All language subtitles for Air.Disasters.S14E04.No.Control.1080p.AMZN.WEB-DL.DDP2.0.H.264-AiRPL4NEl_track3_[eng]

Narrator: ON A SIMPLE TEST
FLIGHT, THE CREW LOSES CONTROL.

Captain: IT'S PITCHING UP
ALL THE TIME.

IT'S PITCHING UP.

Narrator: IN THE MIDDLE
OF THE NIGHT...

First Officer: WHAT DO YOU
THINK? WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO?

Captain: I, I DON'T KNOW.

Narrator: ...A PACKED AIRBUS
GOES MISSING

OVER THE ATLANTIC OCEAN.

AT AN AIR SHOW IN FRANCE,

A DEMONSTRATION FLIGHT
ENDS IN DISASTER.

WHEN THERE'S
NEW TECHNOLOGY ON BOARD,

HOW DO PILOTS AND PLANES
GET THEIR SIGNALS CROSSED?

Man: WHY ISN'T
THE AIRPLANE RESPONDING?

WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO?

Captain: FLAPS UP! FLAPS UP!

Man: IT'S A DIAGNOSTIC PROCESS

THAT YOU DON'T HAVE
A LOT OF TIME WITH.

First Officer:
BUT WHAT'S HAPPENING?

Narrator: THE INVESTIGATIONS
LEAD TO A TROUBLING QUESTION.

Man: WAS IT THE PILOT,
OR WAS IT THE PLANE?

WE NEED TO KNOW.

Flight attendant:
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,

WE ARE STARTING OUR APPROACH.

Pilot: WE LOST BOTH ENGINES!

Flight attendant:
PUT THE MASK OVER YOUR NOSE.

EMERGENCY DESCENT.

Pilot: MAYDAY, MAYDAY!

Flight attendant:
BRACE FOR IMPACT!

Controller: I THINK I LOST ONE.

Man: INVESTIGATION STARTING
INTO THIS TRAGEDY...

Man: HE'S GONNA CRASH!

*

Narrator: BASEL-MULHOUSE
AIRPORT, FRANCE.

A BRAND-NEW MODEL OF PLANE

IS ABOUT TO BE INTRODUCED
TO THE WORLD.

Michel Asseline:
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,

HELLO AND WELCOME ABOARD
THIS AIRBUS A320,

WHICH WAS PUT INTO SERVICE
JUST TWO DAYS AGO.

Narrator: THE AIRBUS A320
IS THE FIRST CIVIL AIRCRAFT

TO USE FLY-BY-WIRE TECHNOLOGY.

AIR FRANCE HAS ASSIGNED
CAPTAIN MICHEL ASSELINE,

THE HEAD PILOT OF TRAINING
FOR THE A320,

TO PROMOTE A REVOLUTION
IN THE COCKPIT.

FLY-BY-WIRE TECHNOLOGY

CHANGES THE WAY PILOTS
OPERATE THEIR PLANES.

First officer: GEAR UP.

Peter Mellor:
ON THE FLY-BY-WIRE SYSTEM,

THE PILOT ESSENTIALLY
FLIES THE COMPUTER

AND THE COMPUTER FLIES
THE AIRCRAFT.

Narrator: WITH THIS NEW SYSTEM,
PILOTS NO LONGER

MANUALLY CONTROL FLIGHT SURFACES
LIKE RUDDERS AND ELEVATORS.

THEY NOW FLY THE PLANE
BY SENDING COMMANDS

THROUGH THE PLANE'S
ELECTRONIC SYSTEM.

John Nance:
AIRBUS' PHILOSOPHY WAS WE'LL

GET RID OF MOST OF HUMAN ERROR

BY GETTING RID OF THE HUMAN

INPUT TO THE GREATEST EXTENT

THAT WE CAN.

Narrator: ON ITS DEBUT FLIGHT,
THERE'S A LOT ON THE LINE

FOR THE AIRBUS A320
AND CAPTAIN ASSELINE.

First officer: AIR CHARTER 296,
WE'D LIKE TO ROLL, PLEASE.

Controller: ACF 296Q,
CLEAR FOR TAKEOFF.

Asseline:
WE TRIED TO DEMONSTRATE

THE CAPABILITY OF THIS AIRCRAFT.

TO SAY WE WANTED TO SHOW OFF,
NOT EXACTLY.

WE WANTED TO MAKE A GOOD JOB,

AND WE WERE SURE
TO MAKE A GOOD JOB.

Narrator: THE AIRBUS
AND 130 GUESTS AND JOURNALISTS

ARE HEADING
TO HABSHEIM AIRFIELD.

[SPEAKING FRENCH]

Jean-Claude Boetsch, translated:
AS I GOT ON THE PLANE,

I THOUGHT, GREAT,

THIS IS GOING TO BE
AN UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCE,

AND IT REALLY WAS.

[SPEAKING FRENCH]

Narrator: EAGER CROWDS
HAVE GATHERED AT AN AIR SHOW

TO SEE THE AIRBUS
FOR THE FIRST TIME.

Controller: AIR CHARTER 296.

Asseline: HABSHEIM, HELLO.

WE'RE COMING INTO VIEW
OF THE AIRFIELD FOR THE FLYOVER.

Controller: YES, I CAN SEE YOU.
YOU'RE CLEARED.

Narrator: TO SHOWCASE THE PLANE,
CAPTAIN ASSELINE IS PLANNING

A LOW-ALTITUDE NOSE-HIGH FLYBY
AT ALPHA MAX.

THIS IS THE SLOWEST
A PLANE CAN FLY AT THIS ANGLE

WITHOUT THE RISK OF STALLING.

Asseline: UH, WE'LL DO
THE FLYOVER AT 100,

UH, LANDING GEAR OUT,
AND YOU JUST LEAVE IT UP TO ME.

I'LL GIVE IT ALPHA MAX.

I'VE DONE IT 20 TIMES.

*

First officer: OKAY, WE'RE
GOING IN FOR LOW-ALTITUDE,

LOW-SPEED FLYOVER.

Computer: 200.

Narrator: THE AIRBUS
REACHES THE PLANNED ALTITUDE

FOR THE ALPHA MAX MANEUVER.

First officer: OKAY,
YOU'RE AT 100 FEET THERE.

Computer: 100.

First officer:
WATCH IT. WATCH IT.

Narrator: ASSELINE MUST KEEP
THE PLANE IN A STABLE POSITION,

WITH THE NOSE UP.

Asseline: OKAY, I'M OKAY THERE.
DISCONNECT AUTO THROTTLE.

Narrator: NORMALLY, THE SAFETY
FEATURE WOULD AUTOMATICALLY

SPEED UP A PLANE
MOVING TOO SLOWLY,

BUT THE PILOT
DISABLES THIS PROTECTION.

BEFORE HE'S FINISHED
THE MANEUVER,

ASSELINE IS STUNNED TO FIND
TREES DIRECTLY IN HIS PATH.

Asseline: I HAD NO IDEA
THAT AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY

WAS A FOREST.

