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1
00:00:03,136 --> 00:00:06,539
Helios 522, do you read?
2
00:00:06,606 --> 00:00:08,341
High above
Athens, Greece,
3
00:00:08,408 --> 00:00:13,380
fighter jets track a 737
as it circles the city.
4
00:00:13,446 --> 00:00:15,181
522, do you read?
5
00:00:15,248 --> 00:00:16,616
Over.
6
00:00:16,683 --> 00:00:19,119
There's no answer
from the passenger plane,
7
00:00:19,185 --> 00:00:23,256
but there is someone
at the controls.
8
00:00:23,323 --> 00:00:25,825
More than 100
people are on board.
9
00:00:25,892 --> 00:00:30,497
Everybody's mind was going
to hijack or terrorist.
10
00:00:30,563 --> 00:00:32,532
There is one person
moving in the cockpit.
11
00:00:32,599 --> 00:00:34,033
Repeat, there is one person.
12
00:00:34,100 --> 00:00:36,269
What happened to
the crew and passengers?
13
00:00:36,336 --> 00:00:37,937
522, do you read?
14
00:00:38,004 --> 00:00:39,205
Over?
15
00:00:39,272 --> 00:00:42,542
And who
is flying the plane?
16
00:00:42,609 --> 00:00:44,711
Helios 522, do you read?
17
00:00:44,778 --> 00:00:45,712
Over.
18
00:00:48,314 --> 00:00:49,416
Ladies and gentlemen,
19
00:00:49,482 --> 00:00:50,450
we are starting our approach.
20
00:00:50,517 --> 00:00:51,518
We lost both engines.
21
00:00:51,584 --> 00:00:52,585
Keep your mask
22
00:00:52,652 --> 00:00:53,887
over your nose and
23
00:00:53,953 --> 00:00:57,023
- Mayday, mayday.
- Brace for impact!
24
00:00:57,090 --> 00:00:58,224
It's the lost one.
25
00:00:58,291 --> 00:01:00,960
Investigations
started in the tragedy.
26
00:01:01,027 --> 00:01:02,095
He's going to crack.
27
00:01:11,538 --> 00:01:15,909
Early morning,
August 14, 2005.
28
00:01:15,975 --> 00:01:19,078
The cabin crew of Helios
Airways flight 522
29
00:01:19,145 --> 00:01:21,414
are preparing for their trip
from the island of Cyprus
30
00:01:21,481 --> 00:01:22,582
to Athens, Greece.
31
00:01:25,552 --> 00:01:27,587
Sure it is a beautiful day.
32
00:01:29,289 --> 00:01:31,124
Maybe I shouldn't have come in.
33
00:01:32,459 --> 00:01:34,694
Andreas
Prodromou is 25.
34
00:01:34,761 --> 00:01:36,629
He isn't supposed
to be working today,
35
00:01:36,696 --> 00:01:38,064
but he's taking
the flight to spend
36
00:01:38,131 --> 00:01:42,936
some time with his girlfriend,
who also works for Helios.
37
00:01:43,002 --> 00:01:45,305
It's the sort of day I'd
like to be on flying.
38
00:01:45,371 --> 00:01:48,541
Oh, you will, Andreas.
39
00:01:48,608 --> 00:01:50,443
Prodromou is
a flight attendant now,
40
00:01:50,510 --> 00:01:52,912
but he has bigger plans.
41
00:01:52,979 --> 00:01:55,982
One day he wants
to fly for Helios.
42
00:01:56,049 --> 00:02:01,187
His
dream was to become
43
00:02:01,254 --> 00:02:03,690
a professional pilot.
44
00:02:03,756 --> 00:02:07,727
Personally, I wanted him to
stay in the family business.
45
00:02:07,794 --> 00:02:09,863
We often talked about this.
46
00:02:14,033 --> 00:02:15,802
We've got company.
47
00:02:17,670 --> 00:02:19,172
Stay warm at the back.
48
00:02:19,239 --> 00:02:20,206
I will.
49
00:02:20,273 --> 00:02:21,174
See you in Greece.
50
00:02:27,013 --> 00:02:28,681
In the
cockpit, the flight crew
51
00:02:28,748 --> 00:02:30,984
is occupied with a daily
routine of preparing
52
00:02:31,050 --> 00:02:32,886
their jet for takeoff
53
00:02:34,087 --> 00:02:35,054
Bright today.
54
00:02:36,222 --> 00:02:38,391
Captain Hans
Merton is an East German,
55
00:02:38,458 --> 00:02:40,393
a contract pilot
hired by Helios
56
00:02:40,460 --> 00:02:42,262
for the busy holiday season.
57
00:02:42,328 --> 00:02:45,064
Are you almost through?
58
00:02:45,131 --> 00:02:46,799
Pardon?
59
00:02:46,866 --> 00:02:51,471
Are you almost done?
60
00:02:51,538 --> 00:02:53,706
Nearly.
61
00:02:53,773 --> 00:02:55,542
So the overhead lights
are extinguished.
62
00:02:55,608 --> 00:02:57,277
His co-pilot
is from Cyprus.
63
00:02:57,343 --> 00:03:00,513
Pambous Paralambous has been
working exclusively for Helios
64
00:03:00,580 --> 00:03:03,416
for the last five years.
65
00:03:03,483 --> 00:03:05,585
Before beginning
any flight, crews
66
00:03:05,652 --> 00:03:07,620
are required to perform
dozens of checks
67
00:03:07,687 --> 00:03:09,389
on various pieces of
onboard equipment.
68
00:03:09,455 --> 00:03:10,723
Oxygen masks.
69
00:03:10,790 --> 00:03:14,394
It's a routine
but necessary procedure.
70
00:03:14,460 --> 00:03:15,562
Doors closed.
71
00:03:19,265 --> 00:03:23,102
Sorry, could you store
trays, pull your seat back.
72
00:03:23,169 --> 00:03:24,704
Helios is
a charter airline
73
00:03:24,771 --> 00:03:27,473
with low-cost fares to Greece.
74
00:03:27,540 --> 00:03:31,044
It's a summer weekend, and the
plane is filled with families.
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00:03:31,110 --> 00:03:33,546
In all, there are
115 passengers
76
00:03:33,613 --> 00:03:35,915
on the morning flight.
77
00:03:35,982 --> 00:03:38,151
If you need any more
help, let me know.
78
00:03:38,217 --> 00:03:41,154
We're just about to take off.
79
00:03:41,220 --> 00:03:43,623
They are low-fare, no frills.
80
00:03:43,690 --> 00:03:46,292
They don't even serve
you refreshments
81
00:03:46,359 --> 00:03:49,762
during small sorts
of flights, but
82
00:03:49,829 --> 00:03:54,467
they offer another
possibility for
83
00:03:54,534 --> 00:03:56,569
the budget-minded traveler.
84
00:03:58,438 --> 00:04:00,106
Paros
Dimitrio and Maria Riccu
85
00:04:00,173 --> 00:04:02,475
are traveling to the
Greek Island of Patros.
86
00:04:02,542 --> 00:04:04,577
They've just gotten engaged.
87
00:04:07,146 --> 00:04:11,484
They booked... they
booked this holiday a month
88
00:04:11,551 --> 00:04:13,653
or more than a month ago.
89
00:04:13,720 --> 00:04:16,289
It was like a
honeymoon for them.
90
00:04:16,356 --> 00:04:18,758
Flight attendants,
please take your seats.
91
00:04:18,825 --> 00:04:20,426
Prepare for takeoff.
92
00:04:20,493 --> 00:04:21,461
Safe flight.
93
00:04:29,268 --> 00:04:30,570
Just a few
minutes after 9:00
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00:04:30,637 --> 00:04:33,506
in the morning, Helios
Airways flight 522
95
00:04:33,573 --> 00:04:35,575
lifts off into the
bright sunshine.
96
00:04:38,011 --> 00:04:42,749
area controls,
this is Helios 522.
97
00:04:42,815 --> 00:04:47,020
Request cruising at 340.
98
00:04:47,086 --> 00:04:51,958
Helios 522,
you are clear to climb to 340.
99
00:04:52,025 --> 00:04:53,626
Have a good day.
100
00:04:53,693 --> 00:04:55,461
He said 340?
101
00:04:55,528 --> 00:04:56,629
340.
102
00:05:01,934 --> 00:05:03,469
Minutes
into the flight,
103
00:05:03,536 --> 00:05:07,740
the plane is still climbing
towards its cruising altitude.
104
00:05:07,807 --> 00:05:10,510
Suddenly, an alarm
blares in the cockpit.
105
00:05:12,412 --> 00:05:15,214
What is it?
106
00:05:15,281 --> 00:05:17,150
The takeoff config warning?
107
00:05:17,216 --> 00:05:19,185
The flight
crew is confused.
108
00:05:19,252 --> 00:05:21,421
The takeoff configuration
alarm normally
109
00:05:21,487 --> 00:05:23,156
only sounds on the ground.
110
00:05:23,222 --> 00:05:27,593
It tells pilots their jet
isn't ready for takeoff.
