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FLIGHT ATTENDANT:
Ladies and gentlemen,
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00:00:07,407 --> 00:00:08,441
we are starting our approach.
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00:00:08,441 --> 00:00:09,676
FLIGHT CREWMAN: We
lost both engines.
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00:00:09,676 --> 00:00:10,777
[inaudible].
5
00:00:10,777 --> 00:00:11,678
Emergency descent.
FLIGHT CREWMAN: Mayday!
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00:00:11,678 --> 00:00:12,912
Mayday!
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Brace for impact!
8
00:00:18,385 --> 00:00:20,387
He's going to crash!
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00:00:33,333 --> 00:00:36,870
NARRATOR: Avianca
flight 52 is in trouble.
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00:00:36,870 --> 00:00:38,371
The crew is exhausted.
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00:00:38,371 --> 00:00:41,841
They're over New York City
and almost out of fuel.
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00:00:41,841 --> 00:00:42,776
Are we clear to land, no?
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00:00:42,776 --> 00:00:43,576
Yes, sir.
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00:00:43,576 --> 00:00:44,811
We are clear to land.
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00:00:44,811 --> 00:00:46,079
Tell me things louder
because I'm not hearing it.
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00:00:46,079 --> 00:00:47,647
NARRATOR: They're
cleared to land.
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00:00:47,647 --> 00:00:49,616
Soon the nightmare will be over.
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00:00:49,616 --> 00:00:50,417
Gear down.
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00:00:50,417 --> 00:00:51,518
Glide slope!
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00:00:51,518 --> 00:00:54,020
Sync rate, 500 feet.
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00:00:54,020 --> 00:00:55,822
NARRATOR: The captain
desperately searches for
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the runway at Kennedy Airport.
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Lights!
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NARRATOR: But he can't find it.
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The runway, where is it?
26
00:01:01,761 --> 00:01:02,695
I don't see it.
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I don't see it.
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00:01:04,330 --> 00:01:06,933
NARRATOR: Now, they're
battling violent wind shear.
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This is the wind shear.
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NARRATOR: They're
going to crash.
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Give me the landing gear up.
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Landing gear up!
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00:01:12,839 --> 00:01:15,842
NARRATOR: The plane has
hardly a drop of fuel left.
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They cannot land.
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[crying]
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Flight 52 is about to crash
somewhere over New York.
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How could that happen?
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Even the world's finest
aircraft detectives will never
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agree about who is to blame.
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Southwest of Kennedy Airport,
with a track brought up--
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[sirens]
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106 to Main Street
in Oyster Bay.
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NARRATOR: January 25, 1990.
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Air traffic controllers
are nervously
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tracking a massive
low-pressure system approaching
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America's northeast coast.
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00:02:01,654 --> 00:02:03,790
There was a system moving
through the Great Lakes,
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moving east.
49
00:02:05,058 --> 00:02:07,861
There were a couple of
other systems converging,
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00:02:07,861 --> 00:02:10,196
and a lot of times they'll
converge in the New York area
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00:02:10,196 --> 00:02:12,098
there, and the whole
Northeast will go down.
52
00:02:17,937 --> 00:02:19,973
NARRATOR: The weather is
already near the safe minimum
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00:02:19,973 --> 00:02:22,242
to land a plane.
54
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Flights will have to
be canceled or delayed.
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The terminals will be
choked with thousands
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of angry passengers.
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Despite the terrible weather,
the air traffic managers
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in Washington DC
order controllers
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at Kennedy Airport in New York
to set a high landing rate.
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00:02:49,869 --> 00:02:50,970
We have some--
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NARRATOR: Air travel
is vital, and they're
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under tremendous pressure
to delay or cancel
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as few flights as possible.
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There's pressure because
that's the business they're in.
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00:02:59,746 --> 00:03:02,649
The business is moving
passengers from A to B.
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00:03:02,649 --> 00:03:04,017
That's what the
airlines are paid,
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00:03:04,017 --> 00:03:08,521
and the controllers are
paid to help that work.
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Hey JFK, I need--
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NARRATOR: Washington DC
managers pressure New York
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to land 33 aircraft per hour.
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Because of the winds, we don't
like the rate of 33 an hour.
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00:03:17,697 --> 00:03:19,899
NARRATOR: Scores
of overseas flights
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with thousands of passengers
are already on their way.
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They have to land somehow.
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00:03:25,238 --> 00:03:26,739
What are we going do
with foreign traffic?
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00:03:26,739 --> 00:03:28,775
We'll just give
them airborne holds.
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00:03:28,775 --> 00:03:30,076
Well, we know
we're going to have
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wind shear and
missed approaches,
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and this is going to
be a very bad day.
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00:03:34,847 --> 00:03:37,417
And that set the scenario
at about 7:00 or 8:00
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in the morning before
we left Medellin.
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At 7:00 or 8:00 in the
morning, the scenario was set
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for this accident to happen.
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NARRATOR: But within the next
few hours, fog and low clouds
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close the main runway at JFK.
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Whatever their bosses
say, the controllers
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won't be able to land
33 aircraft an hour.
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[music playing]
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2,400 miles to the
south in Colombia,
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00:04:11,651 --> 00:04:15,088
it's a warm, cloudless day.
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Avianca Flight 52
is now boarding
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passengers for New York.
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Among them, Miriam
and Luis Montoya
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and their two young daughters.