FOR ME, IT WAS BUSHES ONLY,
OR SOMETHING.

Computer: 30.

Narrator:
ASSELINE TRIES TO PULL UP,

BUT THE PLANE KEEPS DROPPING.

Asseline: MERDE!

[SPEAKING FRENCH]

Boetsch: I STARTED TO SEE TREE
BRANCHES THROUGH THE WINDOW.

I WAS ASTONISHED.

[EXPLOSION]

Woman: OH, NO.
Woman: OH, NO!

Man: OH, NO! OH, NO!
OH, NO! OH, NO!

*

Narrator: INCREDIBLY, THE
FUSELAGE IS STILL IN ONE PIECE.

Asseline: I BROKE MY SEAT,

JUST BECAUSE I WAS HOLDING
VERY FIRMLY.

I BROKE MY SEAT, AND I COULD SEE
A LOT OF FLAMES ALL OVER.

THERE WAS ABOUT 20-METER-HIGH
FLAMES AROUND THE COCKPIT.

Narrator: EVERYONE
HAS SURVIVED THE IMPACT,

BUT IN THE PANIC,
A WOMAN AND TWO CHILDREN

ARE OVERCOME BY SMOKE,
AND THEY DIE.

*

Mellor: THE CRASH COULD NOT
POSSIBLY HAVE COME

AT A WORSE TIME FOR AIRBUS.

THEY WERE TRYING OUT
THIS NEW CONCEPT,

WHICH THEY HAD TOUTED
VERY WIDELY

AS A NEW LEVEL OF SAFETY
FOR CIVIL FLIGHT,

AND HERE'S A PILOT
GOING AND CRASHING ONE.

Narrator:
INVESTIGATORS FROM BEA,

FRANCE'S ACCIDENT
INVESTIGATION BUREAU,

FACE A WHOLE NEW CHALLENGE.

THE A320'S FLY-BY-WIRE SYSTEM

HAS ALTERED THE RELATIONSHIP
BETWEEN PILOT AND PLANE.

IT GIVES COMPUTERS THE ABILITY
TO OVERRIDE HUMAN INPUTS

TO CORRECT PILOT ERROR.

IS THAT WHAT HAPPENED
AT HABSHEIM?

Claude Bechet: WAS IT THE PILOT,
OR WAS IT THE PLANE?

WE NEED TO KNOW.

Narrator: CAPTAIN ASSELINE
COMES IN FOR QUESTIONING.

Asseline: MY INTENTION WAS, UH,

TO CARRY OUT A FLYOVER
AT SLOW SPEED.

UH, LANDING CONFIGURATION.

UM, WE DECELERATE
OVER THE AIRSTRIP

AND, UH, AND WE GO TO ALPHA MAX.

Narrator: ASSELINE PLANNED
TO FLY PAST THE SPECTATORS

AT 100 FEET.

BUT INVESTIGATORS
LEARN THIS HEIGHT

VIOLATES NATIONAL
SAFETY STANDARDS.

Bechet: HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN
AT 500 FEET,

AS A MATTER OF FACT,

BUT THERE HAD, AT THAT TIME,

A TENDENCY FOR PILOTS WHO WERE
MAKING AIR SHOWS LIKE THAT,

TO GO A LITTLE BIT LOWER
AND SOMETIMES MUCH LOWER.

Narrator: TO UNDERSTAND
WHAT HAPPENED

WHEN THE A320 FLEW SO LOW,

INVESTIGATORS HAVE
A RARE PIECE OF EVIDENCE,

A VIDEO OF THE ACCIDENT.

Bechet: IT WAS THE FIRST TIME

WE HAD A, A VIDEO
OF AN ACCIDENT, YOU KNOW?

NORMALLY AN ACCIDENT HAPPENS
IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE.

Narrator: THE INVESTIGATORS
DISCOVER THAT THE A320

WAS FLYING EVEN LOWER
THAN THE PLANNED 100 FEET.

Bechet: THAT AIRPLANE WAS FLYING

AT APPROXIMATELY 30 FEET
ABOVE THE GROUND.

NO AIRPLANE OF THAT SIZE
OR OF ANY OTHER SIZE

SHOULD MAKE
A FLIGHT PASS THAT LOW.

Narrator: WHY WAS THE CAPTAIN
FLYING SO CLOSE TO THE GROUND?

Asseline: I BELIEVED
I WAS AT 100 FEET.

Narrator:
CAPTAIN ASSELINE INSISTS

HIS INSTRUMENTS FAILED HIM,

BUT INVESTIGATORS ARE SKEPTICAL.

ASSELINE HAD
MORE THAN ONE INSTRUMENT

TO GIVE HIM
ALTITUDE INFORMATION.

Asseline: SOME PEOPLE SAID,
BUT YOU COULD HAVE HEARD

THE RADIO ALTIMETER
SAYING, 30, 30.

NO, BECAUSE AT THAT TIME,

THIS AIRCRAFT
WAS VERY, VERY NOISY,

AND THE RADIO ALTIMETER WARNINGS
OR THE RADIO ALTIMETER CALLOUTS,

THEY WERE NOT GOING
THROUGH THE HEADSET.

Narrator: CAPTAIN ASSELINE
DOESN'T KNOW HOW LOW HE'S FLYING

UNTIL IT'S ALMOST TOO LATE.

Bechet: WHAT DID YOU DO
WHEN YOU SAW THE TREES?

Asseline: I DID
WHAT ANY PILOT WOULD DO.

I TRIED TO CLIMB OVER THEM.

Computer: 30.

First officer: IT CAN'T BE!

Computer: 30.

Narrator: THE BLACK BOX DATA
SHOWS THAT CAPTAIN ASSELINE

INCREASED THRUST AND PULLED BACK
ON HIS SIDE STICK.

THE SIDE STICK CONTROLS
THE PLANE'S ELEVATOR.

PULLING BACK ON IT
SHOULD HAVE RAISED THE ELEVATOR

AND PITCHED THE PLANE UPWARDS.

BUT INVESTIGATORS CAN SEE
THAT'S NOT WHAT HAPPENED.

Bechet: THE ELEVATOR MOVED DOWN.

Narrator:
ASSELINE WANTED TO CLIMB,

BUT THE PLANE
CONTINUED TO DROP.

WHY DIDN'T THE PLANE RESPOND
AS THE PILOT EXPECTED?

IS THERE A SERIOUS FLAW IN
THE A320'S FLY-BY-WIRE SYSTEM?

Computer: 30.

Narrator: INVESTIGATORS WONDER--
WAS THE A320'S FLIGHT SYSTEM

CONFUSED BY THE LOW-SPEED,
LOW-LEVEL ALPHA MAX MANEUVER?

HAD THE PLANE'S FLY-BY-WIRE
SYSTEMS INITIATED LANDING MODE?

INVESTIGATORS TURN
TO THE FLIGHT DATA RECORDER.

BUT THE A320'S SYSTEMS
ARE SO ADVANCED

THAT THE RECORDER CAN'T TRACK
ALL OF THE PLANE'S FUNCTIONS.

