196
GET US OUT OF THIS STORM
AND ONTO A RUNWAY.

677
00:32:44,230 --> 00:32:45,964
Lopez: MAYDAY. MAYDAY. TACA 110.

678
00:32:45,998 --> 00:32:47,866
WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE
OF THE STORM, SIR.

679
00:32:47,899 --> 00:32:49,935
WE NEED VECTORS
TO THE RUNWAY NOW, SIR.

680
00:32:49,968 --> 00:32:50,936
WE LOST AN ENGINE.

681
00:32:50,969 --> 00:32:52,038
Dardano: BOTH ENGINES.

682
00:32:52,071 --> 00:32:54,740
Lopez: BOTH ENGINES, SIR.
BOTH ENGINES.

683
00:32:54,773 --> 00:32:59,011
Controller: UNDERSTAND,
BOTH ENGINES, TACA 110, ROGER.

684
00:32:59,045 --> 00:33:00,812
Narrator: THE CONTROLLER
KNOWS HE NEEDS TO GET

685
00:33:00,846 --> 00:33:01,847
THE RAPIDLY FALLING PLANE

686
00:33:01,880 --> 00:33:03,982
ON THE GROUND
AS SOON AS POSSIBLE,

687
00:33:04,016 --> 00:33:07,053
EVEN IF IT MEANS
SENDING IT TO ANOTHER AIRPORT.

688
00:33:07,086 --> 00:33:11,490
Controller: TACA 110, ROGER.
TURN LEFT HEADING 2-8-0.

689
00:33:11,523 --> 00:33:14,726
VECTORS TO NAVY CALLENDER
RUNWAY 22.

690
00:33:14,760 --> 00:33:19,031
Narrator: FLIGHT 110 IS STILL
20 MILES FROM NEW ORLEANS.

691
00:33:19,065 --> 00:33:20,932
THE STRICKEN PLANE
HAS A BETTER CHANCE OF LANDING

692
00:33:20,966 --> 00:33:25,637
AT A U.S. NAVAL BASE
16 MILES AWAY.

693
00:33:25,671 --> 00:33:27,839
BUT THE PLANE WILL NOT MAKE IT
TO ANY AIRPORT

694
00:33:27,873 --> 00:33:30,909
UNLESS THE CREW GETS AT LEAST
ONE OF THE ENGINES STARTED.

695
00:33:30,942 --> 00:33:33,312
Lopez: 28...29...30.

696
00:33:33,345 --> 00:33:34,813
HIT IT.

697
00:33:34,846 --> 00:33:42,488
[WHIRRING]

698
00:33:42,521 --> 00:33:44,856
Narrator: ONLY 5,000 FEET
FROM THE GROUND,

699
00:33:44,890 --> 00:33:46,692
THE LEFT ENGINE IGNITES.

700
00:33:46,725 --> 00:33:47,626
Lopez: SPEED.

701
00:33:54,032 --> 00:33:55,901
[EXHALES]

702
00:33:55,934 --> 00:33:58,604
Dardano: OKAY, GOOD JOB.

703
00:34:00,038 --> 00:34:03,875
START WORKING ON THE OTHER ONE.

704
00:34:03,909 --> 00:34:05,977
THE PLANE CAN FLY
WITH ONLY ONE ENGINE,

705
00:34:06,011 --> 00:34:08,580
BUT TWO ENGINES WOULD BE SAFER.

706
00:34:08,614 --> 00:34:10,216
Lopez: OKAY, WE HAVE
ONE ENGINE BACK ON.

707
00:34:10,249 --> 00:34:13,219
REQUEST VECTORS TO NEW ORLEANS.

708
00:34:13,252 --> 00:34:17,022
Controller: UH, TACA 110, WILCO.
FLY HEADING TWO-NINER-ZERO.

709
00:34:17,055 --> 00:34:18,924
VECTOR AROUND THE THUNDERSTORMS
TO YOUR RIGHT.

