All language subtitles for Air.Disasters.S14E10.Fire.On.Board.1080p.AMZN.WEB-DL.DDP2.0.H.264-AiRPL4NE_track3_[eng]

[ALARM RINGING]

Pilot: FIRE.
MAIN DECK FORWARD.

Narrator: WHEN FIRE BREAKS OUT,

IT'S ONE OF AVIATION'S
WORST NIGHTMARES.

Man: FIRE SCARES THE HECK
OUT OF PILOTS.

Controller:
PLANE ON FIRE, RUNWAY 24.

Narrator: IN MANCHESTER, 1985...

Pilot: A FIRE ON NUMBER ONE.

Narrator: ...A HOLIDAY FLIGHT
BOUND FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN

FACES A RUNWAY DISASTER.

Man: THE CREW HAD BEEN AWARE
THAT THEY HAD A FIRE,

BUT DIDN'T REALLY
APPRECIATE AT THE TIME

THE SEVERITY OF THE FIRE.

Man: EVACUATE! EVACUATE!

Narrator: IN THE SKIES
OVER SAUDI ARABIA...

Flight attendant: THERE'S SMOKE
IN THE BACK, REAL BAD.

Narrator: ...A FLIGHT FULL OF
PILGRIMS IS CONSUMED BY FLAMES.

Man: BY THIS TIME, IT'S
PANDEMONIUM INSIDE THE CABIN.

Pilot: FIRE.
MAIN DECK FORWARD.

Narrator: AFTER A UPS
CARGO PLANE CRASHES IN DUBAI...

Man: OKAY, LET'S GET MOVING.

Narrator:
...LIVES DEPEND ON INVESTIGATORS

GETTING THE RIGHT ANSWERS.

Man: I WANT YOU TO SEARCH
THIS ENTIRE GRID.

Narrator:
WHAT CAUSED THESE FIRES?

Pilot: I'VE GOT NO OXYGEN!

Narrator:
AND WHY WERE THEY SO DEADLY?

Man: HE CAN'T SEE
HIS INSTRUMENTS,

DOESN'T KNOW WHERE HE IS
IN RELATION TO THE GROUND

OR THE AIRPORT.

IT'S ABOUT AS BAD
AS YOU CAN GET.

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: JEDDAH AIRPORT
IN SAUDI ARABIA.

IT HAS A SPECIAL TERMINAL

BUILT EXCLUSIVELY
FOR THE MILLIONS OF MUSLIMS

WHO MAKE THE JOURNEY
FOR THE ANNUAL HAJJ.

NIGERIA AIRWAYS FLIGHT 2120

PREPARES TO TAKE
A GROUP OF PILGRIMS HOME

TO SOKOTO, NIGERIA.

THE 247 PASSENGERS
ARE ON BOARD A DC-8

OPERATED BY CANADIAN
AIRLINE NATIONAIR.

Andrew McIntosh: NATIONAIR WAS

A SCRAPPY LITTLE
START-UP AIRLINE

BASED IN MONTREAL,

AND IT STARTED BY
TAKING PEOPLE ON VACATIONS

TO SUNNY DESTINATIONS
DURING THE WINTER,

AND THEN IT HAD
THIS VERY UNUSUAL

OFFSHORE CHARTER BUSINESS,

WHICH IS WHAT BROUGHT THEM
TO JEDDAH AND SAUDI ARABIA.

Narrator: CAPTAIN WILLIAM ALLAN

IS A FORMER
CANADIAN AIR FORCE PILOT.

HE HAS MORE THAN 20 YEARS
OF FLYING EXPERIENCE.

FIRST OFFICER KENT DAVIDGE
WILL BE AT THE CONTROLS TODAY.

Victor Fehr:
I'LL TURN ON THE AIR CON.

Narrator: AND VICTOR FEHR
IS THE FLIGHT ENGINEER.

ALSO ON BOARD IS LEAD MECHANIC
JEAN-PAUL PHILIPPE

AND PROJECT MANAGER
ALDO TETTAMANTI.

William Allan: STARTING FOUR.

Narrator: AT 8:26 A.M.,

IT'S ALREADY 86 DEGREES OUTSIDE.

TO GET TO ITS TAKEOFF POSITION,
FLIGHT 2120

MUST TAXI THREE MILES
ACROSS THE SPRAWLING AIRFIELD.

Allan: THAT'S A LONG WAY AROUND.

Controller:
GOOD MORNING, NIGERIAN 2120.

CLEARED FOR TAKEOFF,
UH, 3-4 LEFT.

Kent Davidge: ALL ENGINES.

Allan: OKAY. YOU HAVE CONTROL.

SET MAX THRUST.

McIntosh:
SO EARLY IN THE TAKEOFF ROLL...

[POP]

THEY HEAR A LOUD SOUND
IN THE COCKPIT.

Fehr: WHAT'S THAT?

Narrator: THE INSTRUMENTS SHOW
NO INDICATION OF TROUBLE.

Allan: 80 KNOTS.

90 KNOTS NOW.

Davidge: 90 KNOTS. CHECK.

McIntosh:
THEY CONTINUE TO ACCELERATE.

Controller:
NIGERIAN 2120, AIRBORNE...

TWO-NINE.

Allan: POSITIVE RATE.

Davidge: GEAR UP.

Narrator: THEN, JUST MOMENTS
AFTER TAKEOFF...

Fehr: WE'VE GOT FOUR
LOW PRESSURE LIGHTS.

Allan: YEAH.

Davidge: WE'RE LOSING
HYDRAULICS HERE.

Narrator: IN THE CABIN,
THE FIRST SIGNS OF TROUBLE.

Flight attendant:
SMOKE. I SMELL SMOKE.

Man: WHERE?

Flight attendant: BACK THERE.

Man: I'LL TAKE A LOOK.

Allan: OKAY, ONE-SIX-ZERO,

AND WE'RE LOSING
OUR HYDRAULICS, SIR.

WE'RE GONNA NEED TO COME BACK
TO JEDDAH TO LAND.

[COUGHING]

Flight attendant: THERE'S SMOKE
IN THE BACK, REAL BAD.

Allan: YEAH, WE'RE HEADING BACK.

WE'VE GOT A HYDRAULIC
PROBLEM, OKAY.

McIntosh: SO THIS IS THE FIRST
INDICATION THAT THE PILOT HAS

OF ANYTHING GOING ON
IN THE BACK OF THE PLANE.

NOW THEY HAVE TO GRAPPLE WITH
THIS BLAZE THAT IS SPREADING

THROUGH THE REAR
OF THE AIRCRAFT.

Allan: OKAY,
LET'S GET SQUARED AWAY

AND SEE WHAT
WE'VE GOT HERE, PLEASE.

Narrator: IN THE CABIN,

IT'S BECOMING ALMOST
IMPOSSIBLE TO BREATHE,

AND JEDDAH IS STILL
ALMOST 12 MILES AWAY.

Fehr: YOU'VE LOST
ALL HYDRAULICS.

Davidge: DAMN IT!
I'VE GOT NO AILERONS!

Narrator:
NIGERIA AIRWAYS FLIGHT 2120

IS NOW AN INFERNO.

Allan: OKAY, HANG ON.
I'VE GOT IT.