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00:04:24,964 --> 00:04:26,232
[speaking spanish]
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INTERPRETER: I remember during
that day in the morning,
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before we boarded
the flight, I talked
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00:04:29,769 --> 00:04:31,037
to a friend that
was going to pick us
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00:04:31,037 --> 00:04:32,672
up at the airport in New York.
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00:04:32,672 --> 00:04:34,774
He told us the weather
conditions were bad.
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The temperature was very
low, and it was rainy,
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and it was going to be foggy.
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00:04:39,646 --> 00:04:41,514
NARRATOR: After a
short business trip,
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00:04:41,514 --> 00:04:45,585
Nestor Zarate is traveling
home to New York.
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00:04:45,585 --> 00:04:48,855
I received a telephone call
telling me that if I could be
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00:04:48,855 --> 00:04:52,792
in the airport in a half an
hour and not ask any questions
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00:04:52,792 --> 00:04:56,929
or request anything, I would
get on the direct flight
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00:04:56,929 --> 00:04:57,697
to New York.
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00:05:02,035 --> 00:05:05,371
NARRATOR: In the cockpit,
flight engineer Matias Moyano
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00:05:05,371 --> 00:05:10,510
monitors the loading of
over 13,000 pounds of fuel
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00:05:10,510 --> 00:05:13,246
for a total of 80,000 pounds--
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00:05:13,246 --> 00:05:17,984
enough for the journey, plus an
extra two hours' flying time.
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00:05:22,622 --> 00:05:25,725
Avianca 052 heavy, request
clearance for takeoff,
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00:05:25,725 --> 00:05:28,728
runway 11.
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00:05:28,728 --> 00:05:31,230
NARRATOR: Just after
3:00 in the afternoon,
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00:05:31,230 --> 00:05:35,201
Avianca 52 leaves Medellin
with its maximum allowable fuel
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load.
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00:05:36,903 --> 00:05:40,707
The Colombian airliner with
158 passengers and crew
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00:05:40,707 --> 00:05:41,507
heads north.
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00:05:47,680 --> 00:05:51,384
By early evening, deteriorating
weather has made for appalling
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00:05:51,384 --> 00:05:53,486
conditions at JFK.
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00:05:53,486 --> 00:05:56,022
Continue to the left,
heading 2-3-0 vectors
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00:05:56,022 --> 00:05:57,590
and holding for Cameron again.
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00:05:57,590 --> 00:06:00,193
NARRATOR: Unable to turn
back overseas flights,
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00:06:00,193 --> 00:06:04,097
controllers direct air traffic
to circle and wait to land.
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00:06:04,097 --> 00:06:05,631
So turn left.
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00:06:05,631 --> 00:06:08,534
There is a wind shear alert
on final at 1,500 feet.
128
00:06:08,534 --> 00:06:09,469
Turn left, heading--
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00:06:09,469 --> 00:06:10,636
NARRATOR: They
worked frantically
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00:06:10,636 --> 00:06:12,605
to keep track of the
growing number of aircraft
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00:06:12,605 --> 00:06:14,107
circling over New York.
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00:06:14,107 --> 00:06:16,476
American Airlines 251, you
are clear to land on Runway 37.
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00:06:16,476 --> 00:06:19,645
When Mother Nature gets
involved, problems develop.
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00:06:19,645 --> 00:06:21,080
The tension gets higher.
135
00:06:21,080 --> 00:06:22,081
The pressure gets higher.
136
00:06:22,081 --> 00:06:24,217
Decisions become more critical.
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00:06:29,055 --> 00:06:33,559
NARRATOR: JFK airport now only
has one runway for landing,
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00:06:33,559 --> 00:06:36,996
and aircraft or
queuing up to use it.
139
00:06:36,996 --> 00:06:39,966
In the near blackout
conditions, several planes
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00:06:39,966 --> 00:06:43,236
have to abort their landings,
which only adds to the delays.
141
00:06:47,073 --> 00:06:50,543
On Flight 52, the crew
knows none of this.
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00:06:50,543 --> 00:06:53,546
They neither receive nor
request the weather for New York
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00:06:53,546 --> 00:06:57,083
or for their alternate
airport, Boston.
144
00:06:57,083 --> 00:07:01,154
In this case, Avianca 52
had the capability of calling
145
00:07:01,154 --> 00:07:03,456
several different
stations or could
146
00:07:03,456 --> 00:07:06,058
have called their own
dispatch operation in Miami
147
00:07:06,058 --> 00:07:07,927
and got an update
on the weather.
148
00:07:07,927 --> 00:07:10,363
We don't really have any
evidence that they checked
149
00:07:10,363 --> 00:07:13,833
with anyone to get the
updated weather for JFK
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00:07:13,833 --> 00:07:16,068
and their alternate, Boston.
151
00:07:16,068 --> 00:07:18,437
It's inconceivable
to me that someone who
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00:07:18,437 --> 00:07:20,706
had a responsibility
of other people's lives
153
00:07:20,706 --> 00:07:23,709
would fly into a
deteriorating condition
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00:07:23,709 --> 00:07:30,583
without checking about A, do we
have a way out of this place?
155
00:07:30,583 --> 00:07:32,919
NARRATOR: Avianca 52
enters the airspace
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00:07:32,919 --> 00:07:35,321
near Norfolk, Virginia.
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00:07:35,321 --> 00:07:38,157
After four hours in the
air, New York City is
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00:07:38,157 --> 00:07:39,826
now less than 40 minutes away.
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00:07:43,963 --> 00:07:46,899
51-year-old Captain
Laureano Caviedes
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00:07:46,899 --> 00:07:52,104
is a seasoned pilot who's flown
with Avianca for 27 years.
