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FLIGHT ATTENDANT:
Ladies and gentlemen,
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00:00:08,241 --> 00:00:09,442
we are starting our approach.
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00:00:09,509 --> 00:00:10,610
PILOT: We lost both engines.
4
00:00:12,779 --> 00:00:13,380
PILOT: Mayday.
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00:00:13,446 --> 00:00:14,381
Mayday.
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00:00:14,447 --> 00:00:15,181
FLIGHT ATTENDANT:
Brace for impact!
7
00:00:19,786 --> 00:00:21,354
MAN: He's gonna crash!
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00:00:32,065 --> 00:00:35,135
NARRATOR: July
2002, over Germany,
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00:00:35,201 --> 00:00:38,138
the middle of the night--
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00:00:38,204 --> 00:00:39,606
What is it?
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00:00:39,672 --> 00:00:42,041
NARRATOR: A Russian plane is
taking children on holiday
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00:00:42,108 --> 00:00:43,143
to Spain.
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00:00:43,209 --> 00:00:45,078
But the pilots
can't believe what
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00:00:45,145 --> 00:00:46,780
they see heading toward them.
15
00:00:46,846 --> 00:00:47,614
Get an eye on it!
16
00:00:48,948 --> 00:00:50,216
Increase climb.
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00:00:50,283 --> 00:00:51,551
Climb, he said!
18
00:00:51,618 --> 00:00:52,819
Climb!
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00:00:52,886 --> 00:00:55,655
Ah!
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00:00:55,722 --> 00:00:56,489
Climb!
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00:01:09,836 --> 00:01:12,071
NARRATOR: It's among
the most poignant air
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disasters of recent times.
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How could two planes collide
over one of the most closely
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regulated areas in the world?
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Bravo Tango Charlie.
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00:01:22,182 --> 00:01:24,751
NARRATOR: Faulty
technology or human error?
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00:01:30,089 --> 00:01:31,157
Oh!
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00:01:32,826 --> 00:01:38,431
NARRATOR: June 2002, the city
of Ufa in Western Russia.
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00:01:38,498 --> 00:01:43,169
Ufa is populated by both
Christians and Muslims.
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00:01:43,236 --> 00:01:45,705
This year, its most
outstanding teenagers
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have been chosen
to go on a two week
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vacation, organized by UNESCO,
near Barcelona in Spain.
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They are among the
most clever, athletic,
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or artistic children of Ufa.
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Kiril Degtaryev is a
14-year-old prodigy.
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00:02:02,856 --> 00:02:05,425
He's been painting since
he was four years old,
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00:02:05,492 --> 00:02:08,061
and has already had
two public exhibitions.
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He's halfway through
his new work.
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INTERPRETER: He was
very good at painting.
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He felt colors.
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He received good reviews.
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He just graduated
from grade nine.
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He needed some rest, and
it was a good opportunity
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for a summer holiday.
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00:02:38,558 --> 00:02:40,527
NARRATOR: Elena Khannanova
is a 12-year-old
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who has won several
gymnastics competitions.
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INTERPRETER: We were
very glad for her
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because indeed very
smart and very talented
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children were flying there--
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all extraordinary children in
terms of their personalities.
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She studied very well and
she got only excellent marks.
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00:03:05,351 --> 00:03:07,020
NARRATOR: The 46
children from Ufa,
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00:03:07,086 --> 00:03:11,457
accompanied by a few teachers,
leave on a train to Moscow.
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00:03:11,524 --> 00:03:14,527
There they're due to catch
their flight to Barcelona.
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00:03:17,931 --> 00:03:21,067
But in Moscow, things
start to go wrong.
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The tourist agency
accidentally takes
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the children to
the wrong airport,
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so they miss their plane.
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00:03:26,739 --> 00:03:28,908
They're terribly disappointed.
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00:03:28,975 --> 00:03:31,544
While the agency tries
to sort out the mess,
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the children go sightseeing
in the Russian capital.
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It takes two days to
charter another jet,
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but finally they're on
their way to Barcelona.
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00:03:46,292 --> 00:03:49,796
On July 1, 2002, the
children from Ufa
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aboard their plane
at a Moscow airport.
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The Kaloyevs are not
part of the school group.
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They're going on
a holiday to meet
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their father, who's an
architect and is finishing
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00:04:02,141 --> 00:04:03,876
a project near Barcelona.
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00:04:09,649 --> 00:04:13,119
No fewer than five Russians
are flying this plane.
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00:04:13,186 --> 00:04:15,355
The captain is
Alexander Gross, who's
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been a pilot for over 30 years.
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INTERPRETER: Alexander had a
good theoretical knowledge.
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00:04:24,631 --> 00:04:26,699
He was very smart.
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00:04:26,766 --> 00:04:29,902
NARRATOR: Today the first
officer is Oleg Grigoriev.
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00:04:29,969 --> 00:04:33,473
But, actually, Grivoriev is
the airline's chief pilot.
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00:04:33,539 --> 00:04:35,208
On this trip,
he'll be evaluating
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00:04:35,274 --> 00:04:36,809
Captain Gross's flying.
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00:04:40,313 --> 00:04:41,581
INTERPRETER: If you
did something wrong,
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00:04:41,648 --> 00:04:43,950
some captains would
criticize you very rudely.
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00:04:44,017 --> 00:04:46,052
Others would be very
formal and polite.
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But Oleg Grigoriev would
express his disapproval
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00:04:52,825 --> 00:04:57,597
in a gesture, like that, meaning
why on Earth did you do that.
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NARRATOR: Captain
Gross is in command,
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00:04:59,732 --> 00:05:02,068
but Captain Grigoriev
is his superior.
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00:05:02,135 --> 00:05:06,506
In case of emergency, who
will really be in charge?
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00:05:06,572 --> 00:05:09,809
Seated in the left rear
is Murat Itkulov, normally
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the first officer, but who
is not officially on duty
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00:05:12,578 --> 00:05:14,647
because Grigoriev
is in his seat.
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00:05:14,714 --> 00:05:17,350
Nevertheless, since he'll
soon be promoted to captain,
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00:05:17,417 --> 00:05:19,218
his opinions are considered.
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00:05:24,457 --> 00:05:27,260
INTERPRETER: Murat was a
very professional pilot.
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He loved to fly.
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Murat was interested in
the new stuff in aviation
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and always kept up
to date on the most
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progressive things brought in.
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00:05:37,670 --> 00:05:39,172
NARRATOR: Also on
the flight deck
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are an experienced navigator
and a flight engineer.
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00:05:44,911 --> 00:05:49,816
Just before 11:00 that evening,
Bashkirian Airlines Flight 2937
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00:05:49,882 --> 00:05:51,084
leaves Moscow.
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00:05:51,150 --> 00:06:00,593
The plane is a Tupolev 154.
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00:06:00,660 --> 00:06:02,628
Like most modern
aircraft, it carries
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collision avoidance equipment
called TCAS or traffic
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collision avoidance system.
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00:06:07,734 --> 00:06:09,202
AUTOMATED VOICE: Descend.
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00:06:09,268 --> 00:06:10,369
Descend.
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00:06:10,436 --> 00:06:11,904
Descend.
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00:06:11,971 --> 00:06:14,907
NARRATOR: TCAS works because
all commercial aircraft carry
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00:06:14,974 --> 00:06:17,276
a transponder, which
sends a constant stream
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00:06:17,343 --> 00:06:22,615
of radio signals identifying
them and saying where they are.
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00:06:22,682 --> 00:06:26,185
TCAS listens in and calculates
whether any of the planes
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00:06:26,252 --> 00:06:27,754
is on a collision course.
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If they are, it will tell
the pilot what action
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00:06:30,490 --> 00:06:32,225
to take to avoid collision.
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00:06:32,291 --> 00:06:33,226
AUTOMATED VOICE: Descend.
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Descend.
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00:06:34,794 --> 00:06:36,562
NARRATOR: If air traffic control
should ever let them down,
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TCAS will be their
last line of defense.
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00:06:39,031 --> 00:06:40,533
AUTOMATED VOICE:
Clear of conflict.
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NARRATOR: Hundreds of miles
away, in Bergamo, Italy,
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00:06:46,539 --> 00:06:49,642
a Boeing 757 is
getting under way.