710
00:34:18,957 --> 00:34:21,593
[WHIRRING]

711
00:34:21,627 --> 00:34:24,530
THEN, THE SECOND ENGINE
COMES BACK ONLINE.

712
00:34:24,563 --> 00:34:26,198
Arturo Soley:
AND HERE COMES THE OTHER ONE.

713
00:34:28,800 --> 00:34:30,035
Lopez: SPEED.

714
00:34:30,068 --> 00:34:32,138
Dardano: ALL RIGHT.

715
00:34:32,171 --> 00:34:34,906
Soley: AND YOU GOT
BOTH OF THEM NOW.

716
00:34:34,940 --> 00:34:36,208
Narrator:
WITH BOTH ENGINES BACK,

717
00:34:36,242 --> 00:34:39,245
IT APPEARS THE CRISIS IS OVER.

718
00:34:39,278 --> 00:34:41,913
Lopez: OKAY, SIR.
WE HAVE BOTH ENGINES BACK NOW.

719
00:34:41,947 --> 00:34:45,251
WE ARE GOING TO GO DOWN
TO 3-1-0.

720
00:34:45,284 --> 00:34:51,056
*

721
00:34:51,089 --> 00:34:55,194
Dardano: LOOK,
I DON'T FEEL ANY POWER.

722
00:34:55,227 --> 00:34:57,163
WHY DON'T I FEEL ANY POWER?

723
00:35:00,132 --> 00:35:03,202
THE SUCKER IS NOT STARTING.

724
00:35:03,235 --> 00:35:04,970
Narrator: THE ENGINES
APPEAR TO BE RUNNING,

725
00:35:05,003 --> 00:35:10,709
BUT THEY'RE NOT PROVIDING
ANY THRUST.

726
00:35:10,742 --> 00:35:14,546
THEN, THE GAUGES SHOW THAT
THE ENGINES ARE OVERHEATING.

727
00:35:14,580 --> 00:35:18,049
THEY'RE BURNING UP
FROM THE INSIDE.

728
00:35:18,083 --> 00:35:19,785
THE RISK OF BOTH ENGINES
EXPLODING

729
00:35:19,818 --> 00:35:24,122
AND SETTING THE PLANE ON FIRE
NOW LEAVES DARDANO NO CHOICE.

730
00:35:24,156 --> 00:35:27,793
HE MUST DO SOMETHING
NO PILOT WOULD EVER WANT TO DO--

731
00:35:27,826 --> 00:35:33,098
SHUT DOWN BOTH ENGINES FOR GOOD.

732
00:35:33,131 --> 00:35:37,769
Dardano: I DON'T HAVE ANY POWER
IN THE ENGINES.

733
00:35:37,803 --> 00:35:42,908
Narrator: THE PLANE IS QUICKLY
CLOSING IN ON 3,000 FEET.

734
00:35:42,941 --> 00:35:47,045
AT THE RATE IT'S DROPPING,
IT WON'T MAKE IT TO THE RUNWAY.

735
00:35:47,078 --> 00:35:50,182
Dardano: OKAY,
WHERE DO I PUT THIS THING DOWN?

736
00:35:50,216 --> 00:35:52,984
WE KNEW THAT WE DON'T
HAVE ANY POSSIBILITY

737
00:35:53,018 --> 00:35:54,786
TO RESTART THE ENGINES,

738
00:35:54,820 --> 00:35:58,390
AND WE HAD TO START LOOKING
FOR SOMEPLACE TO LAND.

739
00:36:01,760 --> 00:36:04,129
Narrator: CAPTAIN DARDANO
HAS LESS THAN THREE MINUTES

740
00:36:04,162 --> 00:36:07,799
TO FIND A PLACE TO LAND
HIS CRIPPLED 737.

741
00:36:07,833 --> 00:36:09,501
Controller: TACA 110,
DO YOU HAVE VISUAL REFERENCE

742
00:36:09,535 --> 00:36:11,970
OF THE GROUND AT THIS TIME?

