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FLIGHT ATTENDENT:
Ladies and gentlemen,
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we are starting our approach.
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PILOT: We lost both engines.
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[radio chatter]
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MAN: Mayday.
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Mayday.
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FLIGHT ATTENDANT:
Brace for impact!
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[chatter]
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MAN: He's gonna crash!
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[engine roaring]
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Buenas noches, señor.
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American 965 leaving 230--
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NARRATOR: In 1995,
days before Christmas,
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an American Airlines Boeing
757 is on its final approach
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to Cali, Colombia.
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Cali approach, American 965.
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NARRATOR: The pilots
are calm and relaxed.
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They don't know they've
made a terrible mistake.
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AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL (ON
RADIO): 965, altitude?
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00:00:58,291 --> 00:01:01,394
965, 9,000 feet.
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NARRATOR: They're more
than 10 miles off course
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and have no clue where they are.
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[siren buzzing]
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AUTOMATED VOICE: Too low.
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Terrain.
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Pull up, baby.
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NARRATOR: In complete darkness,
the jet carrying 163 passengers
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and crew is in mortal danger.
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OK, easy.
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I think we knew that
something imminent was--
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was around the corner.
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Up, baby.
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More!
more!
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OK.
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Up, up, up!
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[alarm buzzing]
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NARRATOR: Flight 965 crashed
into a 9,000 foot mountain,
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sending reverberations
through the aviation industry.
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How could one of the world's
most technologically advanced
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aircraft, with a state of
the art navigation system
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and flown by some of
the most skilled pilots,
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crash into a mountain?
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[somber music]
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On December 20, 1995,
American Airlines
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flight 965 prepares
to depart from Miami
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International Airport.
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Its destination
is Cali, Colombia.
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Flight 965 is scheduled to
depart Miami at 4:40 PM,
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but has already been
delayed for 30 minutes
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to allow for
connecting passengers.
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Surely, gonna call
us any second now.
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NARRATOR: The Dussans
only just make it.
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In Miami they tell
us that we have to rush
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because the plane gonna--
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gonna leave to Cali very soon.
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[chatter]
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Definitely we were very
happy because we know
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we're gonna fly that night.
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So you made it.
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Just in time.
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[chuckles]
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NARRATOR: Mercedes Ramirez,
along with her mother
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and father, managed to get on
the flight at the last minute.
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We were on standby,
so we weren't sure
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if our names were
gonna be called off
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to actually get on that flight.
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We heard our names, and we
were excited 'cause we're like,
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yes, we got on the flight.
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But it's very old
American, you know.
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NARRATOR: Flight 965
finally leaves the gate
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at 5:14 PM, 34 minutes late.
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But the problems
aren't over yet.
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As they taxi toward the
runway, the tower informs
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them of yet another delay.
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AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL (ON
RADIO): American 965, standby.
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NARRATOR: Heavy seasonal
traffic clogs the runways,
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and they're forced
to wait another hour
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00:03:41,854 --> 00:03:43,156
and 20 minutes on the tarmac.
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We'll go when they're ready.
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That's all there is to it.
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Waiting and--
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AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL (ON
RADIO): American 965.
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NARRATOR: Finally, two
hours late, flight 965
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is cleared for takeoff.
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AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL (ON
RADIO): Fly the runway heading.
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Cleared for takeoff.
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00:04:01,975 --> 00:04:03,276
Merry Christmas.
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Cleared for takeoff,
27 right, American 965.
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You do a great job.
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Good night.
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NARRATOR: Captain
Nicholas Tafuri, aged 57,
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is in charge of flight 965.
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He's one of American
Airlines' premiere pilots
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with more than 13,000 hours of
flying time, over 2,000 of them
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in the 757.
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He'd flown to Cali
only six days earlier.
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200, the heading,
climbed to 16.
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AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL (ON RADIO):
That's 16, American 965.
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00:04:46,185 --> 00:04:47,920
NARRATOR: At the
controls as first officer
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Donnie R. Williams, age 39.
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Although he's been flying
for American for nine years,
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flight 965 is his
first trip to Cali.
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[ominous music]
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MERCEDES RAMIREZ: Everybody
on that plane was either
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going back home for
the Christmas holidays
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to visit their family.
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00:05:09,942 --> 00:05:13,413
So I think everybody was just
happy and excited to go back.
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NARRATOR: Today, December
20, is a very special day
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for passenger Mercedes Ramirez.
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Mercedes is a university
student from Missouri.
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It's her 21st
birthday, and this trip
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is a gift from her parents.
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Usually we spent Christmas
in Kansas City at home,
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but they wanted to
do something special.
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00:05:33,232 --> 00:05:35,134
And we had never
spent the holidays
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with our family in Colombia,
so it was a big deal for us.
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Since we flew standby, I
couldn't said with both my mom
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and my dad all in one row.
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So my mother and I were
seated next to each other.
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I was by the window.
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00:05:48,581 --> 00:05:49,816
She was in the middle.
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And then there was a
passenger who was about my age
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who was in the aisle seat.
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00:05:53,720 --> 00:05:57,990
And then my father was
in another row behind us.
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00:05:57,990 --> 00:06:00,326
And so nothing out
of the ordinary
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00:06:00,326 --> 00:06:01,728
at all, just a normal flight.
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00:06:04,897 --> 00:06:06,699
NARRATOR: 19-year-old
Mauricio Reyes
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sits beside Mercedes' mother.
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00:06:09,769 --> 00:06:12,038
Reyes is a student at the
University of Michigan.
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You know, once we get there,
we have to go see Victor.
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00:06:17,276 --> 00:06:19,345
NARRATOR: Gonzalo Dussan
and his wife Nancy,
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00:06:19,345 --> 00:06:20,213
and their two children--
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00:06:20,213 --> 00:06:21,981
Michelle and Gonzalo Junior--
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00:06:21,981 --> 00:06:23,382
are seated nearby.
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[ominous music]
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GONZALO DUSSAN: We were very
excited because the first time,
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you know, we're going with
my family to pass, you know,
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Christmas over there in Cali.
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We wanted to see
our families members
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and our brothers, sister, you
know, to see our city again.
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00:06:44,837 --> 00:06:48,307
[ominous music]
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NARRATOR: Two hours and 45
minutes into the flight,
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the plane is cruising at 37,000
feet on a preprogrammed flight
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00:07:00,486 --> 00:07:01,921
path to Cali's airport.
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00:07:01,921 --> 00:07:02,722
Let's see.
146
00:07:02,722 --> 00:07:04,657
We've got 136 miles.
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00:07:09,262 --> 00:07:11,664
NARRATOR: They're
flying a Boeing 757--
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00:07:11,664 --> 00:07:13,499
a state of the art
airplane equipped with
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00:07:13,499 --> 00:07:15,134
sophisticated computer systems.
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00:07:20,573 --> 00:07:23,843
When programmed, the onboard
computer-- known as the flight
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management system--
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00:07:24,977 --> 00:07:27,613
can control the aircraft
from takeoff to landing.
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It can be the
pilot's best friend
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or, in the case of flight
965, their worst nightmare.
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An awkward moment an hour
before they're scheduled arrival
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00:07:52,338 --> 00:07:54,874
makes Mercedes
Ramirez change seats.
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00:07:54,874 --> 00:07:57,476
MERCEDES RAMIREZ: My mother
had been talking to the college
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00:07:57,476 --> 00:08:00,379
student who was next to her, and
I think she was trying to kind
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00:08:00,379 --> 00:08:02,748
of set me up with him.
'Cause she kept on saying,
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00:08:02,748 --> 00:08:04,917
oh, my daughter's in college,
and my daughter is this,
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00:08:04,917 --> 00:08:05,785
and my daughter is that.
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00:08:05,785 --> 00:08:06,986
So I was very embarrassed.
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I'm going to join Dad.
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00:08:08,254 --> 00:08:09,856
MERCEDES RAMIREZ (VOICEOVER):
So I got up from my seat
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00:08:09,856 --> 00:08:13,259
and moved to the row behind us.
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And I sat with my father.
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NARRATOR: The seemingly
trivial decision
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will prove to be her lifesaver.
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[ominous music]
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It's a clear, moonless
night with visibility
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more than 6 miles.
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00:08:33,779 --> 00:08:35,248
And that's just how it works.
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That's our scenario.
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00:08:36,249 --> 00:08:37,483
NARRATOR: But
Captain Tafuri is now
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00:08:37,483 --> 00:08:39,752
getting concerned about
their arrival time.
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Debrief, one hour sign in, and
you can't move that up at all
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00:08:43,222 --> 00:08:45,124
because it's an FAA thing.
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NARRATOR: FAA
regulations require
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a minimum number of
hours on the ground
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00:08:49,262 --> 00:08:52,798
before the cabin
crew can fly again.
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00:08:52,798 --> 00:08:55,568
Any further delays will
jeopardize their return flight
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the next day.
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00:09:01,807 --> 00:09:04,043
[sighs] Well, let's see.
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00:09:04,043 --> 00:09:08,881
We got the 136 miles to
the VOR and 32,000 feet
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00:09:08,881 --> 00:09:10,216
to lose and slow down to boot.
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00:09:10,216 --> 00:09:12,151
So we might as well get started.