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00:06:49,709 --> 00:06:52,845
It's flying for DHL, the
international freight company,
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00:06:52,912 --> 00:06:54,614
and is heading for
their European base
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00:06:54,680 --> 00:06:56,249
at Brussels, in Belgium.
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00:06:56,315 --> 00:06:59,619
The Russian Tupolev will cross
its path over Southern Germany.
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00:07:02,555 --> 00:07:04,557
The Boeing has only
two people aboard--
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00:07:04,624 --> 00:07:07,260
Captain Paul Phillips,
who's British,
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00:07:07,326 --> 00:07:09,061
and First Officer
Brant Campioni,
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00:07:09,128 --> 00:07:12,265
who's Canadian and due to fly
the next leg of the journey.
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00:07:15,067 --> 00:07:18,304
The DHL takes off at 6
minutes past 11:00 on what
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00:07:18,371 --> 00:07:20,072
will be its last journey.
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00:07:45,631 --> 00:07:48,234
10 to 8:00 at the
Skyguide Area Control
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Center in Zurich, Switzerland.
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The busy day shift has
ended, and the night
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00:07:53,606 --> 00:07:55,208
shift is reporting for work.
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00:07:57,944 --> 00:08:00,546
Peter Nielsen is an
experienced controller.
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00:08:00,613 --> 00:08:04,417
He's been doing this
job for eight years.
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00:08:04,483 --> 00:08:07,420
The center regulates air
traffic in Southern Germany, as
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00:08:07,486 --> 00:08:09,121
well as northern Switzerland.
140
00:08:09,188 --> 00:08:12,959
Tonight there are only
two controllers on duty.
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00:08:13,025 --> 00:08:14,760
But the traffic in
their sector is light,
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00:08:14,827 --> 00:08:17,897
and Nielsen's colleague decides
to take a lengthy break--
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00:08:17,964 --> 00:08:21,234
a common practice at Skyguide.
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00:08:21,300 --> 00:08:23,970
Peter Nielsen is now
responsible for all air
145
00:08:24,036 --> 00:08:28,808
traffic on two radar screens
which sit several feet apart.
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00:08:28,875 --> 00:08:31,611
At 10 past 11:00, two
technicians arrive.
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00:08:31,677 --> 00:08:33,880
They inform Peter that
Skyguide Management
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00:08:33,946 --> 00:08:35,882
has authorized them to
carry out maintenance
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00:08:35,948 --> 00:08:37,516
work on the main radar.
150
00:08:37,583 --> 00:08:40,553
While they do so, the screens
will work much more slowly
151
00:08:40,620 --> 00:08:43,823
and will give no visual 2-minute
warning if planes are getting
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too close to each other.
153
00:08:45,658 --> 00:08:48,694
Tie into 933.
154
00:08:53,900 --> 00:09:05,511
Bavarian 350, descend
flight level 270.
155
00:09:05,578 --> 00:09:07,079
NARRATOR: The engineers
now tell Peter
156
00:09:07,146 --> 00:09:12,285
Nielsen they have to shut down
the telephone system, as well.
157
00:09:12,351 --> 00:09:14,387
They switch over to
the standby phones.
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00:09:19,725 --> 00:09:23,696
No one realizes it yet,
but the seeds of disaster
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00:09:23,763 --> 00:09:24,797
have been sown.
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00:09:31,070 --> 00:09:32,371
NARRATOR: The
Russian plane filled
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00:09:32,438 --> 00:09:35,942
with schoolchildren is
now over Central Germany
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00:09:36,008 --> 00:09:39,245
and flying toward Switzerland.
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00:09:39,312 --> 00:09:41,614
Captain Grivoriev
gets final clearance
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00:09:41,681 --> 00:09:43,349
from the last German
control center
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00:09:43,416 --> 00:09:45,618
before they cross
South into Switzerland.
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00:09:45,685 --> 00:09:50,156
128.05, Bravo
Tango Charlie 2937.
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Goodbye.
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00:09:51,190 --> 00:09:52,358
NARRATOR: The German
controller hands
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00:09:52,425 --> 00:09:54,360
over the Russian plane
to Skyguide, where
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00:09:54,427 --> 00:09:56,128
Peter Nielsen is at the helm.
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00:10:01,400 --> 00:10:04,804
Meanwhile, the DHL plane is
climbing north over the Alps
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00:10:04,870 --> 00:10:08,007
and is now entering
Swiss airspace.
173
00:10:08,074 --> 00:10:10,810
Zurich radar, good evening.
174
00:10:10,876 --> 00:10:12,411
Dilmun 611.
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00:10:12,478 --> 00:10:17,450
I'm climbing flight
level 260 direct ABC.
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00:10:17,516 --> 00:10:20,720
NARRATOR: Captain Paul Phillips
of the DHL requests clearance
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00:10:20,786 --> 00:10:22,822
to climb to a higher altitude.
178
00:10:22,888 --> 00:10:25,591
The thinner air there will
mean less air resistance,
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00:10:25,658 --> 00:10:26,525
and will save fuel.
180
00:10:26,592 --> 00:10:27,426
Roger.
181
00:10:27,493 --> 00:10:31,597
Climb flight level 320.
182
00:10:31,664 --> 00:10:34,500
Direct Tango Golf
Oscar and requesting
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00:10:34,567 --> 00:10:38,738
360, thanks, if it's available.
184
00:10:38,804 --> 00:10:46,212
Dilmun 611, climb
flight level 360.
185
00:10:46,278 --> 00:10:47,980
NARRATOR: The DHL
reaches flight level
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00:10:48,047 --> 00:10:53,753
360, or 36,000 feet, the same
altitude as the Russian plane.
187
00:10:53,819 --> 00:10:56,055
And they're on a
collision course.
188
00:10:56,122 --> 00:10:57,790
But they're many miles apart.
189
00:10:57,857 --> 00:10:59,458
So far, no danger.
190
00:11:03,629 --> 00:11:06,799
Now the assistant gives Peter
Nielsen a new flight strip--
191
00:11:06,866 --> 00:11:09,835
an Airbus, Aero
Lloyd flight 1135
192
00:11:09,902 --> 00:11:12,571
is flying to the airport
of Friedrichshafen, nearby.
193
00:11:15,241 --> 00:11:17,543
It's going to increase
Peter's workload dramatically
194
00:11:17,610 --> 00:11:20,079
over the next five minutes,
and have him switching
195
00:11:20,146 --> 00:11:21,814
from one screen to another.
196
00:11:24,517 --> 00:11:27,219
Peter tries to dial the
airport control tower
197
00:11:27,286 --> 00:11:29,255
at Friedrichshafen
to discuss handing
198
00:11:29,321 --> 00:11:32,925
over the Aero Lloyd flight to
them, but the line is dead.
199
00:11:37,663 --> 00:11:38,998
He tries a second time.
200
00:11:42,868 --> 00:11:44,570
The phones aren't working.
201
00:11:44,637 --> 00:11:47,339
AERO LLOYD PILOT (ON
RADIO):
202
00:11:48,407 --> 00:11:49,842
NARRATOR: The Aero
Lloyd pilot is trying
203
00:11:49,909 --> 00:11:51,544
to make contact with Peter.
204
00:11:51,610 --> 00:11:54,480
He has to leave the
Russian pilots unattended.
205
00:11:54,547 --> 00:11:56,348
ACTOR AS OLEG PAVLOVICH
(ON RADIO): Good evening.
206
00:11:56,415 --> 00:11:57,616
Bravo Tango Charlie.
207
00:11:57,683 --> 00:11:59,652
NARRATOR: But the Russian
pilot is also calling him
208
00:11:59,718 --> 00:12:00,886
on the other screen.
209
00:12:00,953 --> 00:12:02,555
Aero Lloyd 1135, Roger.
210
00:12:02,621 --> 00:12:03,456
Call you back.
211
00:12:05,958 --> 00:12:06,725
Station calling.
212
00:12:06,792 --> 00:12:08,627
Say again, please.
213
00:12:08,694 --> 00:12:09,962
Zurich, good evening.
214
00:12:10,029 --> 00:12:15,468
Bravo Tango Charlie
2937, level 360.
215
00:12:15,534 --> 00:12:20,906
Bravo Tango Charlie
2937, squad 7520.
216
00:12:20,973 --> 00:12:22,842
AERO LLOYD PILOT (ON
RADIO):
217
00:12:24,076 --> 00:12:25,377
NARRATOR: The Aero
Lloyd is calling again.