Bechet: SO, WAS THE PLANE
IN LANDING MODE OR NOT?

Narrator: INVESTIGATORS CONDUCT
THEIR OWN TEST FLIGHT

TO REPLICATE THE A320'S
TRAJECTORY AT THE AIR SHOW.

Bechet: WE REPLAYED THE ACCIDENT
EXACTLY WHAT IT WAS,

BUT ON THE LONGEST RUNWAY
IN TOULOUSE.

OKAY, POWER TO FLIGHT IDLE.

NOW PUT IT INTO ALPHA MAX.

THAT'S IT. GENTLY.

ALTITUDE 40 FEET.

35 FEET.

HOLD IT THERE.

Narrator: THE AIRBUS IS NOW
IN ALPHA MAX,

FLYING VERY SLOWLY
WITH ITS NOSE UP.

Bechet: OKAY, NOW FULL THRUST.

DID YOU FEEL THAT?

ALPHA PROTECTION.

Narrator: THE COMPUTERS
HAVE LAUNCHED ALPHA PROTECTION

TO STOP THE PLANE FROM STALLING.

NOW INVESTIGATORS KNOW
WHAT HAPPENED ON FLIGHT 296.

FLYING SLOWLY
IN A NOSE-HIGH POSITION

REDUCES AIRFLOW OVER THE WINGS,

AND THIS CAN CAUSE A PLANE
TO LOSE LIFT AND STALL.

TO AVOID STALLING,
THE COMPUTER IS PROGRAMMED

TO BRING THE NOSE DOWN
TO INCREASE AIRFLOW.

THE COMPUTER DID
OVERRIDE THE CAPTAIN,

NOT TO LAND THE PLANE
BUT TO AVOID A STALL.

THE CAPTAIN DIDN'T REALIZE

THAT THE PLANE HAD LAUNCHED
ALPHA PROTECTION.

IN TURN, THERE WAS NOT
ENOUGH TIME FOR THE PILOT

TO OVERRIDE
THE ALPHA PROTECTION AND CLIMB.

[EXPLOSION]

Bechet: THE CONCLUSION OF
MY REPORT WAS THAT THE AIRPLANE

WAS TOO LOW, TOO SLOW,
AND WITH NOT ENOUGH POWER.

Narrator: THE CONFUSION
IN THE COCKPIT

COMPELLED AIRBUS TO IMPROVE
TRAINING AND SAFETY PROCEDURES,

AND GUEST PASSENGERS
ARE BARRED

FROM ALL FUTURE
DEMONSTRATION FLIGHTS.

DESPITE THE CRASH,
THE A320 WOULD GO ON TO BECOME

ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL
COMMERCIAL AIRCRAFT IN HISTORY,

SELLING OVER 750 PLANES
IN ITS FIRST 10 YEARS,

AND FLY-BY-WIRE TECHNOLOGY
WAS SAFELY ADOPTED

BY A NEW GENERATION
OF PASSENGER AIRCRAFT.

Norbert Kaeppel: FLAPS UP!

Narrator: BUT LEARNING TO WORK

WITH THESE COMPLEX
FLIGHT SYSTEMS

REMAINS A CONSTANT
AND SOMETIMES TRAGIC PROCESS.

Engineer: OH, GOD!

Nance: WE HAVE TO HAVE PILOTS
WHO UNDERSTAND

THE LIMITATIONS AND THE MODES
OF THE ELECTRONICS

THAT THEY ARE USING
TO ACTUALLY FLY THE AIRPLANE,

AND THAT MEANS
WE DON'T OVER-TRUST THEM,

THEY DON'T OVER-TRUST US.

Narrator: AT PERPIGNAN AIRPORT
IN SOUTHERN FRANCE,

THE CREW OF XL AIRWAYS
GERMANY FLIGHT 888

IS PREPARING
FOR AN ACCEPTANCE FLIGHT.

Kaeppel:
GENTLEMEN, GOOD AFTERNOON.

FIND ANY PROBLEMS
UNDER THE HOOD?

Narrator: XL AIRWAYS GERMANY
HAS BEEN LEASING THE A320

FROM AIR NEW ZEALAND.

Engineer: EVERYTHING LOOKS GOOD.

Narrator: BEFORE XL
CAN RETURN THE PLANE,

IT MUST DEMONSTRATE IT'S
IN PERFECT WORKING CONDITION

BEFORE AIR NEW ZEALAND WILL
ACCEPT IT FOR ITS OWN FLEET.

John Cox: IT'S VERY SIMILAR
TO RETURNING A CAR OFF LEASE,

WHERE THE DEALERSHIP
WILL TAKE THE CAR,

THEY'LL LET MAINTENANCE
LOOK AT IT,

MAKE SURE THAT IT HASN'T BEEN
IN AN ACCIDENT,

THAT IT HASN'T BEEN ABUSED
IN SOME WAY,

AND THAT THE SYSTEMS
ACTUALLY WORK AS DESIGNED.

Kaeppel: BETTER BUCKLE UP.

Narrator: CAPTAIN
NORBERT KAEPPEL IS GOING TO PUT

THE A320'S AUTOMATED SYSTEMS
TO THE TEST.

Cox: IT IS DIFFERENT THAN
A LOT OF CONVENTIONAL AIRPLANES

IN THAT YOU FLY IT
THROUGH A COMPUTER,

BUT THE HANDLING CHARACTERISTICS
OF THE AIRPLANE

ARE VERY, VERY GOOD.

Narrator: THE CAPTAIN
AND HIS FIRST OFFICER

ARE JOINED BY A PILOT
AND AVIATION OFFICIAL

FROM AIR NEW ZEALAND
AND THREE ENGINEERS.

Controller: TRIPLE 8 TANGO
CLEARED FOR TAKEOFF RUNWAY 33.

First officer: CLEARED
FOR TAKEOFF RUNWAY 33.

Kaeppel: OKAY, GENTS.

HERE WE GO.

First officer: CLIMBING
FLIGHT LEVEL 1-8-0.

Narrator: THE FLIGHT PLAN CALLS
FOR A TWO-AND-A-HALF HOUR TRIP

THAT REACHES
THE WEST COAST OF FRANCE

BEFORE LOOPING BACK
TO PERPIGNAN.

THE ROUTE SHOULD
PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY

TO CONDUCT SOME 35 TESTS.

Official: HANDS OFF NOW.

Narrator: A SHARP TURN
TRIGGERS THE SYSTEM

THAT PREVENTS THE A320
FROM BANKING TOO STEEPLY.

Official: YEP. YES. VOILA.
IT'S ALL GOOD.

Narrator: NOW THE CAPTAIN
WILL BRING THE PLANE

CLOSE TO A STALL.

Official: HERE WE NEED
TO GO SLOW WITH RECOVERY.

Cox: THIS TEST, UH, REQUIRES
THAT THE AIRPLANE BE SLOWED

WELL BELOW NORMAL SPEED

TO LET THE AUTOMATED
PROTECTIONS ACTIVATE.

Official:
GET YOUR POWER AT IDLE.