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00:07:52,104 --> 00:07:54,907
But his English is poor.
162
00:07:54,907 --> 00:07:57,310
All communications with
air traffic control
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00:07:57,310 --> 00:07:59,946
will be handled by the
28-year-old co-pilot Mauricio
164
00:07:59,946 --> 00:08:00,746
Klotz.
165
00:08:05,885 --> 00:08:09,222
Flight engineer Matias
Moyano is experienced,
166
00:08:09,222 --> 00:08:12,425
but like co-pilot Klotz,
he has only four months
167
00:08:12,425 --> 00:08:16,062
of flight time in the 707.
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00:08:16,062 --> 00:08:18,197
They were a highly-experienced
flight crew who had
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00:08:18,197 --> 00:08:22,301
been into New York
several times previously
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00:08:22,301 --> 00:08:23,769
on behalf of Avianca.
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00:08:23,769 --> 00:08:26,339
So they were familiar with
the route and the procedures.
172
00:08:26,339 --> 00:08:27,974
Washington, good evening.
173
00:08:27,974 --> 00:08:31,544
Avianca 052 heavy,
flight level 3-7-0.
174
00:08:31,544 --> 00:08:35,047
Avianca 052 heavy,
Washington Center, roger.
175
00:08:35,047 --> 00:08:39,318
Avianca 052, I'd like you to
make a right 360-degree turn.
176
00:08:39,318 --> 00:08:41,287
And I need you to get a
pencil ready for holding
177
00:08:41,287 --> 00:08:43,222
instructions at Norfolk.
178
00:08:43,222 --> 00:08:45,758
OK, 360-degree
right turn at Norfolk.
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00:08:45,758 --> 00:08:47,627
Avianca 052 heavy.
180
00:08:47,627 --> 00:08:52,331
Hold south on 174 with
right turns in 20-mile legs.
181
00:08:52,331 --> 00:08:56,102
NARRATOR: Flight 52's
troubles are about to begin.
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00:08:56,102 --> 00:09:00,039
It's diverted out over the
Atlantic Ocean near Norfolk
183
00:09:00,039 --> 00:09:03,242
and placed in a holding pattern.
184
00:09:03,242 --> 00:09:06,512
Here, the aircraft will
fly an elliptical pattern
185
00:09:06,512 --> 00:09:07,546
until further notice.
186
00:09:10,383 --> 00:09:12,885
The pilots don't know
about the weather ahead,
187
00:09:12,885 --> 00:09:15,688
but with enough fuel for more
than two hours of flying,
188
00:09:15,688 --> 00:09:17,023
there's no cause for alarm.
189
00:09:28,267 --> 00:09:30,736
The Northeast Corridor
of the United States
190
00:09:30,736 --> 00:09:34,607
is one of the most congested
airspaces in the world.
191
00:09:34,607 --> 00:09:37,443
Incoming traffic from
overseas is routinely
192
00:09:37,443 --> 00:09:39,879
directed through a
pipeline of controllers
193
00:09:39,879 --> 00:09:42,315
before receiving clearance
to land at one of the New
194
00:09:42,315 --> 00:09:45,284
York area's major airports--
195
00:09:45,284 --> 00:09:47,420
JFK, LaGuardia, or Newark.
196
00:09:51,023 --> 00:09:54,694
Tonight, Avianca 52 will come
under the direction of more
197
00:09:54,694 --> 00:09:58,864
than six controllers
trying to get the aircraft,
198
00:09:58,864 --> 00:10:01,867
now circling over New York,
safely down on the ground.
199
00:10:01,867 --> 00:10:03,135
We just got off the line.
200
00:10:03,135 --> 00:10:04,904
It's indefinite
holding at this time.
201
00:10:04,904 --> 00:10:07,673
Turn left in 0-8-0.
202
00:10:07,673 --> 00:10:09,608
NARRATOR: While air
traffic control tries
203
00:10:09,608 --> 00:10:12,745
to cope with an increasing
backlog of flights,
204
00:10:12,745 --> 00:10:15,915
Avianca flight 52
circles for 19 minutes
205
00:10:15,915 --> 00:10:19,585
over the Virginia coast,
waiting to continue to New York.
206
00:10:22,855 --> 00:10:26,826
Avianca 052, expedite
descent through level 3-3.
207
00:10:26,826 --> 00:10:29,929
Just leave flight level 3-3-0
within three minutes, please.
208
00:10:29,929 --> 00:10:31,297
OK.
209
00:10:31,297 --> 00:10:36,469
We'll leave 3-3-0 within three
minutes, Avianca 052 heavy.
210
00:10:36,469 --> 00:10:40,306
NARRATOR: The Avianca jet is on
its way to New York, at last.
211
00:10:40,306 --> 00:10:43,409
But they have no idea of the
trouble that awaits them.
212
00:10:49,048 --> 00:10:53,019
Avianca flight 52 is on its
final approach to New York,
213
00:10:53,019 --> 00:10:56,990
unaware that conditions at JFK
are barely safe for landing.
214
00:10:59,559 --> 00:11:02,528
It's pitch black with
heavy mist, rain,
215
00:11:02,528 --> 00:11:04,097
and sudden, violent winds.
216
00:11:06,899 --> 00:11:10,570
The plane has almost used up the
fuel planned for the journey,
217
00:11:10,570 --> 00:11:14,240
and will soon start
eating into its reserves.
218
00:11:14,240 --> 00:11:17,110
The crew considers diverting
to their alternate airport
219
00:11:17,110 --> 00:11:21,280
in Boston, just 210
miles from New York.