218
00:12:27,580 --> 00:12:28,180
Yeah.
219
00:12:28,247 --> 00:12:29,281
Expect so.
220
00:12:29,348 --> 00:12:30,149
Call you back shortly.
221
00:12:31,383 --> 00:12:33,052
NARRATOR: Now another
plane needs him,
222
00:12:33,119 --> 00:12:35,588
a Thai Airways
flight heading north.
223
00:12:35,654 --> 00:12:37,456
Thai, enter 933.
224
00:12:37,523 --> 00:12:41,160
Contact now on Munich 132.140.
225
00:12:41,227 --> 00:12:41,994
Goodbye.
226
00:12:43,462 --> 00:12:45,030
NARRATOR: Air traffic
controllers are used
227
00:12:45,097 --> 00:12:46,966
to handling tricky situations.
228
00:12:47,032 --> 00:12:50,302
But tonight Peter's equipment
isn't working properly,
229
00:12:50,369 --> 00:12:53,405
and he's controlling two
screens at the same time.
230
00:12:55,875 --> 00:12:59,478
Normally, his radar would warn
of any impending collision.
231
00:12:59,545 --> 00:13:03,082
What he doesn't know is that
tonight it's out of action.
232
00:13:03,149 --> 00:13:04,083
Correct.
233
00:13:04,150 --> 00:13:05,618
What is your present heading?
234
00:13:05,684 --> 00:13:08,721
AERO LLOYD PILOT (ON RADIO):
Present heading is 265.
235
00:13:08,787 --> 00:13:09,788
Roger.
236
00:13:09,855 --> 00:13:14,393
Right turn, heading
280, vector ILS 24.
237
00:13:14,460 --> 00:13:15,728
AERO LLOYD PILOT
(ON RADIO): Right.
238
00:13:15,794 --> 00:13:20,099
Heading 280 for two
expect us 24, Aero Lloyd.
239
00:13:20,166 --> 00:13:21,967
NARRATOR: Peter wants
to get this Aero
240
00:13:22,034 --> 00:13:23,669
Lloyd flight off his hands.
241
00:13:23,736 --> 00:13:25,704
He tries dialing
the public number
242
00:13:25,771 --> 00:13:28,641
for the Friedrichshafen control
tower for the third time.
243
00:13:28,707 --> 00:13:30,876
AUTOMATED VOICE (ON PHONE):
244
00:13:43,055 --> 00:13:46,058
NARRATOR: Meanwhile, the Russian
airliner and the DHL plane
245
00:13:46,125 --> 00:13:47,793
are still heading
towards each other
246
00:13:47,860 --> 00:13:52,231
at a closing speed of
over 800 miles an hour.
247
00:13:52,298 --> 00:13:54,033
Neither crew is
aware that they are
248
00:13:54,099 --> 00:13:56,235
only 2 and 1/2 minutes apart.
249
00:14:01,207 --> 00:14:06,512
The DHL plane is now approaching
the Swiss border with Germany.
250
00:14:06,579 --> 00:14:09,381
The Russian Tupolev is heading
for exactly the same spot
251
00:14:09,448 --> 00:14:12,451
at the same altitude.
252
00:14:12,518 --> 00:14:15,454
Finally, someone at another
air traffic control center
253
00:14:15,521 --> 00:14:16,855
in Germany spots the danger.
254
00:14:16,922 --> 00:14:17,756
AUTOMATED VOICE: Conflict.
255
00:14:17,823 --> 00:14:18,657
Conflict.
256
00:14:22,795 --> 00:14:25,464
He grabs the phone to warn
Nielsen, but can't get through.
257
00:14:34,139 --> 00:14:37,376
International air traffic
rules prevent him from talking
258
00:14:37,443 --> 00:14:38,777
to the pilots directly.
259
00:14:44,316 --> 00:14:45,217
Look.
260
00:14:45,284 --> 00:14:46,318
Look at that.
261
00:14:46,385 --> 00:14:47,586
NARRATOR: Now, for
the first time,
262
00:14:47,653 --> 00:14:50,089
the Russian pilots
can see the plane
263
00:14:50,155 --> 00:14:55,160
on the screen of their TCAS
anti-collision computer.
264
00:14:55,227 --> 00:14:58,230
But Peter Nielsen is still
focused on getting the Aero
265
00:14:58,297 --> 00:15:00,833
Lloyd flight safely down.
266
00:15:00,899 --> 00:15:01,967
Aero Lloyd 1135.
267
00:15:02,034 --> 00:15:04,336
AERO LLOYD PILOT (ON
RADIO): Aero Lloyd 1135.
268
00:15:04,403 --> 00:15:05,204
Go ahead, sir.
269
00:15:05,271 --> 00:15:06,505
Yeah.
270
00:15:06,572 --> 00:15:08,173
I lost my connection to
Friedrichshafen Airport.
271
00:15:08,240 --> 00:15:13,445
Could you please call them
on your second set, 124.35?
272
00:15:13,512 --> 00:15:17,049
Tell them you're coming in
ILS 24 with 20 miles now.
273
00:15:17,116 --> 00:15:18,117
AERO LLOYD PILOT (ON RADIO): OK.
274
00:15:18,183 --> 00:15:19,318
Will do.
275
00:15:19,385 --> 00:15:20,853
Thank you.
276
00:15:20,919 --> 00:15:21,687
OK.
277
00:15:21,754 --> 00:15:23,155
Taking over.
278
00:15:23,222 --> 00:15:26,558
NARRATOR: On the DHL cargo
plane the crew is relaxed.
279
00:15:26,625 --> 00:15:28,927
They don't know they're
on a collision course.
280
00:15:28,994 --> 00:15:32,197
Their TCAS hasn't
sounded a warning yet.
281
00:15:32,264 --> 00:15:33,098
Stuff I can get you?
282
00:15:33,165 --> 00:15:34,500
No.
283
00:15:34,566 --> 00:15:37,202
NARRATOR: The first officer
goes to the washroom.
284
00:15:37,269 --> 00:15:40,272
On the Russian plane, the
pilots are getting concerned.
285
00:15:40,339 --> 00:15:42,741
The other plane is
getting closer and closer.
286
00:15:42,808 --> 00:15:45,144
But they're not exactly
sure whether he's at
287
00:15:45,210 --> 00:15:46,879
the same altitude as they are.
288
00:15:46,945 --> 00:15:48,247
He's going below us.
289
00:15:48,314 --> 00:15:49,181
Why below?
290
00:15:49,248 --> 00:15:52,318
500-- no, 100 meters.
291
00:15:55,487 --> 00:15:56,288
AUTOMATED VOICE: Traffic.
292
00:15:56,355 --> 00:15:57,323
Traffic.
293
00:15:57,389 --> 00:15:58,657
- Now traffic.
- Why?
294
00:15:58,724 --> 00:15:59,325
Traffic.
295
00:15:59,391 --> 00:16:00,726
Traffic.
296
00:16:00,793 --> 00:16:02,895
NARRATOR: TCAS, the
collision avoidance computer,
297
00:16:02,961 --> 00:16:05,531
is warning the Russian pilots
that the other plane is
298
00:16:05,597 --> 00:16:08,267
getting too close for comfort.
299
00:16:09,735 --> 00:16:13,072
At the same moment, the
TCAS in the DHL cockpit
300
00:16:13,138 --> 00:16:16,942
detects the Russian plane.
301
00:16:17,009 --> 00:16:18,577
AUTOMATED VOICE: Descend.
302
00:16:18,644 --> 00:16:20,913
Descend.
303
00:16:26,685 --> 00:16:29,988
NARRATOR: Peter Nielsen finally
realizes what's happening.
304
00:16:30,055 --> 00:16:35,294
Bravo Tango Charlie 2937,
descend flight level 350.
305
00:16:35,361 --> 00:16:36,128
Expedite.
306
00:16:36,195 --> 00:16:37,930
I have crossing traffic.
307
00:16:37,996 --> 00:16:39,064
Descend.
308
00:16:39,131 --> 00:16:42,167
NARRATOR: Captain Gross
disengages the autopilot
309
00:16:42,234 --> 00:16:44,203
and starts to descend.
310
00:16:45,204 --> 00:16:46,071
AUTOMATED VOICE: Climb.
311
00:16:46,138 --> 00:16:47,306
Climb.
312
00:16:47,373 --> 00:16:48,607
NARRATOR: TCAS is
telling them to climb.