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00:09:12,151 --> 00:09:15,087
NARRATOR: If they land
within the next 25 minutes,
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they'll beat the deadline.
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00:09:16,589 --> 00:09:17,924
All right, sir.
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00:09:17,924 --> 00:09:21,227
And if you'd keep the
speed up on the descent,
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it'd help us too.
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00:09:22,094 --> 00:09:22,929
OK?
193
00:09:22,929 --> 00:09:24,964
OK.
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00:09:24,964 --> 00:09:27,300
OK, Gonzalito, let your
sister sit beside the window.
195
00:09:27,300 --> 00:09:29,068
NARRATOR: Gonzalo
Dussan's children
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00:09:29,068 --> 00:09:31,671
quarrel over the window
seat, not knowing that
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00:09:31,671 --> 00:09:34,073
the consequences will be dire.
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00:09:34,073 --> 00:09:36,575
And I remember I
told him before Cali,
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00:09:36,575 --> 00:09:39,979
when the-- when the plane
started to lose altitude,
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00:09:39,979 --> 00:09:43,416
so we're gonna see the
valley, the city, very nice
201
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with a lot of lights on it.
202
00:09:44,750 --> 00:09:47,853
Because usually by
December, by Christmas time,
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00:09:47,853 --> 00:09:50,323
they decorate, you
know, the mountains
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00:09:50,323 --> 00:09:52,591
with different colors,
lights, and everything.
205
00:09:52,591 --> 00:09:55,628
Then they start to fight
for the window side.
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00:09:55,628 --> 00:09:58,764
OK, Gonzalito, let your sister
have a chance by the window.
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00:09:58,764 --> 00:10:00,499
And I'm like,
oh, I want to see.
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00:10:00,499 --> 00:10:01,534
I want to see the lights.
209
00:10:01,534 --> 00:10:02,835
I want to see the airport.
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00:10:02,835 --> 00:10:04,837
And he got mad.
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00:10:04,837 --> 00:10:06,105
ACTOR AS GONZALO
DUSSAN: OK, Michelle,
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00:10:06,105 --> 00:10:07,807
you go sit by the window.
213
00:10:07,807 --> 00:10:10,509
Ooh, sit with your cousin.
214
00:10:10,509 --> 00:10:12,411
Good boy, Gonzalito.
215
00:10:12,411 --> 00:10:14,413
OK, Michelle, take a
look at the lights.
216
00:10:14,413 --> 00:10:15,214
That's it.
217
00:10:15,214 --> 00:10:16,015
Come sit here.
218
00:10:16,015 --> 00:10:18,651
Come sit beside me.
219
00:10:18,651 --> 00:10:21,220
We are almost there.
220
00:10:21,220 --> 00:10:24,123
Michelle, can you see the
lights outside the window?
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00:10:24,123 --> 00:10:25,691
ACTOR AS NICHOLAS TAFURI:
Ladies and gentlemen,
222
00:10:25,691 --> 00:10:28,294
this is your captain speaking.
223
00:10:28,294 --> 00:10:31,964
We have begun our descent
for landing at Cali.
224
00:10:31,964 --> 00:10:33,632
It's a lovely evening.
225
00:10:33,632 --> 00:10:38,237
As we'd expected, we'll pass
a shower or two on the way in.
226
00:10:38,237 --> 00:10:41,841
NARRATOR: This lovely
evening is about to end.
227
00:10:41,841 --> 00:10:45,277
In 30 seconds, the pilots will
make the first of a series
228
00:10:45,277 --> 00:10:48,080
of mistakes, which will
result in the death
229
00:10:48,080 --> 00:10:49,682
of nearly everyone on board.
230
00:10:53,153 --> 00:10:56,422
[ominous music]
231
00:11:01,995 --> 00:11:05,732
American Airlines flight
965 is on its final descent,
232
00:11:05,732 --> 00:11:08,935
roughly 63 miles
from Cali, Columbia.
233
00:11:08,935 --> 00:11:12,338
[ominous music]
234
00:11:14,774 --> 00:11:16,910
Cali's Aragón
airport is situated
235
00:11:16,910 --> 00:11:18,144
at the end of a long valley.
236
00:11:22,315 --> 00:11:25,685
On both sides of the valley
are towering mountain ranges,
237
00:11:25,685 --> 00:11:28,588
almost 14,000 feet high.
238
00:11:28,588 --> 00:11:29,822
It's a formidable sight.
239
00:11:33,493 --> 00:11:36,963
To follow its proper
pre-programmed flight path,
240
00:11:36,963 --> 00:11:40,967
the aircraft must pass
over a series of waypoints.
241
00:11:40,967 --> 00:11:43,469
These are generally
radio beacons at fixed
242
00:11:43,469 --> 00:11:46,306
positions along the route.
243
00:11:46,306 --> 00:11:49,375
The plane's computer picks up
the signals from these beacons
244
00:11:49,375 --> 00:11:52,545
and then guides the plane
safely to its destination.
245
00:11:55,348 --> 00:12:00,386
Flight 965 is now approaching
the waypoint called Tulua--
246
00:12:00,386 --> 00:12:02,355
the radio beacon at
the head of the valley,
247
00:12:02,355 --> 00:12:05,058
which leads to Cali.
248
00:12:05,058 --> 00:12:07,093
After passing to
Tulua, the plane
249
00:12:07,093 --> 00:12:11,664
should fly over the final
waypoint called Rozo.
250
00:12:11,664 --> 00:12:14,500
Then it passes the
airport, turns right,
251
00:12:14,500 --> 00:12:15,768
and lands from the south.
252
00:12:19,205 --> 00:12:20,406
ACTOR AS NICHOLAS
TAFURI (ON RADIO):
253
00:12:20,406 --> 00:12:23,977
Cali approach, American 965.
254
00:12:23,977 --> 00:12:25,712
American 965, good evening.
255
00:12:25,712 --> 00:12:27,013
Go ahead.
256
00:12:27,013 --> 00:12:28,248
Buenos noches, señor.
257
00:12:28,248 --> 00:12:29,682
American 965--
258
00:12:29,682 --> 00:12:32,085
NARRATOR: Cali Air traffic
controller Nelson Rivera
259
00:12:32,085 --> 00:12:35,588
will oversee the final
approach of flight 965,
260
00:12:35,588 --> 00:12:38,224
but he has a problem.
261
00:12:38,224 --> 00:12:41,027
Insurgents opposed to
the Colombian government
262
00:12:41,027 --> 00:12:44,864
have blown up the
radar installation.
263
00:12:44,864 --> 00:12:48,201
Rivera has no way of knowing
where planes are until they
264
00:12:48,201 --> 00:12:51,371
radio their position.
265
00:12:51,371 --> 00:12:53,806
Your distance DME from Cali?
266
00:12:53,806 --> 00:12:56,175
NARRATOR: Without radar,
the air traffic controller
267
00:12:56,175 --> 00:12:58,144
must rely on the
pilots to provide
268
00:12:58,144 --> 00:13:00,847
their distance to the runway.
269
00:13:00,847 --> 00:13:03,583
The DME is 63.
270
00:13:03,583 --> 00:13:06,486
NARRATOR: The DME is the
distance measuring equipment
271
00:13:06,486 --> 00:13:07,654
in the Boeing cockpit.
272
00:13:07,654 --> 00:13:08,921
AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL
(ON RADIO): Roger.
273
00:13:08,921 --> 00:13:11,524
American 965 is cleared to Cali.
274
00:13:11,524 --> 00:13:14,827
Descend and maintain
one 5,000 feet.
275
00:13:14,827 --> 00:13:17,864
Altimeter 3002.
276
00:13:17,864 --> 00:13:19,699
Report on Tulua.
277
00:13:19,699 --> 00:13:20,733
OK, understood.
278
00:13:20,733 --> 00:13:22,402
Clear, direct to Cali.
279
00:13:22,402 --> 00:13:24,437
VOR, report Tulua.
280
00:13:24,437 --> 00:13:25,905
AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL (ON
RADIO): Affirmative.
281
00:13:25,905 --> 00:13:27,640
NARRATOR: It's a
misunderstanding.
282
00:13:27,640 --> 00:13:31,444
Captain Tafuri thinks he's
been told to fly direct to Cali
283
00:13:31,444 --> 00:13:33,112
and forget about Tulua.
284
00:13:33,112 --> 00:13:36,115
But the controller needs
him to report passing Tulua
285
00:13:36,115 --> 00:13:38,918
so he knows where
the airplane is.
286
00:13:38,918 --> 00:13:40,253
NELSON RIVERA:
[speaking spanish]
287
00:13:41,354 --> 00:13:42,955
INTERPRETER: To me,
the word directly means
288
00:13:42,955 --> 00:13:45,858
that he was authorized
to go directly to Cali,
289
00:13:45,858 --> 00:13:48,494
that there was no delay.
290
00:13:48,494 --> 00:13:52,165
Therefore, he had to inform
us of his position in Tulua
291
00:13:52,165 --> 00:13:54,100
because we don't have radar.
292
00:13:54,100 --> 00:13:57,103
I needed him to inform me
of that exact location.
293
00:14:00,006 --> 00:14:03,943
NARRATOR: Tafuri punches direct
to Cali into his computer.