743
00:36:12,003 --> 00:36:13,805
Dardano: YES, SIR.

744
00:36:13,839 --> 00:36:17,743
I WAS SEEING JUST SWAMPY LAND
ALL OVER THE PLACE.

745
00:36:17,776 --> 00:36:21,146
Narrator: NEW ORLEANS IS
SURROUNDED BY CANALS AND LAKES.

746
00:36:21,179 --> 00:36:23,782
THE CITY IS PROTECTED
BY A SYSTEM OF LEVEES,

747
00:36:23,815 --> 00:36:28,019
MAN-MADE BARRIERS
DESIGNED TO PREVENT FLOODING.

748
00:36:28,053 --> 00:36:31,223
IT'S NO PLACE
TO TRY TO LAND A 737.

749
00:36:35,294 --> 00:36:37,796
THE CREW ONLY HAS
ONE OPTION LEFT.

750
00:36:37,829 --> 00:36:40,532
Lopez: I GUESS I'M GONNA HAVE TO
MAKE A DITCHING HERE, SIR.

751
00:36:40,566 --> 00:36:41,967
Narrator: THEY MUST
TAKE THEIR CHANCES

752
00:36:42,000 --> 00:36:43,802
AND PUT THE PLANE
DOWN ON WATER.

753
00:36:43,835 --> 00:36:48,807
Controller: TACA 110, ROGER.
WHATEVER YOU NEED TO DO, SIR.

754
00:36:48,840 --> 00:36:51,743
Dardano: AND THAT WAS
ABOUT THE LAST COMMUNICATION

755
00:36:51,777 --> 00:36:52,844
WITH THE TOWER.

756
00:36:52,878 --> 00:36:58,817
THEN WE WERE LIKE 1,500 FEET
WHEN THAT WAS GOING ON.

757
00:36:58,850 --> 00:37:00,686
OKAY.

758
00:37:00,719 --> 00:37:02,754
THERE.

759
00:37:02,788 --> 00:37:04,590
Lopez: PUT IT DOWN SOFTLY.

760
00:37:04,623 --> 00:37:07,959
Burmeister: IT WAS
A DOOMSDAY KIND OF FEELING,

761
00:37:07,993 --> 00:37:09,995
AND THIS WAS IT.

762
00:37:10,028 --> 00:37:14,165
Narrator: THE 737 CAN ONLY STAY
IN THE AIR FOR ANOTHER MINUTE.

763
00:37:14,199 --> 00:37:16,735
AS DARDANO LOOKS
FOR A SAFE STRETCH OF CANAL

764
00:37:16,768 --> 00:37:19,738
TO DROP THE PLANE IN,
ANOTHER OPTION APPEARS.

765
00:37:19,771 --> 00:37:21,773
Lopez: LOOK!
LOOK AT THAT ONE OVER THERE.

766
00:37:21,807 --> 00:37:25,577
Dardano: AND THEN LOPEZ SAW
THE LEVEE PARALLEL TO THE CANAL

767
00:37:25,611 --> 00:37:27,946
THAT WE WERE MAKING
THE APPROACH ON.

768
00:37:27,979 --> 00:37:29,080
CAN WE PUT IT DOWN
ON THE GRASS?

769
00:37:29,114 --> 00:37:30,782
Lopez: YES, BOSS.

770
00:37:30,816 --> 00:37:32,984
Narrator: THE LEVEE
IS MUCH SHORTER AND NARROWER

771
00:37:33,018 --> 00:37:34,119
THAN A RUNWAY,

772
00:37:34,152 --> 00:37:36,722
BUT IT'S A SAFER CHOICE
THAN THE WATER.

773
00:37:36,755 --> 00:37:39,190
Lopez: THAT'S WHERE
WE'RE GOING TO GO IN?

774
00:37:39,224 --> 00:37:40,892
Dardano: YOU GOT IT, MY FRIEND.

775
00:37:40,926 --> 00:37:43,595
Narrator: BUT THEY WILL HAVE TO
ACT FAST TO GET THERE.