313
00:16:48,674 --> 00:16:51,477
The controller is
telling them to descend.
314
00:16:51,543 --> 00:16:52,644
It says climb.
315
00:16:52,711 --> 00:16:53,879
He is guiding us down.
316
00:16:53,946 --> 00:16:54,980
Descend?
317
00:16:55,047 --> 00:16:59,017
Bravo Tango Charlie,
2937, descend level 350.
318
00:16:59,084 --> 00:17:00,452
Expedite descent.
319
00:17:00,519 --> 00:17:03,722
Expedite descent level 350.
320
00:17:03,789 --> 00:17:07,126
Bravo Tango Charlie 2937.
321
00:17:11,397 --> 00:17:12,898
NARRATOR: Peter
Nielsen thinks he's
322
00:17:12,965 --> 00:17:15,701
averted a collision by telling
the Russian plane to descend.
323
00:17:15,768 --> 00:17:18,337
But what he doesn't
know is that the DHL
324
00:17:18,404 --> 00:17:20,472
pilots have received
a TCAS instruction
325
00:17:20,539 --> 00:17:22,408
telling them to descend.
326
00:17:22,474 --> 00:17:24,710
Increase!
327
00:17:24,777 --> 00:17:27,813
Dilmun 600, TCAS descent.
328
00:17:27,880 --> 00:17:29,415
NARRATOR: They're
trying to tell Nielsen
329
00:17:29,481 --> 00:17:32,184
that they have a TCAS
instruction to descend,
330
00:17:32,251 --> 00:17:35,721
but Peter can't hear them.
331
00:17:35,788 --> 00:17:38,891
If both planes obey TCAS,
there'd be no problem.
332
00:17:38,957 --> 00:17:40,859
But the Russians,
instead of climbing,
333
00:17:40,926 --> 00:17:43,395
have followed the
controller's orders.
334
00:17:43,462 --> 00:17:46,231
Now both planes are
diving toward each other.
335
00:17:46,298 --> 00:17:49,535
He is going below us!
336
00:17:49,601 --> 00:17:50,636
What is it?
337
00:17:54,206 --> 00:17:55,040
Here on the left!
338
00:17:58,410 --> 00:18:00,145
AUTOMATED VOICE: Increase climb.
339
00:18:00,212 --> 00:18:01,447
Increase climb.
340
00:18:01,513 --> 00:18:02,314
Climb, he says!
341
00:18:02,381 --> 00:18:03,148
Climb.
342
00:18:05,984 --> 00:18:06,585
Descend.
343
00:18:06,652 --> 00:18:07,653
Descend hard!
344
00:18:10,222 --> 00:18:11,123
Climb!
345
00:18:11,190 --> 00:18:13,091
Ah!
346
00:18:24,203 --> 00:18:29,007
NARRATOR: The tail of the DHL
clips the belly of the Tupolev,
347
00:18:29,074 --> 00:18:29,942
tearing it apart.
348
00:18:32,411 --> 00:18:34,446
The pilots soon
lose consciousness.
349
00:18:44,790 --> 00:18:48,160
The DHL struggles on
for another two minutes.
350
00:19:06,745 --> 00:19:10,415
It will crash four miles away.
351
00:19:10,482 --> 00:19:13,952
AERO LLOYD PILOT (ON RADIO):
Can we go over to 33,000?
352
00:19:14,019 --> 00:19:15,020
Affirming.
353
00:19:15,087 --> 00:19:15,988
Bye-bye.
354
00:19:16,054 --> 00:19:17,523
AERO LLOYD PILOT
(ON RADIO): Bye-bye.
355
00:19:17,589 --> 00:19:21,126
NARRATOR: Peter is unaware
of what just happened
356
00:19:21,193 --> 00:19:29,468
Bravo Tango Charlie 2937.
357
00:19:29,535 --> 00:19:31,970
Bravo Tango Charlie 2937.
358
00:19:37,309 --> 00:19:39,077
Bravo Tango Charlie--
359
00:19:39,144 --> 00:19:41,680
NARRATOR: This is the
nightmare that every controller
360
00:19:41,747 --> 00:19:43,715
hopes will not happen to him.
361
00:19:43,782 --> 00:19:48,520
Two of his aircraft collided,
killing scores of people.
362
00:19:48,587 --> 00:19:49,755
Oh!
363
00:19:49,821 --> 00:19:51,256
NARRATOR: Peter Nielsen
leaves the control
364
00:19:51,323 --> 00:19:55,627
room for the last time, but
his story is far from over.
365
00:20:05,938 --> 00:20:07,339
NARRATOR: The wreckage
of the two planes
366
00:20:07,406 --> 00:20:09,808
has fallen just outside the
small city of Uberlingen,
367
00:20:09,875 --> 00:20:12,811
on the German-Swiss border.
368
00:20:12,878 --> 00:20:16,114
Wreckage is scattered
over 130 square miles.
369
00:20:16,181 --> 00:20:19,418
It's the worst midair collision
in German postwar history.
370
00:20:21,553 --> 00:20:23,822
Debris comes raining
down around a school
371
00:20:23,889 --> 00:20:27,693
for handicapped children run
by Bruno and Stella Vegmula.
372
00:20:27,759 --> 00:20:31,630
STELLA VEGMULA: The sky
was orange-red, flaming.
373
00:20:31,697 --> 00:20:33,732
And we saw these
pieces falling down,
374
00:20:33,799 --> 00:20:36,168
and detonations again and again.
375
00:20:36,234 --> 00:20:39,204
And we realized it couldn't
have been a normal thunderstorm.
376
00:20:39,271 --> 00:20:42,941
It was something we had
never heard and seen before.
377
00:20:43,008 --> 00:20:45,978
BRUNO VEGMULA: It was
incredible because it--
378
00:20:46,044 --> 00:20:50,415
there are many, many
houses here and there
379
00:20:50,482 --> 00:20:52,317
was nothing on this place.
380
00:20:52,384 --> 00:20:57,656
But around our school we
find the bodies, children.
381
00:20:57,723 --> 00:20:59,825
STELLA VEGMULA: We very
soon also realized that we
382
00:20:59,891 --> 00:21:01,159
couldn't do anything, really.
383
00:21:01,226 --> 00:21:02,628
We couldn't save anyone.
384
00:21:02,694 --> 00:21:05,330
We couldn't help anyone.
385
00:21:05,397 --> 00:21:07,065
INTERPRETER: Yhe problem
was that the bodies
386
00:21:07,132 --> 00:21:10,769
and debris were dispersed
over a very, very wide area--
387
00:21:10,836 --> 00:21:13,338
approximately 40
square kilometers--
388
00:21:13,405 --> 00:21:17,876
a corridor 20 kilometers
long and 2 kilometers wide.
389
00:21:17,943 --> 00:21:20,278
NARRATOR: It was the
largest police operation
390
00:21:20,345 --> 00:21:22,381
in the province of
Baden-Wurttemberg,
391
00:21:22,447 --> 00:21:26,985
lasting a week and
involving over 6,000 people.
392
00:21:27,052 --> 00:21:28,754
INTERPRETER: The people
were all very sad.
393
00:21:28,820 --> 00:21:30,822
They were you're in a
state of extreme shock.
394
00:21:30,889 --> 00:21:33,058
And, naturally, the rescue
team could feel that
395
00:21:33,125 --> 00:21:36,161
and empathized with
their suffering.
396
00:21:36,228 --> 00:21:37,996
NARRATOR: The
policeman is standing
397
00:21:38,063 --> 00:21:40,799
where the DHL plane crashed.
398
00:21:40,866 --> 00:21:43,035
INTERPRETER: Here you
see no more trees.
399
00:21:43,101 --> 00:21:47,272
The trees have
completely burned down.
400
00:21:47,339 --> 00:21:49,107
We assume that the
turbines of the Boeing
401
00:21:49,174 --> 00:21:53,578
separated first, approximately
700 to 800 meters high,
402
00:21:53,645 --> 00:21:55,614
before this plane crashed.
403
00:21:55,681 --> 00:21:59,518
One landed 300 meters that
way, and the other turbine was
404
00:21:59,584 --> 00:22:03,055
another 500 meters that way.
405
00:22:03,121 --> 00:22:05,490
NARRATOR: In this garden
lay many of the bodies
406
00:22:05,557 --> 00:22:07,092
of the children of Ufa.