294
00:14:03,943 --> 00:14:06,446
Since the plane No longer
has to pass over them,
295
00:14:06,446 --> 00:14:09,816
all the waypoints between
its present position and Cali
296
00:14:09,816 --> 00:14:12,852
are erased, including
Tulua, which
297
00:14:12,852 --> 00:14:15,054
the plane is now approaching.
298
00:14:15,054 --> 00:14:16,823
I put direct Cali
for you in there.
299
00:14:16,823 --> 00:14:17,623
OK.
300
00:14:17,623 --> 00:14:18,424
Thank you.
301
00:14:22,628 --> 00:14:25,698
Flight attendants,
please prepare for landing.
302
00:14:25,698 --> 00:14:26,499
Thank you.
303
00:14:33,373 --> 00:14:36,743
GONZALO DUSSAN: And I remember
they gave us the order to--
304
00:14:36,743 --> 00:14:39,712
to put the back of
the seat straight.
305
00:14:39,712 --> 00:14:42,382
I remember that.
306
00:14:42,382 --> 00:14:45,184
And everybody was, you
know, so happy because we
307
00:14:45,184 --> 00:14:46,753
were very close to the city.
308
00:14:52,492 --> 00:14:55,495
[ominous music]
309
00:14:57,830 --> 00:14:59,031
AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL
(ON RADIO): 965.
310
00:14:59,031 --> 00:15:00,867
NARRATOR: 11 minutes
before their estimated time
311
00:15:00,867 --> 00:15:01,667
of arrival--
312
00:15:01,667 --> 00:15:02,468
965.
313
00:15:02,468 --> 00:15:04,170
Go ahead, please.
314
00:15:04,170 --> 00:15:05,505
Sir, the wind is calm.
315
00:15:05,505 --> 00:15:07,206
NARRATOR: --air
traffic control asks
316
00:15:07,206 --> 00:15:10,009
the flight crew if they'd
like to land on runway 19--
317
00:15:10,009 --> 00:15:12,044
You want to shoot
the 19 straight in?
318
00:15:12,044 --> 00:15:14,614
NARRATOR: --instead of their
planned approach to runway 01.
319
00:15:14,614 --> 00:15:15,615
Yeah.
320
00:15:15,615 --> 00:15:16,182
We won't have to
scramble to get down.
321
00:15:16,182 --> 00:15:17,917
We can do it.
322
00:15:17,917 --> 00:15:20,686
Yes, sir, we'll need a lower
altitude right away, though.
323
00:15:20,686 --> 00:15:21,621
Roger.
324
00:15:21,621 --> 00:15:24,757
American 965 is
clear to VOR DME.
325
00:15:24,757 --> 00:15:25,725
OK.
326
00:15:25,725 --> 00:15:27,927
NARRATOR: The
pilots are pleased.
327
00:15:27,927 --> 00:15:31,564
Runway 19 is a straight in
approach from the north.
328
00:15:31,564 --> 00:15:36,736
They won't have to lose precious
time by circling the airport.
329
00:15:36,736 --> 00:15:38,337
But there isn't much time.
330
00:15:38,337 --> 00:15:40,306
They need to get the
plane down quickly.
331
00:15:44,310 --> 00:15:47,146
Williams deploys
the speed brakes.
332
00:15:47,146 --> 00:15:50,183
The brakes are flaps on
the top of the wings.
333
00:15:50,183 --> 00:15:52,885
When raised they reduce
lift and increase
334
00:15:52,885 --> 00:15:55,121
the plane's rate of descent.
335
00:15:55,121 --> 00:15:57,490
Approach runway 19.
336
00:15:57,490 --> 00:15:58,958
Rozo, number one arrival.
337
00:15:58,958 --> 00:16:00,760
NARRATOR: This split
second decision
338
00:16:00,760 --> 00:16:04,297
to land on runway 19 sets
off a chain of events
339
00:16:04,297 --> 00:16:05,865
that will end in disaster.
340
00:16:05,865 --> 00:16:07,967
We'll report VOR.
341
00:16:07,967 --> 00:16:08,835
Thank you, sir.
342
00:16:08,835 --> 00:16:11,437
Report Tulua, VOR.
343
00:16:11,437 --> 00:16:13,139
Report Tulua.
344
00:16:13,139 --> 00:16:14,974
I've got to give you
a Tulua first of all.
345
00:16:14,974 --> 00:16:17,810
You want to go right
to Cali or to Tulua?
346
00:16:17,810 --> 00:16:19,312
I thought he said
the Rozo one arrival.
347
00:16:19,312 --> 00:16:20,446
Yeah, he did.
348
00:16:20,446 --> 00:16:21,714
We got time to pull that out?
349
00:16:21,714 --> 00:16:23,182
NARRATOR: Events
begin to unravel
350
00:16:23,182 --> 00:16:24,984
very quickly in the cockpit.
351
00:16:24,984 --> 00:16:27,920
The pilots have to locate the
new charts for the approach
352
00:16:27,920 --> 00:16:30,857
to 19, enter the new
route into the computer,
353
00:16:30,857 --> 00:16:32,391
and still fly the plane.
354
00:16:32,391 --> 00:16:34,527
And Tulua one Rozo--
355
00:16:34,527 --> 00:16:35,328
yeah, there it is.
356
00:16:35,328 --> 00:16:36,829
See, that comes off Tulua.
357
00:16:36,829 --> 00:16:38,865
NARRATOR: They are
getting totally confused.
358
00:16:38,865 --> 00:16:41,300
The controller keeps
asking them to report
359
00:16:41,300 --> 00:16:42,869
when they've passed Tulua.
360
00:16:42,869 --> 00:16:45,037
But having erased it
from their computer,
361
00:16:45,037 --> 00:16:46,539
they've no idea where it is.
362
00:16:46,539 --> 00:16:47,340
It's on your map.
363
00:16:47,340 --> 00:16:48,407
Should be.
364
00:16:48,407 --> 00:16:50,176
NARRATOR: Captain
Tafuri asks the tower
365
00:16:50,176 --> 00:16:52,478
if they can forget
Tulua and fly directly
366
00:16:52,478 --> 00:16:55,448
to Rozo, their last
waypoint before the runway.
367
00:16:55,448 --> 00:16:58,951
Can American Airlines
965 go direct to Rozo
368
00:16:58,951 --> 00:17:01,521
and then do the
Rozo arrival, sir?
369
00:17:01,521 --> 00:17:03,155
Affirmative.
370
00:17:03,155 --> 00:17:06,325
Take the Rozo one and runway 19.
371
00:17:06,325 --> 00:17:08,127
And the wind is calm.
372
00:17:08,127 --> 00:17:09,428
All right, Rozo.
373
00:17:09,428 --> 00:17:11,097
The Rozo one to 19.
374
00:17:11,097 --> 00:17:13,366
Thank you, American 965.
375
00:17:13,366 --> 00:17:17,937
Report Tulua at 21
miles and 5,000 feet.
376
00:17:17,937 --> 00:17:18,738
OK.
377
00:17:18,738 --> 00:17:20,106
Report Tulua--
378
00:17:20,106 --> 00:17:22,975
NARRATOR: The controller is
still asking them to report
379
00:17:22,975 --> 00:17:24,677
passing the Tulua beacon.
380
00:17:24,677 --> 00:17:27,380
Without radar, he doesn't
realize they've already
381
00:17:27,380 --> 00:17:30,449
passed it and are speeding down
the valley toward the airport.
382
00:17:33,185 --> 00:17:36,122
Captain Tafuri now makes
another fateful decision.
383
00:17:36,122 --> 00:17:37,990
What the-- what happened here?
384
00:17:37,990 --> 00:17:40,593
NARRATOR: Having decided to
head for the Rozo waypoint,
385
00:17:40,593 --> 00:17:43,095
he punches R into his computer.
386
00:17:43,095 --> 00:17:44,397
[bell dings]
387
00:17:45,765 --> 00:17:48,234
The computer database responds
with a list of more than 10
388
00:17:48,234 --> 00:17:50,836
waypoints to choose from.
389
00:17:50,836 --> 00:17:54,240
Normally the nearest one,
Rozo, would be at the top.
390
00:17:54,240 --> 00:17:57,410
But tonight It's not.
391
00:17:57,410 --> 00:18:02,882
Captain Tafuri doesn't
notice, and pushes Execute.
392
00:18:05,818 --> 00:18:08,287
[beeping]
393
00:18:12,191 --> 00:18:15,494
At over 300 miles per hour,
and descending at a rate
394
00:18:15,494 --> 00:18:18,464
of approximately
1,300 feet per minute,
395
00:18:18,464 --> 00:18:22,935
flight 965 begins to veer off
on a new and deadly course.
396
00:18:22,935 --> 00:18:26,405
[ominous music]
397
00:18:27,406 --> 00:18:29,475
[speaking spanish]
398
00:18:30,810 --> 00:18:32,645
INTERPRETER: I never imagined
that they were deflecting
399
00:18:32,645 --> 00:18:39,552
the route in addition
to losing altitude,
400
00:18:39,552 --> 00:18:43,055
because I didn't have radar.
401
00:18:43,055 --> 00:18:45,591
NARRATOR: In the
cockpit of flight 965,
402
00:18:45,591 --> 00:18:48,828
the pilots are completely
unaware of what they've done.