Narrator: THE CREW HAS MANAGED
TO TURN THE CRIPPLED DC-8

BACK TO JEDDAH AIRPORT.

Allan: LET'S GET LINED UP
BEFORE THINGS GET ANY WORSE.

OKAY, SO WE'RE
AT 2,000 FEET NOW,

DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.

WE ARE HAVING
FLIGHT CONTROL PROBLEMS.

Controller:
UH, TURN LEFT RIGHT NOW

HEADING ZERO-EIGHT-ZERO.

EXPECT RUNWAY THREE-FOUR-LEFT.

[SHOUTING]

McIntosh: BY THIS TIME, IT'S
PANDEMONIUM INSIDE THE CABIN.

[COUGHING]

PASSENGERS ARE BEING
ENGULFED BY FLAMES

AND BODIES ARE STARTING TO FALL
FROM THE AIRCRAFT FUSELAGE.

Davidge: THERE IT IS!
IT'S TWO MILES OUT!

Allan: ALL RIGHT.

LET'S GET ON THE GROUND.

I'VE LOST ELEVATORS.

CHRIST, I HAVE NO CONTROL!

LANDING GEAR DOWN!

Pilot: SAUDI AIR 738.

NIGERIA AIRLINES IS DOWN JUST
SHORT OF RUNWAY 3-4-CENTER.

Narrator: THE FIERY EXPLOSION

AND SUDDEN IMPACT
WITH THE GROUND

HAS ALL BUT OBLITERATED
FLIGHT 2120.

247 PASSENGERS
AND 14 CREW ARE DEAD.

THIS IS THE WORST ACCIDENT EVER
FOR A CANADIAN AIRLINE

AND THE DEADLIEST CRASH
OF A DC-8 IN HISTORY.

ONE DAY AFTER THE CRASH,

A TEAM OF CANADIAN INVESTIGATORS
ARRIVES IN JEDDAH.

Bill Taylor:
HAS ANYTHING BEEN REMOVED?

Narrator: BILL TAYLOR

IS THE TRANSPORTATION
SAFETY BOARD OF CANADA'S

TECHNICAL EXPERT.

Taylor: MY FIRST VIEW
OF THE CRASH SITE

WAS ONE OF ASTONISHMENT, REALLY,

AT THE SPREAD OF THE DEBRIS,

THE SEVERITY OF THE BREAKUP.

THERE WAS VIRTUALLY NOTHING
TO IDENTIFY IT AS AN AIRCRAFT.

Narrator: TAYLOR IS JOINED BY
LEAD INVESTIGATOR RON COLEMAN.

Ron Coleman: WHEN YOU'RE
DEALING WITH 247 PASSENGERS

AND 14 CREW ALL DEAD,

THAT GETS YOUR ATTENTION.

Narrator: EXAMINING THE REMAINS
OF FLIGHT 2120'S LANDING GEAR,

INVESTIGATORS DISCOVER THAT
ONE OF THE LEFT WHEEL RIMS

SHOWS CLEAR SIGNS
OF SCRAPING ALONG THE RUNWAY.

[POP]

Coleman: YOU CAN IMAGINE
THE KIND OF HEAT

THAT THAT WOULD GENERATE
RUNNING ALONG THE RUNWAY,

SCRAPING OFF.

Narrator:
WHILE INVESTIGATORS WONDER

IF THE SCRAPED WHEEL RIM

COULD HAVE SOMETHING
TO DO WITH THE CRASH,

BILL TAYLOR MAKES
A CHANCE DISCOVERY.

Taylor:
I NOTICED A PIECE OF PAPER

BLOWING ACROSS THE SITE.

I PICKED IT UP,
AND IT TURNED OUT TO BE

PART OF THE A-FLIGHT
INSPECTION CHECKLIST,

AND IT WAS THE ACTUAL PAGE
THAT RECORDED TIRE PRESSURES.

HEY.

Narrator:
THE MAINTENANCE CHECKLIST

SHOWS THAT THE TIRES WERE
INFLATED TO NORMAL PRESSURE.

BUT THERE ARE TWO
DIFFERENT COLORS OF INK,

WITH A SECOND ENTRY
WRITTEN OVER THE FIRST.

Coleman: THERE IS A LAW
IN THE AVIATION INDUSTRY

THAT NO DOCUMENT
SHALL BE ALTERED,

AND THIS ONE LOOKED SUSPECT.

Narrator:
WHILE THE MAINTENANCE CHECKLIST

IS SENT TO THE ROYAL CANADIAN
MOUNTED POLICE IN CANADA,

INVESTIGATORS IN JEDDAH TURN
THEIR ATTENTION TO THE TIRES.

SOME INTRIGUING CLUES
HAVE BEEN LEFT ON THE RUNWAY.

Taylor: SO THIS
IS THE OUTER LEFT ONE.

WE SEE WHERE THE INBOARD FRONT
TIRE OF THE LEFT LANDING GEAR

HAD LOST ITS TIRE.

IN OTHER WORDS,
THE TIRE HAD BLOWN

AND THE WHEEL HAD COME DOWN ON,
INTO CONTACT WITH THE RUNWAY.

Narrator: TAYLOR CONCLUDES

THAT THE AIRCRAFT BLEW
TWO ADJACENT TIRES,

BOTH FROM THE LEFT
MAIN LANDING GEAR.

[POP]

Allan: WHAT'S THAT?

Davidge: IT'S SORT OF A SHIMMY.

William Fowler:
TIRE FAILURES AT THE TIME

WERE NOT AN UNCOMMON EVENT,
NOR ARE THEY TODAY.

Davidge: GEAR UP.

Fowler:
YOU CAN TAKE OFF SUCCESSFULLY,

CONTINUE EN ROUTE
AND LAND AT DESTINATION

WITHOUT ADVERSE CONSEQUENCES.

Davidge:
WE'RE LOSING HYDRAULICS HERE.

Narrator: BUT IS IT POSSIBLE
THAT A BLOWN TIRE

LED TO AN INTENSE FIRE THAT
TOOK DOWN A DC-8 IN 10 MINUTES?

AT THE ROYAL CANADIAN
MOUNTED POLICE FORENSICS LAB,

TECHNICIANS ANALYZE
THE NATIONAIR MAINTENANCE LOG.

TESTS REVEAL TWO LAYERS OF INK
ON THE LOG ENTRIES.

McIntosh: THE READINGS
FOR THE TIRE PRESSURE

WERE WRITTEN OVER,

AND THE ACTUAL READINGS
THAT WERE UNDERNEATH

SHOWED 20 TO 30 PSI
BELOW THE REQUIRED LEVELS

TO OPERATE THE PLANE
AND TIRES SAFELY.

Narrator: TESTS CONFIRM THAT
THE ENTRIES WERE FALSIFIED.

Coleman: TELL ME WHAT
THE PLAN WAS FOR THE TIRES.

Narrator: INVESTIGATORS
QUESTION MECHANICS AT JEDDAH.

THEY LEARN THAT
FOUR DAYS BEFORE THE CRASH,

AT A STOP IN GHANA, AFRICA,

MECHANICS THERE
WANTED TO CHANGE THE TIRES.

THE TREAD WAS BEGINNING TO WEAR,
AND THE PRESSURE WAS LOW.