111
00:05:27,660 --> 00:05:30,596
The crew doesn't know
why it's sounding now.
112
00:05:32,098 --> 00:05:34,367
Uncertain what the
problem is, the captain
113
00:05:34,434 --> 00:05:37,503
radios the Helios operations
center at Larnaca Airport
114
00:05:37,570 --> 00:05:40,039
back in Cyprus.
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00:05:40,106 --> 00:05:42,875
Operations,
this is flight 522.
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Over.
117
00:05:43,876 --> 00:05:46,479
Flight 522, what
can I do for you?
118
00:05:46,546 --> 00:05:49,382
We have a takeoff
config warning on.
119
00:05:49,449 --> 00:05:51,084
Pardon?
120
00:05:51,150 --> 00:05:54,320
Our takeoff
config warning is on.
121
00:05:58,758 --> 00:06:00,193
I'm sure it's nothing.
122
00:06:00,259 --> 00:06:02,261
I'll let you know
when we level off.
123
00:06:05,198 --> 00:06:07,867
With the first alarm
still beeping in the cockpit,
124
00:06:07,934 --> 00:06:10,169
things become even
more confusing.
125
00:06:10,236 --> 00:06:12,305
Their master caution
alarm goes off.
126
00:06:13,706 --> 00:06:15,708
It could indicate that
some systems on board
127
00:06:15,775 --> 00:06:17,376
are overheating.
128
00:06:17,443 --> 00:06:19,512
We now have a master caution.
129
00:06:19,579 --> 00:06:21,447
We'll get you
an engineer, 255.
130
00:06:21,514 --> 00:06:22,682
Just a minute.
131
00:06:27,820 --> 00:06:28,955
I find him very
hard to understand.
132
00:06:29,021 --> 00:06:31,924
His accent is quite thick.
133
00:06:31,991 --> 00:06:34,193
Flight 522, what
can I do for you?
134
00:06:36,829 --> 00:06:40,199
The ventilation cooling
fan lights are off.
135
00:06:40,266 --> 00:06:42,101
Sorry. Could you repeat?
136
00:06:43,436 --> 00:06:45,571
While the pilots
and ground engineers try
137
00:06:45,638 --> 00:06:49,342
to troubleshoot the two alarms,
most passengers have no idea
138
00:06:49,408 --> 00:06:51,043
there's a problem until...
139
00:06:55,248 --> 00:06:58,251
Everyone, stay calm,
but please remain seated.
140
00:07:00,486 --> 00:07:03,623
Everyone, please put the
oxygen masks on, completely
141
00:07:03,689 --> 00:07:05,725
over your mouth and nose.
142
00:07:09,362 --> 00:07:11,130
The protocol was
immediately to secure
143
00:07:11,197 --> 00:07:13,900
yourself, grab an oxygen
mask, stay in your seat.
144
00:07:13,966 --> 00:07:16,736
If you can help passengers
without getting up,
145
00:07:16,803 --> 00:07:18,871
you could help them and,
you should help, them
146
00:07:18,938 --> 00:07:22,008
but you would not risk the
safety of any cabin crew
147
00:07:22,074 --> 00:07:23,676
member to go and help
a passenger which is
148
00:07:23,743 --> 00:07:25,778
five or six rows further up.
149
00:07:27,480 --> 00:07:28,881
Their
procedure would be
150
00:07:28,948 --> 00:07:30,082
to grab their mask,
151
00:07:30,149 --> 00:07:35,221
don it, and wait for the
aircraft
152
00:07:35,288 --> 00:07:36,656
to level off
153
00:07:36,722 --> 00:07:38,825
or commence with the descent.
154
00:07:40,126 --> 00:07:43,596
No one in the cabin
knows what the problem is.
155
00:07:43,663 --> 00:07:46,833
They're waiting for
information from the cockpit.
156
00:07:48,768 --> 00:07:52,038
The pilots are unaware that
the oxygen masks in the cabin
157
00:07:52,104 --> 00:07:54,874
have dropped, and they still
don't know why their takeoff
158
00:07:54,941 --> 00:07:56,943
configuration
warning is on or why
159
00:07:57,009 --> 00:07:59,779
their systems are overheating.
160
00:07:59,846 --> 00:08:04,383
Both of my equipment
cooling lights are off.
161
00:08:04,450 --> 00:08:05,618
This is normal.
162
00:08:05,685 --> 00:08:08,688
Can you please
confirm your problem?
163
00:08:08,754 --> 00:08:10,089
But the
engineer on the ground
164
00:08:10,156 --> 00:08:12,058
is struggling to get a
clear picture of what's
165
00:08:12,124 --> 00:08:13,593
happening in the air.
166
00:08:13,659 --> 00:08:16,329
They are not switched off.
167
00:08:16,395 --> 00:08:18,698
Can you confirm that
the pressurization
168
00:08:18,764 --> 00:08:21,467
panel is set to auto?
169
00:08:21,534 --> 00:08:25,872
Where are my equipment
cooling circuit breakers?
170
00:08:25,938 --> 00:08:28,007
Behind the captain's seat.
171
00:08:29,742 --> 00:08:31,377
Can you see them?
172
00:08:31,444 --> 00:08:32,812
What's going on?
173
00:08:32,879 --> 00:08:36,482
There's something wrong
with the electrics in 522.
174
00:08:36,549 --> 00:08:38,551
I had something to pick up
175
00:08:38,618 --> 00:08:39,485
from operations.
176
00:08:39,552 --> 00:08:40,586
So I was there.
177
00:08:40,653 --> 00:08:42,622
I figured, oh not again.
178
00:08:42,688 --> 00:08:45,091
One of our problems, so I left.
179
00:08:47,627 --> 00:08:48,561
Oh.
180
00:08:48,628 --> 00:08:50,329
Good luck.
181
00:08:50,396 --> 00:08:52,231
The problem
doesn't seem serious,
182
00:08:52,298 --> 00:08:54,467
but as the plane
continues to climb,
183
00:08:54,533 --> 00:08:56,969
passengers still haven't
received any information
184
00:08:57,036 --> 00:08:58,437
from the cockpit.
185
00:09:02,041 --> 00:09:06,913
Helios 522, can you
see the circuit breakers?
186
00:09:06,979 --> 00:09:08,781
And now, the
engineer on the ground
187
00:09:08,848 --> 00:09:12,285
loses contact
with the aircraft.
188
00:09:12,351 --> 00:09:17,523
Helios 522, can you hear me?
189
00:09:17,590 --> 00:09:19,625
It's less than
30 minutes after takeoff,
190
00:09:19,692 --> 00:09:23,362
and flight 522 is
still on course.
191
00:09:31,804 --> 00:09:35,908
The flight to Greece normally
takes an hour and a half,
192
00:09:35,975 --> 00:09:38,711
but the passenger jet has been
in the air for over two hours,
193
00:09:38,778 --> 00:09:42,014
circling in a holding pattern.
194
00:09:42,081 --> 00:09:44,951
We heard that
there was an airplane which
195
00:09:45,017 --> 00:09:48,487
was flying into
the Greek territory
196
00:09:48,554 --> 00:09:51,123
and had no communication.
197
00:09:51,190 --> 00:09:55,795
Everybody's mind was going
to a hijack or to terrorists.
198
00:10:00,633 --> 00:10:02,868
More than 3 million
people live in Athens.
199
00:10:02,935 --> 00:10:05,471
A plane slamming into
the city could cause
200
00:10:05,538 --> 00:10:06,906
an incredible loss of life.
201
00:10:09,475 --> 00:10:11,577
This is a runaway aircraft.
202
00:10:11,644 --> 00:10:15,081
It's a possible hijacking or
it's a possible terrorist act,
203
00:10:15,147 --> 00:10:19,585
so let's involve the military.
204
00:10:19,652 --> 00:10:20,953
The Greek
Air Force scrambles
205
00:10:21,020 --> 00:10:23,289
two of its most
sophisticated fighter jets
206
00:10:23,356 --> 00:10:25,624
to investigate
the Helios plane.
207
00:10:25,691 --> 00:10:27,927
Helios 522, do you read?
208
00:10:27,994 --> 00:10:29,795
Over.
209
00:10:29,862 --> 00:10:32,698
But the pilots
aren't getting any response.
210
00:10:32,765 --> 00:10:36,402
One of the jets flies
closer to the 737.
211
00:10:36,469 --> 00:10:38,404
Someone is in the
co-pilot seat,
212
00:10:38,471 --> 00:10:40,840
slumped over the
controls, but there's
213
00:10:40,906 --> 00:10:42,842
no sign of the captain at all.
214
00:10:45,378 --> 00:10:48,914
The fighter pilot radios air
traffic control in Athens.
215
00:10:48,981 --> 00:10:52,251
Athena ACC,
there is one figure
216
00:10:52,318 --> 00:10:55,154
in the cockpit of Helios 522.
217
00:10:55,221 --> 00:10:57,823
He appears nonresponsive.
218
00:10:57,890 --> 00:10:59,892
Athena ACC, checking the cabin.