220
00:11:21,280 --> 00:11:25,084
Washington Center,
Avianca 052 heavy.
221
00:11:25,084 --> 00:11:26,519
Avianca 052 heavy.
222
00:11:26,519 --> 00:11:27,754
Go ahead.
223
00:11:27,754 --> 00:11:30,289
Do you have any information
about delays to Boston?
224
00:11:30,289 --> 00:11:32,925
NARRATOR: The Washington
controller asks his assistant
225
00:11:32,925 --> 00:11:35,261
to check on the
conditions at Boston,
226
00:11:35,261 --> 00:11:38,197
but he gets distracted,
juggling other aircraft,
227
00:11:38,197 --> 00:11:40,900
and he forgets all
about Avianca's request.
228
00:11:43,870 --> 00:11:48,441
While flight 52 is left waiting
for an answer that never comes,
229
00:11:48,441 --> 00:11:53,146
their precious fuel supply
is slowly draining away.
230
00:11:53,146 --> 00:11:56,215
Ask him about Boston again.
231
00:11:56,215 --> 00:11:57,884
Did you ask about
delays at Boston,
232
00:11:57,884 --> 00:11:59,519
or are we going to
approach Kennedy?
233
00:11:59,519 --> 00:12:00,987
OK, Avianca 052.
234
00:12:00,987 --> 00:12:03,589
It looks as though New York's
center may have to hold you
235
00:12:03,589 --> 00:12:06,292
for possibly up to 30 minutes.
236
00:12:06,292 --> 00:12:09,328
OK, Avianca 052, I've been
advised Boston is open
237
00:12:09,328 --> 00:12:10,897
and accepting traffic
if you do need
238
00:12:10,897 --> 00:12:12,532
that as an alternate airport.
239
00:12:12,532 --> 00:12:14,667
OK, standby a minute.
240
00:12:14,667 --> 00:12:17,203
NARRATOR: Flight engineer
Moyano begins to calculate
241
00:12:17,203 --> 00:12:20,006
how much fuel they'll have
after an additional 30
242
00:12:20,006 --> 00:12:21,941
minutes of holding.
243
00:12:21,941 --> 00:12:25,845
Even before they can respond,
Washington control directs them
244
00:12:25,845 --> 00:12:28,548
to another holding location.
245
00:12:28,548 --> 00:12:30,750
Avianca 052 heavy.
246
00:12:30,750 --> 00:12:32,585
Make a right turn
now to intercept
247
00:12:32,585 --> 00:12:34,687
the Cameron two arrival.
248
00:12:34,687 --> 00:12:35,855
Cleared on course.
249
00:12:35,855 --> 00:12:39,492
Maintain flight level 1-niner-0.
250
00:12:39,492 --> 00:12:42,895
NARRATOR: Flight 52 is now off
the New Jersey coast in an area
251
00:12:42,895 --> 00:12:47,166
known as Cameron, less than
45 miles from Kennedy Airport,
252
00:12:47,166 --> 00:12:50,736
but it seems as
far away as ever.
253
00:12:50,736 --> 00:12:52,438
During all those
holding times,
254
00:12:52,438 --> 00:12:56,075
I was praying and trying to
see where we're going to land.
255
00:12:56,075 --> 00:12:59,445
I mean, when are we going
to be on the ground?
256
00:12:59,445 --> 00:13:03,316
I don't want to be here anymore.
257
00:13:03,316 --> 00:13:05,585
CAPTAIN: Ladies and gentlemen,
this is your captain.
258
00:13:05,585 --> 00:13:07,987
I apologize for the
delay, but it appears
259
00:13:07,987 --> 00:13:09,222
we're going to be
holding as we wait
260
00:13:09,222 --> 00:13:11,657
our turn to land in New York.
261
00:13:11,657 --> 00:13:14,026
NARRATOR: It will be the
crew's last communication
262
00:13:14,026 --> 00:13:16,362
with the passengers
as flight 52's
263
00:13:16,362 --> 00:13:18,464
situation goes
from bad to worse.
264
00:13:21,167 --> 00:13:23,970
Avianca 052, descend
and maintain 1-4,000--
265
00:13:23,970 --> 00:13:25,371
NARRATOR: It's handed
over to the New
266
00:13:25,371 --> 00:13:29,342
York controllers, who, even on
a good day, can be intimidating.
267
00:13:29,342 --> 00:13:31,043
And today is not a good day.
268
00:13:31,043 --> 00:13:32,078
Avianca 052--
269
00:13:32,078 --> 00:13:33,846
NARRATOR: There are
up to 39 aircraft
270
00:13:33,846 --> 00:13:36,449
trying to land and
dozens more on the ground
271
00:13:36,449 --> 00:13:39,085
waiting to take off.
272
00:13:39,085 --> 00:13:42,121
Tired and frustrated,
the crew of Avianca 52
273
00:13:42,121 --> 00:13:45,191
continues to circle the
crowded airspace over New York
274
00:13:45,191 --> 00:13:46,993
while they wait for
clearance to land.
275
00:13:49,529 --> 00:13:51,831
After more than five
hours in the air,
276
00:13:51,831 --> 00:13:54,634
Luis Montoya is anxious
to get his wife and two
277
00:13:54,634 --> 00:13:56,402
young daughters on
the ground and back
278
00:13:56,402 --> 00:13:58,905
to their home in Queens.