FOLLOWING THIS TRAIL...

Taylor: YOU'RE NOT GONNA
BELIEVE WHAT I JUST FOUND.

Narrator:
...TAYLOR UNCOVERS EVIDENCE

THAT THE TIRE CHANGE
WAS NEVER CARRIED OUT.

A FAX FROM THE NATIONAIR
PROJECT MANAGER IN JEDDAH

ORDERED IT STOPPED SO THE PLANE
COULD STAY ON SCHEDULE.

Man: FORGET IT.
THEY WANT US TO GET GOING.

McIntosh: SO THE FAX CAME IN
AND SAID STOP THE TIRE CHANGE,

WE'RE WAY BEHIND,

WE MAY LOSE THE CONTRACT,

LOAD EVERYBODY UP AND GET BACK.

Narrator: RATHER THAN
TOP UP THE TIRES,

A MECHANIC ALTERS THE LOG

TO MAKE IT APPEAR
LIKE THE AIR PRESSURE

MEETS SAFETY STANDARDS.

THIS WILL PROVE TO BE
A DEADLY DECISION.

THE DC-8'S MAIN LANDING GEAR

CONSISTS OF A LEFT
AND RIGHT BOGIE,

EACH WITH FOUR WHEELS.

UNIFORM TIRE PRESSURE
IS IMPORTANT.

IT ENSURES THE WEIGHT
OF THE PLANE

IS DISTRIBUTED EVENLY
BETWEEN ALL EIGHT WHEELS.

Taylor: WHEN YOU HAVE
AN UNDER-INFLATED TIRE,

THAT TOTAL WEIGHT THEN
IS DISTRIBUTED

OVER THE REMAINING WHEELS.

IT WOULD BE FELT

ON THE AXLE-MATE
OF THE LOW-PRESSURE TIRE.

Narrator: BEFORE IT CRASHED,
CLAIMING 261 LIVES,

THE SAME PLANE TOOK OFF
AND LANDED SEVEN TIMES

WITH THE UNDER-INFLATED TIRES.

SO WHY DID THE TIRES BLOW
ON JULY 11th AT JEDDAH?

Taylor: HOW LONG
IS THAT TAXIWAY, ANYWAY?

Narrator: INVESTIGATORS LOOK
AT THE LENGTH OF THE TAXIWAY

AND THE SEARING TEMPERATURES
ON THE GROUND.

Allan: IT'S A LONG WAY AROUND.

Coleman: THEY TAXIED
FOR FIVE KILOMETERS.

THE TIRES MUST HAVE BEEN
BURNING UP ON THE TARMAC.

Taylor: WHEN YOU GET
OVER-DEFLECTION

OR EXCESSIVE BENDING
IN THAT AREA,

IT GENERATES HEAT.

Allan: MAX THRUST.

Taylor:
IF YOU GENERATED ENOUGH HEAT,

THE NYLON BEGINS TO MELT
AND PULLS APART.

THE TIRE BLOWS.

[POP]

Fehr: WHAT'S THAT?

Narrator:
FIRST, ONE TIRE BURSTS...

Allan: 90 KNOTS NOW.

Narrator: ...QUICKLY FOLLOWED
BY A SECOND TIRE.

[POP]

THE WHEEL RIM HITS THE RUNWAY.

Larry Vance: AND WHEN THAT
STARTED TO DRAG AND WEAR

DOWN THE RUNWAY,

IT GOT SUPER HOT.

SO AS SOON AS
THIS AIRCRAFT TOOK OFF

AND THEY RETRACTED
THE LANDING GEAR,

THERE WAS BASICALLY
NO SURVIVING.

Davidge: GEAR UP.

Narrator: THE CREW TAKES
THE FIRE WITH THEM INTO THE AIR.

Fowler: UNFORTUNATELY,
THE DC-8 DID NOT HAVE

ANY HEAT OR FIRE INDICATION

TO TELL THE CREW THAT THEY HADA PROBLEM WITH THE LANDING GEAR,

THE WHEEL WELL AREA.

Allan: CHRIST,
I HAVE NO CONTROL!

Coleman: IT'S ALL OVER
TEN SECONDS AFTER THEY LIFT OFF.

Allan: LANDING GEAR DOWN!

Vance: I DON'T BELIEVE

THAT THE PEOPLE
WHO WERE MAKING THE DECISIONS

HAD IN THEIR HEADS

THAT THIS WAS A HAZARDOUS THING
THAT THEY WERE DOING.

Narrator:
A NUMBER OF CRITICAL CHANGES

CAME ABOUT AFTER THIS ACCIDENT.

SMOKE, FIRE, AND TEMPERATURE
SENSORS IN THE WHEEL WELLS

ARE NOW MANDATORY.

MOST CRITICALLY,
CREWS ARE TRAINED

ON THE IMPORTANCE
OF PROPERLY INFLATED TIRES.

Phil Derner: THERE'S A SAYING

THAT EVERY REGULATION
IS WRITTEN IN BLOOD,

AND IT'S TRUE.

BUT THE LESSONS THAT WE GET
FROM THESE ACCIDENTS

ARE OBVIOUSLY
INCREDIBLY VALUABLE.

WE CAN LOOK AT
ACCIDENTS FROM THE PAST

AND APPLY THEM TO VERY SPECIFIC
CRASHES OF THE PRESENT

WHERE SURVIVABILITY RATES
ARE INCREDIBLE,

SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE OF THOSE
LESSONS FROM THE PAST.

Narrator: IT'S JUST BEFORE
6:00 IN THE MORNING

AT MANCHESTER AIRPORT
IN NORTHERN ENGLAND.

BRITISH AIRTOURS FLIGHT 28

IS SCHEDULED TO TAKE
131 PASSENGERS

FROM MANCHESTER
TO THE GREEK ISLAND OF CORFU.

LINDSAY DAVIES IS GOING
TO GREECE WITH HER BOYFRIEND,

CHARLIE THICKSON.

Lindsay Davies:
ALL RIGHT. LET'S GO.

WE'D BEEN GOING OUT
WITH EACH OTHER FOR A YEAR,

AND THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS
WE WERE SO EXCITED ABOUT IT.

YOU KNOW, IT WAS OUR FIRST
HOLIDAY TOGETHER.

Narrator:
CAPTAIN PETER TERRINGTON

IS IN COMMAND.

FIRST OFFICER BRIAN LOVE
IS BEING TRAINED BY TERRINGTON.

Controller: B-TOURS 28,
YOU ARE CLEAR FOR TAKEOFF.

Narrator: THE BOEING 737

HAS 3,000 YARDS
TO GET TO TAKEOFF SPEED.

Peter Terrington: 80 KNOTS.

Brian Love: CHECK.

[POP]

Terrington: STOP!

Narrator: CAPTAIN TERRINGTON
THINKS A TIRE HAS BLOWN.

Terrington: THE IMMEDIATE
REACTION WAS TO STOP.

WE WERE QUITE A FEW KNOTS
BELOW OUR DECISION SPEED.

Lindsay: I JUST ASSUMED
THAT MAYBE A TIRE HAD BURST,

SO I WASN'T REALLY
ALARMED AT THAT POINT.

BUT THE SITUATION
IS GETTING MUCH WORSE.