ADJUST PITCH. FLAPS FULL.

Narrator: BUT INSTEAD
OF BRINGING THE NOSE DOWN

TO PREVENT A STALL...

[ALARM BUZZING]

Kaeppel: AH!

IT'S PITCHING UP ALL THE TIME.

IT'S PITCHING UP.

Engineer: DOES THAT
SEEM RIGHT TO YOU GUYS?

Official: STICK FORWARD.

Engineer: OH, GOD!

OH, GOD!

Computer: PULL UP.

Kaeppel: DAMN IT!

Computer: PULL UP.

TERRAIN.

Controller: TRIPLE 8 TANGO,
CONTACT TOWER.

Narrator: ONE OF THE WORLD'S
MOST ADVANCED

AND POPULAR AIRCRAFT
HAS FALLEN FROM THE SKY.

INVESTIGATORS NEED TO FIND THE
CAUSE BEFORE IT HAPPENS AGAIN.

XL AIRWAYS GERMANY
FLIGHT 888 HAS CRASHED

OFF THE COAST OF FRANCE.

THERE ARE NO SURVIVORS.

THREE DAYS AFTER THE CRASH,

DIVE TEAMS RECOVER
THE BLACK BOXES.

FRANCE'S ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION
BUREAU IS RESPONSIBLE

FOR FINDING OUT
WHAT WENT WRONG.

Sebastien David:
IT WENT DOWN RIGHT HERE.

Narrator: BECAUSE THE XL CREW

WAS TESTING
THE AIRBUS FLIGHT SYSTEMS,

INVESTIGATORS
FACE A MASSIVE PUZZLE.

David: WE DID NOT HAVE
ANY REFERENCE

FOR THAT KIND OF FLIGHT.

Narrator: INVESTIGATORS
TRACK THE SEQUENCE OF TESTS

CAPTURED
ON THE FLIGHT DATA RECORDER.

David: LET'S HEAR THIS.

Man: OKAY. WE CAN DO THE VHF-3.

David: NAVIGATION SYSTEMS.

Official: OKAY, THAT'S GOOD.

WE NEED TO GO SLOW
WITH RECOVERY.

GET YOUR POWER AT IDLE.

ADJUST PITCH.

FLAPS FULL.

Narrator: IN THE FINAL TEST
HE CONDUCTED,

THE CAPTAIN REDUCED SPEED

TO BRING THE PLANE
CLOSE TO A STALL.

WHEN THE AIRBUS
SLOWS DOWN TOO MUCH,

THE FLIGHT CONTROL COMPUTER

SHOULD AUTOMATICALLY
BOOST SPEED

TO PREVENT THE PLANE
FROM LOSING LIFT.

IT SHOULD ALSO CORRECT
THE PLANE'S PITCH,

IN THIS INSTANCE,
LOWERING THE NOSE.

THIS IS EXACTLY
WHAT THE AIRBUS DID

AT THE HABSHEIM
DEMONSTRATION FLIGHT.

ON THE XL FLIGHT,
THE CAPTAIN WAITS

FOR THE AUTOMATIC
STALL PROTECTION TO START,

BUT THE PLANE DOESN'T RESPOND
THE WAY HE EXPECTS.

Kaeppel: IT'S PITCHING UP
ALL THE TIME.

IT'S PITCHING UP.

David: WHY DIDN'T
THE STALL PROTECTION KICK IN?

Investigator: MONSIEUR DAVID,

I HAVE THE ANGLE OF ATTACK
SENSOR DATA.

Narrator: STALL PROTECTION IS

ONE OF AIRBUS'
CRITICAL SAFETY FEATURES.

INVESTIGATORS DISCOVER
A SERIOUS SYSTEM MALFUNCTION.

David: THAT'S ODD.

Narrator: PARTWAY
THROUGH THE FLIGHT,

THE ANGLE OF ATTACK
SENSORS FAILED.

David: WE KNOW
THEY WERE DESCENDING HERE,

BUT THE SENSORS
STILL SHOW A CLIMB.

Narrator:
ANGLE OF ATTACK SENSORS

ARE MOUNTED
ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE PLANE.

DURING FLIGHT,
THEIR PIVOTING MOTION

HELPS THE COMPUTER MONITOR
AND AUTOMATICALLY ADJUST

THE ANGLE OF THE PLANE.

FLIGHT DATA SHOWS
THE SENSORS DIDN'T FAIL

UNTIL 22 MINUTES AFTER TAKEOFF.

WHAT COULD HAVE
STOPPED THE SENSORS

FROM WORKING AT THAT POINT?

David: WE NEED TO GET A LOOK
AT THOSE SENSORS.

Narrator: LEAD INVESTIGATOR
SEBASTIEN DAVID HAS AN IDEA.

AT HIGH ALTITUDES,

THE AIR OUTSIDE THE PLANE
IS EXTREMELY COLD.

David: CAN THE SENSORS FREEZE?

Narrator: IF THERE WAS ICE
IN THE SENSOR MECHANISM,

IT MIGHT HAVE
FROZEN THEM IN PLACE,

SENDING THE PLANE'S COMPUTER
FAULTY DATA.

Kaeppel: IT'S PITCHING UP.

Narrator: DID RAINWATER
FROM A SEVERE STORM

FLOOD THE SENSORS
AND THEN FREEZE?

Investigator: IT WOULD
HAVE TO GET ALL THE WAY IN HERE.

Narrator: BUT REPORTS REVEAL

THE PLANE DIDN'T ENCOUNTER
ANY BAD WEATHER.

David: THE WEATHER
WAS NICE THAT DAY.

Narrator: IF WATER
GOT INSIDE THE SENSORS,

IT HAPPENED ON THE GROUND.

INVESTIGATORS STUDY
MAINTENANCE RECORDS

AND LEARN THE PLANE HAD
JUST RECEIVED A NEW PAINT JOB.

PROPER PROCEDURES WERE FOLLOWED,

AND THE SENSORS WERE COVERED
FOR THE PAINTING PROCESS.

BUT THE SENSORS
WERE LEFT UNCOVERED

DURING THE CLEANING PROCESS.

NORMALLY, MAINTENANCE WORKERS
USE A CLEAN CLOTH

TO REMOVE ANY DUST AFTERWARDS,

BUT THIS TIME, THEY RINSE
THE PLANE WITH A HOSE.

David: THE PAINTING OPERATIONS

HAD TAKEN A LITTLE BIT
OF A DELAY.

TO RINSE THE AIRCRAFT
WAS FASTER.

Narrator: SPRAYING
UNCOVERED SENSORS

WITH A HIGH-PRESSURE HOSE

MIGHT EXPLAIN HOW WATER
GOT SO DEEP INSIDE,

BUT THE INVESTIGATORS
NEED PROOF.

THEY MOUNT A SENSOR
IN A TEST RIG

AND RECREATE
THE CLEANING PROCEDURE.

Investigator: OKAY, HIT IT.

Narrator: NEXT, THEY PLACE
THE SENSOR IN A FREEZER

AND DUPLICATE
THE FRIGID TEMPERATURES

FOUND AT 32,000 FEET.