219
00:11:03,329 --> 00:11:05,264
He can see
passengers in their seats,
220
00:11:05,331 --> 00:11:08,467
but none of them react to
the presence of the jet.
221
00:11:16,275 --> 00:11:21,614
Then the pilot sees someone
moving in the cockpit.
222
00:11:21,680 --> 00:11:24,283
Athena control, there
is one person moving
223
00:11:24,350 --> 00:11:25,418
in the cockpit of Helios 522.
224
00:11:25,484 --> 00:11:26,652
Repeat.
225
00:11:26,719 --> 00:11:30,022
There is one person
inside the cockpit.
226
00:11:30,089 --> 00:11:31,857
Helios 522, do you read?
227
00:11:31,924 --> 00:11:34,193
Over.
228
00:11:34,260 --> 00:11:37,229
Helios 522, over.
229
00:11:37,296 --> 00:11:41,200
Flight HCY, 522, this
is Athena radar control.
230
00:11:41,267 --> 00:11:42,501
How do you hear?
231
00:11:42,568 --> 00:11:44,770
The F-16s
continue shadowing the jet,
232
00:11:44,837 --> 00:11:48,441
but there's no response
at all from the cockpit.
233
00:11:48,507 --> 00:11:51,243
One of them was actually
in a shooting position
234
00:11:51,310 --> 00:11:53,679
behind the 737.
235
00:11:53,746 --> 00:11:55,481
The other one was
nearby the cockpit,
236
00:11:55,548 --> 00:11:57,316
and he was trying to
communicate visually
237
00:11:57,383 --> 00:11:59,885
with the person in the cockpit.
238
00:11:59,952 --> 00:12:02,588
Suddenly,
the 737 turns left
239
00:12:02,655 --> 00:12:04,323
and begins to quickly descend.
240
00:12:04,390 --> 00:12:09,261
Athena ACC, Helios
522 turning sharply.
241
00:12:09,328 --> 00:12:11,097
Following down.
242
00:12:12,598 --> 00:12:14,500
From
nearly 33,000 feet,
243
00:12:14,567 --> 00:12:17,470
the plane drops
towards the ground.
244
00:12:17,536 --> 00:12:18,671
There is no
structural failure.
245
00:12:18,737 --> 00:12:20,706
There is no fire.
246
00:12:20,773 --> 00:12:24,343
There is no problem, obvious
problem from the external view
247
00:12:24,410 --> 00:12:26,345
with the plane.
248
00:12:26,412 --> 00:12:28,147
Helios 522, over.
249
00:12:28,214 --> 00:12:30,249
Do you read?
250
00:12:30,316 --> 00:12:32,384
Helios 522, do you read?
251
00:12:32,451 --> 00:12:33,586
Over.
252
00:12:36,155 --> 00:12:39,058
Then, nearly
6,900 feet above the ground,
253
00:12:39,125 --> 00:12:40,693
the person in the
captain's seat
254
00:12:40,759 --> 00:12:46,232
acknowledges the fighter
jet for the very first time,
255
00:12:46,298 --> 00:12:48,100
but no words are exchanged.
256
00:12:50,836 --> 00:12:53,672
Neither the fighter pilot
nor local air traffic control
257
00:12:53,739 --> 00:12:55,708
can make radio
contact with the jet.
258
00:12:59,211 --> 00:13:02,648
Just after 12:00, almost
three hours after it took off
259
00:13:02,715 --> 00:13:06,252
from the island of
Cyprus, Helios flight 522
260
00:13:06,318 --> 00:13:07,786
slams into the ground.
261
00:13:19,064 --> 00:13:23,869
Athena ACC,
Helios 522 is down.
262
00:13:23,936 --> 00:13:28,908
Repeat, Helios 522 is
down on Grammatiko Hill.
263
00:13:28,974 --> 00:13:29,742
Over.
264
00:13:33,812 --> 00:13:35,147
Fire
and rescue workers
265
00:13:35,214 --> 00:13:36,715
rush to the crash site.
266
00:13:36,782 --> 00:13:38,717
There are no survivors.
267
00:13:43,055 --> 00:13:45,024
Flight attendant
Lazaros Temetzian
268
00:13:45,090 --> 00:13:47,126
is stunned by what he
hears at the company's
269
00:13:47,193 --> 00:13:48,961
operations center.
270
00:13:51,230 --> 00:13:55,034
It was the most chaotic
scene I've ever seen.
271
00:13:57,703 --> 00:14:02,208
When I went back, our
operations controller
272
00:14:02,274 --> 00:14:06,745
said that he lost the
aircraft, and... his eyes
273
00:14:06,812 --> 00:14:08,881
he was starting to cry.
274
00:14:11,584 --> 00:14:15,154
Helios is a small
company, with just three jets.
275
00:14:15,221 --> 00:14:16,722
Members of the
cabin crew have been
276
00:14:16,789 --> 00:14:18,791
working together for years.
277
00:14:21,260 --> 00:14:23,662
For Paul Symeonides,
news of the crash
278
00:14:23,729 --> 00:14:26,232
is particularly terrifying.
279
00:14:26,298 --> 00:14:31,337
He's a flight attendant for the
airline and so is his fiancee.
280
00:14:31,403 --> 00:14:33,772
I think that must have
been the worst 30 minutes
281
00:14:33,839 --> 00:14:35,474
of my life, following
that first image
282
00:14:35,541 --> 00:14:38,944
because Victoria was flying
that morning to Glasgow.
283
00:14:39,011 --> 00:14:41,647
I had every one and his
brother, every person
284
00:14:41,714 --> 00:14:43,515
we knew was calling
me up to find out
285
00:14:43,582 --> 00:14:46,418
if I'm alive, if Victoria
is alive, what happened,
286
00:14:46,485 --> 00:14:48,921
why it happened.
287
00:14:48,988 --> 00:14:51,657
Andreas Prodromou's
father didn't know his son
288
00:14:51,724 --> 00:14:54,059
had been called to
fill in on flight 522.
289
00:14:58,964 --> 00:15:01,533
I was
told that Helios aircraft
290
00:15:01,600 --> 00:15:04,370
was lost by radar,
and air controllers
291
00:15:04,436 --> 00:15:05,838
couldn't contact him.
292
00:15:07,806 --> 00:15:09,375
I got worried.
293
00:15:09,441 --> 00:15:11,610
I called Andreas' phone.
294
00:15:11,677 --> 00:15:13,679
He always had it on.
295
00:15:13,746 --> 00:15:16,181
And unfortunately,
he wouldn't answer.
296
00:15:17,950 --> 00:15:21,520
After that phone call, I
felt as if the ground was
297
00:15:21,587 --> 00:15:22,888
pulled out from under my feet.
298
00:15:27,760 --> 00:15:28,827
It's the
worst air crash
299
00:15:28,894 --> 00:15:31,096
in the history of Greece.
300
00:15:31,163 --> 00:15:35,401
Most of the 121 victims
are from Cyprus.
301
00:15:35,467 --> 00:15:37,703
The small island nation
declares three days of
302
00:15:37,770 --> 00:15:39,805
mourning following the crash.
303
00:15:43,742 --> 00:15:45,411
It's an eerie disaster.
304
00:15:45,477 --> 00:15:48,080
For over an hour, air
traffic controllers
305
00:15:48,147 --> 00:15:51,750
watched the passenger jet
fly in radio silence, closer
306
00:15:51,817 --> 00:15:53,986
and closer to Athens,
with no idea what
307
00:15:54,053 --> 00:15:56,121
was going on inside the jet.
308
00:15:59,358 --> 00:16:02,027
Now, piece by
piece, investigators
309
00:16:02,094 --> 00:16:04,096
are trying to find
out what happened.
310
00:16:06,031 --> 00:16:07,399
So we climbed
over to the hill,
311
00:16:07,466 --> 00:16:11,704
and there we were, you know,
facing this situation, which
312
00:16:11,770 --> 00:16:14,440
was beyond any description.
313
00:16:14,506 --> 00:16:18,143
I saw a great area in front
of me, which was burning.
314
00:16:18,210 --> 00:16:22,748
It was black, burning,
people spread,
315
00:16:22,815 --> 00:16:25,517
pieces of the airplane.
316
00:16:30,689 --> 00:16:34,059
It is
a truly nightmarish sight .
317
00:16:34,126 --> 00:16:37,763
I hope that I never
experience it again.
318
00:16:37,830 --> 00:16:41,433
It was terrible, just terrible.
319
00:16:44,737 --> 00:16:46,004
Investigators
immediately
320
00:16:46,071 --> 00:16:48,107
start looking for the cause.
321
00:16:51,243 --> 00:16:53,145
In the first days
after the crash,
322
00:16:53,212 --> 00:16:56,081
their efforts take
a frustrating turn.
323
00:16:58,384 --> 00:17:02,321
They recover the box containing
the cockpit voice recorder,
324
00:17:02,388 --> 00:17:03,856
but the recorder
itself had been
325
00:17:03,922 --> 00:17:05,324
thrown clear of the plane.