FLAMES ARE NOW ERUPTING

FROM THE BACK OF ONE
OF THE PLANE'S ENGINES.

LET ME BY.

Purser: PLEASE, SIT DOWN.

Narrator: AND SMOKE
IS DRIFTING INTO THE CABIN.

Terrington: STOPPING. 28 MIKE.
WE'RE ABANDONING TAKEOFF.

[BEEPING]

IT LOOKS LIKE WE'VE GOT
A FIRE ON NUMBER ONE.

Controller:
PLANE ON FIRE, RUNWAY 24.

Narrator: CAPTAIN TERRINGTON
HAS TO ACT FAST.

Terrington: EVACUATE TO
THE STARBOARD SIDE, PLEASE.

Narrator: HE DECIDES
TO PULL OFF THE RUNWAY.

Purser: EVACUATE! EVACUATE!

PLEASE STAY CALM
AND DON'T PANIC.

Narrator: ON THE 737,
THERE ARE FOUR CABIN DOORS.

THE PAIR IN BACK
ARE COVERED IN FLAMES AND SMOKE,

LEAVING ONLY TWO FOR 137 PEOPLE.

NOW ONE OF THESE EXITS
WON'T OPEN.

Lindsay: IT JUST SEEMED
TO GO ON FOREVER

BEFORE THEY STARTED EVACUATING.

AND THAT'S WHEN I THOUGHT,
I'M NOT GOING TO GET OFF.

IT'S GONNA BLOW UP
WITH ALL OF US ON IT.

[SIRENS]

Narrator: PARKED ON THE TAXIWAY,

FLAMES ENGULF THE CABIN
OF BRITISH AIRTOURS FLIGHT 28.

137 PEOPLE
ARE DESPERATE TO ESCAPE.

Terrington:
WE HAD AN EVACUATION CHECKLIST,

BUT IT WAS FOUR PAGES LONG,

AND THE LAST ITEM WAS TO
GET THE PASSENGERS OFF.

[COUGHING]

Narrator: OUTSIDE, FIREFIGHTERS
STRUGGLE TO CONTAIN THE BLAZE,

SPRAYING FOAM INTO THE CABIN.

Joanna Toff: WE WANTED TO START
TO EVACUATE THE PASSENGERS,

BUT THERE WAS
A BIT OF A BOTTLENECK

AND NOBODY WAS COMING FORWARD.

THE AISLE IS QUITE NARROW,

AND I COULD SEE THIS BOY

THAT WAS REALLY SORT OF
PUSHED AGAINST THE WALL.

HE COULDN'T GET OUT,
SO I PULLED HIM BY HIS T-SHIRT.

HE SORT OF TUMBLED FORWARD
AND AFTER THAT,

EVERYBODY SORT OF JUST
TUMBLED IN BEHIND HIM.

Flight attendant: ALL RIGHT,
PROP THE DOORS OPEN

AND JUMP DOWN THE SLIDE.

Narrator: LINDSAY IS PUSHED
TO THE FRONT...

Lindsay: SEE YOU OUT THERE.

Narrator: ...SEPARATED FROM
HER BOYFRIEND, CHARLIE.

Purser: GO, GO, GO, GO!

Narrator: DOZENS OF PASSENGERS

HAVE MANAGED TO
MAKE IT OFF THE PLANE.

BUT THERE ARE STILL
MANY MORE PEOPLE INSIDE,

TRAPPED IN THE CRUSH.

Lindsay: ONE THING I DID SEE
WHEN I LOOKED BACK

WAS PEOPLE GOING TO THE FRONT,
TOWARDS THE FRONT OF THE PLANE,

PUSHING THE SEATS FORWARD
AS THEY WENT ALONG.

Purser: GO, GO, GO, GO, GO!

Lindsay: EVERYBODY WAS
SCREAMING AND PANICKING,

AND THAT'S WHEN I THOUGHT,
PEOPLE ARE GONNA DIE IN THERE.

Terrington:
OKAY, GO, BRIAN. GO, BRIAN.

Narrator: TO SAVE THEIR LIVES,
THE CAPTAIN AND FIRST OFFICER

ARE COMPELLED TO ABANDON
THE EVACUATION CHECKLIST.

Terrington: WE DID
AS MANY ITEMS AS WE COULD,

AND THEN WE BOTH WENT OUT
OF THE FLIGHT DECK WINDOW.

AND WHEN WE TURNED
ROUND ON THE GROUND,

WE SAW A COMPLETE WRECK
OF AN AIRCRAFT,

AND IT HAD HAPPENED
IN A MATTER OF SECONDS.

IT WAS, UH, DREADFUL.

Narrator:
IT TAKES 125 FIREFIGHTERS

MORE THAN TWO HOURS
TO PUT OUT THE BLAZE.

54 PEOPLE PERISH,
UNABLE TO ESCAPE THE INFERNO.

ANOTHER WOULD DIE
IN THE HOSPITAL.

THE SCALE OF THE TRAGEDY

BRINGS BRITISH PRIME MINISTER
MARGARET THATCHER

TO THE CRASH SITE.

Margaret Thatcher: WHEN WE GET
A TERRIBLE AIR CRASH

OF THIS KIND,

EVERYONE IS APPALLED
AND SHOCKED OF COURSE.

Narrator:
SO, WHAT CAUSED THE FIRE?

AND HOW COULD IT KILL
SO MANY PEOPLE

EVEN THOUGH THE PLANE
WAS ON THE GROUND?

BRITAIN'S AIR ACCIDENTS
INVESTIGATION BRANCH

SENDS A TEAM TO MANCHESTER.

STEPHEN MOSS WILL BE
INSPECTING THE PLANE'S ENGINES.

Stephen Moss: THIS SHOULD NOT
REALLY HAVE HAPPENED.

THE AIRCRAFT
DIDN'T EVEN GET AIRBORNE,

IT DIDN'T RUN OFF THE RUNWAY,

AND YET STILL 55 PEOPLE
WERE KILLED.

Narrator: CHRIS PROTHEROE
WILL FOCUS ON THE FIRE.

Chris Protheroe: WE WERE AWARE
FROM INITIAL REPORTS

THAT THE FIRE HAD ENTERED
THE AIRCRAFT VERY RAPIDLY

AS THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO A HALT.

AND THAT WAS A FOCUS FOR ME.

Moss: WELL, THE FIRST THING
WE NOTICED CLEARLY

WAS THE HOLE
IN THE UNDERSIDE OF THE WING,

AND RIGHT NEXT TO IT

WAS A GAPING HOLE
IN THE SIDE OF THE ENGINE.

Narrator:
COULD THE TWO HOLES BE LINKED?

INVESTIGATORS LOOK
FOR CLUES ON THE RUNWAY.

THEY FIND A LARGE PIECE
OF DOME-SHAPED METAL

ALONG THE PLANE'S PATH.

STEPHEN MOSS CAN SEE
IT'S FROM A PIECE OF THE ENGINE

CALLED A COMBUSTOR CAN.

Moss: IT LOOKED LIKE THERE'D
BEEN A SEPARATION OF THE CAN

FROM THE FRONT END
FROM THE BACK END.

Narrator: THE COMBUSTION CHAMBER
OF THE 737'S JET ENGINES

CONTAIN NINE COMBUSTOR CANS.