776
00:37:43,629 --> 00:37:45,831
Dardano: THE LEVEE WAS PARALLEL
TO MY RIGHT.

777
00:37:45,864 --> 00:37:48,600
Narrator: TO HAVE ANY HOPE
OF LANDING ON THE LEVEE,

778
00:37:48,634 --> 00:37:51,703
HE NEEDS TO MAKE A SUDDEN
AND DRAMATIC COURSE CORRECTION.

779
00:37:51,737 --> 00:37:54,540
THAT REQUIRES PERFORMING
THE SAME RISKY MANEUVER

780
00:37:54,573 --> 00:37:57,976
BOB PEARSON USED OVER GIMLI,
A SIDESLIP.

781
00:37:58,009 --> 00:38:02,080
Dardano: SO, WE JUST HAD TO DO
A SIDESLIP TO GET INTO POSITION

782
00:38:02,113 --> 00:38:05,984
TO MAKE A PERFECT LANDING.

783
00:38:06,017 --> 00:38:08,153
[SPEAKING SPANISH]

784
00:38:08,186 --> 00:38:09,287
Burmeister: OH, GOD!

785
00:38:09,321 --> 00:38:11,923
I WAS IN DISBELIEF
THAT THIS WAS HAPPENING.

786
00:38:11,957 --> 00:38:19,765
*

787
00:38:19,798 --> 00:38:22,968
OH, GOD. OH, GOD.

788
00:38:23,001 --> 00:38:24,135
Narrator: WITH ONLY ONE EYE,

789
00:38:24,169 --> 00:38:26,838
CAPTAIN DARDANO
IS UNABLE TO GAUGE DEPTH

790
00:38:26,872 --> 00:38:31,543
AS HE SPEEDS TOWARD THE NARROW
RAIN-SOAKED STRIP OF GRASS.

791
00:38:31,577 --> 00:38:34,580
Burmeister: I WAS PREPARED FOR
THE PLANE TO BLOW UP AND EXPLODE

792
00:38:34,613 --> 00:38:38,950
AND MENTALLY HAD SAID GOODBYE
TO MY FAMILY.

793
00:38:38,984 --> 00:38:41,887
Dardano: THIS IS IT.

794
00:38:41,920 --> 00:38:44,756
Narrator: THERE'S A HIGH CEMENT
WALL IN FRONT OF THE LEVEE

795
00:38:44,790 --> 00:38:46,758
AND A STEEP EMBANKMENT
ON THE LEFT.

796
00:38:46,792 --> 00:38:49,260
THERE MAY NOT BE
ENOUGH ROOM TO LAND.

797
00:38:49,294 --> 00:38:51,062
Lopez: WATCH OUT FOR THE WING
ON THAT SIDE.

798
00:38:51,096 --> 00:38:54,099
Dardano: I SEE IT.

799
00:38:54,132 --> 00:38:55,033
COME ON.

800
00:38:59,137 --> 00:39:01,740
AQUI TE TENGO, BABY.
AQUI TE TENGO.

801
00:39:01,773 --> 00:39:07,613
*

802
00:39:07,646 --> 00:39:11,850
WE TOUCHED DOWN WITH ONE WHEEL
AND THE OTHER ONE.

803
00:39:11,883 --> 00:39:14,853
Narrator: ON THE SOGGY GRASS,
THE PLANE IS IN DANGER

804
00:39:14,886 --> 00:39:17,556
OF SKIDDING OFF THE LEVEE
INTO THE WATER.

805
00:39:17,589 --> 00:39:19,725
Dardano: I WAS TRYING
JUST TO CONTROL THE AIRPLANE,

806
00:39:19,758 --> 00:39:22,293
NOT TO, TO HIT THE BRAKES
AND NOT TO LOSE THE AIRPLANE

807
00:39:22,327 --> 00:39:24,229
AT THE LAST MINUTE,
YOU KNOW?