326
00:17:07,493 --> 00:17:10,729
Investigators need to know
what happened to the pilots.
327
00:17:10,796 --> 00:17:12,631
Without the cockpit
voice recorder,
328
00:17:12,698 --> 00:17:14,299
they have little to go on.
329
00:17:14,366 --> 00:17:15,167
So keep looking.
330
00:17:15,234 --> 00:17:17,269
Let's hope we can find it.
331
00:17:24,209 --> 00:17:26,044
Bodies recovered
from the wreckage
332
00:17:26,111 --> 00:17:29,381
are brought to the offices
of Athens' chief coroner.
333
00:17:29,448 --> 00:17:33,118
Autopsies add even more
mystery to the case.
334
00:17:33,185 --> 00:17:35,621
Everyone on board the
plane was alive at the time
335
00:17:35,687 --> 00:17:37,389
of the crash.
336
00:17:37,456 --> 00:17:41,026
There
were scenarios at the time
337
00:17:41,093 --> 00:17:43,762
that they had all died
in midair,
338
00:17:43,829 --> 00:17:47,132
but the truth,
339
00:17:47,199 --> 00:17:49,401
they did not die from
inhaling a toxic substance
340
00:17:49,468 --> 00:17:54,206
in the airplane, but
from an explosion.
341
00:17:54,273 --> 00:17:55,541
These people died on impact.
342
00:18:04,883 --> 00:18:07,453
But if the passengers
were alive the entire flight,
343
00:18:07,519 --> 00:18:09,421
why didn't the pilot
of the fighter jet
344
00:18:09,488 --> 00:18:12,391
see any activity
inside the cabin?
345
00:18:12,458 --> 00:18:16,161
And who was at the controls as
the jet circled over Athens?
346
00:18:21,533 --> 00:18:23,602
When investigators
find tissue samples
347
00:18:23,669 --> 00:18:25,471
in the remains of
the cockpit, they
348
00:18:25,537 --> 00:18:27,573
make a stunning discovery.
349
00:18:29,741 --> 00:18:32,644
The person at the controls
of the plane when it crashed
350
00:18:32,711 --> 00:18:35,080
was flight attendant
Andreas Prodromou,
351
00:18:35,147 --> 00:18:38,116
a last-minute addition
to the cabin crew.
352
00:18:40,619 --> 00:18:42,821
But why was he in the cockpit?
353
00:18:42,888 --> 00:18:47,292
Was he trying to save the
plane or did he deliberately
354
00:18:47,359 --> 00:18:49,461
fly it into the ground?
355
00:18:53,732 --> 00:18:56,001
Several days after
finding the outer case
356
00:18:56,068 --> 00:18:58,470
of the cockpit voice
recorder, investigators
357
00:18:58,537 --> 00:19:01,440
find the recording itself.
358
00:19:01,507 --> 00:19:03,141
When Chief
Investigator Tsolakis
359
00:19:03,208 --> 00:19:05,444
listens to the final
moments of the flight,
360
00:19:05,511 --> 00:19:08,347
it answers a vital question.
361
00:19:08,413 --> 00:19:11,483
Mayday. Mayday.
362
00:19:11,550 --> 00:19:13,085
This was
no terrorist act.
363
00:19:13,151 --> 00:19:15,387
Helios Airways, flight 5...
364
00:19:15,454 --> 00:19:16,655
22.
365
00:19:16,722 --> 00:19:19,224
Prodromou
was calling for help.
366
00:19:19,291 --> 00:19:20,993
Mayday.
367
00:19:21,059 --> 00:19:22,761
Mayday.
368
00:19:22,828 --> 00:19:24,830
Tsolakis hears
five separate "maydays"
369
00:19:24,897 --> 00:19:27,499
on the tape, even
though none of them
370
00:19:27,566 --> 00:19:30,536
were heard by the air
traffic controllers.
371
00:19:31,937 --> 00:19:35,173
In fact, Prodromou had his
commercial pilot's license.
372
00:19:35,240 --> 00:19:37,609
It was the first step
towards his goal of becoming
373
00:19:37,676 --> 00:19:39,578
a captain for Helios.
374
00:19:39,645 --> 00:19:41,413
It's the sort of day
I'd like to be on flying.
375
00:19:41,480 --> 00:19:42,481
Oh.
376
00:19:42,548 --> 00:19:45,117
You will, Andreas.
377
00:19:45,183 --> 00:19:46,652
But all of
his training wouldn't
378
00:19:46,718 --> 00:19:48,754
have helped save the jet.
379
00:19:49,988 --> 00:19:51,857
When he was seen
at the controls,
380
00:19:51,924 --> 00:19:54,860
flight 522 had been in the
air for almost three hours.
381
00:19:58,764 --> 00:20:00,999
And the reason the Helios
plane seemed to veer away
382
00:20:01,066 --> 00:20:04,436
from the F-16s following it
was because its left engine
383
00:20:04,503 --> 00:20:05,604
was out of fuel.
384
00:20:07,272 --> 00:20:09,675
No matter what caused
the alarms to sound,
385
00:20:09,741 --> 00:20:12,878
the ultimate reason for
the crash was simple.
386
00:20:14,012 --> 00:20:19,051
The DFTR and CVR
gave us absolute proof.
387
00:20:20,352 --> 00:20:22,921
The plane ran out of fuel.
388
00:20:22,988 --> 00:20:24,990
And this was the
cause of the crash.
389
00:20:26,792 --> 00:20:28,961
Scheduled
as a 90 minute flight,
390
00:20:29,027 --> 00:20:31,263
the plane didn't have enough
fuel to stay in the air
391
00:20:31,330 --> 00:20:33,231
for over three hours.
392
00:20:33,298 --> 00:20:35,634
But why had the plane
flown so much longer
393
00:20:35,701 --> 00:20:37,769
than it was supposed to?
394
00:20:42,207 --> 00:20:44,276
Chief Investigator
Tsolakis now knows
395
00:20:44,343 --> 00:20:47,312
who was in the cockpit
of Helios flight 522
396
00:20:47,379 --> 00:20:51,617
and why it crashed, but to
fully understand the mystery
397
00:20:51,683 --> 00:20:54,519
he needs more information.
398
00:20:54,586 --> 00:20:56,655
Mayday.
399
00:20:56,722 --> 00:20:58,223
Helios...
400
00:20:58,290 --> 00:21:00,192
His investigators
uncover a suspicious history
401
00:21:00,258 --> 00:21:03,261
of maintenance issues with
the jet, issues that could
402
00:21:03,328 --> 00:21:05,163
help explain what happened.
403
00:21:08,300 --> 00:21:11,436
Less than a year before the
crash, the same aircraft
404
00:21:11,503 --> 00:21:13,305
had suffered a
rapid decompression.
405
00:21:19,044 --> 00:21:21,813
Lazarus Temetzian
worked on that flight.
406
00:21:21,880 --> 00:21:23,348
I was in the
back of the aircraft
407
00:21:23,415 --> 00:21:24,683
at the time.
408
00:21:24,750 --> 00:21:29,254
There was a loud, metallic
bang, a clanging sound.
409
00:21:29,321 --> 00:21:32,991
And the oxygen masks
dropped in the cabin.
410
00:21:35,594 --> 00:21:38,664
Every step I was
taking was difficult.
411
00:21:38,730 --> 00:21:41,867
It was hard to move,
hard to breathe.
412
00:21:41,933 --> 00:21:44,336
In fact, I was
starting to pant.
413
00:21:44,403 --> 00:21:47,305
I was panting for air.
414
00:21:47,372 --> 00:21:49,341
As the plane
began an immediate descent
415
00:21:49,408 --> 00:21:52,511
to 10,000 feet, all
Temetzian could do was
416
00:21:52,577 --> 00:21:54,646
remain strapped in and wait.
417
00:21:57,749 --> 00:21:59,951
Once the plane reached
a safe altitude,
418
00:22:00,018 --> 00:22:02,087
Temetzian inspected
the rear door
419
00:22:02,154 --> 00:22:05,190
and was shocked
by what he found.
420
00:22:05,257 --> 00:22:07,526
I
noticed that the aft service
421
00:22:07,592 --> 00:22:10,929
door was not fully locked.
422
00:22:10,996 --> 00:22:13,765
The hinges on the top and
the bottom of the door
423
00:22:13,832 --> 00:22:15,967
were kind of displaced.
424
00:22:16,034 --> 00:22:18,070
I could pass my
hands right through.
425
00:22:22,874 --> 00:22:23,975
There
were no injuries,
426
00:22:24,042 --> 00:22:25,644
and the plane made
an emergency landing.
427
00:22:25,711 --> 00:22:30,415
And the door was inspected, but
this wasn't the only problem
428
00:22:30,482 --> 00:22:32,317
crews had with this plane.
429
00:22:36,922 --> 00:22:39,991
There were more recent
problems as well.
430
00:22:40,058 --> 00:22:42,527
A Helios ground
engineer tells Tsolakis
431
00:22:42,594 --> 00:22:45,163
that on the very
day of flight 522,
432
00:22:45,230 --> 00:22:48,166
the 737 had another
problem with its back door.