Man: I THINK WE DEFINITELY
GOT SOME ICE IN THERE.

IT WON'T BUDGE.

Narrator: INVESTIGATORS
REALIZE THE A320 WAS FLYING

WITH FROZEN SENSORS.

Investigator: OKAY.

Narrator: THEY CAN FINALLY
BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND

WHAT HAPPENED
ON BOARD FLIGHT 888.

Cox: THE FLIGHT CONTROL
COMPUTERS CAN ONLY RESPOND

TO DATA AND INPUTS
THAT THEY GET.

BECAUSE THE ANGLE-OF-ATTACK
VANES COULDN'T MOVE,

THEY COULD NOT THEN ACTIVATE
THE LOW-SPEED PROTECTIONS

THAT THE CREW WAS EXPECTING.

Kaeppel: IT'S PITCHING UP
ALL THE TIME.

Narrator: WITH STALL PROTECTION
FAILING TO ACTIVATE,

THE CAPTAIN TRIES
TO FLY OUT OF THE SITUATION.

Official: STICK FORWARD.

Narrator: HE INCREASES POWER
AND USES HIS SIDE STICK

TO BRING THE NOSE DOWN
TO INCREASE AIRFLOW AND LIFT.

IT'S A TEXTBOOK MANEUVER
TO PREVENT STALLING.

THE A320 DOESN'T RESPOND.

Engineer: DOES THAT SEEM
RIGHT TO YOU GUYS?

Narrator: THE PLANE
CONTINUES TO PITCH UP

UNTIL IT LOSES LIFT AND FALLS.

WHY DIDN'T THE PLANE RESPOND
TO THE PILOT'S EFFORTS?

INVESTIGATORS USE
A COMPUTER SIMULATION

TO GET A FULLER PICTURE
OF WHAT WENT WRONG.

David: PAUSE IT!

Narrator: THEY NOTICE A WARNING
ON THE COCKPIT FLIGHT DISPLAY.

David: THERE. WHAT IS THAT?

Narrator: THE WARNING IS TELLING
THE PILOT TO MANUALLY ADJUST

THE ELEVATOR TRIM FOR
A MORE DRAMATIC CHANGE OF PITCH.

INVESTIGATORS DETERMINE
THAT BECAUSE COMPUTERS

CAN'T MAKE SENSE
OF THE FAULTY DATA

COMING FROM THE FROZEN SENSORS,

THE AUTOPILOT SWITCHES TO A MODE
REQUIRING MORE MANUAL INPUT.

BUT THE CREW DOESN'T NOTICE.

Cox: THE AIRPLANE, BY DESIGN,
WHEN IT STARTS GETTING DATA

THAT IT CANNOT FIGURE OUT
WHAT TO DO WITH,

REVERTED AND SAID, "ALL RIGHT,
SOMETHING IS, IS WRONG.

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT.

THIS IS UP TO THE PILOTS
TO SORT OUT."

Official: STICK FORWARD.

Narrator:
FOCUSED ON THE SIDE STICK,

THE CAPTAIN LIKELY ASSUMES THE
AUTOPILOT IS ADJUSTING THE TRIM.

David: THE PLANE GAVE THE PILOTS
CONTROL RIGHT HERE.

THEY TRIED TO UPRIGHT

A NOSE-DOWN INPUT
ON THE SIDE STICK,

BUT THEIR EFFORTS
WERE NOT SUFFICIENT.

Kaeppel: FLAPS UP, FLAPS UP!

Cox: NOW THE PILOTS
FIND THEMSELVES

IN A VERY,
VERY DIFFICULT SITUATION.

THE AIRPLANE'S NOT ACCELERATING.
THE NOSE IS COMING UP.

IT'S VERY HARD
TO GET IT TO COME DOWN.

AND THEY'RE AT LOW ALTITUDE.

David: THE TWO CREW MEMBERS
TRIED EVERYTHING TO RECOVER

AND TO TAKE THE CONTROL
OF THE AIRCRAFT,

BUT THEY DID NOT
FULLY UNDERSTAND THE SITUATION.

Cox: THEN THEY WERE
IN A STALL RECOVERY SITUATION

WITHOUT A LOT OF ALTITUDE
TO WORK WITH.

Narrator: FLYING
WITH FAULTY SENSORS,

BAFFLED BY THE PLANE'S
LACK OF RESPONSE...

Engineer: OH, GOD! OH, GOD!

Narrator: ...THE CREW COULD NOT
SAVE THEMSELVES

OR THEIR FOUR PASSENGERS
FROM THE CATASTROPHIC STALL.

Kaeppel: DAMN IT!

Narrator: THE ACCIDENT'S FINAL
REPORT SPECIFICALLY RECOMMENDS

MORE TRAINING
FOR STALL RECOVERY.

Cox: IMPROVED TRAINING
FOR LOSS-OF-CONTROL EVENTS

IS SOMETHING
THAT ALL PILOTS NEED.

LOSS OF CONTROL IS THE LEADING
CAUSE OF FATALITIES

IN ALL ASPECTS OF AVIATION.

AND SO WE NEED TO TAKE THESE
LESSONS AND LEARN THEM WELL

BECAUSE WE'RE GONNA BE DOING
THESE FLIGHTS AGAIN.

Narrator: MONTHS LATER,
FRENCH INVESTIGATORS ARE FACED

WITH ANOTHER
MYSTERIOUS ACCIDENT.

David Robert: DO YOU UNDERSTAND
WHAT'S HAPPENING?

Narrator: A FLIGHT
CROSSING THE ATLANTIC OCEAN

NEVER REACHES ITS DESTINATION.

AIR FRANCE FLIGHT 447
IS CROSSING THE ATLANTIC OCEAN

ON AN 11-HOUR FLIGHT
FROM RIO DE JANEIRO TO PARIS.

THERE ARE 216 PASSENGERS
ON BOARD THE AIRBUS A330.

58-YEAR-OLD CAPTAIN MARC DUBOIS
IS IN COMMAND.

Controller: AIR FRANCE 447.

Marc Dubois: AIR FRANCE 447.
GO AHEAD.

Narrator: HE IS ONE
OF AIR FRANCE'S

MOST SENIOR CAPTAINS.

HIS FIRST OFFICER IS 32-YEAR-OLD
PIERRE-CEDRIC BONIN.

Pierre-Cedric Bonin:
WE ARE ARRIVING AT INTOL.

Narrator:
AND 37-YEAR-OLD DAVID ROBERT

IS THE RELIEF PILOT.

Controller: MAINTAIN
FLIGHT LEVEL 3-5-0.

Dubois: OKAY, WILL DO.

Narrator: AT 1:49 A.M.,

THE A330 LEAVES
BRAZILIAN RADAR SURVEILLANCE

AND IS NEVER HEARD FROM AGAIN.

Controller: AIR FRANCE 447,
THIS IS DAKAR.

DO YOU COPY?
COME IN, AIR FRANCE 447.