808
00:39:24,262 --> 00:39:26,031
THE SPOILERS WERE OUT,

809
00:39:26,064 --> 00:39:28,734
SO WE WERE JUST THINKING,

810
00:39:28,767 --> 00:39:31,737
OKAY, WE MAKE IT.
WE MAKE IT. WE MAKE IT.

811
00:39:36,341 --> 00:39:40,011
[LAUGHTER]

812
00:39:40,045 --> 00:39:41,847
Lopez: VERY GOOD!

813
00:39:41,880 --> 00:39:44,282
Soley: VERY GOOD.
VERY GOOD, CHARLIE.

814
00:39:44,315 --> 00:39:46,051
VERY GOOD, MY FRIEND.

815
00:39:46,084 --> 00:39:48,620
[APPLAUSE]

816
00:39:48,654 --> 00:39:49,755
Burmeister:
IT WAS A HARD LANDING,

817
00:39:49,788 --> 00:39:52,558
BUT IT WAS A NICE,
IT WAS A NICE LANDING,

818
00:39:52,591 --> 00:39:55,727
JUST TO BE ALIVE.

819
00:39:55,761 --> 00:39:57,563
Dardano: AND THAT WAS, I THINK,
THE MOST BEAUTIFUL LANDING

820
00:39:57,596 --> 00:39:58,864
THAT I EVER MADE.

821
00:39:58,897 --> 00:40:00,699
[APPLAUSE]

822
00:40:00,732 --> 00:40:02,668
Narrator:
EVERYONE ON BOARD FLIGHT 110

823
00:40:02,701 --> 00:40:05,871
SURVIVES THE TREACHEROUS
EMERGENCY LANDING.

824
00:40:08,239 --> 00:40:09,741
FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HISTORY,

825
00:40:09,775 --> 00:40:15,080
A 737 WITHOUT ENGINES HAS LANDED
SAFELY OUTSIDE AN AIRPORT.

826
00:40:16,615 --> 00:40:18,550
Nance: TO END UP WITH A JETLINER
SITTING ON A LEVEE,

827
00:40:18,584 --> 00:40:20,819
HAVING LANDED THERE,
BEING PERFECTLY INTACT,

828
00:40:20,852 --> 00:40:23,989
UH, IS ALMOST
AN UNBELIEVABLE SIGHT.

829
00:40:24,022 --> 00:40:26,758
IT'S BEYOND INCREDIBLE.

830
00:40:26,792 --> 00:40:31,863
Narrator: INVESTIGATORS NEED TO
FIND OUT WHY THE ENGINES FAILED.

831
00:40:31,897 --> 00:40:34,232
IF THE STORM CAUSED THEM
TO SHUT DOWN,

832
00:40:34,265 --> 00:40:37,769
THOUSANDS OF PLANES
COULD BE AT RISK.

833
00:40:37,803 --> 00:40:40,539
Al Weaver: IT'S CONSIDERED
A VERY RARE OCCURRENCE

834
00:40:40,572 --> 00:40:43,709
FOR ENGINES TO HAVE
FLAMED OUT IN FLIGHT,

835
00:40:43,742 --> 00:40:46,545
AND THEREFORE,
THE CONCENTRATION WAS,

836
00:40:46,578 --> 00:40:49,114
WHAT POSSIBILITY
WOULD CAUSE THIS?

837
00:40:49,147 --> 00:40:50,148
Lopez: ON.

838
00:40:50,181 --> 00:40:55,020
*

839
00:40:55,053 --> 00:40:57,956
Narrator: STUDY OF THE ENGINES
REVEALS THAT RAIN AND HAIL

840
00:40:57,989 --> 00:41:02,060
FROM AN INTENSE STORM
CRIPPLED FLIGHT 110.

841
00:41:04,930 --> 00:41:06,331
Investigator: THEY NEVER
THOUGHT ABOUT HAIL

842
00:41:06,364 --> 00:41:08,634
GETTING INTO THE CORE.