433
00:22:48,233 --> 00:22:50,469
When we checked the
flight log for the trip,
434
00:22:50,535 --> 00:22:53,405
we saw that we'd have to do
some unscheduled maintenance.
435
00:22:53,472 --> 00:22:55,507
The plane had
arrived in Cyprus just
436
00:22:55,574 --> 00:22:57,776
after midnight on August 14.
437
00:22:57,843 --> 00:23:00,345
The cabin crew had heard
loud banging noises
438
00:23:00,412 --> 00:23:04,883
and saw ice on the rear
service door during the flight.
439
00:23:04,950 --> 00:23:08,253
It was scheduled to take
off again just hours later.
440
00:23:11,323 --> 00:23:15,827
Soon after it landed, engineers
began checking the problem.
441
00:23:15,894 --> 00:23:17,462
To make sure there's
nothing wrong with the seal
442
00:23:17,529 --> 00:23:21,466
on the door, the engineers
run a pressurization test.
443
00:23:23,368 --> 00:23:25,504
During normal flight,
a plane's engines
444
00:23:25,570 --> 00:23:27,405
force air into the cabin.
445
00:23:28,840 --> 00:23:31,510
To ensure oxygen
circulates during the trip,
446
00:23:31,576 --> 00:23:34,913
small valves in the rear
allow some of it to leak out.
447
00:23:38,884 --> 00:23:40,051
The
pressurized airplane,
448
00:23:40,118 --> 00:23:44,055
essentially, is sort of
like a pressurized can.
449
00:23:44,122 --> 00:23:45,590
Well, we pressurize
the airplane
450
00:23:45,657 --> 00:23:47,592
so that the people
inside can survive
451
00:23:47,659 --> 00:23:50,929
the environment that the
airplane likes to operate in.
452
00:23:50,996 --> 00:23:54,366
Switching digital pressure
control unit from auto
453
00:23:54,432 --> 00:23:56,101
to manual.
454
00:23:56,168 --> 00:23:58,170
Without the
jet's engines running,
455
00:23:58,236 --> 00:24:01,306
the engineer uses the plane's
auxiliary power unit to force
456
00:24:01,373 --> 00:24:02,607
air into the aircraft.
457
00:24:02,674 --> 00:24:05,577
And the cabin is pressurized
for several minutes,
458
00:24:05,644 --> 00:24:07,846
but there's no indication
any air is escaping
459
00:24:07,913 --> 00:24:09,981
through the back door.
460
00:24:13,084 --> 00:24:16,588
The entire jet seems to
be in good working order.
461
00:24:16,655 --> 00:24:19,257
After performing a series of
additional routine maintenance
462
00:24:19,324 --> 00:24:21,193
procedures, the
engineers signed
463
00:24:21,259 --> 00:24:23,361
off on their technical log.
464
00:24:23,428 --> 00:24:25,864
Investigators are
faced with a dead end.
465
00:24:25,931 --> 00:24:28,967
So explain again how
you tested the pressure.
466
00:24:29,034 --> 00:24:30,569
An explosive
decompression
467
00:24:30,635 --> 00:24:35,040
could have explained the
tragic events of flight 522.
468
00:24:35,106 --> 00:24:37,943
If the oxygen had been
suddenly sucked out of the jet,
469
00:24:38,009 --> 00:24:41,880
everyone on board could
have been overcome,
470
00:24:41,947 --> 00:24:44,416
but not only did engineers
check the problem, when
471
00:24:44,482 --> 00:24:46,918
the F-16s approached
the plane near Athens,
472
00:24:46,985 --> 00:24:49,154
no damage was seen.
473
00:24:49,221 --> 00:24:52,157
There was no indication that
the fuselage was punctured.
474
00:24:58,163 --> 00:25:01,633
All investigators know for sure
is that shortly after takeoff,
475
00:25:01,700 --> 00:25:04,202
the crew stopped communicating
with air traffic controllers.
476
00:25:04,269 --> 00:25:07,239
Helios 522, over.
477
00:25:07,305 --> 00:25:08,340
Mayday.
478
00:25:08,406 --> 00:25:10,075
Then,
after 2 and 1/2 hours
479
00:25:10,141 --> 00:25:12,711
in the air, one of the
plane's flight attendants
480
00:25:12,777 --> 00:25:15,213
was seen at the controls.
481
00:25:15,280 --> 00:25:17,549
522, Athens.
482
00:25:24,322 --> 00:25:25,523
But
investigators still
483
00:25:25,590 --> 00:25:27,826
don't know what happened
to the plane's captain
484
00:25:27,893 --> 00:25:30,028
or the rest of the crew.
485
00:25:31,162 --> 00:25:34,332
Tell me about what happened
the day of the flight.
486
00:25:34,399 --> 00:25:36,201
They concentrate
on the conversation
487
00:25:36,268 --> 00:25:38,436
between the pilot and
the Helios engineer
488
00:25:38,503 --> 00:25:39,638
shortly after takeoff.
489
00:25:41,539 --> 00:25:44,042
As the plane passed
through 10,000 feet,
490
00:25:44,109 --> 00:25:46,711
an alarm sounded
in the cockpit.
491
00:25:46,778 --> 00:25:49,681
Operations, this
is flight 522.
492
00:25:49,748 --> 00:25:50,882
Over.
493
00:25:50,949 --> 00:25:53,785
Flight 522, what
can I do for you?
494
00:25:53,852 --> 00:25:56,588
We have a takeoff
config warning on.
495
00:25:56,655 --> 00:25:57,856
Pardon?
496
00:25:57,923 --> 00:26:03,061
Our takeoff config
warning is on.
497
00:26:03,128 --> 00:26:05,463
Usually, the
takeoff config warning is only
498
00:26:05,530 --> 00:26:07,799
triggered on the runway,
but wreckage recovered
499
00:26:07,866 --> 00:26:10,335
at the crash site reveals
no problems with the plane's
500
00:26:10,402 --> 00:26:12,871
flaps, landing gear,
or anything else
501
00:26:12,938 --> 00:26:15,006
that could trigger the alarm.
502
00:26:17,509 --> 00:26:19,344
So why had it sounded?
503
00:26:22,380 --> 00:26:24,416
Chief Investigator
Akrivos Tsolakis
504
00:26:24,482 --> 00:26:27,585
focuses on a small control
panel found in the wreckage
505
00:26:27,652 --> 00:26:29,521
of the ravaged jet.
506
00:26:32,190 --> 00:26:34,292
Are you sure this is
the way it was found?
507
00:26:34,359 --> 00:26:36,695
It hasn't been moved at all?
508
00:26:36,761 --> 00:26:38,063
We were lucky.
509
00:26:38,129 --> 00:26:40,498
Finding this panel
which had the switch
510
00:26:40,565 --> 00:26:43,234
on the manual position
was a major one.
511
00:26:44,836 --> 00:26:46,438
The P5
pressurization panel
512
00:26:46,504 --> 00:26:48,873
ensures that passengers
have enough air to breathe,
513
00:26:48,940 --> 00:26:52,177
even at high altitudes.
514
00:26:52,243 --> 00:26:55,246
Normally, pressurization
takes place automatically.
515
00:26:55,313 --> 00:26:58,016
As the jet climbs,
its engines force air
516
00:26:58,083 --> 00:27:00,518
into the plane as they
power it to the sky,
517
00:27:02,754 --> 00:27:05,690
but when the pressurization
switch is set to manual,
518
00:27:05,757 --> 00:27:07,525
both the captain
and co-pilot are
519
00:27:07,592 --> 00:27:09,227
responsible for
maintaining the cabin
520
00:27:09,294 --> 00:27:11,329
atmosphere using a controller.
521
00:27:13,298 --> 00:27:16,501
So explain again how
you tested the pressure.
522
00:27:16,568 --> 00:27:18,269
I went into the cockpit.
523
00:27:18,336 --> 00:27:22,207
I turned the pressurization
switch to manual.
524
00:27:22,273 --> 00:27:24,275
Tsolakis learns
that during the early-morning
525
00:27:24,342 --> 00:27:27,278
maintenance check
on Helios 522,
526
00:27:27,345 --> 00:27:31,616
ground engineers had turned
the P5 switch to manual.
527
00:27:31,683 --> 00:27:34,386
That allowed them to use the
onboard generators to test
528
00:27:34,452 --> 00:27:36,654
the pressure seals on
the plane's rear door
529
00:27:36,721 --> 00:27:39,624
without starting the engines.
530
00:27:39,691 --> 00:27:41,960
When the test was
over, they didn't turn
531
00:27:42,027 --> 00:27:44,229
the switch back to automatic.
532
00:27:50,869 --> 00:27:52,337
The lights
533
00:27:52,404 --> 00:27:54,539
Several hours later,
when the flight crew entered
534
00:27:54,606 --> 00:27:56,975
the cockpit, the
pressurization switch
535
00:27:57,042 --> 00:27:58,710
was still set to manual.