279
00:13:58,905 --> 00:14:02,808
[speaking spanish]
280
00:14:02,808 --> 00:14:05,111
INTERPRETER: As the
flight started to prolong,
281
00:14:05,111 --> 00:14:07,246
we started to feel uneasy.
282
00:14:07,246 --> 00:14:10,016
My wife was carrying
the baby at all times,
283
00:14:10,016 --> 00:14:12,285
and we were wondering
what could be happening.
284
00:14:12,285 --> 00:14:14,921
After all, they weren't
giving us any information,
285
00:14:14,921 --> 00:14:16,822
and most people began
to feel nervous.
286
00:14:20,793 --> 00:14:22,094
NARRATOR: New York
Center finally
287
00:14:22,094 --> 00:14:24,530
gives the crew of
Avianca 52 the message
288
00:14:24,530 --> 00:14:26,599
they've been waiting for.
289
00:14:26,599 --> 00:14:28,501
Avianca 052 heavy.
290
00:14:28,501 --> 00:14:30,236
AVR Kennedy is 2,400 feet.
291
00:14:30,236 --> 00:14:31,571
Can you accept an approach?
292
00:14:31,571 --> 00:14:33,806
That's an affirmative, sir.
293
00:14:33,806 --> 00:14:35,741
NARRATOR: They think they're
finally in the clear.
294
00:14:35,741 --> 00:14:36,909
Avianca 052--
295
00:14:36,909 --> 00:14:38,945
NARRATOR: Then calamity.
296
00:14:38,945 --> 00:14:41,047
We are passing 1-0-5.
297
00:14:41,047 --> 00:14:42,381
NARRATOR: The foul
weather forces
298
00:14:42,381 --> 00:14:45,418
several aircraft ahead to
abandon their landing attempts
299
00:14:45,418 --> 00:14:47,553
and try again.
300
00:14:47,553 --> 00:14:50,756
The controllers have bad news
for the Colombian airliner.
301
00:14:50,756 --> 00:14:54,961
Avianca 052, continue to
the left heading 2-3-0 vectors
302
00:14:54,961 --> 00:14:56,062
holding at Cameron again.
303
00:14:56,062 --> 00:14:57,630
NARRATOR: Another hold.
304
00:14:57,630 --> 00:14:58,664
OK.
305
00:14:58,664 --> 00:15:00,733
2-3-0 vectors for
holding at Cameron.
306
00:15:03,736 --> 00:15:06,872
NARRATOR: They've been held up
for 48 minutes near Norfolk,
307
00:15:06,872 --> 00:15:10,176
and then asked to circle
for another 25 minutes
308
00:15:10,176 --> 00:15:15,114
only a few miles from the
safety of JFK airport.
309
00:15:15,114 --> 00:15:17,917
They were progressively
moving toward JFK,
310
00:15:17,917 --> 00:15:20,987
and they were held in
the air for three times.
311
00:15:20,987 --> 00:15:24,357
This certainly would put
some stress on the crew
312
00:15:24,357 --> 00:15:26,425
as to the fact, they
want to go from A
313
00:15:26,425 --> 00:15:29,528
to B. They don't want
to fly in a race track
314
00:15:29,528 --> 00:15:32,265
for an hour just holding.
315
00:15:32,265 --> 00:15:36,135
NARRATOR: 8:55 PM, 40
minutes before flight 52
316
00:15:36,135 --> 00:15:39,805
ends, the cockpit voice recorder
captures a crew that seems
317
00:15:39,805 --> 00:15:43,576
resigned, or perhaps
too timid to complain.
318
00:15:46,445 --> 00:15:50,650
Moments later, Avianca is
given more unwelcome news.
319
00:15:50,650 --> 00:15:55,054
Avianca 052, expect for
the clearance time 0-2-0-5.
320
00:15:55,054 --> 00:15:57,323
Expect for the
clearance in 20 minutes.
321
00:15:57,323 --> 00:16:01,260
NARRATOR: Now the stress level
on the cockpit begins to rise.
322
00:16:01,260 --> 00:16:05,798
0-2-0-5, well, I
think we need priority.
323
00:16:05,798 --> 00:16:07,166
We are passing out of fuel.
324
00:16:07,166 --> 00:16:09,235
Avianca 052, roger.
325
00:16:09,235 --> 00:16:11,003
How long can you hold, and
what is your alternate?
326
00:16:11,003 --> 00:16:11,804
OK.
327
00:16:11,804 --> 00:16:13,706
Standby a minute.
328
00:16:13,706 --> 00:16:15,074
NARRATOR: The flight
engineer quickly
329
00:16:15,074 --> 00:16:18,978
calculates the remaining fuel.
330
00:16:18,978 --> 00:16:20,046
Yes sir.
331
00:16:20,046 --> 00:16:21,947
We'll be able to hold
for five minutes.
332
00:16:21,947 --> 00:16:23,049
That's all we can do.
333
00:16:23,049 --> 00:16:24,417
Avianca 052, roger.
334
00:16:24,417 --> 00:16:25,651
And what's your alternate?
335
00:16:25,651 --> 00:16:29,255
It was Boston, but
we can't do it now.
336
00:16:29,255 --> 00:16:30,656
We'll run out of fuel.
337
00:16:30,656 --> 00:16:35,628
Avianca 052, cleared to land
at Kennedy via heading 0-4-0.
338
00:16:35,628 --> 00:16:38,798
Maintain 1-1,000 at speed 1-8-0.
339
00:16:38,798 --> 00:16:40,866
The Avianca crew,
when they felt it,
340
00:16:40,866 --> 00:16:43,202
they were being handed off
to an approach controller
341
00:16:43,202 --> 00:16:46,806
now and given a heading
in a lower altitude.