843
00:41:08,667 --> 00:41:11,302
Narrator: ENGINE MAKERS
FOLLOW FAA RULES TO MAKE SURE

844
00:41:11,336 --> 00:41:13,872
THEY CAN WITHSTAND
HEAVY PRECIPITATION,

845
00:41:13,905 --> 00:41:16,808
BUT NEW ENGINE TESTING DONE
IN THE WAKE OF THE INCIDENT

846
00:41:16,842 --> 00:41:19,678
SHOWS THAT WHEN THE ENGINES
WERE PULLED BACK

847
00:41:19,711 --> 00:41:21,713
IN ANTICIPATION OF LANDING,

848
00:41:21,747 --> 00:41:25,717
HEAVY RAIN AND HAIL
CAUSED AN ENGINE FAILURE.

849
00:41:27,686 --> 00:41:28,887
Nance: WE'D BEEN TESTING
EVERYTHING IN ACCORDANCE

850
00:41:28,920 --> 00:41:30,822
WITH THE NORMAL
FAA METHODOLOGIES,

851
00:41:30,856 --> 00:41:32,023
AT HIGH SPEED ON THE ENGINES,

852
00:41:32,057 --> 00:41:34,893
BUT THESE GUYS WHERE IN DESCENT
TO NEW ORLEANS.

853
00:41:34,926 --> 00:41:37,829
Dardano: I DON'T HAVE ANY POWER
IN THE ENGINES.

854
00:41:37,863 --> 00:41:39,931
Nance: IT WAS WHEN THE ENGINE
WENT DOWN TO IDLE,

855
00:41:39,965 --> 00:41:42,067
THAT'S WHEN THE ENGINE
COULDN'T HANDLE IT.

856
00:41:45,003 --> 00:41:47,072
Narrator: IN THE WAKE
OF THE INCIDENT,

857
00:41:47,105 --> 00:41:48,039
THE ENGINE IS MODIFIED

858
00:41:48,073 --> 00:41:50,776
TO BETTER DEFLECT HAIL
AWAY FROM THE CORE,

859
00:41:50,809 --> 00:41:52,243
AND BLEED DOORS ARE ADDED

860
00:41:52,277 --> 00:41:54,846
TO DRAIN MORE WATER
FROM THE ENGINE.

861
00:41:54,880 --> 00:41:58,684
WITHIN A YEAR,
737-300s AROUND THE WORLD

862
00:41:58,717 --> 00:42:01,119
ARE RETROFITTED
WITH THE UPGRADES.

863
00:42:03,822 --> 00:42:06,725
BUT IT'S CAPTAIN DARDANO'S
PILOTING SKILL

864
00:42:06,758 --> 00:42:10,028
THAT CAPTURES THE ATTENTION
OF PILOTS AND AVIATION EXPERTS

865
00:42:10,061 --> 00:42:11,563
AROUND THE WORLD.

866
00:42:11,597 --> 00:42:12,998
Nance: THE DECISION-MAKING
AT THE VERY END

867
00:42:13,031 --> 00:42:14,900
WHEN THEY WERE GOING TO
PUT IT IN THE CANAL

868
00:42:14,933 --> 00:42:18,637
AND SAW AN OPPORTUNITY TO PUT IT
ON DRY GROUND AND DID SO,

869
00:42:18,670 --> 00:42:19,671
THAT WAS SUPERLATIVE.

870
00:42:19,705 --> 00:42:21,072
IT WAS THE DECISION-MAKING.

871
00:42:21,106 --> 00:42:23,074
Narrator: INVESTIGATORS
CREDIT THE CALM NERVES

872
00:42:23,108 --> 00:42:25,611
AND DETERMINATION
OF CAPTAIN DARDANO...

873
00:42:25,644 --> 00:42:26,978
Lopez: WATCH OUT FOR THE WING
ON THAT SIDE.

874
00:42:27,012 --> 00:42:28,580
Dardano: I SEE IT.