536
00:27:58,777 --> 00:27:59,911
Air switches.
537
00:27:59,978 --> 00:28:02,247
Bright today.
538
00:28:02,313 --> 00:28:05,016
Are you almost through?
539
00:28:05,083 --> 00:28:07,185
Pardon?
540
00:28:07,252 --> 00:28:11,489
But neither the
pilot nor co-pilot saw it.
541
00:28:11,556 --> 00:28:14,292
As a result, after
takeoff, the cabin would
542
00:28:14,359 --> 00:28:20,732
not pressurize automatically.
543
00:28:20,799 --> 00:28:23,001
And the higher
flight 522 climbed,
544
00:28:23,068 --> 00:28:25,637
the thinner the
atmosphere became.
545
00:28:27,939 --> 00:28:30,241
Not turning the switch
back to automatic
546
00:28:30,308 --> 00:28:32,143
was a deadly hidden danger.
547
00:28:35,146 --> 00:28:37,282
Are you sure
this is the way it was found?
548
00:28:37,348 --> 00:28:39,884
It hasn't been moved at all?
549
00:28:39,951 --> 00:28:41,453
Chief
investigator Tsolakis
550
00:28:41,519 --> 00:28:43,988
believes this panel could
be the key to the mysterious
551
00:28:44,055 --> 00:28:47,025
crash of Helios flight 522.
552
00:28:47,092 --> 00:28:49,327
Leaving one switch
on manual could
553
00:28:49,394 --> 00:28:53,131
have led to all the other
problems the plane faced.
554
00:28:53,198 --> 00:28:56,868
To prove he's right, he
takes an unusual step.
555
00:28:56,935 --> 00:28:59,204
Four months after
the disaster, he
556
00:28:59,270 --> 00:29:02,574
takes an Olympic Airlines
737 on the same route
557
00:29:02,640 --> 00:29:04,876
flown by the Helios jet.
558
00:29:04,943 --> 00:29:07,178
If he's right about
what caused the crash,
559
00:29:07,245 --> 00:29:11,449
this plane should react exactly
like the doomed airliner did.
560
00:29:11,516 --> 00:29:13,852
Are we ready to go?
561
00:29:13,918 --> 00:29:16,788
When there is a complicated
accident like this,
562
00:29:16,855 --> 00:29:20,825
I think a reenactment
should be performed.
563
00:29:20,892 --> 00:29:24,028
Of course, it's expensive
to have a jetliner flying
564
00:29:24,095 --> 00:29:28,032
for three or four
hours, but it is worth
565
00:29:28,099 --> 00:29:33,771
it if you have to come with
some results which benefit
566
00:29:33,838 --> 00:29:35,907
to the overall investigation.
567
00:29:39,444 --> 00:29:41,946
Make sure the P5
is set to manual.
568
00:29:47,252 --> 00:29:48,520
It's hard to see.
569
00:29:48,586 --> 00:29:50,054
In the
cockpit, Tsolakis
570
00:29:50,121 --> 00:29:51,856
has the crew turn
the pressurization
571
00:29:51,923 --> 00:29:53,958
switch to manual.
572
00:29:54,025 --> 00:29:57,295
A green light indicates
it's no longer on automatic,
573
00:29:57,362 --> 00:29:59,898
but in the bright glare of
an early-morning departure,
574
00:29:59,964 --> 00:30:02,033
the light is hard to see.
575
00:30:04,235 --> 00:30:06,304
As the re-enactment
flight climbs,
576
00:30:06,371 --> 00:30:10,708
oxygen is thinning
quickly in the aircraft.
577
00:30:10,775 --> 00:30:12,877
The same thing happened
on the Helios flight,
578
00:30:12,944 --> 00:30:14,345
triggering an alarm.
579
00:30:18,383 --> 00:30:20,051
What is it?
580
00:30:20,118 --> 00:30:22,353
The takeoff config warning?
581
00:30:22,420 --> 00:30:24,122
The alarm sounded,
582
00:30:24,189 --> 00:30:26,791
and that
alarm was misinterpreted.
583
00:30:26,858 --> 00:30:29,827
Most of the flight crew,
584
00:30:29,894 --> 00:30:33,731
they will never face an alarm
585
00:30:33,798 --> 00:30:37,735
with no pressurization in
all their flight career
586
00:30:37,802 --> 00:30:39,837
because it's a rare event.
587
00:30:39,904 --> 00:30:42,173
Tsolakis confirms
that the alarm went off
588
00:30:42,240 --> 00:30:45,143
because of the dangerously low
air pressure in the aircraft,
589
00:30:45,210 --> 00:30:47,912
but he also discovers
that the sound itself
590
00:30:47,979 --> 00:30:50,081
is identical to the
takeoff config warning.
591
00:30:50,148 --> 00:30:53,918
We have a take off
config warning on.
592
00:30:53,985 --> 00:30:56,221
But even if the
flight crew did misinterpret
593
00:30:56,287 --> 00:30:59,591
the first alarm, they still
had another chance to determine
594
00:30:59,657 --> 00:31:01,993
what the real problem was.
595
00:31:02,060 --> 00:31:04,462
At over 16,000
feet, the plane's
596
00:31:04,529 --> 00:31:07,398
master caution light
flashed on and stayed on
597
00:31:07,465 --> 00:31:08,967
for almost a minute.
598
00:31:09,033 --> 00:31:12,203
We now have a master caution.
599
00:31:12,270 --> 00:31:14,639
But once again,
the pilots misinterpreted
600
00:31:14,706 --> 00:31:17,375
the cause of the alarm.
601
00:31:17,442 --> 00:31:20,044
The master caution light can
indicate that the plane's
602
00:31:20,111 --> 00:31:23,715
systems are overheating,
but it can also tell pilots
603
00:31:23,781 --> 00:31:27,352
the oxygen masks are down.
604
00:31:27,418 --> 00:31:31,356
In this case, it was doing
both at the same time.
605
00:31:33,291 --> 00:31:35,126
But since the crew didn't
think they were having
606
00:31:35,193 --> 00:31:38,162
pressurization problems, they
focused on the plane's
607
00:31:38,229 --> 00:31:40,098
cooling systems.
608
00:31:42,867 --> 00:31:45,270
On the recreation
flight, investigators
609
00:31:45,336 --> 00:31:47,939
monitor instruments recording
the same events occurring
610
00:31:48,006 --> 00:31:50,508
on board their aircraft.
611
00:31:50,575 --> 00:31:53,478
At the same time, they also
begin to feel the effects
612
00:31:53,544 --> 00:31:56,214
of a lack of oxygen.
613
00:31:56,281 --> 00:31:58,149
The first
feelings you'd start to have
614
00:31:58,216 --> 00:31:59,984
where your ears would pop.
615
00:32:00,051 --> 00:32:03,254
You'd start feeling
pressure in your sinuses.
616
00:32:03,321 --> 00:32:07,058
As you climb higher, you
begin to feel almost giddy.
617
00:32:07,125 --> 00:32:10,561
It's almost like having a
couple of drinks of alcohol.
618
00:32:10,628 --> 00:32:13,698
The dwindling oxygen
levels could also help explain
619
00:32:13,765 --> 00:32:16,801
some of the crew's
bizarre behavior,
620
00:32:18,970 --> 00:32:20,171
such as when the
ground engineer
621
00:32:20,238 --> 00:32:21,973
asked about pressurization.
622
00:32:22,040 --> 00:32:24,008
Can you confirm that
the pressurization
623
00:32:24,075 --> 00:32:27,412
panel is set to auto?
624
00:32:27,478 --> 00:32:29,314
Captain Merton
ignores the question
625
00:32:29,380 --> 00:32:31,215
and responds with
one of his own.
626
00:32:31,282 --> 00:32:36,287
Where are my equipment
cooling circuit breakers?
627
00:32:36,354 --> 00:32:38,156
You really
don't notice it at first.
628
00:32:38,222 --> 00:32:41,759
It's amazing how subtle it
can be in the early phases.
629
00:32:41,826 --> 00:32:44,162
They start feeling dizzy.
630
00:32:44,228 --> 00:32:47,832
They begin to lose the
ability to think coherently.
631
00:32:47,899 --> 00:32:51,836
In a way, it traps you
into the situation.
632
00:32:51,903 --> 00:32:54,172
You can't react to anything.
633
00:32:54,238 --> 00:32:57,241
Eventually, you're going
to lose consciousness.
634
00:32:59,477 --> 00:33:01,546
Tsolakis believes
that the captain may have been
635
00:33:01,612 --> 00:33:04,148
checking on the circuit
breakers behind his seat
636
00:33:04,215 --> 00:33:08,086
when he and the co-pilot
finally ran out of air.
637
00:33:08,152 --> 00:33:11,789
And unlike in the cabin, the
oxygen masks in the cockpit
638
00:33:11,856 --> 00:33:14,992
do not automatically deploy if
the atmosphere begins to thin.
639
00:33:17,628 --> 00:33:21,599
Helios
522, can you hear me?