IT'S WHERE FUEL AND AIR
ARE MIXED AND IGNITED

TO CREATE THRUST.

MOSS SUSPECTS THE FRACTURED CAN
SOMEHOW BLEW APART

AND DESTROYED
THE PLANE'S LEFT ENGINE.

Moss: IT HAD STRUCK

AN UNDER-WING FUEL TANK
ACCESS PANEL

AND PUT A SIZABLE HOLE IN THAT,

WHICH DIRECTLY
LED TO THE RELEASE

OF A VAST QUANTITY OF FUEL.

Narrator: TO FIND OUT WHY
THE COMBUSTOR CAN ERUPTED,

INVESTIGATORS STUDY
THE PLANE'S MAINTENANCE LOG.

THEY DISCOVER THAT
A YEAR AND A HALF EARLIER

MECHANICS HAD REPAIRED
SMALL CRACKS

IN SOME OF THE COMBUSTOR CANS.

BUT ONE CRACK ON CAN NUMBER NINE
WAS UNUSUALLY LONG.

Moss: THE OVERHAUL MANUAL
DID NOT GIVE ANY LIMIT

ON THE LENGTH OF CRACK
THAT COULD BE REPAIRED.

Narrator: MECHANICS WELD
ALL THE CRACKS CLOSED,

INCLUDING THE LONG CRACK
ON CAN NUMBER NINE.

AFTER THE COMBUSTOR CHAMBERS
ARE REASSEMBLED

AND ATTACHED TO THE WINGS...

Terrington: 80 KNOTS.

Narrator: ...THE WELDS ARE
INACCESSIBLE TO INSPECTORS.

[POP]

Terrington: STOP!

Moss: IF THE AIRLINE
HAD INSPECTED THE CANS,

I THINK THERE IS NO DOUBT

THAT THEY WOULD HAVE
SEEN THE PROBLEM.

Terrington: IT LOOKS LIKE
WE'VE GOT A FIRE ON NUMBER ONE.

Narrator: INVESTIGATORS NOW KNOW

WHAT CAUSED
THE MANCHESTER DISASTER.

THE WELDED CRACK
IN COMBUSTOR CAN NUMBER NINE

TEARS APART AS FLIGHT 28
SPEEDS DOWN THE RUNWAY.

THE FRONT OF THE CAN
SHOOTS OFF FROM THE ENGINE

AND TEARS A HOLE

IN THE UNDERSIDE
OF THE LEFT WING FUEL TANK.

FUEL LEAKS
ONTO THE DAMAGED ENGINE

AND EXPLODES INTO FLAMES.

[SIRENS]

NOW INVESTIGATORS
WANT TO FIND OUT

HOW THE FIRE OUTSIDE THE PLANE

SPREAD SO QUICKLY
INTO THE CABIN

AND CAUSED THE DEATHS
OF 55 PEOPLE.

INVESTIGATORS ARE PUZZLED

BY THE DESTRUCTIVE
SPEED OF THE FIRE

ON BRITISH AIRTOURS FLIGHT 28.

CHRIS PROTHEROE
EXAMINES THE DATA

TO SEE IF WEATHER
PLAYED ANY ROLE.

Protheroe:
THE WIND WAS THE MAIN FACTOR

THAT DETERMINED THE SEVERITY OFTHE FIRE IN TERMS OF ITS ATTACK

ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE AIRCRAFT,

HOW RAPIDLY IT
PENETRATED THE AIRCRAFT,

AND IT ALSO AFFECTED
THE CONDITIONS INSIDE THE CABIN.

Terrington: STOP!

Narrator: BELIEVING
HE HAD BLOWN A TIRE,

CAPTAIN TERRINGTON
MAKES A FATEFUL DECISION.

Terrington: STOPPING. 28 MIKE.
WE ARE ABANDONING TAKEOFF.

Narrator:
HE TURNS OFF THE RUNWAY

AND INTO A CROSSWIND

FROM THE LEFT SIDE
OF THE AIRCRAFT,

WHICH SWEEPS UP THE FIRE
BURNING UNDER THE LEFT WING.

THE WIND WRAPS THE FIRE
AROUND THE BACK OF THE PLANE

AND INTO THE CABIN.

[SIRENS]

INVESTIGATORS HAVE
DISCOVERED THE CONDITIONS

THAT CAUSED THE FIRE
TO PENETRATE THE CABIN.

NOW THEY MUST SOLVE
THE BIGGEST MYSTERY.

WHY DID 55 PEOPLE DIE

AFTER THE PLANE HAD
SAFELY ABORTED A TAKEOFF?

WAS THERE A PROBLEM
WITH THE EVACUATION?

Purser: EVACUATE! EVACUATE!

PLEASE STAY CALM
AND DON'T PANIC.

Narrator: A FULL BOEING 737
IS DESIGNED TO BE EVACUATED

IN LESS THAN TWO MINUTES.

BUT 90 SECONDS AFTER
FLIGHT 28 CAME TO A STOP,

MOST OF THE PASSENGERS
WERE STILL ON BOARD.

Edward Trimble: YOU CAN IMAGINE
UNDER THESE CONDITIONS

THAT PEOPLE HAVE GOT TO
GET AWAY FROM THE SMOKE,

AND THE PEOPLE DID THIS

BY BASICALLY CLAMBERING
OVER THE SEATS

AND OTHER PEOPLE
IN FRONT OF THEM.

Narrator:
IN LESS THAN FIVE MINUTES,

WHAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN
A SURVIVABLE ACCIDENT

TURNED DEADLY.

TO BETTER UNDERSTAND
WHAT HAPPENED ON FLIGHT 28,

PSYCHOLOGIST HELEN MUIR IS
BROUGHT INTO THE INVESTIGATION.

MUIR CONFIGURES A CABIN
TO DUPLICATE A BOEING 737.

THEN, TO HAVE THE VOLUNTEERS ACT
AS THOUGH THE PLANE'S ON FIRE,

SHE OFFERS MONEY
TO THE FIRST ONES OFF.

Helen Muir:
AND THAT PRODUCED BEHAVIOR

THAT WAS QUITE UNBELIEVABLE.

PEOPLE WENT OVER SEATS,
THEY WENT ROUND EACH OTHER,

ALL SORTS OF THINGS.

AND INDEED, WHEN SURVIVORS FROM
THE ACTUAL MANCHESTER ACCIDENT

CAME AND SAW THE VIDEOS,

THEY SAID, YEAH,
THAT'S HOW IT WAS.

Narrator:
THE STAMPEDE IS MADE WORSE

BY THE PLANE'S DESIGN.

PASSENGERS BECOME JAMMED
IN THE BULKHEAD OPENING

SEPARATING THE MAIN CABIN
FROM THE GALLEY.

THE BULKHEAD OPENING
OF A BOEING 737

IS 22.5 INCHES WIDE,

JUST ENOUGH FOR ONE PERSON
TO FIT THROUGH.

MUIR'S RESEARCH
LEADS TO A BREAKTHROUGH.