[PHONE RINGS]

DAKAR FOR AIR FRANCE.
HAVE YOU HEARD FROM AF447? OVER.

Man: NEGATIVE.
HOLD FOR AIR FRANCE, PLEASE.

Narrator: BY MORNING, THE
AIRLINE IS FORCED TO CONCLUDE

THAT AIR FRANCE 447 HAS
ALMOST CERTAINLY CRASHED AT SEA.

IT'S ONE OF THE WORST ACCIDENTS

IN THE HISTORY
OF COMMERCIAL AVIATION.

228 PEOPLE ARE PRESUMED DEAD.

David Learmount: IT WAS A REAL
SHOCK TO THE WHOLE INDUSTRY

THAT, THAT A MODERN AIRCRAFT
LIKE AN AIRBUS A330,

UH, OPERATED BY A WORLD-CLASS
AIRLINE LIKE AIR FRANCE,

COULD JUST GO MISSING,
WITHOUT A WORD.

Narrator: THE BEA, FRANCE'S
ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION BUREAU,

IS CALLED IN
TO SOLVE THE MYSTERY.

[SPEAKING FRENCH]

Alain Bouillard, translated:
THE LOSS OF AN AIRPLANE

DURING CRUISE IS ALWAYS RARE.

[SPEAKING FRENCH]

WE'RE MORE USED TO EVENTS TAKING
PLACE DURING TAKEOFF OR LANDING,

SO THIS EVENT
RAISED A LOT OF QUESTIONS.

[SPEAKING FRENCH]

Narrator: ALL THE EVIDENCE
AND ANSWERS

INVESTIGATORS ARE SEEKING

ARE LIKELY LYING ON THE BOTTOM
OF THE ATLANTIC OCEAN,

SOMEWHERE BETWEEN RIO AND PARIS.

[SPEAKING FRENCH]

Bouillard: IF WE DIDN'T
FIND THE FLIGHT RECORDERS,

WE WOULD NEVER UNDERSTAND
WHAT HAPPENED.

Narrator: INVESTIGATORS SCOUR
THE OCEAN FLOOR FOR THE WRECKAGE

WHILE OTHER TEAM MEMBERS EXAMINE

THE ONLY HARD EVIDENCE
THEY HAVE SO FAR...

Man: I WILL PULL UP
ALL OF THE MESSAGES THEY SENT.

Narrator:
...THE 24 MAINTENANCE MESSAGES

SENT BY FLIGHT 447'S
AIRCRAFT COMMUNICATION

ADDRESSING
AND REPORTING SYSTEM, ACARS.

[SPEAKING FRENCH]

Leopold Sartorius, translated:
TO HAVE ONLY THE MAINTENANCE

MESSAGES TO WORK WITH
IS REALLY UNUSUAL.

WE HAD PARCELS OF INFORMATION
THAT GAVE US, IN FACT,

VERY LITTLE INFORMATION.

Man: SEE? THIS IS THE PROBLEM
WITH THE PITOT TUBES.

Narrator: ONE OF THE MAINTENANCE
MESSAGES NOTES A FAILURE

IN THE DEVICE THAT MEASURES
AIRSPEED, THE PITOT TUBE.

[SPEAKING FRENCH]

Sartorius: THE ACARS MESSAGES
HAD GIVEN US

THE FIRST PIECE OF THE PUZZLE.

WE KNEW THAT THERE HAD BEEN
A CLOGGING PROBLEM

IN THE PITOT TUBES.

Narrator: PITOT TUBES
ARE SMALL CYLINDRICAL SENSORS

THAT SIT OUTSIDE
THE BODY OF THE PLANE.

AS AIR RUSHES THROUGH THE TUBES,
THEY CALCULATE AIRSPEED,

BUT SOMETIMES PITOT TUBES
TEMPORARILY FAIL.

Sartorius: IN AN ENVIRONMENT
WITH VERY DENSE ICE CRYSTALS,

ALL THE ICE CRYSTALS
CLOG THE TUBE

AND STOP THE AIR FROM ENTERING.

Bouillard: THE TUBES
WERE FREEZING ALL THE TIME.

Sartorius: ANNOYING,
BUT CERTAINLY NOT DANGEROUS.

Learmount:
IF YOU LOSE A PITOT TUBE,

YOU DON'T FALL OUT OF THE SKY.

Narrator: THE PILOTS
KNEW ABOUT THE ISSUE

AND HOW TO RESPOND TO IT.

Bouillard: HERE. LOOK AT THIS.

THE COMPANY HAD NOTIFIED
ITS PILOTS WITH AN OSV,

AN INFORMATION BULLETIN
THAT DESCRIBED THE PHENOMENON

AND THE APPROPRIATE
MEASURES TO TAKE.

Narrator: INVESTIGATORS CONCLUDE
THAT FROZEN PITOT TUBES

CANNOT EXPLAIN THE CRASH.

THERE IS MORE TO THIS STORY,

BUT THE CRITICAL
BODY OF EVIDENCE

REMAINS BURIED BENEATH THE SEA
AND MAY NEVER BE FOUND.

[SPEAKING FRENCH]

Bouillard:
UNDER THESE CIRCUMSTANCES,

IT WAS ESSENTIAL
TO FIND THE RECORDERS

TO UNDERSTAND THE ACCIDENT
AND EXPLAIN WHY IT HAPPENED.

[SPEAKING FRENCH]

Narrator: SEARCH TEAMS CROSS
6,500 SQUARE MILES OF OCEAN,

LISTENING FOR THE BEACON SIGNAL

COMING FROM
THE AIRBUS BLACK BOXES.

INVESTIGATORS
ARE RACING AGAINST TIME.

THE BEACONS CAN ONLY
SEND A SIGNAL FOR 30 DAYS.

AFTER THAT,
THEY WILL GO SILENT FOREVER.

30 DAYS OF SEARCHING
DO NOT LOCATE THE BLACK BOXES

FROM AIR FRANCE 447,

BUT INVESTIGATORS
HAVE RECOVERED SOME DEBRIS,

INCLUDING UNUSED LIFE JACKETS.

[SPEAKING FRENCH]

Bouillard:
RECOVERING THE LIFE JACKETS

IN THEIR ORIGINAL PACKAGING

TOLD US THAT THE EVENT
HAPPENED VERY QUICKLY.

[SPEAKING FRENCH]

THE PASSENGERS WEREN'T READY

FOR THE IMPACT
WITH THE SURFACE OF THE WATER.

[SPEAKING FRENCH]

Narrator: A SECTION
OF FLIGHT 447'S GALLEY

HAS ALSO BEEN RECOVERED.

Bouillard:
IT LOOKS LIKE THE PRESSURE

WAS VERTICAL, LIKE THIS.

Learmount: THEY REALIZED
THAT THE AIRPLANE

HAD NOT NOSE-DIVED INTO THE SEA.

IT WAS ALMOST CERTAIN THAT IT
HAD BELLY-FLOPPED INTO THE SEA,

AND HOW THAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED
TO A MODERN AIRLINER

NOBODY COULD THINK OF.