342
00:16:46,806 --> 00:16:49,542
I'm sure in their minds,
they thought, well, they even
343
00:16:49,542 --> 00:16:52,645
commented on a cockpit voice
recorder, we're being handled,
344
00:16:52,645 --> 00:16:54,547
or we're being taken care of.
345
00:16:54,547 --> 00:16:57,049
Avianca 052 only has five
more minutes in the hold.
346
00:16:57,049 --> 00:16:58,317
Are you going to be
able to take them,
347
00:16:58,317 --> 00:17:00,386
or I'll send him off
to his alternate?
348
00:17:00,386 --> 00:17:01,787
What is his speed now?
349
00:17:01,787 --> 00:17:03,122
I'm not sure, to
be honest with you.
350
00:17:03,122 --> 00:17:04,290
Holding speed.
351
00:17:04,290 --> 00:17:06,759
Slow him to 180,
and I'll take him.
352
00:17:06,759 --> 00:17:07,893
Say it again.
353
00:17:07,893 --> 00:17:11,430
Slow him to 1-8-0
knots, and I'll take him.
354
00:17:11,430 --> 00:17:13,399
NARRATOR: But in this
critical handoff,
355
00:17:13,399 --> 00:17:16,302
there is no specific
mention that Avianca
356
00:17:16,302 --> 00:17:17,536
is running out of fuel.
357
00:17:20,673 --> 00:17:24,177
Flight 52 has been
handed off a third time.
358
00:17:24,177 --> 00:17:25,645
Descending to 7,000.
359
00:17:25,645 --> 00:17:27,346
Avianca 052 heavy.
360
00:17:27,346 --> 00:17:29,949
Avianca 052, before you
go, there is a wind shear
361
00:17:29,949 --> 00:17:32,785
alert on final at 1,500 feet.
362
00:17:32,785 --> 00:17:35,555
The high-level wind
shear was passed on early
363
00:17:35,555 --> 00:17:37,523
on, so he was aware of that.
364
00:17:37,523 --> 00:17:39,826
But the low-level wind
shear below 500 feet
365
00:17:39,826 --> 00:17:42,829
was not passed on.
366
00:17:42,829 --> 00:17:44,897
NARRATOR: Throughout the
flight from Colombia,
367
00:17:44,897 --> 00:17:48,601
the plane's autopilot
has been unusable.
368
00:17:48,601 --> 00:17:52,038
Reported after the last
flight, Avianca maintenance
369
00:17:52,038 --> 00:17:55,274
failed to fix it.
370
00:17:55,274 --> 00:17:58,077
After more than six
hours of flying manually,
371
00:17:58,077 --> 00:18:00,313
the physical and
mental stress is taking
372
00:18:00,313 --> 00:18:03,850
a toll on Captain Caviedes.
373
00:18:03,850 --> 00:18:05,484
To me, it's
inconceivable someone
374
00:18:05,484 --> 00:18:10,489
would have to fly a Boeing
707 without an autopilot.
375
00:18:10,489 --> 00:18:14,126
I mean that's a high
workload in smooth air.
376
00:18:14,126 --> 00:18:15,294
NARRATOR: After
more than an hour
377
00:18:15,294 --> 00:18:18,431
and 17 minutes waiting
for clearance to land,
378
00:18:18,431 --> 00:18:21,667
the crew of flight 52 believes
controllers on the ground
379
00:18:21,667 --> 00:18:24,237
are aware of their
fuel emergency
380
00:18:24,237 --> 00:18:27,106
and are clearing the 707
for a priority landing.
381
00:18:30,276 --> 00:18:33,045
In the cabin, the flight
attendants and passengers
382
00:18:33,045 --> 00:18:36,883
have no idea that their plane
is dangerously low on fuel.
383
00:18:40,152 --> 00:18:42,521
Then the go-around procedure
is stating that the power
384
00:18:42,521 --> 00:18:43,856
be applied slowly to avoid--
385
00:18:43,856 --> 00:18:46,192
NARRATOR: In the cockpit, the
crew now hastily discusses
386
00:18:46,192 --> 00:18:48,394
the go-around procedure--
387
00:18:48,394 --> 00:18:50,529
what to do if they
can't find the runway
388
00:18:50,529 --> 00:18:52,832
through the fog and
low clouds and have
389
00:18:52,832 --> 00:18:54,834
to go around a second time.
390
00:18:54,834 --> 00:18:56,202
It's standard procedure.
391
00:18:56,202 --> 00:18:59,705
Power be applied slowly and
to avoid rapid accelerations,
392
00:18:59,705 --> 00:19:03,442
and to have a minimum
of nose-up attitude.
393
00:19:03,442 --> 00:19:04,677
To maintain what?
394
00:19:04,677 --> 00:19:05,611
Minimum.
395
00:19:05,611 --> 00:19:07,413
Minimum nose-up attitude.
396
00:19:07,413 --> 00:19:08,581
That means--
397
00:19:08,581 --> 00:19:10,116
NARRATOR: Flight engineer
Moyano is concerned
398
00:19:10,116 --> 00:19:12,818
that if the captain were to
pull up the plane's nose too
399
00:19:12,818 --> 00:19:14,754
sharply, the
remaining fuel would
400
00:19:14,754 --> 00:19:18,190
slosh to the back of a tank
and cause the engines to stop.
401
00:19:18,190 --> 00:19:21,594
[inaudible] fuel
during the go-around.