403
00:18:48,828 --> 00:18:51,364
They're busy studying
charts as their plane
404
00:18:51,364 --> 00:18:54,200
crosses the mountains
into unknown territory.
405
00:18:56,469 --> 00:18:59,805
[ominous music]
406
00:19:02,341 --> 00:19:06,312
For more than a minute, American
Airlines flight 965 has been
407
00:19:06,312 --> 00:19:09,248
turning into the mountains.
408
00:19:09,248 --> 00:19:11,484
Captain Tafuri and
First Officer Williams
409
00:19:11,484 --> 00:19:13,352
suddenly notice
that their aircraft
410
00:19:13,352 --> 00:19:16,489
is taking them somewhere
they don't want to go.
411
00:19:16,489 --> 00:19:17,523
We're going out to--
412
00:19:17,523 --> 00:19:19,525
Let's go right to
Tulua first of all.
413
00:19:19,525 --> 00:19:20,660
OK?
414
00:19:20,660 --> 00:19:21,460
Yeah.
415
00:19:21,460 --> 00:19:22,628
Where are we headed?
416
00:19:22,628 --> 00:19:24,297
17, 7--
417
00:19:24,297 --> 00:19:26,232
NARRATOR: Captain
Tafuri is floundering
418
00:19:26,232 --> 00:19:27,566
in the pitch darkness.
419
00:19:27,566 --> 00:19:28,701
What happened here?
420
00:19:28,701 --> 00:19:30,903
NARRATOR: If he can
find the Tulua waypoint,
421
00:19:30,903 --> 00:19:33,272
he can get his bearings.
422
00:19:33,272 --> 00:19:35,574
He switches to another
computer system
423
00:19:35,574 --> 00:19:38,778
and enters the radio frequency
for the Tulua beacon.
424
00:19:38,778 --> 00:19:39,578
OK.
425
00:19:39,578 --> 00:19:40,613
I'm getting it.
426
00:19:40,613 --> 00:19:42,615
17, 7 just doesn't
seem right on mine.
427
00:19:42,615 --> 00:19:44,050
I don't know why.
428
00:19:44,050 --> 00:19:45,184
Left turn.
429
00:19:45,184 --> 00:19:47,353
So you want a left turn
back around to ULQ.
430
00:19:47,353 --> 00:19:48,154
Nah.
431
00:19:48,154 --> 00:19:48,955
Hell, no.
432
00:19:48,955 --> 00:19:50,456
Let's press on to--
433
00:19:50,456 --> 00:19:52,558
Where we're-- press
on to where, though?
434
00:19:52,558 --> 00:19:53,826
Tulua.
435
00:19:53,826 --> 00:19:55,795
NARRATOR: Hopelessly lost
and less than two minutes
436
00:19:55,795 --> 00:19:58,331
from impact, Tafuri
decides to press
437
00:19:58,331 --> 00:20:00,066
on with his doomed approach.
438
00:20:00,066 --> 00:20:02,935
Let's go to Cali
first of all, OK?
439
00:20:02,935 --> 00:20:04,103
Come to the right, right now.
440
00:20:04,103 --> 00:20:06,605
Come to the right, right now.
441
00:20:06,605 --> 00:20:08,107
NARRATOR: The pilots
don't know it.
442
00:20:08,107 --> 00:20:10,242
But when the plane
veered off course,
443
00:20:10,242 --> 00:20:13,145
it crossed over the mountains.
444
00:20:13,145 --> 00:20:15,781
They're now in another
valley, parallel
445
00:20:15,781 --> 00:20:17,416
to where they should be.
446
00:20:17,416 --> 00:20:20,686
[suspenseful music]
447
00:20:22,088 --> 00:20:25,658
The passengers are completely
unaware that in less than 60
448
00:20:25,658 --> 00:20:30,129
seconds the aircraft, traveling
at more than 210 miles an hour,
449
00:20:30,129 --> 00:20:31,364
is going to crash.
450
00:20:31,364 --> 00:20:32,765
We're almost there, though.
451
00:20:32,765 --> 00:20:34,767
Tulua, I'm not
getting for some reason.
452
00:20:34,767 --> 00:20:35,801
See, I can't-- OK.
453
00:20:35,801 --> 00:20:36,635
Now-- no.
454
00:20:36,635 --> 00:20:37,803
We don't want Tulua.
455
00:20:37,803 --> 00:20:40,673
Let's just go to the
extended center line of--
456
00:20:40,673 --> 00:20:41,540
Which is Rozo.
457
00:20:41,540 --> 00:20:42,675
--Rozo.
458
00:20:42,675 --> 00:20:44,443
Well, why don't you just
go direct to Roao then.
459
00:20:44,443 --> 00:20:45,611
All right?
- OK.
460
00:20:45,611 --> 00:20:46,545
Let's--
461
00:20:46,545 --> 00:20:48,547
I'm gonna put
that over to you.
462
00:20:48,547 --> 00:20:50,383
NARRATOR: They decide
to give up on Tulua
463
00:20:50,383 --> 00:20:52,184
and make straight
for the airport.
464
00:20:52,184 --> 00:20:55,354
They don't realize that there
is now a wall of mountains
465
00:20:55,354 --> 00:20:57,123
between them and Cali.
466
00:20:57,123 --> 00:20:59,759
[suspenseful music]
467
00:21:00,626 --> 00:21:02,962
965, altitude?
468
00:21:02,962 --> 00:21:05,531
965, 9,000 feet.
469
00:21:05,531 --> 00:21:07,199
AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL
(ON RADIO): Roger.
470
00:21:07,199 --> 00:21:10,302
Distance now?
471
00:21:10,302 --> 00:21:11,704
[alarm buzzing]
472
00:21:11,704 --> 00:21:13,773
NARRATOR: The plane's
ground proximity
473
00:21:13,773 --> 00:21:17,209
warning system is telling
them they're about to crash.
474
00:21:17,209 --> 00:21:19,111
965, this is Cali approach.
475
00:21:19,111 --> 00:21:22,381
Can you hear me?
476
00:21:22,381 --> 00:21:23,449
[speaking spanish]
477
00:21:23,449 --> 00:21:24,450
INTERPRETER: He didn't answer.
478
00:21:27,286 --> 00:21:29,155
He never answered again.
479
00:21:29,155 --> 00:21:30,222
[alarm buzzing]
480
00:21:30,222 --> 00:21:31,023
Easy does it.
481
00:21:31,023 --> 00:21:31,891
Easy does it.
482
00:21:31,891 --> 00:21:32,691
Nope.
483
00:21:36,862 --> 00:21:42,802
I could feel that we were
just violently just going up.
484
00:21:42,802 --> 00:21:45,471
And I felt like
I was on a roller
485
00:21:45,471 --> 00:21:46,338
coaster ride or something.
486
00:21:46,338 --> 00:21:47,440
[screaming]
487
00:21:47,440 --> 00:21:49,742
And the turbulence was
absolutely horrible.
488
00:21:49,742 --> 00:21:51,777
And by that time,
people were screaming.
489
00:21:51,777 --> 00:21:56,916
And everybody knew on the flight
that something was very wrong.
490
00:21:56,916 --> 00:21:58,384
AUTOMATED VOICE: Too low.
491
00:21:58,384 --> 00:21:59,351
Terrain.
492
00:21:59,351 --> 00:22:00,820
Easy does it.
493
00:22:00,820 --> 00:22:01,987
Easy does it.
494
00:22:01,987 --> 00:22:02,855
Nope.
495
00:22:02,855 --> 00:22:04,056
Up, baby.
496
00:22:04,056 --> 00:22:05,591
MERCEDES RAMIREZ:
Instinctively, I reached over
497
00:22:05,591 --> 00:22:07,693
and I grabbed my father's hand.
498
00:22:07,693 --> 00:22:10,663
And I pull my head in my lap.
499
00:22:10,663 --> 00:22:13,399
[screaming]
500
00:22:14,800 --> 00:22:16,469
In my mind I just
kept on thinking, come
501
00:22:16,469 --> 00:22:17,670
on, just straighten it out.
502
00:22:17,670 --> 00:22:18,471
Straighten it out.
503
00:22:18,471 --> 00:22:20,139
Up, baby.
504
00:22:20,139 --> 00:22:20,940
More!
505
00:22:20,940 --> 00:22:21,874
More!
506
00:22:21,874 --> 00:22:22,908
Up!
Up!
507
00:22:22,908 --> 00:22:24,076
Up!
508
00:22:24,076 --> 00:22:26,112
NARRATOR: These
were the last words
509
00:22:26,112 --> 00:22:27,480
on the cockpit voice recorder.
510
00:22:32,284 --> 00:22:34,920
[crash]
511
00:22:35,721 --> 00:22:39,191
[somber music]
512
00:22:52,771 --> 00:22:54,273
AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL (ON
RADIO): American 965,
513
00:22:54,273 --> 00:22:56,342
this is Cali approach.
514
00:22:56,342 --> 00:22:59,445
American 965, this
is Cali approach.
515
00:22:59,445 --> 00:23:00,412
Can you hear me?