Narrator: FOR TWO YEARS,
INVESTIGATORS WORK IN THE DARK.

THEN, IN APRIL 2011...

Sartorius: STOP, STOP THERE.

ZOOM IN ON THAT.

Narrator:
...OFF THE COAST OF BRAZIL,

SEVEN AND A HALF MILES NORTHEAST

OF THE PLANE'S
LAST REPORTED POSITION,

AT A DEPTH
OF MORE THAN 13,000 FEET,

THE WRECKAGE OF FLIGHT 447

AND THE TWO BLACK BOXES
ARE FINALLY FOUND.

[APPLAUSE]

THE INVESTIGATORS FINALLY HAVE

THE HARD EVIDENCE
THEY DESPERATELY NEED.

STARTING WITH THE COCKPIT
VOICE RECORDER,

THEY CAREFULLY OPEN
THE PROTECTIVE CASING,

LOOKING FOR
THE MEMORY CARD INSIDE.

Sartorius: THIS ISN'T GOOD.

[SPEAKING FRENCH]

WE QUICKLY NOTICED
THAT THERE WERE SMALL PARTS

THAT WERE BROKEN,

SO WE WEREN'T SURE THAT
EVERYTHING WAS IN WORKING ORDER.

Narrator: IF TECHNICIANS
CAN'T FIX THE BROKEN CVR,

THERE MAY BE NO WAY OF KNOWING

WHAT WAS GOING ON IN THE COCKPIT
BEFORE THE CRASH

OR WHO WAS FLYING THE PLANE.

Bouillard: HERE,
LOOK AT THE FDR CARD.

Narrator: A CLOSE EXAMINATION
OF THE SECOND BOX,

THE FLIGHT DATA RECORDER,
BRINGS BETTER NEWS.

Sartorius: IT'S FINE.

NO PROBLEMS.

[SPEAKING FRENCH]

THE MEMORY CARD WAS
IN EXCELLENT CONDITION.

WE WERE ABLE TO READ
THE DATA VERY QUICKLY.

Narrator: WHILE TECHNICIANS
TRY TO REPAIR

THE COCKPIT VOICE RECORDER,

INVESTIGATORS CAREFULLY PLOT
THE FLIGHT RECORDER DATA.

Sartorius: WE'RE CRUISING
SAFELY AT 35,000 FEET.

Narrator: THE FLIGHT
DATA RECORDER REVEALS

THAT THE PITOT TUBES DID,
IN FACT, FREEZE.

Sartorius: THE PITOT TUBES
FREEZE HERE.

Narrator:
THE FROZEN TUBES PRODUCE

ERRATIC AIRSPEED READINGS,
TRIGGERING AN ALARM.

[ALARM]

Sartorius: AUTOPILOT SHUTS OFF,

AND THE PILOT
TAKES CONTROL OF THE PLANE.

[ALARM]

Narrator: THE CREW HAS BEEN
TAUGHT THAT A FROZEN PITOT TUBE

SHOULD CLEAR ITSELF
IN LESS THAN A MINUTE.

Learmount: THE PITOTS
ON THE AIRCRAFT,

THEY WERE ONLY SUBJECT TO THE
CLOGGING FOR ABOUT 56 SECONDS,

AND AFTER THAT,

THE AIRSPEED READINGS
WERE BACK TO NORMAL AGAIN.

Narrator: THE PILOT ONLY NEEDS
TO HOLD THE PLANE STEADY,

AND THE PROBLEM WILL DISAPPEAR.

Sartorius:
BUT HE DOES NOT HOLD STEADY.

Narrator: WHOEVER
WAS FLYING THE PLANE

PULLED BACK AND PITCHED
THE NOSE UP INSTEAD.

Sartorius: HE CLIMBS
MORE THAN 2,500 FEET.

Learmount: IF YOU PULL
THE NOSE OF AN AIRPLANE UP,

IT'S GOING UPHILL,
IT'S GONNA SLOW DOWN.

Narrator: A SMALL ISSUE,
FROZEN PITOT TUBES,

TURNS INTO AN EMERGENCY.

Sartorius: HERE, THEIR SPEED
DROPPED MORE THAN 90 KNOTS

IN LESS THAN A MINUTE.

THIS TRIGGERED
A STALL WARNING HERE.

Narrator:
IN AN AERODYNAMIC STALL,

THE WINGS LOSE LIFT
AND THE PLANE BEGINS TO DROP.

[SPEAKING FRENCH]

Bouillard: IT WAS THE PILOT'S
ACTIONS THAT LED TO THE STALL.

Sartorius: THEY FELL AT MORE
THAN 12,000 FEET PER MINUTE.

Narrator: INEXPLICABLY,
THE PILOT CONTINUED TO PULL BACK

WHEN HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN
PITCHING THE PLANE'S NOSE DOWN.

Learmount: THE MORE
YOU RAISE THE NOSE,

THE MORE THE LIFT
WILL BE DESTROYED,

AND THAT'S WHAT WAS HAPPENING
TO AIR FRANCE 447.

Narrator: BUT WHY DID THE PILOT
CONTINUE TO PULL BACK

AND PITCH THE NOSE UP,
STALLING THE PLANE?

ONLY THE COCKPIT VOICE RECORDER
CAN REVEAL WHAT WAS GOING ON

IN THE COCKPIT DURING THE STALL.

Controller: AIR FRANCE 447,
GO AHEAD.

Narrator:
INVESTIGATORS HAVE REPAIRED

THE COCKPIT VOICE RECORDER

AND ARE ABOUT TO FINALLY
UNDERSTAND WHAT CAUSED

THE WORST DISASTER
IN AIR FRANCE'S HISTORY.

Bonin: DID YOU GET SOME SLEEP?

Robert: SO-SO.

Narrator: INVESTIGATORS NOW KNOW
MINUTES BEFORE THE CRASH,

THE CAPTAIN LEFT THE COCKPIT
FOR HIS BREAK.

Bonin: EXCUSE ME?

Robert: YOU CAN POSSIBLY GO
A BIT TO THE LEFT?

Narrator: FIRST OFFICER
DAVID ROBERT

HAS RELIEVED
THE MORE EXPERIENCED CAPTAIN.

Sartorius: THE CVR ALLOWED US
TO UNDERSTAND

WHO WAS PILOTING THE PLANE,

WHO WAS MONITORING
THE PARAMETERS.

[CRACKLING]

Narrator: INVESTIGATORS THEN
HEAR THAT THE PLANE HITS

A COLUMN OF ICE CRYSTALS
IN THE CLOUDS.

THERE IS TURBULENCE,

AND THE ICE CRYSTALS
POUND THE PLANE,

BLOCKING THE PITOT TUBES.

Bouillard: AIRSPEED READINGS
ARE NO LONGER VALID.

[ALARM BEEPING]

THAT IS THE AUTOPILOT
DISCONNECTING.

Learmount: IT WARNS
THE PILOTS VERY LOUDLY,

AND IT DEFINITELY
WAS A SHOCK TO THESE PILOTS.