640
00:33:23,401 --> 00:33:25,703
On the other side
of the locked cockpit door,
641
00:33:25,770 --> 00:33:28,406
no one in the cabin would
have known that the plane
642
00:33:28,473 --> 00:33:32,043
was now flying itself, nor
were they have realized
643
00:33:32,110 --> 00:33:34,879
that a limitation of the
passenger oxygen system
644
00:33:34,946 --> 00:33:39,083
had sealed the fate of
everyone in the cabin.
645
00:33:39,150 --> 00:33:41,786
Passenger masks are supplied
by a chemical generator
646
00:33:41,853 --> 00:33:44,489
above their seats,
but the generators
647
00:33:44,555 --> 00:33:47,492
only produce enough oxygen
to last about 12 minutes.
648
00:33:51,529 --> 00:33:54,298
Well, the problem with
the passenger masks is,
649
00:33:54,365 --> 00:33:57,235
for one thing, they're
not designed to keep you
650
00:33:57,301 --> 00:33:59,537
oxygenated at a high altitude.
651
00:33:59,604 --> 00:34:02,540
What they're designed to do
is give you enough oxygen
652
00:34:02,607 --> 00:34:05,877
so that you can survive until
the pilots get the airplane
653
00:34:05,943 --> 00:34:07,345
down to a low altitude.
654
00:34:07,412 --> 00:34:09,614
In almost every event where
we've had a decompression,
655
00:34:09,680 --> 00:34:12,950
that's been perfectly adequate.
656
00:34:13,017 --> 00:34:15,086
For those who
did put their masks on,
657
00:34:15,153 --> 00:34:17,155
they would have remained
conscious for several minutes
658
00:34:17,221 --> 00:34:19,190
until their oxygen ran out.
659
00:34:19,257 --> 00:34:21,292
Then they too would
have passed out.
660
00:34:23,694 --> 00:34:25,763
Once you
get up to 34,000 feet,
661
00:34:25,830 --> 00:34:27,131
you're talking
useful consciousness
662
00:34:27,198 --> 00:34:30,201
of 30 to 60 seconds.
663
00:34:30,268 --> 00:34:32,470
Most of the people,
once the hypoxia
664
00:34:32,537 --> 00:34:34,972
begins to cause them
to lose consciousness,
665
00:34:35,039 --> 00:34:38,075
they're just going
to go to sleep.
666
00:34:40,845 --> 00:34:42,146
Without
a flight crew,
667
00:34:42,213 --> 00:34:47,118
Helios 522 would have continued
to Athens on autopilot.
668
00:34:47,185 --> 00:34:48,786
When the crew
didn't take control,
669
00:34:48,853 --> 00:34:51,622
the autopilot would have put
the jet in a holding pattern
670
00:34:51,689 --> 00:34:53,191
as it flew over the airport.
671
00:34:59,263 --> 00:35:00,698
Exactly the same
thing will happen
672
00:35:00,765 --> 00:35:05,336
on the reconstruction flight if
cabin pressure isn't restored.
673
00:35:05,403 --> 00:35:09,340
Tsolakis asks the co-pilot
to reset the P5 panel to auto
674
00:35:09,407 --> 00:35:12,210
before the jet continues to
climb to its cruising altitude
675
00:35:12,276 --> 00:35:14,312
of almost 33,000 feet.
676
00:35:16,948 --> 00:35:19,484
Then as it approaches
Athens, Tsolakis
677
00:35:19,550 --> 00:35:24,055
also has an F-16 shadow the
jet performing at recreation.
678
00:35:24,121 --> 00:35:26,357
He wants to confirm
that it was Andreas
679
00:35:26,424 --> 00:35:30,261
Prodromou at the controls of
flight 522 when it went down.
680
00:35:34,232 --> 00:35:36,167
We dressed
one of our guys
681
00:35:36,234 --> 00:35:38,736
with the uniform of the steward,
and he came in.
682
00:35:38,803 --> 00:35:42,940
He sat on the captain's
chair, and the F-16
683
00:35:43,007 --> 00:35:44,308
was looking at him.
684
00:35:44,375 --> 00:35:46,811
He was confirming that
it was exactly what
685
00:35:46,878 --> 00:35:48,713
he saw on the accident plane.
686
00:35:51,649 --> 00:35:53,184
The
reconstruction also
687
00:35:53,251 --> 00:35:55,186
answers another question
about the tragic fate
688
00:35:55,253 --> 00:35:56,821
of Helios flight 522.
689
00:35:59,357 --> 00:36:00,892
The cockpit voice
recorder picked
690
00:36:00,958 --> 00:36:03,361
up several strange noises.
691
00:36:03,427 --> 00:36:06,330
They're heard just before
Prodromou enters the cockpit.
692
00:36:09,800 --> 00:36:12,303
Tsolakis confirms that
these sounds were made
693
00:36:12,370 --> 00:36:14,872
by Prodromou, using
the electronic keypad
694
00:36:14,939 --> 00:36:16,774
to unlock the cockpit door.
695
00:36:18,376 --> 00:36:20,444
We confirmed all those items.
696
00:36:20,511 --> 00:36:23,748
And during the
enactment flight,
697
00:36:23,814 --> 00:36:26,751
it was very, very useful.
698
00:36:26,817 --> 00:36:28,653
It filled a lot of gaps we had.
699
00:36:33,991 --> 00:36:35,893
For Chief
Investigator Tsolakis,
700
00:36:35,960 --> 00:36:38,996
the re-enactment flight
has been convincing.
701
00:36:39,063 --> 00:36:42,366
There was no dramatic
cabin failure, instead,
702
00:36:42,433 --> 00:36:45,803
a series of small mistakes
and misunderstandings
703
00:36:45,870 --> 00:36:48,706
have led to the worst air
disaster in Greek history.
704
00:36:54,211 --> 00:36:57,148
15 months after the
crash, Greek authorities
705
00:36:57,214 --> 00:37:02,186
released the official report
on Helios airways flight 522,
706
00:37:02,253 --> 00:37:03,120
but mysteries remain.
707
00:37:05,957 --> 00:37:08,926
What was happening in the cabin
while the doomed airplane flew
708
00:37:08,993 --> 00:37:14,465
towards Athens, and why was
Andreas Prodromou the only one
709
00:37:14,532 --> 00:37:16,701
conscious at the very end?
710
00:37:21,739 --> 00:37:24,342
The crash of Helios
flight 522 was
711
00:37:24,408 --> 00:37:28,846
the worst disaster in the
history of Greek aviation.
712
00:37:28,913 --> 00:37:31,215
Like many crashes, it
was a fatal combination
713
00:37:31,282 --> 00:37:35,620
of mechanical problems
and human error.
714
00:37:35,686 --> 00:37:37,421
The final accident
report details
715
00:37:37,488 --> 00:37:40,625
a tragic series of oversights
and false assumptions
716
00:37:40,691 --> 00:37:43,361
made by the flight crew.
717
00:37:43,427 --> 00:37:45,663
Problems that could have
been easily prevented
718
00:37:45,730 --> 00:37:49,200
turned deadly for all
121 people on board.
719
00:37:49,266 --> 00:37:53,204
Where are my equipment
cooling circuit breakers?
720
00:37:55,973 --> 00:37:58,709
Behind
the captain's seat.
721
00:37:58,776 --> 00:38:00,811
Can you see them?
722
00:38:05,182 --> 00:38:07,184
But what the
final report does not do
723
00:38:07,251 --> 00:38:10,988
is explain what happened
in the cabin of the plane.
724
00:38:11,055 --> 00:38:14,325
What actions did the
flight attendants take?
725
00:38:14,392 --> 00:38:17,695
And why was Andreas Prodromou
still conscious after almost
726
00:38:17,762 --> 00:38:18,763
three hours?
727
00:38:18,829 --> 00:38:22,266
Mayday. Mayday.
728
00:38:22,333 --> 00:38:24,135
Interviews with
Helios safety instructors
729
00:38:24,201 --> 00:38:26,404
and crew members
painted tragic picture
730
00:38:26,470 --> 00:38:28,305
of what may have occurred.
731
00:38:30,207 --> 00:38:32,510
Everyone, please
put your mask on.
732
00:38:32,576 --> 00:38:35,279
We're not sure what the
trouble is, but remain calm
733
00:38:35,346 --> 00:38:38,082
and please remain seated.
734
00:38:38,149 --> 00:38:41,252
Prodromou was
sitting at the back of a cabin .
735
00:38:41,318 --> 00:38:43,287
When the oxygen
masks fell, he would
736
00:38:43,354 --> 00:38:46,624
have waited for instructions
from the cockpit.
737
00:38:46,691 --> 00:38:48,793
The flight attendants sitting
at the front of the plane
738
00:38:48,859 --> 00:38:50,795
would have done the
same, but none of them
739
00:38:50,861 --> 00:38:52,897
would have waited forever.
740
00:38:54,298 --> 00:38:57,968
We
made it an issue at Helios
741
00:38:58,035 --> 00:39:01,772
to emphasize that cabin crews
should not entirely depend
742
00:39:01,839 --> 00:39:04,709
on their procedures, but
to think on their feet
743
00:39:04,775 --> 00:39:07,445
and to adapt to any
impending situation.