402
00:19:21,594 --> 00:19:23,562
Avianca, descend
and maintain--
403
00:19:23,562 --> 00:19:25,231
descend and maintain 3,000.
404
00:19:25,231 --> 00:19:28,134
Descend and maintain
3,000, Avianca 052 heavy.
405
00:19:28,134 --> 00:19:30,503
Avianca 052 heavy,
contact Kennedy
406
00:19:30,503 --> 00:19:33,706
tower 1-1-9-0.1 Good day.
407
00:19:33,706 --> 00:19:36,709
NARRATOR: Only minutes
before landing, flight 52
408
00:19:36,709 --> 00:19:39,211
is handed off to a
JFK tower controller
409
00:19:39,211 --> 00:19:42,248
whose shift is about to end.
410
00:19:42,248 --> 00:19:45,084
Avianca 052 heavy,
Kennedy tower 22 left.
411
00:19:45,084 --> 00:19:47,186
You are number three
following 7-2-7
412
00:19:47,186 --> 00:19:49,922
traffic on a niner-mile final.
413
00:19:49,922 --> 00:19:51,557
Avianca 052 heavy, roger.
414
00:19:58,731 --> 00:19:59,765
I was so happy.
415
00:19:59,765 --> 00:20:01,701
For me, it was like a joy.
416
00:20:01,701 --> 00:20:04,537
We're going to land soon,
and this is going to be end.
417
00:20:04,537 --> 00:20:07,406
Avianca 052, what
is your air speed?
418
00:20:07,406 --> 00:20:10,376
Avianca 052, 1-4-0 knots.
419
00:20:10,376 --> 00:20:13,479
Avianca 052, can you increase
your airspeed 1-0 knots?
420
00:20:13,479 --> 00:20:14,880
1-0?
421
00:20:14,880 --> 00:20:17,283
OK, 1-0 knots, increasing.
422
00:20:17,283 --> 00:20:18,084
Increase.
423
00:20:18,084 --> 00:20:19,018
Increase.
424
00:20:19,018 --> 00:20:20,252
10 knots more.
425
00:20:20,252 --> 00:20:22,555
Tell me things louder,
because I'm not hearing it.
426
00:20:22,555 --> 00:20:24,523
Lower the gear.
427
00:20:24,523 --> 00:20:27,126
Gear down.
428
00:20:27,126 --> 00:20:29,762
Avianca 052, 2-2 left.
429
00:20:29,762 --> 00:20:32,631
Win 1-niner-0 at
2-0 cleared to land.
430
00:20:32,631 --> 00:20:35,034
Clear to land,
Avianca 052 heavy.
431
00:20:35,034 --> 00:20:36,535
Wind check please?
432
00:20:36,535 --> 00:20:39,705
1-niner-0 at 2-0.
433
00:20:39,705 --> 00:20:42,141
NARRATOR: With the weather
deteriorating and flying
434
00:20:42,141 --> 00:20:44,910
on fumes, the crew
of flight 52 will
435
00:20:44,910 --> 00:20:49,015
have only one chance of getting
their 149 passengers safely
436
00:20:49,015 --> 00:20:50,049
on the ground.
437
00:20:50,049 --> 00:20:51,317
Stand by.
438
00:20:51,317 --> 00:20:55,054
Flaps 50, landing
checklist complete.
439
00:20:55,054 --> 00:20:59,191
Flight engineer had to
know they were out of fuel,
440
00:20:59,191 --> 00:21:02,161
and when they came in
for their first approach,
441
00:21:02,161 --> 00:21:04,363
it was time for the
flight engineer to say,
442
00:21:04,363 --> 00:21:07,900
this is the only approach
we're going to be able to make.
443
00:21:07,900 --> 00:21:08,768
And he didn't.
444
00:21:08,768 --> 00:21:09,802
Give me 50.
445
00:21:09,802 --> 00:21:11,570
Flaps 50 now.
446
00:21:11,570 --> 00:21:12,671
All set for landing.
447
00:21:12,671 --> 00:21:14,640
Standing by for lights.
448
00:21:14,640 --> 00:21:16,575
Slightly below glide slope.
449
00:21:16,575 --> 00:21:18,544
1,000 feet above field.
450
00:21:18,544 --> 00:21:20,946
Instruments cross-checked,
slightly below.
451
00:21:20,946 --> 00:21:22,081
Standby for lights.
452
00:21:22,081 --> 00:21:23,282
Standby.
453
00:21:23,282 --> 00:21:26,419
The wind is slightly
from the left, 190 with 20,
454
00:21:26,419 --> 00:21:29,655
below glide slope.
455
00:21:29,655 --> 00:21:32,691
NARRATOR: With about 10 minutes
of fuel remaining and just two
456
00:21:32,691 --> 00:21:36,128
miles from the runway,
flight 52 flies
457
00:21:36,128 --> 00:21:39,231
into violent wind
shear forcing the crew
458
00:21:39,231 --> 00:21:41,634
to slow the plane down.
459
00:21:41,634 --> 00:21:44,737
They were getting like 60
knots of wind on the nose,
460
00:21:44,737 --> 00:21:47,406
and then as they descended on
down through about 500 feet
461
00:21:47,406 --> 00:21:51,677
to the ground, they
were down to 20 knots.
462
00:21:51,677 --> 00:21:56,182
So that's, 40 knot change
and 1,000 feet of elevation.
463
00:21:56,182 --> 00:21:58,384
That's a lot.
464
00:21:58,384 --> 00:21:59,919
This is the wind shear.