516
00:23:00,412 --> 00:23:03,616
[ominous music]
517
00:23:05,451 --> 00:23:07,019
NELSON RIVERA:
[speaking spanish]
518
00:23:08,354 --> 00:23:11,223
INTERPRETER: I never experienced
anything like this before.
519
00:23:11,223 --> 00:23:14,393
This was the first time that
I lost a plane and the crew
520
00:23:14,393 --> 00:23:18,063
was not responding.
521
00:23:18,063 --> 00:23:20,332
It is very difficult
to grasp the moment.
522
00:23:23,035 --> 00:23:25,704
When the plane didn't
answer, I looked
523
00:23:25,704 --> 00:23:28,407
outside from the control tower.
524
00:23:28,407 --> 00:23:32,044
I could see from there the sky.
525
00:23:32,044 --> 00:23:34,113
I started to look for the plane.
526
00:23:34,113 --> 00:23:35,814
The night was
clear, and I thought
527
00:23:35,814 --> 00:23:38,217
I could see the plane coming.
528
00:23:38,217 --> 00:23:42,154
But in this case, I
never saw the plane.
529
00:23:42,154 --> 00:23:43,455
[chatter]
530
00:23:43,455 --> 00:23:46,492
NARRATOR: As the arrival
time comes and goes,
531
00:23:46,492 --> 00:23:49,528
rumors begin to circulate
that air traffic control has
532
00:23:49,528 --> 00:23:54,466
lost contact with flight 965.
533
00:23:54,466 --> 00:23:56,001
[chatter]
534
00:23:58,070 --> 00:24:00,706
In an instant,
joy turns to shock
535
00:24:00,706 --> 00:24:02,775
as cries that the
plane is crashed
536
00:24:02,775 --> 00:24:05,811
spread throughout the terminal.
537
00:24:05,811 --> 00:24:08,814
[phone ringing]
538
00:24:13,786 --> 00:24:16,922
Locals living near the town
of Buga, north of Cali,
539
00:24:16,922 --> 00:24:19,058
report hearing a
massive explosion.
540
00:24:22,027 --> 00:24:24,697
[sirens wailing]
541
00:24:25,698 --> 00:24:27,633
Rescue teams raced
to the town, which
542
00:24:27,633 --> 00:24:30,469
lies near the base of a local
mountain range with peaks
543
00:24:30,469 --> 00:24:32,638
as high as 10,000 feet.
544
00:24:32,638 --> 00:24:35,975
[suspenseful music]
545
00:24:39,745 --> 00:24:43,649
At 3:00 AM, almost six hours
after the plane disappeared,
546
00:24:43,649 --> 00:24:45,951
a search and rescue
team treks up the side
547
00:24:45,951 --> 00:24:47,453
of El Diluvio Mountain.
548
00:24:47,453 --> 00:24:49,855
[radio chatter]
549
00:24:50,823 --> 00:24:54,226
[ominous music]
550
00:25:00,532 --> 00:25:03,836
In the midst of tons of
twisted and torn metal
551
00:25:03,836 --> 00:25:08,274
lies 21-year-old
Mercedes Ramirez.
552
00:25:08,274 --> 00:25:11,910
Her last memory prior to
impact is grabbing her father's
553
00:25:11,910 --> 00:25:14,480
hand, and the deafening
sound of the tail
554
00:25:14,480 --> 00:25:15,881
section striking trees.
555
00:25:20,252 --> 00:25:23,088
MERCEDES RAMIREZ: The next
memory I have is the next day.
556
00:25:23,088 --> 00:25:24,023
It's daylight.
557
00:25:24,023 --> 00:25:25,324
I wake up and it's--
558
00:25:25,324 --> 00:25:28,661
I see the sunlight around me.
559
00:25:28,661 --> 00:25:30,663
And I don't know where I am.
560
00:25:30,663 --> 00:25:34,533
And what's around me looks
like a-- like a landfill,
561
00:25:34,533 --> 00:25:35,901
like a trash dump.
562
00:25:35,901 --> 00:25:40,306
And so, as I'm laying there,
I'm thinking where in the world
563
00:25:40,306 --> 00:25:41,707
am I.
564
00:25:41,707 --> 00:25:43,976
NARRATOR: Mercedes is
critically injured,
565
00:25:43,976 --> 00:25:47,546
with severe internal
injuries and a shattered leg.
566
00:25:47,546 --> 00:25:48,347
Help!
567
00:25:50,983 --> 00:25:52,384
Is anybody out there?
568
00:25:57,556 --> 00:25:58,824
Help me!
569
00:25:58,824 --> 00:26:01,560
NARRATOR: 19-year-old college
student Mauricio Reyes
570
00:26:01,560 --> 00:26:03,195
also survives the impact--
571
00:26:03,195 --> 00:26:04,396
Can you hear me?
572
00:26:04,396 --> 00:26:06,398
NARRATOR: --and responds
to Mercedes' cry for help.
573
00:26:06,398 --> 00:26:07,966
Can you move?
574
00:26:07,966 --> 00:26:10,336
ACTOR AS MERCEDES
RAMIREZ: Um, I can try.
575
00:26:10,336 --> 00:26:11,804
I'm not sure.
576
00:26:11,804 --> 00:26:13,605
My leg is bent backwards.
577
00:26:13,605 --> 00:26:14,673
OK.
578
00:26:14,673 --> 00:26:15,307
ACTOR AS MERCEDES
RAMIREZ: Please help me.
579
00:26:15,307 --> 00:26:16,508
OK.
Hold on.
580
00:26:16,508 --> 00:26:17,309
Hold on.
581
00:26:21,480 --> 00:26:22,281
OK.
582
00:26:22,281 --> 00:26:23,482
Help me, please.
583
00:26:23,482 --> 00:26:24,683
OK.
584
00:26:24,683 --> 00:26:25,951
MERCEDES RAMIREZ: The
only way for me to get out
585
00:26:25,951 --> 00:26:29,321
was having to drag
myself over people.
586
00:26:29,321 --> 00:26:32,791
And I remember this lady who
I had to drag myself over.
587
00:26:32,791 --> 00:26:36,028
And I'll-- I'll
never forget her.
588
00:26:39,965 --> 00:26:41,433
[groans]
589
00:26:41,433 --> 00:26:44,002
Looking back, I
think, oh, my goodness.
590
00:26:44,002 --> 00:26:46,638
That was someone's mom or
that was someone's sister
591
00:26:46,638 --> 00:26:49,641
or someone's wife.
592
00:26:49,641 --> 00:26:52,344
But at that time, she
was just an object that I
593
00:26:52,344 --> 00:26:54,413
needed to get over to get out.
594
00:26:54,413 --> 00:26:56,749
ACTOR AS MERCEDES
RAMIREZ: [groans]
595
00:26:58,584 --> 00:26:59,451
Can you move?
596
00:26:59,451 --> 00:27:00,252
Can you stand up?
597
00:27:00,252 --> 00:27:01,387
I think my leg is broken.
598
00:27:01,387 --> 00:27:02,354
- OK, well try--
- OK.
599
00:27:02,354 --> 00:27:03,155
--on three.
600
00:27:03,155 --> 00:27:03,956
OK.
601
00:27:03,956 --> 00:27:05,724
One, two, three.
602
00:27:05,724 --> 00:27:06,825
[screams] No, I can't!
603
00:27:06,825 --> 00:27:08,026
I can't!
604
00:27:08,026 --> 00:27:09,695
MERCEDES RAMIREZ: And when
he lifted me was when--
605
00:27:09,695 --> 00:27:11,897
the first time I
actually felt pain.
606
00:27:11,897 --> 00:27:14,433
It just felt like an
electrical current going up--
607
00:27:14,433 --> 00:27:15,534
up and down my leg.
608
00:27:15,534 --> 00:27:17,803
So he laid me back down.
609
00:27:17,803 --> 00:27:20,506
And then he went off
to-- to try to find help.
610
00:27:20,506 --> 00:27:21,473
I'm going to the village.
611
00:27:21,473 --> 00:27:22,875
OK?
OK.
612
00:27:22,875 --> 00:27:23,842
Just stay here.
- OK.
613
00:27:23,842 --> 00:27:24,643
OK.
614
00:27:24,643 --> 00:27:25,544
OK.
615
00:27:25,544 --> 00:27:26,879
OK.
616
00:27:26,879 --> 00:27:27,313
OK.
617
00:27:29,048 --> 00:27:31,383
NARRATOR: At first light,
the Colombian Air Force
618
00:27:31,383 --> 00:27:34,987
starts the search for the crash
site, delayed because they
619
00:27:34,987 --> 00:27:36,622
have no night vision equipment.
620
00:27:55,307 --> 00:27:57,710
GONZALO DUSSAN: When
I wake up, I start
621
00:27:57,710 --> 00:28:00,479
to feel the pain in my back.
622
00:28:00,479 --> 00:28:05,150
Then, when I hear this
sound of the helicopters,
623
00:28:05,150 --> 00:28:08,120
I realize something happened.
624
00:28:08,120 --> 00:28:10,322
I started, you
know, to feel panic.
625
00:28:10,322 --> 00:28:12,558
Help me!
626
00:28:12,558 --> 00:28:15,794
Someone please help me!
627
00:28:15,794 --> 00:28:17,196
ACTOR AS MICHELLE
DUSSAN: Daddy, I'm here.