407
00:22:07,159 --> 00:22:12,030
In this part died 28 children.
408
00:22:15,033 --> 00:22:21,173
In this field there was a child.
409
00:22:21,239 --> 00:22:26,278
More over here in this
field, there was a--
410
00:22:26,344 --> 00:22:27,546
here.
411
00:22:47,132 --> 00:22:48,967
INTERPRETER: When they showed
a close up of an airplane,
412
00:22:49,034 --> 00:22:51,169
I saw an emblem of
our Bashkir Airlines
413
00:22:51,236 --> 00:22:52,337
on the rear of the aircraft.
414
00:22:56,975 --> 00:22:58,210
I was in the kitchen.
415
00:22:58,276 --> 00:23:00,812
Everybody was still asleep.
416
00:23:00,879 --> 00:23:02,614
I nearly fainted.
417
00:23:02,681 --> 00:23:03,682
I leaned to the table.
418
00:23:09,254 --> 00:23:10,922
I didn't know what to do.
419
00:23:10,989 --> 00:23:13,625
NARRATOR: The Khannanov family
lost their only daughter.
420
00:23:16,428 --> 00:23:18,630
Irina Degtaryeva
lost her only child.
421
00:23:20,866 --> 00:23:22,167
IRINA DEGTARYEVA:
422
00:23:22,234 --> 00:23:24,636
INTERPRETER: We hoped for
some kind of a miracle,
423
00:23:24,703 --> 00:23:27,172
that he missed the plane.
424
00:23:27,239 --> 00:23:31,243
In a word, we didn't want
to believe in this news.
425
00:23:31,309 --> 00:23:33,445
It was like thunder
in a clear sky,
426
00:23:33,512 --> 00:23:35,914
and God forbid anyone
gets news like this.
427
00:23:40,619 --> 00:23:43,355
NARRATOR: Vitaly Kaloyev,
a Russian architect,
428
00:23:43,421 --> 00:23:46,458
was awaiting his
family in Barcelona.
429
00:23:46,525 --> 00:23:49,427
He is one of the first
to arrive in Uberlingen.
430
00:23:49,494 --> 00:23:51,229
Although the relatives
are not encouraged
431
00:23:51,296 --> 00:23:55,300
to participate in this search,
Vitaly cannot help himself.
432
00:24:24,796 --> 00:24:27,532
Vitaly finds a broken
pearl necklace.
433
00:24:27,599 --> 00:24:30,769
He recognizes it as his
four-year-old daughter's.
434
00:24:33,939 --> 00:24:34,773
My angel.
435
00:24:47,018 --> 00:24:49,521
NARRATOR: Amazingly,
amidst all the carnage,
436
00:24:49,588 --> 00:24:52,090
Vitaly finds his
daughter's body intact.
437
00:24:59,164 --> 00:25:00,765
She did not suffer at all.
438
00:25:04,069 --> 00:25:06,705
NARRATOR: The mutilated
bodies of his wife and son
439
00:25:06,771 --> 00:25:08,607
won't be found until later.
440
00:25:12,777 --> 00:25:15,447
Over six days of searching,
the rescue workers
441
00:25:15,513 --> 00:25:17,682
gathered bodies and
body parts scattered
442
00:25:17,749 --> 00:25:20,752
all over the Southern
German countryside.
443
00:25:20,819 --> 00:25:23,722
INTERPRETER: By Thursday of
that week, two days later,
444
00:25:23,788 --> 00:25:26,224
the relatives started arriving.
445
00:25:26,291 --> 00:25:27,726
They could not
all see the bodies
446
00:25:27,792 --> 00:25:31,630
we'd found because most of
the bodies were badly charred
447
00:25:31,696 --> 00:25:33,098
or mutilated.
448
00:25:33,164 --> 00:25:35,233
We didn't permit the
relatives to view
449
00:25:35,300 --> 00:25:38,970
the bodies in that condition.
450
00:25:54,185 --> 00:25:56,021
NARRATOR: In Ufa,
in Western Russia,
451
00:25:56,087 --> 00:25:59,224
both the Christian and Muslim
communities are devastated
452
00:25:59,291 --> 00:26:01,893
by the loss of their children.
453
00:26:01,960 --> 00:26:05,063
In a cemetery, where 53 of
the people in the Tupolev
454
00:26:05,130 --> 00:26:08,466
are buried, there are two
double rows of gravestones,
455
00:26:08,533 --> 00:26:10,735
with the Christian
Orthodox on one side
456
00:26:10,802 --> 00:26:12,570
and the Muslims on the other.
457
00:26:16,107 --> 00:26:20,111
This is Kiril's grave,
the young talented artist.
458
00:26:20,178 --> 00:26:23,648
And this is Elena's,
the 12-year-old gymnast.
459
00:26:37,228 --> 00:26:40,732
Vitaly Kaloyev, who
lost his entire family,
460
00:26:40,799 --> 00:26:43,802
has designed and built a huge
monument in their memory.
461
00:26:48,039 --> 00:26:52,744
Day and night he lingers at
the cemetery, inconsolable.
462
00:27:00,819 --> 00:27:03,455
At Skyguide in Zurich,
after the collision,
463
00:27:03,521 --> 00:27:06,024
work all but comes
to a standstill.
464
00:27:06,091 --> 00:27:08,259
PATRICK HERR: People
were in a state of shock.
465
00:27:08,326 --> 00:27:10,462
They were shocked.
466
00:27:10,528 --> 00:27:12,564
They were helpless.
467
00:27:12,630 --> 00:27:15,633
There was a lot of
sadness, people crying.
468
00:27:15,700 --> 00:27:18,870
One of the biggest tasks
was to maintain operations,
469
00:27:18,937 --> 00:27:20,839
because there were
planes coming in,
470
00:27:20,905 --> 00:27:22,941
going out after this tragedy.
471
00:27:23,008 --> 00:27:24,876
And that was a
very, very difficult
472
00:27:24,943 --> 00:27:26,678
situation for everybody.
473
00:27:28,079 --> 00:27:29,481
NARRATOR: For three weeks
after the collision,
474
00:27:29,547 --> 00:27:33,318
capacity is reduced for lack
of available controllers.
475
00:27:33,385 --> 00:27:37,589
Peter Nielsen never again worked
on an air traffic workstation.
476
00:27:37,655 --> 00:27:40,458
If you go through
something like that,
477
00:27:40,525 --> 00:27:42,827
you're not able to come back.
478
00:27:42,894 --> 00:27:46,264
It's too deep in, and
it's too, too big.
479
00:27:51,469 --> 00:27:54,272
NARRATOR: The hunt
begins for a scapegoat.
480
00:27:54,339 --> 00:27:56,341
Blame for the
collision initially
481
00:27:56,408 --> 00:27:58,009
falls on the Russians.
482
00:27:58,076 --> 00:27:59,778
REPORTER (VOICEOVER): The
pilot of the Russian plane
483
00:27:59,844 --> 00:28:01,813
is said to have ignored
repeated instructions
484
00:28:01,880 --> 00:28:03,782
from air traffic controllers.
485
00:28:03,848 --> 00:28:06,751
Repeatedly, they
contacted the Russian pilot
486
00:28:06,818 --> 00:28:09,187
and asked him to change
altitude because he
487
00:28:09,254 --> 00:28:11,256
was flying at a level where
he should not have been.
488
00:28:11,322 --> 00:28:14,059
Now, the Russian pilot never
responded to those warnings
489
00:28:14,125 --> 00:28:15,427
from air traffic control.
490
00:28:15,493 --> 00:28:19,597
As Russian pilots,
particularly in Soviet times--
491
00:28:19,664 --> 00:28:22,434
and also now but to
a lesser extent--
492
00:28:22,500 --> 00:28:24,369
were extremely well-trained.
493
00:28:24,436 --> 00:28:27,405
I have no concerns about
the training of pilots.
494
00:28:27,472 --> 00:28:31,242
They've been trained for almost
every operational possibility
495
00:28:31,309 --> 00:28:32,444
that could happen.
496
00:28:32,510 --> 00:28:35,613
Why did the TCAS device,
meant to avoid collisions,
497
00:28:35,680 --> 00:28:37,382
in this case maybe
help cause one?
498
00:28:37,449 --> 00:28:40,485
And why didn't the Russian plane
descend when first ordered?