Muir: WE SHOWED,
THROUGH REPEAT TESTING,

THAT IF YOU CHANGED
THE MINIMUM GAP

FROM 20 TO 30 INCHES,

YOU WOULD DRAMATICALLY
IMPROVE THE SPEED AT WHICH

PEOPLE COULD GET OUT

AND YOU'D REDUCE THE LIKELIHOOD

OF PEOPLE FALLING
AND SLIPPING AND SO ON.

Narrator:
HELEN MUIR'S RESEARCH

PROMPTS MANUFACTURERS

TO REDESIGN CABINS
TO MAKE THEM SAFER.

THAT INCLUDES
INCREASING THE SPACE

BETWEEN THE BULKHEAD WALLS
TO 30 INCHES

AND INTRODUCING STRIP LIGHTING

TO HELP GUIDE
PASSENGERS TO EXITS

EVEN WHEN THEY'RE
BLINDED BY SMOKE.

Firefighter:
JUMP, JUMP, JUMP, JUMP, JUMP!

Narrator:
THE SKIES ARE SAFER NOW

BECAUSE OF BRITISH AIRTOURS
FLIGHT 28,

THOUGH THE LESSONS LEARNED
HAVE COME AT A TERRIBLE COST,

EVEN FOR THE SURVIVORS

LIKE LINDSAY DAVIES AND
HER BOYFRIEND, CHARLIE THICKSON.

Lindsay:
THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG, REALLY,

WITH US, WE THOUGHT,

NOTHING PHYSICAL WRONG WITH US.

BUT OUR LIVES CHANGED, YOU KNOW,

JUST IN THOSE,
IN THOSE FEW HOURS.

Narrator: ALL THESE INNOVATIONS
HAVE MADE FLYING SAFER.

BUT SOMETIMES THE PROBLEM
ISN'T THE CREW OR THE PLANE.

A BOEING 747 CARGO JET

CLIMBS OUT FROM DUBAI
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

BOUND FOR COLOGNE, GERMANY.

Matthew Bell: AUTOPILOT ENGAGED.

Narrator:
AFTER A ROUTINE TAKEOFF,

THE CREW OF UPS FLIGHT 6
SETTLES IN FOR A LONG NIGHT.

FIRST OFFICER MATTHEW BELL
IS PILOTING THE PLANE.

HE'S BEEN WITH UPS
FOR FOUR YEARS.

Doug Lampe:
NICE FLYING, BY THE WAY.

YOU GOT A GOOD TOUCH
ON THE CONTROLS.

Narrator: CAPTAIN DOUG LAMPE
IS ALSO A SEASONED PRO.

HE'S BEEN WITH UPS FOR 15 YEARS

AND LOGGED MORE THAN
4,000 HOURS ON THE 747.

INSIDE THE CARGO PLANE'S
MASSIVE HOLD

IS 228,000 POUNDS OF FREIGHT.

AS THE 747 CLIMBS, IT PASSES
INTO BAHRAIN'S AIRSPACE.

Lampe: BAHRAIN, UPS 6
CLIMBING TO FLIGHT LEVEL 3-2-0.

Controller:
THAT'LL BE FINE, UPS 6.

THIS IS BAHRAIN,
AND YOU ARE IN RADAR CONTACT.

Narrator: AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER
RICHARD PHILLIPS

IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PLANE

WHILE IT FLIES
THROUGH BAHRAIN'S AIRSPACE.

21 MINUTES AFTER TAKEOFF,
AT 31,000 FEET...

[ALARM RINGING]

Lampe:
FIRE. MAIN DECK FORWARD.

Narrator: ...AN ALARM WARNS
OF A FIRE IN THE CARGO HOLD.

Lampe: I'LL FLY THE AIRPLANE.

YOU RUN THE CHECKLIST.

Bell: OKAY.

UH, CHECKLIST FOR
FIRE, MAIN DECK FORWARD.

LAND AT NEAREST
AVAILABLE AIRFIELD.

Lampe: JUST GOT A FIRE
INDICATION ON THE MAIN DECK.

I NEED TO LAND ASAP.

Phillips: DOHA IS AT YOUR
TEN O'CLOCK AND A HUNDRED MILES.

IS THAT CLOSE ENOUGH?

Lampe: HOW ABOUT WE TURN AROUND
AND GO BACK TO DUBAI?

I'D LIKE TO DECLARE
AN EMERGENCY.

Narrator: CAPTAIN LAMPE
DECIDES NOT TO LAND AT DOHA

AND TURNS THE PLANE BACK
TO DUBAI, 25 MINUTES AWAY.

Phillips: ALL AVAILABLE
ASSISTANCE REQUIRED AT DUBAI.

EMERGENCY DESCENT UNDERWAY.

Bell: BACK TWO AND THREE OFF.

Narrator: THE FIRST OFFICER

ACTIVATES
THE FIRE SUPPRESSION SYSTEM

AND DEPRESSURIZES
THE CARGO HOLD.

THIS SUCKS THE OXYGEN
FROM THE HOLD

AND IS SUPPOSED TO
STIFLE THE FLAMES.

Lampe: GET YOUR OXYGEN MASK ON.

Narrator: BUT IT DOESN'T WORK.

THEY GET ANOTHER WARNING LIGHT,

AND FIRE ALARMS SOUND

IN SEVERAL DIFFERENT AREAS
OF THE CARGO HOLD.

[ALARM RINGING]

THE FLAMES ARE SPREADING FAST.

SMOKE PENETRATES THE COCKPIT.

John Cox:
A COCKPIT FULL OF SMOKE

IS AN ABSOLUTELY
TERRIFYING CONDITION.

Phillips: UPS 6, DESCEND
AND MAINTAIN ONE-ZERO-THOUSAND,

YOUR DISCRETION.

[ALARM RINGING]

Narrator: AN ALREADY
TERRIFYING SITUATION

IS ABOUT TO GET EVEN WORSE.

Lampe: I'VE GOT NO CONTROL
OF THE AIRPLANE.

Bell: WHAT?

Lampe: I HAVE NO PITCH CONTROL
OF THE AIRPLANE!

Bill English: PITCH CONTROL.

THAT'S NOSE UP, NOSE DOWN
OF THE AIRPLANE.

IT'S CRITICAL TO AIRSPEED,

AND AS HE GETS CLOSE
TO THE RUNWAY,

CRITICAL TO BEING ABLE TO LAND.

Narrator: UPS 6
IS STILL 22 MINUTES AWAY

FROM DUBAI
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT,

AND THE CREW IS BLINDED
BY SMOKE IN THE COCKPIT.

Lampe: TRY AND GET DUBAI
INTO THE COMPUTER.

Narrator: IF THEY CAN GET
CLOSE ENOUGH TO THE RUNWAY

AND MAINTAIN THE CORRECT SPEED,

A HIGH-TECH GUIDANCE SYSTEM
AT THE AIRPORT

MIGHT HELP GET THE PLANE
TO THE GROUND.

THE INSTRUMENT LANDING SYSTEM,

OR ILS,

SENDS OUT RADIO SIGNALS
FROM THE END OF THE RUNWAY.

IT CAN GUIDE THE PLANE DOWN
VERTICALLY AND HORIZONTALLY

FROM ABOUT 12 MILES OUT.

Lampe: OKAY. UPS 6 IS
STRAIGHT IN TO 12-LEFT.

Phillips: ALL PLANES STAND BY.