628
00:28:17,196 --> 00:28:18,997
Papa!
629
00:28:18,997 --> 00:28:20,399
Michelle?
630
00:28:20,399 --> 00:28:22,501
NARRATOR: Gonzalo Dussan's
six-year-old daughter,
631
00:28:22,501 --> 00:28:24,369
Michelle, still
strapped in her seat--
632
00:28:24,369 --> 00:28:25,637
Michelle, call me.
633
00:28:25,637 --> 00:28:27,673
NARRATOR: --answers her father's
desperate call for help.
634
00:28:27,673 --> 00:28:28,741
Keep talking to me.
635
00:28:28,741 --> 00:28:30,709
OK?
636
00:28:30,709 --> 00:28:32,111
Michelle?
637
00:28:32,111 --> 00:28:35,614
GONZALO DUSSAN: So I realized
that my daughter was alive too.
638
00:28:35,614 --> 00:28:39,351
Then I started to
crawl to try to look
639
00:28:39,351 --> 00:28:42,454
for my-- where the voice
of my daughter coming from.
640
00:28:42,454 --> 00:28:43,255
Michelle, please.
641
00:28:43,255 --> 00:28:44,056
I'm coming.
642
00:28:44,056 --> 00:28:45,491
Where are you?
643
00:28:45,491 --> 00:28:46,925
NARRATOR: Dussan
struggles to crossed
644
00:28:46,925 --> 00:28:49,061
through the broken and twisted
cabin to reach his daughter.
645
00:28:49,061 --> 00:28:50,262
Michelle.
646
00:28:50,262 --> 00:28:51,697
NARRATOR: But she's pinned
beneath the wreckage.
647
00:28:51,697 --> 00:28:53,098
- Let me help you.
- Ow.
648
00:28:53,098 --> 00:28:53,899
Ow.
649
00:28:53,899 --> 00:28:55,501
My leg hurts.
650
00:28:55,501 --> 00:28:57,903
When the plane
crashed, my legs--
651
00:28:57,903 --> 00:28:59,605
I had my seat belt on.
652
00:28:59,605 --> 00:29:03,809
And I-- I guess the crash
were so deep that my legs,
653
00:29:03,809 --> 00:29:04,877
like, speared into the ground.
654
00:29:04,877 --> 00:29:06,111
You OK?
655
00:29:06,111 --> 00:29:07,513
MICHELLE DUSSAN (VOICEOVER):
I'd try to move myself,
656
00:29:07,513 --> 00:29:08,847
but my legs hurt.
657
00:29:08,847 --> 00:29:09,848
They hurt really bad.
658
00:29:09,848 --> 00:29:11,383
I couldn't pick myself up.
- Ow!
659
00:29:11,383 --> 00:29:12,184
Daddy, it hurts.
660
00:29:12,184 --> 00:29:12,985
OK.
661
00:29:12,985 --> 00:29:14,052
OK, Michelle.
662
00:29:14,052 --> 00:29:15,754
I'm going to get--
get some water for you
663
00:29:15,754 --> 00:29:16,588
soon and bring it back.
664
00:29:16,588 --> 00:29:17,689
OK?
665
00:29:17,689 --> 00:29:21,760
Then I try to crawl
more to try to get out.
666
00:29:21,760 --> 00:29:24,029
NARRATOR: Despite a
severe back injury,
667
00:29:24,029 --> 00:29:27,432
Dussan manages to crossed
towards a small open section
668
00:29:27,432 --> 00:29:29,701
of the fuselage.
669
00:29:29,701 --> 00:29:32,137
GONZALO DUSSAN: I
saw a hole behind me,
670
00:29:32,137 --> 00:29:34,439
and I said inside me--
671
00:29:34,439 --> 00:29:37,609
I said, God, help me
to get out from here.
672
00:29:40,612 --> 00:29:43,115
NARRATOR: The
survivors of flight 965
673
00:29:43,115 --> 00:29:47,219
realize they have no option
but to wait for help, unsure
674
00:29:47,219 --> 00:29:49,955
if it will arrive in time.
675
00:29:49,955 --> 00:29:52,391
The temperatures have
fallen dramatically.
676
00:29:52,391 --> 00:29:54,560
And without protective
clothing they could
677
00:29:54,560 --> 00:29:56,295
die of exposure within hours.
678
00:30:05,571 --> 00:30:08,040
Since beginning their
search at first light,
679
00:30:08,040 --> 00:30:11,276
the Colombian Air Force has
yet to spot the crash site.
680
00:30:11,276 --> 00:30:12,077
Michelle!
681
00:30:17,482 --> 00:30:18,951
Over here!
682
00:30:18,951 --> 00:30:20,919
Over here!
683
00:30:20,919 --> 00:30:24,323
I could see the helicopters
perfectly from where I was at.
684
00:30:24,323 --> 00:30:28,126
And even though I could
see them perfectly,
685
00:30:28,126 --> 00:30:30,329
I didn't know if they
could-- if they could see me.
686
00:30:33,565 --> 00:30:35,567
Help us!
687
00:30:35,567 --> 00:30:38,904
When-- when I saw the
helicopter very close
688
00:30:38,904 --> 00:30:41,073
to the trees, to the
top of the trees,
689
00:30:41,073 --> 00:30:43,041
I start moving the blanket.
690
00:30:43,041 --> 00:30:45,210
I start to move the
blanket, then so I say,
691
00:30:45,210 --> 00:30:46,578
oh, they saw-- they saw me.
692
00:30:46,578 --> 00:30:47,679
They saw me.
693
00:30:47,679 --> 00:30:48,480
WOMAN: Here!
694
00:30:48,480 --> 00:30:49,548
Help us!
695
00:30:49,548 --> 00:30:52,851
Help us!
696
00:30:52,851 --> 00:30:55,153
NARRATOR: More than
eight hours after impact,
697
00:30:55,153 --> 00:30:57,656
and after enduring life
threatening injuries
698
00:30:57,656 --> 00:31:01,960
and near-freezing temperatures,
the survivors of flight 965
699
00:31:01,960 --> 00:31:04,596
are about to be rescued.
700
00:31:04,596 --> 00:31:06,398
MERCEDES RAMIREZ: People
finally know that we're here,
701
00:31:06,398 --> 00:31:08,800
and they're finally
here to-- to rescue us
702
00:31:08,800 --> 00:31:11,503
after so many hours
of being stuck
703
00:31:11,503 --> 00:31:12,804
on that side of that mountain.
704
00:31:12,804 --> 00:31:17,276
So seeing them was one of
the greatest things ever.
705
00:31:17,276 --> 00:31:20,679
[hopeful music]
706
00:31:25,550 --> 00:31:28,353
GONZALO DUSSAN: They came
and they throw a rope,
707
00:31:28,353 --> 00:31:30,756
and the people start to descend.
708
00:31:30,756 --> 00:31:34,593
And, you know, I was so
happy because I feel,
709
00:31:34,593 --> 00:31:35,694
you know, that they--
710
00:31:35,694 --> 00:31:36,895
they're going to help us.
711
00:31:48,140 --> 00:31:49,474
NARRATOR: College
student Mauricio
712
00:31:49,474 --> 00:31:52,811
Reyes is the first to be
airlifted off the mountain.
713
00:31:52,811 --> 00:31:56,214
[somber music]
714
00:32:00,619 --> 00:32:02,921
But low cloud cover
delays the removal
715
00:32:02,921 --> 00:32:04,589
of the remaining survivors.
716
00:32:09,361 --> 00:32:11,697
[speaking spanish]
717
00:32:18,870 --> 00:32:20,539
Fearing that
six-year-old Michelle
718
00:32:20,539 --> 00:32:23,275
Dussan may not
survive, volunteers
719
00:32:23,275 --> 00:32:24,509
take a calculated risk.
720
00:32:24,509 --> 00:32:27,112
[speaking spanish]
721
00:32:27,112 --> 00:32:30,048
They fashion a stretcher
from a piece of the wreckage
722
00:32:30,048 --> 00:32:33,285
and begin to evacuate Michelle
off the mountain by foot.
723
00:32:38,490 --> 00:32:41,693
Shortly after, the
weather clears.
724
00:32:41,693 --> 00:32:44,629
And the remaining survivors
are airlifted to a base camp
725
00:32:44,629 --> 00:32:48,233
halfway down the mountain,
and then to the hospital.
726
00:32:48,233 --> 00:32:51,136
[speaking spanish]
727
00:32:55,340 --> 00:32:59,745
More than 13 hours after
the crash of flight 965,
728
00:32:59,745 --> 00:33:01,913
Michelle Dussan is
the last survivor
729
00:33:01,913 --> 00:33:05,117
to emerge from the jungle
of El Diluvio alive.
730
00:33:05,117 --> 00:33:06,351
ACTOR AS MICHELLE DUSSAN: Mommy.
731
00:33:06,351 --> 00:33:09,154
I don't think that there
is any medical explanation
732
00:33:09,154 --> 00:33:11,623
or scientific explanation.
733
00:33:11,623 --> 00:33:19,431
There is no explanation that
out of people that were stronger
734
00:33:19,431 --> 00:33:24,202
and, like, tough, that
me, a little girl--
735
00:33:24,202 --> 00:33:27,172
a six-year-old girl-- could
survive out of so many people
736
00:33:27,172 --> 00:33:30,742
that were so much
stronger than me.