499
00:28:40,552 --> 00:28:41,753
A language problem?
500
00:28:41,820 --> 00:28:43,755
Controller commands
are always in English.
501
00:28:43,822 --> 00:28:46,558
I knew everybody
from that crew,
502
00:28:46,624 --> 00:28:51,496
and everybody knew
English enough
503
00:28:51,563 --> 00:28:54,432
to speak with controller.
504
00:28:54,499 --> 00:28:55,967
NARRATOR: So who is to blame?
505
00:28:56,034 --> 00:28:59,804
The media spotlight now falls
on controller Peter Nielsen.
506
00:28:59,871 --> 00:29:01,873
He was the man who
had guided the two
507
00:29:01,940 --> 00:29:03,441
planes toward each other.
508
00:29:03,508 --> 00:29:05,009
They were under his control.
509
00:29:05,076 --> 00:29:07,278
He must have caused
them to collide.
510
00:29:07,345 --> 00:29:10,415
I was as shocked as I could
have been with any other name
511
00:29:10,482 --> 00:29:13,017
or any other colleague.
512
00:29:13,084 --> 00:29:14,786
I was just very sorry for him.
513
00:29:14,853 --> 00:29:16,888
The media coverage
about the incident
514
00:29:16,955 --> 00:29:19,390
very often makes you angry
because these statements
515
00:29:19,457 --> 00:29:21,426
are taken out of context.
516
00:29:21,493 --> 00:29:23,628
You really get the
impression that they just
517
00:29:23,695 --> 00:29:25,096
want to fill the newspaper.
518
00:29:25,163 --> 00:29:26,931
They write whatever they get.
519
00:29:26,998 --> 00:29:29,801
And what more do we know
about this Swiss controller
520
00:29:29,868 --> 00:29:31,002
at the center of
the investigation?
521
00:29:31,069 --> 00:29:34,439
He was chased by the media.
522
00:29:34,506 --> 00:29:38,243
He was accused of
being a murderer.
523
00:29:38,309 --> 00:29:40,445
He's the man, obviously,
everyone wants to talk to.
524
00:29:40,512 --> 00:29:43,181
But at the moment, the Swiss
say he's in no position to talk.
525
00:29:43,248 --> 00:29:45,483
And we heard today the Swiss
authorities have opened
526
00:29:45,550 --> 00:29:48,520
an investigation to see
whether there's enough evidence
527
00:29:48,586 --> 00:29:51,890
for charges of manslaughter.
528
00:29:51,956 --> 00:29:54,025
NARRATOR: Meanwhile, a
forensic investigation
529
00:29:54,092 --> 00:29:57,629
is also underway, headed by
Germany's air crash detectives,
530
00:29:57,695 --> 00:29:59,464
the BFU.
531
00:29:59,531 --> 00:30:02,567
This is the hangar where
wreckage of the planes
532
00:30:02,634 --> 00:30:04,035
was examined.
533
00:30:04,102 --> 00:30:07,238
This one here is the lowest
surface of the right wing
534
00:30:07,305 --> 00:30:08,473
of the Tupolev.
535
00:30:08,540 --> 00:30:14,279
And that remaining stump
here went below the Tupolev
536
00:30:14,345 --> 00:30:18,650
and caused these scratches.
537
00:30:18,716 --> 00:30:22,053
That top part of
the vertical tail
538
00:30:22,120 --> 00:30:26,958
remained at the accident
site on the main wreckage
539
00:30:27,025 --> 00:30:28,326
of the Boeing.
540
00:30:28,393 --> 00:30:30,728
NARRATOR: But could this
accident have been avoided?
541
00:30:30,795 --> 00:30:34,999
TCAS normally has a safeguard
mechanism called a reversal.
542
00:30:35,066 --> 00:30:38,036
If an alert is issued
and one aircraft crew
543
00:30:38,102 --> 00:30:42,440
ignores an instruction,
TCAS orders a reversal.
544
00:30:42,507 --> 00:30:46,778
If the TCAS on Aircraft A sense
is that Aircraft B is still
545
00:30:46,844 --> 00:30:48,580
on a collision
course, it will tell
546
00:30:48,646 --> 00:30:50,381
it to go in another direction.
547
00:30:50,448 --> 00:30:51,516
But it didn't.
548
00:30:51,583 --> 00:30:52,350
Why?
549
00:30:54,485 --> 00:30:55,820
INTERPRETER: One of the
major requirements for that
550
00:30:55,887 --> 00:30:58,156
is that both planes
have to be at least
551
00:30:58,223 --> 00:31:02,527
100 feet apart in altitude.
552
00:31:02,594 --> 00:31:07,065
But this requirement
was not met at the time.
553
00:31:07,131 --> 00:31:10,768
That's why no
reversal was given.
554
00:31:10,835 --> 00:31:14,172
NARRATOR: When the DHL's TCAS
saw that the Tupolev wasn't
555
00:31:14,239 --> 00:31:18,176
climbing, it could only tell its
pilots to descend even faster.
556
00:31:18,243 --> 00:31:21,479
AUTOMATED VOICE:
Increase descent.
557
00:31:24,249 --> 00:31:26,351
NARRATOR: If the reversal
had been possible,
558
00:31:26,417 --> 00:31:29,721
the children of Ufa
might have lived.
559
00:31:41,332 --> 00:31:46,204
July 2003, many parents return
to Uberlingen in Germany
560
00:31:46,271 --> 00:31:49,674
for the first anniversary.
561
00:31:59,651 --> 00:32:03,288
The Germans built a Memorial
on the site of the tragedy.
562
00:32:03,354 --> 00:32:06,591
It's made up of a series
of giant silver pearls
563
00:32:06,658 --> 00:32:08,493
on a broken necklace.
564
00:32:25,243 --> 00:32:27,578
The head of Skyguide
is in the crowd.
565
00:32:30,348 --> 00:32:32,850
INTERPRETER: Can you tell us,
what are the mistakes you made?
566
00:32:32,917 --> 00:32:35,053
INTERPRETER: I don't think this
is the time to talk about it.
567
00:32:35,119 --> 00:32:36,988
I'm sure you'll understand.
568
00:32:37,055 --> 00:32:38,623
INTERPRETER: Have
you apologized?
569
00:32:38,690 --> 00:32:42,193
INTERPRETER: OK, thank you.
570
00:32:46,798 --> 00:32:50,835
NARRATOR: Among the
parents is Vitaly Kaloyev.
571
00:32:50,902 --> 00:32:54,138
He asks the head of Skyguide
which controller was
572
00:32:54,205 --> 00:32:56,774
responsible for the accident.
573
00:32:56,841 --> 00:33:02,146
Yes, in fact, the man asked
if it is possible to meet
574
00:33:02,213 --> 00:33:05,183
the controller, to meet Peter.
575
00:33:05,249 --> 00:33:07,752
And the answer was
it is not possible.
576
00:33:07,819 --> 00:33:10,555
NARRATOR: The request
passes almost unnoticed.
577
00:33:10,621 --> 00:33:13,925
But Vitaly Kaloyev
is not satisfied.
578
00:33:13,991 --> 00:33:15,259
AUTOMATED VOICE: Descend.
579
00:33:15,326 --> 00:33:17,562
NARRATOR: Meanwhile, as
the investigators work,
580
00:33:17,628 --> 00:33:21,265
they discover a fog of
confusion surrounding TCAS.
581
00:33:21,332 --> 00:33:23,901
When it was introduced
20 years before,
582
00:33:23,968 --> 00:33:25,870
there had been a fatal omission.
583
00:33:25,937 --> 00:33:28,506
Descend, flight level 350.
584
00:33:28,573 --> 00:33:29,807
Expedite.
585
00:33:29,874 --> 00:33:31,409
NARRATOR: No one said, what
should happen if there was
586
00:33:31,476 --> 00:33:34,078
a conflict between
what TCAS was saying
587
00:33:34,145 --> 00:33:36,013
and what the
controller was saying.
588
00:33:36,080 --> 00:33:37,582
It says climb.
589
00:33:37,648 --> 00:33:40,585
NARRATOR: There is no hard and
fast rule to guide the pilots.
590
00:33:40,651 --> 00:33:42,053
He is guiding us down.
591
00:33:42,120 --> 00:33:43,454
AUTOMATED VOICE:
Increase descent.
592
00:33:43,521 --> 00:33:46,124
NARRATOR: Pilots in the West
are taught to obey TCAS.