Narrator: BUT JUST WHEN
THE CREW NEEDS HIM MOST,

PHILLIPS LOSES RADAR CONTACT.

Phillips: EMIRATES,
THIS IS BAHRAIN AREA CONTROL.

I NEED YOUR READOUTS FOR UPS 6.

THEY'RE OFF MY RADAR.

Narrator: PHILLIPS ASKS
THE CONTROLLERS IN ABU DHABI

TO TRACK THE PLANE
ON THEIR RADAR

AND SEND HIM UPDATES.

Controller: HEADING 1-0-6.

Phillips:
UPS 6, HEADING IS 1-0-6.

[COUGHING]

Narrator: MOMENTS LATER,

THE PILOTS FACE
THEIR WORST CRISIS YET.

[COUGHING]

Lampe: I GOT NO OXYGEN.

Narrator:
THE CAPTAIN NEEDS TO REACH

A SUPPLEMENTAL
OXYGEN SUPPLY BEHIND HIM.

HE MUST HAND OVER COMMAND.

Lampe: YOU FLY.

Bell: I'VE GOT IT.
I HAVE CONTROL.

Narrator:
THE CAPTAIN DOESN'T MAKE IT.

Lampe: OXYGEN...
[COUGHS]

Narrator: FIRST OFFICER BELL
IS NOW ON HIS OWN.

Bell: MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY!

CAN ANYONE HEAR ME?

Narrator: AND HE'S ALSO
FACING ANOTHER CHALLENGE.

BELL IS ABOUT TO FLY
OUT OF BAHRAIN'S RADIO RANGE.

Phillips: UPS 6, CONTACT DUBAI
1-3-2-DECIMAL... [STATIC]

Narrator: CONTROLLERS
GIVE HIM A NEW FREQUENCY

TO TUNE IN TO DUBAI CONTROL.

BUT IT'S NO USE.

THE SMOKE IN THE COCKPIT
IS TOO THICK.

Darren Straker:
HE COULDN'T CHANGE BACK

TO THE DUBAI FREQUENCY,

SO THE PROBLEM NOW IS

HOW DO YOU TALK TO SOMEONE
OUT OF RADIO RANGE

ON YOUR FREQUENCY?

Narrator: HIS ONLY CHOICE

IS TO STAY WITH PHILLIPS
IN BAHRAIN.

Bell: CAN YOU GIVE ME
AN ALTITUDE?

Narrator:
PHILLIPS HAS TO THINK FAST.

HE SCRAMBLES TO FIND PLANES
FLYING WITHIN RADIO RANGE

OF BOTH BAHRAIN CONTROL
AND UPS 6.

Phillips: DUBAI 1,
YOU'RE RADAR CONTACT, SIR.

I NEED YOU TO DO RELAYS
FOR UPS 6.

Pilot: ALL RIGHT.

WHAT DO YOU WANT ME
TO TELL UPS 6?

Phillips: I WANT YOU TO TELL HIM
EXACTLY WHAT I SAY

WHEN I SAY IT.

Cox: THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE
IN THIS COMMUNICATION LOOP,

AND INFORMATION HAS TO PASS

FROM ONE PERSON TO THE NEXT
TO THE NEXT TO THE NEXT,

AND THIS TAKES TIME,

AND THAT'S SOMETHING
THE FIRST OFFICER

DOESN'T HAVE VERY MUCH OF.

Narrator:
AS HE NEARS THE AIRPORT,

BELL STRUGGLES TO LOCK ON
TO THE RUNWAY SIGNAL.

HE PUSHES
THE ILS APPROACH BUTTON.

Bell: COME ON!

Controller: HE'S TOO HIGH,
AND HE'S TOO FAST!

Narrator: BELL IS
OVERSHOOTING THE RUNWAY.

Phillips: IS HE ABLE
TO MAKE A LEFT TURN

FOR A TEN-MILE FINAL
FOR SHARJAH?

English:
AIR TRAFFIC THOUGHT QUICK.

THEY KNEW THERE WAS
ANOTHER RUNWAY NEARBY

AND TRIED TO GIVE HIM GUIDANCE
TO MAKE THAT RUNWAY.

Pilot: ARE YOU ABLE TO MAKE
A LEFT TURN NOW TO SHARJAH?

IT'S TEN MILES AWAY.

HEADING 0-9-5.

Narrator: BELL TRIES
TO ENTER THE HEADING

INTO THE AUTOPILOT.

Controller:
HE'S MADE A RIGHT TURN.

A RIGHT TURN!

English: UNFORTUNATELY,
ONE DIGIT WAS WRONG, 1-9-5,

AND INSTEAD OF TURNING LEFT
TOWARD SHARJAH,

THE AIRPLANE TURNED RIGHT,

AWAY FROM DUBAI AND SHARJAH.

Narrator:
BELL REALIZES THE PLANE

IS BANKING THE WRONG WAY.

HE DISCONNECTS THE AUTOPILOT
TO TRY TO CORRECT HIS COURSE.

Bell: MY AIRSPEED!

Pilot: WHAT'S HIS AIRSPEED?

Phillips: GROUND SPEED 2-6-6.

Cox: THE FIRST OFFICER
NEVER GAVE UP

TRYING TO FLY THE AIRPLANE
OR LAND THE AIRPLANE.

Computer: TERRAIN. PULL UP.

Bell: AAGGH!

Pilot: WHAT'S THE WORD?

Phillips: RADAR CONTACT LOST.

Narrator: UPS 6 HAS CRASHED
INTO A MILITARY BASE

TEN MILES FROM DUBAI
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.

NEITHER PILOT HAS SURVIVED.

FORTUNATELY, THERE ARE
NO FATALITIES ON THE GROUND.

THE $220 MILLION PLANE
IS NOW CHARRED RUBBLE,

SPREAD OVER A WRECKAGE SITE
THE SIZE OF SIX FOOTBALL FIELDS.

Cox: THE AIRPLANE HAD HIT
AT VERY HIGH SPEED.

THERE WERE A LOT
OF SMALL PIECES,

AND WHEN THAT HAPPENS, FROM
AN INVESTIGATIVE STANDPOINT,

IT'S GOING TO BE
REALLY CHALLENGING.

Narrator:
THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

AIR ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION UNIT

APPOINTS DARREN STRAKER
TO LEAD THE INVESTIGATION.

Straker: OKAY.
LET'S GET MOVING.

WE NEED TO SEE EVERY PIECE.

THE FIRST QUESTION IS
WHAT WAS ON FIRE?

HOW DID IT GET ON BOARD?

AND HOW DID THIS 747
DROP OUT OF THE SKY?

Narrator: SINCE THE 747
IS AMERICAN BUILT...

English: WHAT DO YOU NEED?

Narrator: ...BILL ENGLISH

FROM THE U.S. NATIONAL
TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD

JOINS THE TEAM.

English:
FIRST THINGS TO LOOK FOR

WERE THE FLIGHT RECORDERS,

THE CVR AND FDR.

Narrator:
THE COCKPIT VOICE RECORDER

IS FOUND ALMOST IMMEDIATELY.

Lampe: I'LL FLY THE AIRPLANE,
YOU RUN THE CHECKLIST.

Bell: OKAY.

Narrator: THE RECORDING SHOWS
THE CREW REACTED QUICKLY...