744
00:39:09,246 --> 00:39:10,881
In most
depressurizations,
745
00:39:10,948 --> 00:39:13,417
the plane descends quickly.
746
00:39:13,484 --> 00:39:15,753
But as minutes passed
on the Helios flight,
747
00:39:15,820 --> 00:39:18,389
the plane continued to climb.
748
00:39:18,456 --> 00:39:21,492
Unsure of what was going on,
Prodromou would have tried
749
00:39:21,559 --> 00:39:23,360
to contact the flight crew.
750
00:39:23,427 --> 00:39:25,496
Captain.
751
00:39:25,563 --> 00:39:26,664
Captain Merton.
752
00:39:26,731 --> 00:39:28,132
But he
gets no response.
753
00:39:28,199 --> 00:39:29,600
Can you give us
an update, please?
754
00:39:29,667 --> 00:39:30,568
Captain Merton.
755
00:39:33,404 --> 00:39:35,106
With no
word from the cockpit,
756
00:39:35,172 --> 00:39:37,508
he would have soon
realized that this was not
757
00:39:37,575 --> 00:39:39,977
a typical depressurization.
758
00:39:40,044 --> 00:39:41,545
When there was no call
out from the cockpit
759
00:39:41,612 --> 00:39:43,981
and the aircraft didn't
start an emergency descent,
760
00:39:44,048 --> 00:39:46,083
there was absolutely
no protocol.
761
00:39:46,150 --> 00:39:48,586
They would be winging it.
762
00:39:48,652 --> 00:39:51,021
By now, Prodromou
must have felt that something
763
00:39:51,088 --> 00:39:55,126
was terribly wrong, but to
find out what the problem was,
764
00:39:55,192 --> 00:39:56,894
he had to leave his seat.
765
00:39:56,961 --> 00:39:59,563
The oxygen
available on the 737
766
00:39:59,630 --> 00:40:02,733
is, of course, the dropout
oxygen. 10% of those masks
767
00:40:02,800 --> 00:40:04,935
are available for the crew
in case of a
768
00:40:05,002 --> 00:40:06,971
depressurization incident.
769
00:40:07,037 --> 00:40:09,840
There are extra masks
per every seat row.
770
00:40:11,375 --> 00:40:13,677
Taking advantage
of the extra passenger masks,
771
00:40:13,744 --> 00:40:16,347
he could have made his way
to the front of the plane,
772
00:40:16,413 --> 00:40:19,383
a process cabin crew
calls "monkey swinging."
773
00:40:22,286 --> 00:40:24,822
But if more than 12
minutes had passed,
774
00:40:24,889 --> 00:40:26,690
his girlfriend and the
other flight attendant
775
00:40:26,757 --> 00:40:28,292
may have still
been in their seats
776
00:40:28,359 --> 00:40:31,328
and, like the passengers,
overcome by hypoxia.
777
00:40:36,200 --> 00:40:38,235
But Prodromou was a scuba
diver and a former soldier
778
00:40:38,302 --> 00:40:40,070
in the Cypriot special forces.
779
00:40:40,137 --> 00:40:41,705
His training may
have helped him
780
00:40:41,772 --> 00:40:45,142
to stay alert a little longer.
781
00:40:45,209 --> 00:40:48,946
Andreas was not a coward.
782
00:40:49,013 --> 00:40:50,781
He was a brave person.
783
00:40:50,848 --> 00:40:53,617
Fearless, brave, and very calm.
784
00:40:57,188 --> 00:40:59,924
But to survive after
the passenger oxygen system
785
00:40:59,990 --> 00:41:04,028
stopped working, he
needed another solution.
786
00:41:04,094 --> 00:41:07,364
The 737 had four
portable oxygen bottles.
787
00:41:07,431 --> 00:41:11,535
Each one could last
more than an hour.
788
00:41:11,602 --> 00:41:14,171
All four bottles were
found at the crash site.
789
00:41:14,238 --> 00:41:18,042
Three of them appeared
to have been used.
790
00:41:18,108 --> 00:41:21,045
While the F-16 pilot saw
Prodromou in the cockpit
791
00:41:21,111 --> 00:41:23,280
just before the crash,
it may not have been
792
00:41:23,347 --> 00:41:25,716
the first time he had gone in.
793
00:41:25,783 --> 00:41:27,418
As he did at the
end of the flight,
794
00:41:27,484 --> 00:41:29,220
he could have used
the security code
795
00:41:29,286 --> 00:41:30,621
to unlock the door earlier.
796
00:41:41,098 --> 00:41:43,133
During the accident
investigation,
797
00:41:43,200 --> 00:41:46,704
DNA was discovered on an
oxygen mask in the cockpit
798
00:41:46,770 --> 00:41:48,672
that matched the co-pilot's.
799
00:41:48,739 --> 00:41:52,209
It's possible Prodromou used
it to try and revive him.
800
00:41:52,276 --> 00:41:56,180
You can still
revitalize somebody,
801
00:41:56,247 --> 00:41:58,249
and for quite an
extended period of time,
802
00:41:58,315 --> 00:42:01,118
if you get to them before
major brain damage has set in.
803
00:42:01,185 --> 00:42:04,622
And that's somewhat
a variable situation,
804
00:42:04,688 --> 00:42:07,791
depending on the person,
depending on how long they're
805
00:42:07,858 --> 00:42:09,693
exposed to a high altitude.
806
00:42:11,462 --> 00:42:13,631
But if he was
in the cockpit earlier,
807
00:42:13,697 --> 00:42:15,699
why did he leave?
808
00:42:15,766 --> 00:42:17,601
No one will ever know.
809
00:42:24,975 --> 00:42:27,244
After three hours
in the air, everyone
810
00:42:27,311 --> 00:42:31,415
who didn't have bottled oxygen
would have been unconscious.
811
00:42:31,482 --> 00:42:35,653
As it approached Athens, flight
522 was now a ghost plane.
812
00:42:41,325 --> 00:42:44,695
Most of the victims,
they probably still
813
00:42:44,762 --> 00:42:46,330
had heartbeats
when the airplane
814
00:42:46,397 --> 00:42:49,566
crashed, but almost certainly
were in an irreversible coma.
815
00:42:52,002 --> 00:42:55,406
Hypoxia is no more
painful than falling asleep,
816
00:42:55,472 --> 00:42:57,374
but for Andreas
Prodromou, the flight
817
00:42:57,441 --> 00:42:59,476
must have been a nightmare.
818
00:43:03,213 --> 00:43:05,816
As the F-16s roared
to meet the jet
819
00:43:05,883 --> 00:43:07,885
and with his
oxygen running out,
820
00:43:07,952 --> 00:43:12,222
he must have known that he
too was almost out of time.
821
00:43:12,289 --> 00:43:15,259
Yet to the very end,
he didn't give up.
822
00:43:17,761 --> 00:43:20,731
Prodromou made one last
attempt to save the plane.
823
00:43:25,836 --> 00:43:28,205
When he returns to the cockpit,
the young flight attendant
824
00:43:28,272 --> 00:43:32,242
who dreamed of becoming
a pilot calls for help,
825
00:43:32,309 --> 00:43:35,446
but no one can hear him,
probably because the radio was
826
00:43:35,512 --> 00:43:38,115
still tuned to Larnaca,
the airport on Cyprus
827
00:43:38,182 --> 00:43:40,684
where the flight had taken off.
828
00:43:40,751 --> 00:43:44,221
Fighting hypoxia and struggling
to control an airplane larger
829
00:43:44,288 --> 00:43:46,857
than any he had ever
flown, Prodromou was
830
00:43:46,924 --> 00:43:50,327
in an impossible situation.
831
00:43:50,394 --> 00:43:52,129
Even if he could have
landed the plane,
832
00:43:52,196 --> 00:43:54,064
it was now too late.
833
00:43:54,131 --> 00:43:57,167
Flight 522 was out of
time and out of fuel.
834
00:44:38,776 --> 00:44:41,178
There are pictures
of Andreas in Cyprus,
835
00:44:41,245 --> 00:44:43,647
in the cemetery where he
and his girlfriend, Haris,
836
00:44:43,714 --> 00:44:46,483
are buried side by side.
837
00:44:46,550 --> 00:44:50,854
As his father,
838
00:44:50,921 --> 00:44:54,324
my son is in front of me.
839
00:44:54,391 --> 00:44:57,194
Wherever I go,
he's always there.
840
00:45:03,867 --> 00:45:07,738
He left a very big gap.
841
00:45:09,807 --> 00:45:11,642
We will never get over it.
842
00:45:14,845 --> 00:45:17,614
There are
pictures in Greece, too.
843
00:45:17,681 --> 00:45:21,018
On the hill north of Athens,
where Helios flight 522
844
00:45:21,085 --> 00:45:23,253
crashed, there are
faded photographs
845
00:45:23,320 --> 00:45:24,755
of many of those who died.
64220
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