737
00:33:30,742 --> 00:33:33,111
I just thank God so much.
738
00:33:33,111 --> 00:33:40,285
NARRATOR: Of the 163 aboard
flight 965, 159 were lost.
739
00:33:40,285 --> 00:33:41,486
Only four survived.
740
00:33:44,556 --> 00:33:46,792
All of the survivors
were seated within two
741
00:33:46,792 --> 00:33:48,860
rows of one another--
742
00:33:48,860 --> 00:33:51,496
just above the wing
and above huge girders,
743
00:33:51,496 --> 00:33:53,365
that make the area the
plane's strongest section.
744
00:33:57,035 --> 00:34:00,739
Despite this, Mercedes Ramirez
has lost both her parents
745
00:34:00,739 --> 00:34:03,308
on her 21st birthday.
746
00:34:03,308 --> 00:34:07,012
MERCEDES RAMIREZ:
December 20, 1995,
747
00:34:07,012 --> 00:34:10,482
my life changed forever, and has
never been the same ever since.
748
00:34:14,052 --> 00:34:17,289
There was 160 people
on that flight who,
749
00:34:17,289 --> 00:34:20,559
the moment that plane hit
that mountain, all their hopes
750
00:34:20,559 --> 00:34:23,895
and dreams were instantly lost.
751
00:34:23,895 --> 00:34:28,133
But for some reason, I've been
given a second chance at life.
752
00:34:28,133 --> 00:34:30,035
And so I'm gonna try
to make the best of it.
753
00:34:34,706 --> 00:34:36,942
NARRATOR: The
evacuation of survivors
754
00:34:36,942 --> 00:34:39,344
gives way to the gruesome
task of recovering
755
00:34:39,344 --> 00:34:42,614
the bodies of the 159
souls who perished
756
00:34:42,614 --> 00:34:43,915
on the summit of Mount Diluvio.
757
00:34:48,487 --> 00:34:53,558
Investigators now descend to try
to find out how one of the most
758
00:34:53,558 --> 00:34:56,261
sophisticated airliners
equipped with state of the art
759
00:34:56,261 --> 00:34:59,531
technology could veer
off course and crash more
760
00:34:59,531 --> 00:35:01,500
than 35 miles from the airport.
761
00:35:03,469 --> 00:35:05,738
[suspenseful music]
762
00:35:05,738 --> 00:35:08,874
The investigation into
the crash of flight 965
763
00:35:08,874 --> 00:35:11,143
was led by Columbia's
Aeronautica Civil.
764
00:35:15,280 --> 00:35:17,549
Assisting the Colombians
were investigators
765
00:35:17,549 --> 00:35:20,452
from the US National
Transportation Safety Board,
766
00:35:20,452 --> 00:35:22,154
including Dave Ivey.
767
00:35:22,154 --> 00:35:25,991
DAVID IVEY: The wreckage
and debris report indicated
768
00:35:25,991 --> 00:35:31,430
that the airplane actually
impacted the eastern side
769
00:35:31,430 --> 00:35:34,299
of the mountain as it was
trying to proceed back
770
00:35:34,299 --> 00:35:37,102
west to get into the valley.
771
00:35:37,102 --> 00:35:41,073
And the main body
of the wreckage
772
00:35:41,073 --> 00:35:44,710
cleared the mountain
top or the ridge,
773
00:35:44,710 --> 00:35:48,781
I should say, and landed over
on the western side, which
774
00:35:48,781 --> 00:35:50,783
is inside the valley area.
775
00:35:50,783 --> 00:35:53,419
[ominous music]
776
00:35:54,486 --> 00:35:55,988
NARRATOR: Also following
the investigation
777
00:35:55,988 --> 00:35:58,624
was Dave Simmon, an
airline captain who
778
00:35:58,624 --> 00:36:01,727
knew the Cali approach well.
779
00:36:01,727 --> 00:36:03,796
DAVE SIMMON: In the days
that followed the crash,
780
00:36:03,796 --> 00:36:05,731
the industry was shocked.
781
00:36:05,731 --> 00:36:08,167
They were shocked
because they didn't know
782
00:36:08,167 --> 00:36:12,805
how could a sophisticated
airplane like the 757,
783
00:36:12,805 --> 00:36:16,675
flown by a well-respected
international carrier
784
00:36:16,675 --> 00:36:19,611
like American Airlines,
with well-trained crews,
785
00:36:19,611 --> 00:36:21,780
get so far off course.
786
00:36:21,780 --> 00:36:26,218
Nobody could figure out how did
it happen, why did it happen.
787
00:36:26,218 --> 00:36:29,455
[somber music]
788
00:36:30,856 --> 00:36:33,625
NARRATOR: Sabotage and
mechanical malfunction
789
00:36:33,625 --> 00:36:37,196
were soon ruled out.
790
00:36:37,196 --> 00:36:39,865
Attention turned to the
actions of the flight crew.
791
00:36:44,470 --> 00:36:47,372
The discovery of the black
boxes enabled investigators
792
00:36:47,372 --> 00:36:54,379
to follow the final moments of
American Airlines flight 965.
793
00:36:54,379 --> 00:36:58,083
There is never one
single item that--
794
00:36:58,083 --> 00:37:01,019
or error that typically
brings an airplane down.
795
00:37:01,019 --> 00:37:02,387
There's an error chain.
796
00:37:02,387 --> 00:37:05,057
And a chain is made
up of many links.
797
00:37:05,057 --> 00:37:07,493
The airplane was
en route to Cali.
798
00:37:07,493 --> 00:37:11,630
As they were approaching
from a distance out,
799
00:37:11,630 --> 00:37:14,566
the controller offered
them a straight in landing.
800
00:37:14,566 --> 00:37:17,169
Are you able to
approach runway 19?
801
00:37:17,169 --> 00:37:19,371
Would you like to
shoot the 19 straight in?
802
00:37:19,371 --> 00:37:20,672
Uh, yeah.
803
00:37:20,672 --> 00:37:22,107
We'll have to
scramble to get down.
804
00:37:22,107 --> 00:37:23,108
We can do it.
805
00:37:23,108 --> 00:37:26,144
When they first
accepted the approach,
806
00:37:26,144 --> 00:37:28,247
the first officer
remarked that we
807
00:37:28,247 --> 00:37:32,284
do need to get down in a hurry
in order to accomplish this.
808
00:37:32,284 --> 00:37:33,485
Yes, sir.
809
00:37:33,485 --> 00:37:35,654
We'll need a lower altitude
right away, though.
810
00:37:35,654 --> 00:37:39,658
At the time the crew accepted
the approach to runway 19,
811
00:37:39,658 --> 00:37:42,928
they were too high,
too fast, and too close
812
00:37:42,928 --> 00:37:46,298
in to safely make this approach.
813
00:37:46,298 --> 00:37:48,333
NARRATOR: To lose
altitude, the first officer
814
00:37:48,333 --> 00:37:50,502
deploys the speed brakes--
815
00:37:50,502 --> 00:37:53,672
an action that will prove
disastrous in the final segment
816
00:37:53,672 --> 00:37:55,874
of the flight.
817
00:37:55,874 --> 00:37:59,978
The fact that they accepted
that runway put the crew
818
00:37:59,978 --> 00:38:02,214
in a rushed and hurried manner.
819
00:38:02,214 --> 00:38:03,682
Maybe at Tulua first of all.
820
00:38:03,682 --> 00:38:06,118
You want to go right
to Cali or to Tulua?
821
00:38:06,118 --> 00:38:08,020
I thought he said
the Rozo one arrival.
822
00:38:08,020 --> 00:38:09,087
Yeah, he did.
823
00:38:09,087 --> 00:38:10,656
We got time to pull that out?
824
00:38:10,656 --> 00:38:13,592
NARRATOR: The flight crew now
must study the approach charts
825
00:38:13,592 --> 00:38:15,928
and reprogram the computer.
826
00:38:15,928 --> 00:38:17,996
Meanwhile, the airplane
is moving at more
827
00:38:17,996 --> 00:38:20,265
than 5 miles per minute.
828
00:38:20,265 --> 00:38:25,170
Because they're rushed, and
in a hurry, and scrambling,
829
00:38:25,170 --> 00:38:29,675
they then make a
dangerous request.
830
00:38:29,675 --> 00:38:33,478
Can American Airlines
965 go director to Rozo
831
00:38:33,478 --> 00:38:35,981
and then do the
Rozo arrivals, sir?
832
00:38:35,981 --> 00:38:37,749
Affirmative.
833
00:38:37,749 --> 00:38:40,819
Take the Rozo one and runway 19.
834
00:38:40,819 --> 00:38:45,791
When the controller said
affirmative, take the Rozo one,
835
00:38:45,791 --> 00:38:49,061
he meant use the
Rozo one arrival
836
00:38:49,061 --> 00:38:51,897
procedure, although
the crew thought
837
00:38:51,897 --> 00:38:54,533
he meant to go direct to Rozo.
838
00:38:54,533 --> 00:38:56,168
That's not a good idea.