Bell: BACK TWO AND THREE OFF.

Narrator: ...ENGAGING
THE ONBOARD SYSTEMS

DESIGNED TO CONTAIN A FIRE.

WHY COULDN'T THEY MAKE IT
BACK TO THE AIRPORT?

Lampe: THIS IS UPS 6.

I NEED AN EMERGENCY DESCENT.

Straker: THE THING
THAT STOOD OUT FOR ME

WAS THE SPEED OF THE ONSET
OF THE PROBLEMS THEY FACED.

Lampe: TRY AND GET DUBAI
INTO THE COMPUTER.

Straker: HOW DOES A FIRE
GET SO OUT OF CONTROL

THAT THE AIRPLANE IS RENDERED
ALMOST UNFLYABLE?

Narrator: THREE DAYS
INTO THE GRID SEARCH

OF THE CRASH SITE OF UPS 6,

THE FLIGHT DATA RECORDER
IS FOUND,

ALONG WITH AN UNEXPECTED CLUE.

English: INSIDE THAT BUSH

WAS ONE SMALL LITHIUM BATTERY
THAT HAD BURNED,

BLOWN ITSELF UP,

AND SHOT OUT OF THE WRECKAGE
INTO THE LITTLE BUSH.

Narrator:
THE SMALL PIECE OF EVIDENCE

MIGHT JUST LEAD INVESTIGATORS

TO THE MYSTERIOUS
CAUSE OF THE FIRE.

INVESTIGATORS LOOK
AT THE 747'S CARGO.

Straker: PHEW!

81,000 BATTERIES.

THAT'S A LOT OF HAZARDOUS CARGO.

Narrator:
THE CARGO MANIFEST REVEALS

UPS 6 HAD DOZENS OF SHIPMENTS
OF LITHIUM BATTERIES

OR CONSUMER ELECTRONICS
THAT CONTAIN THEM.

Straker: ONCE WE'D GOT
THE CARGO MANIFEST

AND SEEN THE TOTAL VOLUME

OF THESE BATTERIES
THAT WERE ON BOARD,

WE WERE HEADING
IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

Narrator: LITHIUM BATTERIES

CAN PROVIDE
UP TO TEN TIMES THE ENERGY

OF REGULAR ALKALINE BATTERIES.

BUT THEY ARE
EXTREMELY FLAMMABLE.

THEIR VOLATILE
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION

MEANS THEY CAN BURST INTO FLAMES
IF THEY BECOME COMPROMISED.

IS THAT WHAT HAPPENED

IN THE CARGO HOLD
OF UPS FLIGHT 6?

[ALARM RINGING]

AT A FACILITY
IN THE UNITED STATES,

STRAKER PUTS THESE BATTERIES
TO THE TEST.

THE RESULTS ARE ASTONISHING.

WHEN THEY HEAT A SINGLE BOX
CONTAINING 100 BATTERIES,

IT QUICKLY IGNITES,

SENDING UP FLAMES
THAT REACH TEMPERATURES

OF 2,000 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT.

Straker:
WE WERE COMPLETELY SURPRISED

AT HOW A SMALL DOUBLE-A SIZE
LITHIUM BATTERY WOULD OVERHEAT

AND THEN VENT

AND PRACTICALLY JUST
EXPLODE INTO A PROBLEM

WHICH YOU COULDN'T CONTAIN.

Narrator: WITH THIS IN MIND,

INVESTIGATORS USE
THE FLIGHT DATA RECORDER

TO MAP WHAT HAPPENED
DURING THE FLIGHT OF UPS 6.

THEY'RE UNCLEAR AS TO WHY
THE BATTERIES AUTO-IGNITED,

BUT THE FIRE DOES START

IN THE CARGO HOLD
BENEATH THE COCKPIT.

Straker: BINGO.

English: IF YOU ARE
FAMILIAR WITH THE 747,

YOU KNOW IT HAS THAT
VERY DISTINCTIVE HUMP

UP IN THE FRONT.

THE COCKPIT
IS PART OF THAT HUMP,

AND THE CARGO DECK
IS UNDERNEATH THERE.

WE FOUND SOME SHIPMENTS IN THERE
OF SOME PRETTY LARGE BATTERIES,

A LOT OF ENERGY
PACKED IN A VERY DENSE PLACE.

English: ALL THE FAILURES
WERE RIGHT HERE,

BEHIND THE COCKPIT.

Narrator:
IN THE CROWDED CARGO DECK,

FLAMES SOON SPREAD
TO OTHER CONTAINERS,

MANY OF THEM LOADED
WITH BATTERIES.

[ALARM RINGING]

Lampe:
FIRE. MAIN DECK FORWARD.

Narrator: BY THE TIME
THE CREW GETS A WARNING,

THE FIRE IS RAGING TOO INTENSELY

FOR THE SUPPRESSION SYSTEM
TO PUT IT OUT.

FIRE DESTROYS MORE SYSTEMS,

INCLUDING THE CAPTAIN'S
OXYGEN SUPPLY

AND THE LANDING GEAR CONTROLS.

Bell: I HAVE NO GEAR!

Narrator: INVESTIGATORS BELIEVE

THE TRAGEDY WOULD
HAVE BEEN EVEN WORSE

IF NOT FOR THE FINAL ACTIONS
OF THE FIRST OFFICER.

AT THE LAST MOMENT,

IN A PLANE HE COULD
BARELY CONTROL...

Phillips:
IF ABLE, CLIMB IMMEDIATELY.

CLIMB IMMEDIATELY!

Narrator: ...HE MANAGES
TO AVOID CRASHING

INTO A RESIDENTIAL
SUBURB OF DUBAI.

Computer: PULL UP.

Narrator: THE FINAL REPORT
URGES BETTER SMOKE DETECTORS

AND FIRE EXTINGUISHERS
IN CARGO HOLDS,

AND IT CALLS
FOR SAFER CONTAINERS.

IN RESPONSE, UPS IMPLEMENTS ITS
OWN STATE-OF-THE-ART CONTAINERS

THAT SET A NEW STANDARD
FOR FIRE RESISTANCE.

THE COMPANY ALSO DESIGNS
FULL-FACE OXYGEN MASKS

FOR COCKPIT CREW

AND A SEALED AIR SYSTEM

THAT PREVENTS SMOKE
FROM OBSCURING THE INSTRUMENTS

AND WINDSHIELD.

THE TRAGEDIES EXPERIENCED AT
DUBAI, JEDDAH, AND MANCHESTER

EXACTED A TERRIBLE HUMAN COST.

BUT THEY HAVE ALSO
HELPED LEAD THE WAY

TOWARDS SKIES
THAT HAVE NEVER BEEN SAFER.

Derner: WE'VE KIND OF
REACHED THIS PINNACLE

IN AVIATION SAFETY THESE DAYS.

BUT WE WERE ABLE TO TAKE
ALL OF THOSE ACCIDENTS,

LEARN THOSE LESSONS, APPLY THEM,

AND MAKE IT THAT MUCH SAFER.

AND WE ARE LIVING IN THIS ERA,
THIS REMARKABLE ERA RIGHT NOW

BECAUSE OF THAT,

BECAUSE THEY
DID NOT DIE IN VAIN.