593
00:33:46,190 --> 00:33:49,427
Dilmun 600, TCAS descent.
594
00:33:49,494 --> 00:33:52,897
NARRATOR: In the rest of the
world, it was anyone's guess.
595
00:33:54,532 --> 00:33:55,700
INTERPRETER: We're
not accustomed
596
00:33:55,767 --> 00:33:57,635
to not trusting controllers.
597
00:33:59,771 --> 00:34:01,739
INTERPRETER: In
civil aviation, there
598
00:34:01,806 --> 00:34:04,142
were lots of situations
when pilots didn't follow
599
00:34:04,208 --> 00:34:05,877
instructions of the controller.
600
00:34:05,943 --> 00:34:10,715
And that led to plane
crashes or other accidents.
601
00:34:10,782 --> 00:34:14,085
NARRATOR: The potential for a
terrible accident was there.
602
00:34:14,152 --> 00:34:16,053
And a year and a half
before the collision
603
00:34:16,120 --> 00:34:18,356
over Uberlingen,
it nearly happened.
604
00:34:18,423 --> 00:34:22,393
Over Japan, two jumbo
jets with 677 people
605
00:34:22,460 --> 00:34:24,762
aboard came so close
that they filled
606
00:34:24,829 --> 00:34:26,564
each other's windscreens.
607
00:34:26,631 --> 00:34:29,634
The violent avoidance
maneuver caused 100 people
608
00:34:29,700 --> 00:34:33,271
to be injured, some
of them seriously.
609
00:34:33,337 --> 00:34:36,541
This was seconds away from
being the worst plane crash
610
00:34:36,607 --> 00:34:39,710
in aviation history,
because a pilot
611
00:34:39,777 --> 00:34:42,880
had listened to the controller
instead of his TCAS.
612
00:34:42,947 --> 00:34:44,382
AUTOMATED VOICE: Descend.
613
00:34:44,449 --> 00:34:47,218
NARRATOR: It should have served
as a warning to everyone.
614
00:34:47,285 --> 00:34:50,354
Yet, from ICAO, the
International Civil Aviation
615
00:34:50,421 --> 00:34:53,157
Organization, there
was only silence.
616
00:34:53,224 --> 00:34:56,027
ICAO is responsible for
drawing up the rules
617
00:34:56,093 --> 00:34:57,595
of commercial aviation.
618
00:35:01,032 --> 00:35:03,334
INTERPRETER: If ICAO had carried
out a detailed investigation
619
00:35:03,401 --> 00:35:06,637
of the incident in Japan and
made recommendations that led
620
00:35:06,704 --> 00:35:09,173
to changes in
procedures, this probably
621
00:35:09,240 --> 00:35:11,342
would not have happened.
622
00:35:11,409 --> 00:35:12,877
NARRATOR: The
Japanese government
623
00:35:12,944 --> 00:35:16,514
immediately asked for ICAO's
guidance after their near-miss.
624
00:35:16,581 --> 00:35:19,784
But, unfortunately, ICAO
only acted on the request
625
00:35:19,851 --> 00:35:24,555
18 months later, after the
collision over Uberlingen.
626
00:35:24,622 --> 00:35:28,359
German investigators say
that ICAO's vagueness on TCAS
627
00:35:28,426 --> 00:35:31,395
was one reason for the
Uberlingen disaster.
628
00:35:31,462 --> 00:35:36,467
Perhaps the ICAO
procedures and standards--
629
00:35:36,534 --> 00:35:40,605
but in particular operating
procedures for airborne
630
00:35:40,671 --> 00:35:44,008
collision avoidance--
were somewhat ambiguous
631
00:35:44,075 --> 00:35:47,111
or open to interpretation.
632
00:35:47,178 --> 00:35:49,146
NARRATOR: The Japanese
incident was not
633
00:35:49,213 --> 00:35:51,415
the only warning ICAO received.
634
00:35:51,482 --> 00:35:54,018
In the two years before
the Uberlingen collision,
635
00:35:54,085 --> 00:35:57,154
four other near-misses
occurred over Europe alone
636
00:35:57,221 --> 00:35:59,423
because one set of
pilots obeyed air traffic
637
00:35:59,490 --> 00:36:02,059
control instead of their TCAS.
638
00:36:02,126 --> 00:36:07,365
If I have to summarize the
advice that we gave the world--
639
00:36:07,431 --> 00:36:12,003
if a warning comes from TCAS,
pilots should immediately
640
00:36:12,069 --> 00:36:14,171
follow it at all times.
641
00:36:14,238 --> 00:36:17,708
With the benefit of hindsight,
you always ask yourself could
642
00:36:17,775 --> 00:36:19,310
we have done more.
643
00:36:19,377 --> 00:36:23,281
And an accident is a wake
up call for everybody.
644
00:36:24,882 --> 00:36:27,585
NARRATOR: All of these
regrets are little comfort now
645
00:36:27,652 --> 00:36:31,689
to the grieving parents of Ufa.
646
00:36:32,990 --> 00:36:35,393
INTERPRETER: Everything
that was good is in the past
647
00:36:35,459 --> 00:36:37,795
and was connected with my child.
648
00:36:37,862 --> 00:36:40,031
All the hopes,
dreams, were connected
649
00:36:40,097 --> 00:36:42,900
with him, with his future.
650
00:36:42,967 --> 00:36:45,236
And now, nothing left.
651
00:36:45,303 --> 00:36:48,673
At least I've got nothing left.
652
00:36:48,739 --> 00:36:53,077
So the right way to put it
is my life didn't change.
653
00:36:53,144 --> 00:36:54,378
It stopped.
654
00:37:05,756 --> 00:37:07,925
INTERPRETER: Our pain doesn't
go away, you know, it's
655
00:37:07,992 --> 00:37:09,460
getting stronger every year.
656
00:37:15,399 --> 00:37:18,135
It's getting hard to live.
657
00:37:18,202 --> 00:37:19,837
At first we had
a hope that she'd
658
00:37:19,904 --> 00:37:23,140
come back, that time
would pass and things
659
00:37:23,207 --> 00:37:26,644
would fall into right places.
660
00:37:26,711 --> 00:37:28,012
And now the hope is gone.
661
00:37:32,917 --> 00:37:34,619
NARRATOR: The architect
Vitaly Kaloyev
662
00:37:34,685 --> 00:37:38,789
has lost his entire family
and is obsessed with revenge.
663
00:37:42,226 --> 00:37:44,795
He decides to travel
to Zurich to play
664
00:37:44,862 --> 00:37:47,898
out the last tragic chapter
in the Uberlingen story.
665
00:37:52,436 --> 00:37:56,140
NARRATOR: On February
24, 2004, a stranger
666
00:37:56,207 --> 00:37:58,909
calls at the house of the
controller Peter Nielsen.
667
00:38:04,015 --> 00:38:04,849
Yeah?
668
00:38:08,619 --> 00:38:09,754
Get out of my face.
669
00:38:09,820 --> 00:38:12,657
Just go away.
670
00:38:12,723 --> 00:38:13,624
Ah!
671
00:38:26,437 --> 00:38:30,041
It was just the saddest
thing you can imagine.
672
00:38:30,107 --> 00:38:31,542
I knew his family.
673
00:38:31,609 --> 00:38:34,545
I know-- I knew how much he
loved his kids and his wife.
674
00:38:34,612 --> 00:38:36,113
And-- and--
675
00:38:41,419 --> 00:38:42,820
INTERPRETER: The
presumed perpetrator
676
00:38:42,887 --> 00:38:48,926
is apparently 48 years
old and of Eastern origin.
677
00:38:48,993 --> 00:38:51,562
He is likely the father
of one of the families
678
00:38:51,629 --> 00:38:54,398
that was killed at the crash.
679
00:38:54,465 --> 00:38:59,003
He likely lost his wife
and both their children.
680
00:38:59,070 --> 00:39:00,905
NARRATOR: They
find Vitaly Kaloyev
681
00:39:00,971 --> 00:39:03,708
nearby in a hotel,
suspected but not
682
00:39:03,774 --> 00:39:06,210
yet charged with the murder.
683
00:39:06,277 --> 00:39:08,045
He is sent to a
psychiatric clinic
684
00:39:08,112 --> 00:39:11,348
while they decide if
he's fit to stand trial.