875
00:42:28,614 --> 00:42:29,715
Narrator: ...FOR AVOIDING
WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN

876
00:42:29,748 --> 00:42:31,182
A FATAL DISASTER.

877
00:42:31,216 --> 00:42:35,754
*

878
00:42:35,787 --> 00:42:39,725
CAPTAIN CARLOS DARDANO
IS DUBBED A HERO IN THE MEDIA.

879
00:42:39,758 --> 00:42:43,094
Reporter: PASSENGERS THAT DAY
WERE OVERJOYED.

880
00:42:43,128 --> 00:42:44,763
[SPEAKING SPANISH]

881
00:42:44,796 --> 00:42:47,132
DARDANO AND HIS CREW
KEPT THE CALM,

882
00:42:47,165 --> 00:42:48,133
AND BECAUSE OF THAT,

883
00:42:48,166 --> 00:42:51,937
45 PEOPLE WHO RODE THAT PLANE
ARE ALIVE TODAY.

884
00:42:51,970 --> 00:42:57,909
*

885
00:42:57,943 --> 00:42:59,911
Miller: IN A CHALLENGING
SITUATION...

886
00:42:59,945 --> 00:43:01,112
Sullenberger:
MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY.

887
00:43:01,146 --> 00:43:02,881
THIS IS CACTUS 1549.

888
00:43:02,914 --> 00:43:04,582
Miller:
...A PILOT WILL FALL BACK

889
00:43:04,616 --> 00:43:06,584
ON HIS PROFESSIONAL TRAINING

890
00:43:06,618 --> 00:43:09,788
AND DEAL WITH THE EMERGENCY
THE BEST HE KNOWS HOW.

891
00:43:09,821 --> 00:43:11,122
Sullenberger:
WE'RE GONNA BE IN THE HUDSON.

892
00:43:11,156 --> 00:43:12,858
Miller: IF THE OUTCOME
IS FANTASTIC...

893
00:43:12,891 --> 00:43:15,026
Pearson: I GUESS
I'LL JUST SLIP IT.

894
00:43:15,060 --> 00:43:18,029
Miller: ...YES, IT WILL BE
LOOKED ON AS HEROIC.

895
00:43:18,063 --> 00:43:20,598
Dardano: THIS IS IT.

896
00:43:20,632 --> 00:43:21,933
Narrator:
IT TAKES YEARS OF TRAINING

897
00:43:21,967 --> 00:43:23,902
TO BECOME AN AIRLINE CAPTAIN,

898
00:43:23,935 --> 00:43:25,937
BUT IT'S WHEN A CRISIS STRIKES

899
00:43:25,971 --> 00:43:28,206
THAT A PILOT
REALLY EARNS HIS STRIPES.

900
00:43:28,239 --> 00:43:29,941
Sullenberger: PUT THE FLAPS OUT.

901
00:43:29,975 --> 00:43:33,044
Narrator: THE ODDS OF FACING
THE ULTIMATE TEST ARE MINISCULE,

902
00:43:33,078 --> 00:43:35,914
BUT WHEN IT HAPPENS,
PASSENGERS CAN ONLY HOPE

903
00:43:35,947 --> 00:43:37,849
THAT IN THE LEFT SEAT
OF THE COCKPIT

904
00:43:37,883 --> 00:43:40,585
IS A HERO PILOT
LIKE SULLENBERGER...

905
00:43:40,618 --> 00:43:41,787
Sullenberger: MY AIRCRAFT.

906
00:43:41,820 --> 00:43:43,121
Narrator: ...PEARSON...

907
00:43:43,154 --> 00:43:44,756
Pearson: HERE WE GO.

908
00:43:44,790 --> 00:43:45,957
Narrator: ...OR DARDANO.

909
00:43:45,991 --> 00:43:48,860
Dardano: HERE YOU GET YOU, BABY.
HERE I HAVE YOU.

910
00:43:48,894 --> 00:43:56,034
*

911
00:43:56,067 --> 00:43:59,370
[APPLAUSE]