839
00:38:56,168 --> 00:39:00,038
Because to proceed
direct to Rozo
840
00:39:00,038 --> 00:39:03,909
is the last point just
before the runway.
841
00:39:03,909 --> 00:39:08,413
And Rozo is the last
point before landing, not
842
00:39:08,413 --> 00:39:11,116
the first point that
you should be targeting.
843
00:39:11,116 --> 00:39:14,252
And this miscommunication
really dealt with the pilot
844
00:39:14,252 --> 00:39:17,055
believing one thing and
the air traffic controller
845
00:39:17,055 --> 00:39:18,190
believing another.
846
00:39:18,190 --> 00:39:19,691
That was another
link, in my view--
847
00:39:19,691 --> 00:39:21,193
ACTOR AS NICHOLAS TAFURI:
What happened here?
848
00:39:21,193 --> 00:39:23,095
DAVID IVEY: --that was
part of the error chain.
849
00:39:23,095 --> 00:39:25,030
Where are we?
850
00:39:25,030 --> 00:39:27,099
DAVE SIMMON: The
crew looks at their--
851
00:39:27,099 --> 00:39:29,368
at their charts
in front of them,
852
00:39:29,368 --> 00:39:31,336
and they see the fixed Rozo.
853
00:39:31,336 --> 00:39:33,872
And it is identified
by the letter R.
854
00:39:33,872 --> 00:39:37,442
So they naturally put
R into the computer
855
00:39:37,442 --> 00:39:40,979
thinking it will take
them directly to Rozo.
856
00:39:40,979 --> 00:39:43,682
NARRATOR: The computer
offers a list to choose from.
857
00:39:43,682 --> 00:39:47,853
But, unbeknownst to the
pilots, none is Rozo.
858
00:39:47,853 --> 00:39:49,588
Habit has shown--
859
00:39:49,588 --> 00:39:53,425
and the system is designed
to place the one that is
860
00:39:53,425 --> 00:39:55,761
closest to your airplane first.
861
00:39:55,761 --> 00:40:03,035
And so here was an R that showed
up first and he selected that.
862
00:40:03,035 --> 00:40:05,137
NARRATOR: A display
in front of the pilot
863
00:40:05,137 --> 00:40:08,974
shows the proposed course
to the waypoint selected.
864
00:40:08,974 --> 00:40:12,944
It will take the plane
left, into the mountains.
865
00:40:12,944 --> 00:40:15,480
DAVID IVEY: According to
American Airlines procedure,
866
00:40:15,480 --> 00:40:20,052
prior to executing
an input such as this
867
00:40:20,052 --> 00:40:24,489
to select the R, you confirm
with the other pilot,
868
00:40:24,489 --> 00:40:26,692
does this look correct to you.
869
00:40:26,692 --> 00:40:29,027
965, 9,000 feet.
870
00:40:29,027 --> 00:40:30,762
This clearly was not done.
871
00:40:30,762 --> 00:40:34,032
If it had been, they would
have seen a dotted line
872
00:40:34,032 --> 00:40:38,070
showing a provisional path
from the nose of the airplane,
873
00:40:38,070 --> 00:40:42,441
turning, and going back to
about their 7 o'clock position.
874
00:40:42,441 --> 00:40:47,045
NARRATOR: Captain Tafuri hastily
presses the Execute button.
875
00:40:47,045 --> 00:40:49,047
DAVE SIMMON:
Unfortunately, the crew
876
00:40:49,047 --> 00:40:54,386
does not know that R
stands for another fix that
877
00:40:54,386 --> 00:40:59,558
is 132 miles away, behind
them, at about their 7
878
00:40:59,558 --> 00:41:00,859
o'clock position.
879
00:41:00,859 --> 00:41:05,230
And that's where the
airplane starts to go to.
880
00:41:05,230 --> 00:41:06,832
DAVID IVEY: The plane
was simply doing
881
00:41:06,832 --> 00:41:09,234
what it was programmed to do.
882
00:41:09,234 --> 00:41:15,006
In this case it's to fly out
of Bogota, 130 miles away.
883
00:41:15,006 --> 00:41:17,008
NARRATOR: More than a
minute into the turn,
884
00:41:17,008 --> 00:41:20,579
the pilots are unaware
they're flying away from Cali
885
00:41:20,579 --> 00:41:24,249
and dangerously off course.
886
00:41:24,249 --> 00:41:26,218
DAVE SIMMON: The first officer
is getting the charts out.
887
00:41:26,218 --> 00:41:27,853
The captain's getting
the charts out.
888
00:41:27,853 --> 00:41:29,087
They don't know
where we're headed.
889
00:41:29,087 --> 00:41:31,022
DAVE SIMMON: They're
trying to tune radios.
890
00:41:31,022 --> 00:41:32,758
No one's flying the airplane.
891
00:41:32,758 --> 00:41:34,659
No one's watching what happens.
892
00:41:34,659 --> 00:41:36,995
And they assume
that the automation
893
00:41:36,995 --> 00:41:38,430
is gonna take care of 'em.
894
00:41:38,430 --> 00:41:41,399
Sometimes it will, but
in this case it didn't.
895
00:41:41,399 --> 00:41:44,836
Uh, where are we?
896
00:41:44,836 --> 00:41:45,904
We're going out to--
897
00:41:45,904 --> 00:41:48,807
Let's go right to
Tulua first of all, OK?
898
00:41:48,807 --> 00:41:52,177
DAVID IVEY: In this case, the
airplane got in front of them.
899
00:41:52,177 --> 00:41:54,679
It was flying what was selected.
900
00:41:54,679 --> 00:41:58,950
And, in fact, it was
flying beyond the pilot's
901
00:41:58,950 --> 00:42:02,954
recognition of where it was
supposed to be traveling.
902
00:42:02,954 --> 00:42:04,956
NARRATOR: The pilots
had lost what's referred
903
00:42:04,956 --> 00:42:07,492
to as situational awareness.
904
00:42:07,492 --> 00:42:09,728
Left turn, so you want
a left turn back around.
905
00:42:09,728 --> 00:42:10,362
No.
Hell, no.
906
00:42:10,362 --> 00:42:11,396
Let's press onto--
907
00:42:11,396 --> 00:42:13,198
Well, we're pressing
to where, though?
908
00:42:13,198 --> 00:42:14,099
Tulua.
909
00:42:14,099 --> 00:42:14,933
That's a right U and--
910
00:42:14,933 --> 00:42:16,268
Well, where are we going?
911
00:42:16,268 --> 00:42:18,670
DAVE SIMMON: Once they became
unsure of their position--
912
00:42:18,670 --> 00:42:22,307
once they became confused
and disoriented--
913
00:42:22,307 --> 00:42:25,010
that's the time to
click off the automation
914
00:42:25,010 --> 00:42:28,647
and to basically
abandon the approach,
915
00:42:28,647 --> 00:42:33,151
climb to the minimum safe
altitude, and to go to Cali.
916
00:42:33,151 --> 00:42:34,686
965, altitude?
917
00:42:34,686 --> 00:42:36,588
NARRATOR: Instead of
abandoning the approach
918
00:42:36,588 --> 00:42:41,593
and gaining altitude, flight 965
continued its deadly descent.
919
00:42:41,593 --> 00:42:43,528
[suspenseful music]
920
00:42:44,329 --> 00:42:45,730
[alarm buzzing]
921
00:42:45,730 --> 00:42:48,667
When the warning sounded that
the plane was about to crash--
922
00:42:48,667 --> 00:42:49,801
[screaming]
923
00:42:49,801 --> 00:42:52,337
--First Officer Williams
disengaged the autopilot
924
00:42:52,337 --> 00:42:55,640
within one second, but
forgot to retract the speed
925
00:42:55,640 --> 00:42:58,076
brakes he deployed earlier.
926
00:42:58,076 --> 00:43:00,078
AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL (ON RADIO):
965, this is Cali Approach.
927
00:43:00,078 --> 00:43:00,979
Can you hear me?
928
00:43:08,720 --> 00:43:10,388
NARRATOR: According to
the official report,
929
00:43:10,388 --> 00:43:12,891
had he remembered to
lower the speed brakes,
930
00:43:12,891 --> 00:43:15,660
the plane could have cleared
the mountain with room to spare.
931
00:43:18,230 --> 00:43:22,267
A court eventually ruled
that the pilots of flight 965
932
00:43:22,267 --> 00:43:27,038
had shown willful misconduct
on the approach to Cali.
933
00:43:27,038 --> 00:43:30,475
Survivor Mercedes Ramirez,
who lost both her parents,
934
00:43:30,475 --> 00:43:33,445
continues to deal
with the crash.
935
00:43:33,445 --> 00:43:36,114
I think this was
a classic textbook
936
00:43:36,114 --> 00:43:42,821
case of everything you should
not do when flying a plane.
937
00:43:42,821 --> 00:43:45,123
Hopefully it's a wake
up call to pilots that,
938
00:43:45,123 --> 00:43:48,560
no matter how many times
you've flown to a city,
939
00:43:48,560 --> 00:43:50,929
you just have to
be alert and aware.
940
00:43:50,929 --> 00:43:52,998
Because every little
move that you make,
941
00:43:52,998 --> 00:43:56,468
you have the lives of
people in your hands.
69425
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