AND IT WAS THEIR REACTION,
UH, TO THIS WARNING

WHICH WAS THE KEY TO
EVERYTHING ELSE THAT FOLLOWED.

Bonin: I HAVE THE CONTROLS.

Narrator: FINALLY,
INVESTIGATORS KNOW WHICH PILOT

PUT THE PLANE INTO A STALL.

[ALARM BUZZING]

Robert: WHAT'S THAT?

Bouillard: FIRST OFFICER BONIN
IS PULLING BACK

AND STALLING THE PLANE.

Narrator: NEITHER PILOT
CAN FIGURE OUT

WHY THE WARNING IS SOUNDING.

Bouillard: OFFICER ROBERT
DOESN'T UNDERSTAND

WHAT'S HAPPENING.

Learmount: HE SEES
THE AIRPLANE GOING UP,

AND HE SEES
THE AIRSPEED DROPPING,

AND, UH, HE SAYS,
HEY, WATCH YOUR AIRSPEED.

Robert: WE'VE LOST THE,
THE, THE SPEED.

Narrator: THE PILOTS NEED
TO PUSH THE PLANE'S NOSE DOWN

TO GAIN SPEED,

BUT BONIN CONTINUES
TO PULL BACK, LIFTING THE NOSE.

Bonin: OKAY. OKAY. OKAY.
I'M GOING BACK DOWN.

Robert: ACCORDING TO ALL THREE,
YOU'RE GOING UP,

SO GO BACK DOWN.

Narrator: THE PILOTS STRUGGLE
TO UNDERSTAND THE SITUATION

AND REGAIN CONTROL
OVER THEIR PLANE.

Bouillard: THEY'RE DOING
EVERYTHING WRONG.

IT SHOULD BE OBVIOUS WHAT TO DO.

Narrator: DESPERATE TO SAVE
HIS 216 PASSENGERS,

ROBERT SUMMONS THE CAPTAIN
BACK FROM HIS BREAK.

BONIN INCREASES THRUST
TO MAXIMUM POWER,

BUT IT'S NO USE.

Robert: DO YOU UNDERSTAND
WHAT'S HAPPENING?

Bonin: I'M LOSING
ALL CONTROL OF THE PLANE.

Sartorius: WHEN THEY GET HERE,

THEY ARE FALLING AT MORE THAN
6,200 FEET PER MINUTE.

Bouillard: SO, THEY STILL HAVE
ABOUT TWO MINUTES LEFT

TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S HAPPENING.

Narrator: FIRST OFFICER ROBERT
DECIDES TO TAKE CONTROL.

Robert: CONTROLS TO THE LEFT.

Narrator: HE TRIES TO PUSH
THE NOSE OF THE PLANE DOWN,

THE KEY STEP
FOR RECOVERING FROM A STALL.

BUT BONIN IS STILL PULLING BACK
ON HIS CONTROLS.

[SPEAKING FRENCH]

Sartorius: THEY CAN USE THEIR
SIDE STICKS AT THE SAME TIME.

IF BOTH GO
IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS,

THEY HAVE A TENDENCY
TO CANCEL EACH OTHER OUT.

Narrator: 90 SECONDS
AFTER THE CRISIS BEGAN,

CAPTAIN MARC DUBOIS RETURNS.

Dubois: WHAT THE HELL
ARE YOU DOING?

Robert: WE'VE LOST ALL CONTROL
OF THE AIRPLANE.

WE DON'T UNDERSTAND ANYTHING.
WE'VE TRIED EVERYTHING.

Learmount: BECAUSE THEY WEREN'T
BELIEVING THE SITUATION

THAT THEY WERE NOW IN,

THEY JUST WENT BACK
TO BASIC INSTINCT,

WHICH IS "I WANT TO GO UP.

I WANT TO STOP FALLING.
LET'S PULL THE NOSE UP."

Robert: WHAT DO YOU THINK?
WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO?

Dubois: I DON'T KNOW.
IT'S GOING DOWN.

Bouillard: THE CAPTAIN
DOESN'T HAVE ENOUGH TIME

TO ASSESS THE SITUATION.

Bonin: WE'RE AT 9,000 FEET.

Robert: CLIMB, CLIMB,
CLIMB, CLIMB.

Bonin: BUT I'VE BEEN
AT MAXIMUM NOSE UP FOR A WHILE.

Narrator: FINALLY
DUBOIS UNDERSTANDS.

FIRST OFFICER BONIN
IS CAUSING THE STALL

BY PULLING THE NOSE UP.

Dubois: NO, NO, NO, DON'T CLIMB!

Bouillard: BY THE TIME THEY
FIGURE IT OUT, IT'S TOO LATE.

Narrator: ROBERT CAN'T
GET ENOUGH LIFT

TO RECOVER FROM THE STALL.

AT 2,000 FEET, SENSORS DETECT
THE OCEAN'S SURFACE

AND TRIGGER NEW ALARMS.

Bonin: WE'RE GOING TO CRASH.

THIS CAN'T BE TRUE.

BUT WHAT'S HAPPENING?

Narrator: THE AIRCRAFT HITS
THE WATER AT 125 MILES AN HOUR.

MORE THAN THREE YEARS
AFTER THE ACCIDENT,

INVESTIGATORS ANNOUNCE
THAT THE DOWNING OF FLIGHT 447

WAS CAUSED BY THE CREW'S FAILURE

TO UNDERSTAND
AND RECTIFY THE SITUATION

AFTER THE PITOT TUBES FROZE.

Nance: WHEN EVERYTHING ELSE
GOES AWAY,

IN TERMS OF YOUR ABILITY
TO UNDERSTAND WHAT'S HAPPENING,

AND YOU'VE GOT A CHALLENGE,
YOU GO BACK TO BASICS.

IF SOMEBODY HAD JUST SAID,
YOU KNOW, "TO HECK WITH IT.

BOOM, LET'S PUT THE THROTTLES UP

AND LET'S USE
THE SIDE STICK CONTROLLER.

GET OFF OF THAT ONE.
I'LL TAKE IT OVER HERE,

AND WE'RE JUST GONNA
FLY THROUGH THIS,"

THEY'D STILL BE WITH US.

Narrator: AIR FRANCE BRINGS IN
NEW TRAINING PROCEDURES

TO TEACH CREWS HOW TO DEAL
WITH UNRELIABLE AIRSPEED

AND HOW TO RECOVER FROM A STALL
AT HIGH ALTITUDES.

THIS HELPS TO PREVENT SIMILAR
ACCIDENTS FROM HAPPENING AGAIN.

Nance: THE PROGRESS

IN AIR SAFETY HAS BEEN

NOTHING SHORT OF ASTOUNDING.

WE DIDN'T REALIZE WHAT

HUMAN FACTORS WAS ALL ABOUT.

WE DIDN'T REALIZE

ABOUT COMMUNICATIONS,

AND ALL OF THESE THINGS

HAS TAKEN US NOW

TO THE POINT
WHERE WE'RE ALMOST AT ZERO.

WE'RE SO CLOSE, WE CAN TASTE IT.