685
00:39:12,950 --> 00:39:15,019
INTERPRETER: Did he have
the capacity to discern?
686
00:39:15,086 --> 00:39:19,390
Was it an impulse or did he have
the capacity to commit a crime?
687
00:39:23,761 --> 00:39:25,663
INTERPRETER: Certain
traces and police evidence
688
00:39:25,730 --> 00:39:27,598
were found which
seemed to indicate
689
00:39:27,665 --> 00:39:30,000
that he could be the murderer.
690
00:39:30,067 --> 00:39:32,236
INTERPRETER: We are
working on this theory
691
00:39:32,303 --> 00:39:34,405
after the accused
himself conceded
692
00:39:34,472 --> 00:39:35,673
that he could be the murderer.
693
00:39:37,174 --> 00:39:39,643
INTERPRETER: We didn't
want him to be killed.
694
00:39:43,414 --> 00:39:45,249
We didn't want to
have more victims
695
00:39:45,316 --> 00:39:50,855
related to that catastrophe
because of our children.
696
00:39:50,921 --> 00:39:53,691
NARRATOR: Convicted
of murder in 2005,
697
00:39:53,758 --> 00:39:57,695
Vitaly Kaloyev served two
years in a Swiss prison.
698
00:39:57,762 --> 00:39:59,263
The killing of the
flight controller
699
00:39:59,330 --> 00:40:01,265
was a very, very sad event.
700
00:40:01,332 --> 00:40:05,669
And the saddest thing of all
was that he was not actually
701
00:40:05,736 --> 00:40:07,605
responsible for the accident.
702
00:40:07,671 --> 00:40:09,540
The system responsible
for the accident
703
00:40:09,607 --> 00:40:12,543
was the poor Skyguide
management and quality
704
00:40:12,610 --> 00:40:13,611
control of their system.
705
00:40:17,281 --> 00:40:18,883
NARRATOR: The investigators
worked out exactly what went
706
00:40:18,949 --> 00:40:21,652
wrong that night at
Skyguide, and how
707
00:40:21,719 --> 00:40:23,888
an unfortunate
series of events made
708
00:40:23,954 --> 00:40:26,791
disaster almost inevitable.
709
00:40:26,857 --> 00:40:29,693
First Peter's colleague
goes for a break,
710
00:40:29,760 --> 00:40:31,729
leaving him alone
to watch two radar
711
00:40:31,796 --> 00:40:34,064
screens several feet apart.
712
00:40:34,131 --> 00:40:37,234
INTERPRETER: It was a standard
practice at the ATC company
713
00:40:37,301 --> 00:40:40,104
that, at night, one
air traffic controller
714
00:40:40,171 --> 00:40:44,208
was responsible for controlling
the entire airspace of ATC
715
00:40:44,275 --> 00:40:45,676
Zurich.
716
00:40:45,743 --> 00:40:47,978
NARRATOR: Then, following
management instructions,
717
00:40:48,045 --> 00:40:50,781
the maintenance men start
to switch things off.
718
00:40:50,848 --> 00:40:53,250
Peter's radar screen
is working more slowly
719
00:40:53,317 --> 00:40:57,254
and will not warn him if two
planes are about to collide.
720
00:40:57,321 --> 00:40:58,656
He doesn't know that.
721
00:41:01,192 --> 00:41:02,593
INTERPRETER: During
the maintenance work
722
00:41:02,660 --> 00:41:05,863
the radar system had to
be run in fallback mode.
723
00:41:05,930 --> 00:41:10,668
In fallback mode, the controller
has no STCA available.
724
00:41:10,734 --> 00:41:14,205
NARRATOR: STCA is short-term
collision alert, a warning
725
00:41:14,271 --> 00:41:17,241
on the radar screen that
planes are in imminent danger
726
00:41:17,308 --> 00:41:18,542
of collision.
727
00:41:19,710 --> 00:41:21,645
INTERPRETER: He did
not know that the STCA
728
00:41:21,712 --> 00:41:23,981
system would not be available.
729
00:41:24,048 --> 00:41:27,084
NARRATOR: Then, by chance,
an unexpected aircraft--
730
00:41:27,151 --> 00:41:28,619
the Aero Lloyd tourist plane--
731
00:41:28,686 --> 00:41:32,223
arrives at a critical moment
and needs a lot of attention.
732
00:41:32,289 --> 00:41:34,491
It completely distracts Peter.
733
00:41:34,558 --> 00:41:37,127
He tries to get outside
help, but the main phone
734
00:41:37,194 --> 00:41:39,230
system has been
accidentally disconnected
735
00:41:39,296 --> 00:41:40,664
by the maintenance crew.
736
00:41:40,731 --> 00:41:44,401
And the backup
phone isn't working.
737
00:41:44,468 --> 00:41:46,270
The controller has
been robbed of all
738
00:41:46,337 --> 00:41:48,939
the technical support he needs.
739
00:41:52,209 --> 00:41:54,979
INTERPRETER: The phone link
with Friedrichshafen was down.
740
00:41:55,045 --> 00:41:58,415
At this time there were
various radio transmissions,
741
00:41:58,482 --> 00:42:00,751
and the controller
had to answer them
742
00:42:00,818 --> 00:42:03,587
on the different frequencies.
743
00:42:03,654 --> 00:42:05,856
NARRATOR: Finally, when
both planes are descending,
744
00:42:05,923 --> 00:42:08,092
the DHL pilots
cannot tell him what
745
00:42:08,158 --> 00:42:11,295
is happening because the
radio frequency is busy.
746
00:42:11,362 --> 00:42:13,931
600 TCAS descent!
747
00:42:17,067 --> 00:42:19,703
INTERPRETER: The earliest they
could do that was 23 seconds
748
00:42:19,770 --> 00:42:22,640
later, because until
then the frequency
749
00:42:22,706 --> 00:42:25,342
was blocked by the ATC
Zurich transmission
750
00:42:25,409 --> 00:42:28,545
to the Tupolev crew.
751
00:42:28,612 --> 00:42:31,682
NARRATOR: May
2004-- it had taken
752
00:42:31,749 --> 00:42:34,551
the German BFU
investigators 22 months
753
00:42:34,618 --> 00:42:37,221
to publish their final report.
754
00:42:37,288 --> 00:42:38,789
The Boeing--
755
00:42:38,856 --> 00:42:42,059
NARRATOR: They found that the
disaster had two major causes.
756
00:42:42,126 --> 00:42:45,129
First, Peter Nielsen
was too late in noticing
757
00:42:45,195 --> 00:42:47,231
the danger of a collision.
758
00:42:47,298 --> 00:42:51,001
Second, the Russian crew was
wrong to obey him when he told
759
00:42:51,068 --> 00:42:54,171
them to descend rather than
their own TCAS equipment
760
00:42:54,238 --> 00:42:55,339
telling them to climb.
761
00:42:59,443 --> 00:43:01,078
Finally, the report
severely criticized
762
00:43:01,145 --> 00:43:05,249
Skyguide for leaving a lone
controller on duty that night.
763
00:43:05,316 --> 00:43:11,055
We have learned our lesson,
and we don't have single-manned
764
00:43:11,121 --> 00:43:12,723
operations or only
one controller
765
00:43:12,790 --> 00:43:17,361
in front of a monitor anymore.
766
00:43:17,428 --> 00:43:18,829
INTERPRETER: Why
didn't they provide
767
00:43:18,896 --> 00:43:22,166
safety during that flight
when my child was on board?
768
00:43:22,232 --> 00:43:23,634
They must take
the responsibility
769
00:43:23,701 --> 00:43:27,338
for not providing
security for that flight.
770
00:43:27,404 --> 00:43:30,674
INTERPRETER: Mistakes
were made by us also,
771
00:43:30,741 --> 00:43:32,543
and we regret them deeply.
772
00:43:39,450 --> 00:43:42,119
We acknowledge
our responsibility
773
00:43:42,186 --> 00:43:47,491
as set out in the BFI report,
and we ask the families
774
00:43:47,558 --> 00:43:50,794
of the victims for forgiveness.
775
00:43:53,630 --> 00:43:55,532
NARRATOR: At
Skyguide in Zurich, a
776
00:43:55,599 --> 00:43:59,136
rose now sits in a vase
in memory of Peter Nielsen
777
00:43:59,203 --> 00:44:00,871
and the tragedy of Uberlingen.
60092
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