465
00:21:59,919 --> 00:22:01,887
NARRATOR: The wind
changes direction.
466
00:22:01,887 --> 00:22:05,524
It's pressing them
down toward the ground.
467
00:22:05,524 --> 00:22:06,459
Glide slope!
468
00:22:06,459 --> 00:22:07,493
Glide slope.
469
00:22:07,493 --> 00:22:09,128
Sink rate, 500 feet.
470
00:22:09,128 --> 00:22:10,463
NARRATOR: The
captain desperately
471
00:22:10,463 --> 00:22:12,698
searches for the
runway, but it's
472
00:22:12,698 --> 00:22:14,667
shrouded in low clouds and fog.
473
00:22:18,504 --> 00:22:20,072
Lights!
474
00:22:20,072 --> 00:22:21,607
The runway, where is it?
475
00:22:21,607 --> 00:22:22,608
I don't see it.
476
00:22:22,608 --> 00:22:23,809
I don't see it.
477
00:22:23,809 --> 00:22:25,478
NARRATOR: The plane's
warning system is telling
478
00:22:25,478 --> 00:22:27,179
them they're about to crash.
479
00:22:27,179 --> 00:22:29,014
Pull up.
480
00:22:29,014 --> 00:22:32,885
[crying]
481
00:22:39,159 --> 00:22:40,293
Glide slope!
482
00:22:40,293 --> 00:22:42,562
Sink rate, 500 feet.
483
00:22:42,562 --> 00:22:44,531
NARRATOR: Just two
miles from touchdown,
484
00:22:44,531 --> 00:22:48,702
flight 52 has been caught
in violent wind shear.
485
00:22:48,702 --> 00:22:52,339
Captain Caviedes supplies
full throttle, burning up more
486
00:22:52,339 --> 00:22:54,841
of the plane's precious fuel.
487
00:22:54,841 --> 00:22:55,842
Give me the landing gear up.
488
00:22:55,842 --> 00:22:56,710
Landing gear up!
489
00:23:05,652 --> 00:23:08,221
The airplane was about
200 feet above the ground,
490
00:23:08,221 --> 00:23:10,523
about two miles from
the runway, which
491
00:23:10,523 --> 00:23:13,259
was well below the glide
slope, and very dangerous.
492
00:23:13,259 --> 00:23:16,563
So the airplane almost
crashed on its first approach.
493
00:23:16,563 --> 00:23:20,333
When you get a
missed approach,
494
00:23:20,333 --> 00:23:24,504
now it changes the
whole ball game.
495
00:23:24,504 --> 00:23:26,539
Request another
traffic pattern.
496
00:23:26,539 --> 00:23:27,974
Executing a missed approach.
497
00:23:27,974 --> 00:23:30,010
Avianca 052 heavy.
498
00:23:30,010 --> 00:23:33,346
The operation of pulling the
plane up in the missed approach
499
00:23:33,346 --> 00:23:35,915
was a very violent one.
500
00:23:35,915 --> 00:23:42,422
It was a very steep climb, so we
were all thrown back by gravity
501
00:23:42,422 --> 00:23:44,024
towards the back of our seats.
502
00:23:44,024 --> 00:23:45,091
Something's going on here.
503
00:23:45,091 --> 00:23:47,494
Anything-- we're going to crash.
504
00:23:47,494 --> 00:23:48,595
This is terrible.
505
00:23:48,595 --> 00:23:52,766
I mean, we start praying
and then I pass out.
506
00:23:52,766 --> 00:23:55,969
I couldn't handle it anymore.
507
00:23:55,969 --> 00:23:58,571
NARRATOR: As captain Caviedes
pulls back hard to climb
508
00:23:58,571 --> 00:24:03,109
to safety, the 707's
remaining fuel sloshes back
509
00:24:03,109 --> 00:24:04,477
and away from the fuel pumps.
510
00:24:07,213 --> 00:24:09,549
Flight 52's violent
climb to safety
511
00:24:09,549 --> 00:24:12,152
frightens and infuriates
the passengers.
512
00:24:12,152 --> 00:24:15,121
[angry non-english speech]
513
00:24:19,926 --> 00:24:21,261
[speaking spanish]
514
00:24:21,261 --> 00:24:23,363
INTERPRETER: My baby Daniela
also started to feel uneasy
515
00:24:23,363 --> 00:24:25,265
and began to cry.
516
00:24:25,265 --> 00:24:28,034
We began to get the feeling that
something was about to happen.
517
00:24:33,106 --> 00:24:36,810
Avianca 052, you were making
a left turn, correct sir?
518
00:24:36,810 --> 00:24:38,311
Tell him we are in emergency.
519
00:24:38,311 --> 00:24:39,212
2000 feet!
520
00:24:39,212 --> 00:24:40,413
That's right.
521
00:24:40,413 --> 00:24:43,216
To 1-8-0 on the heading,
and we'll try once again.
522
00:24:43,216 --> 00:24:45,185
We are running out of fuel.
523
00:24:45,185 --> 00:24:46,119
OK.
524
00:24:46,119 --> 00:24:47,454
What did he say?
525
00:24:47,454 --> 00:24:49,122
I already advised him that
we are going to attempt again.
526
00:24:49,122 --> 00:24:50,423
Advise him we
are in emergency.
527
00:24:50,423 --> 00:24:51,424
Did you tell him?
- Yes sir!
528
00:24:51,424 --> 00:24:52,892
I already advised him!
529
00:24:52,892 --> 00:24:54,194
NARRATOR: But the
tower controller
530
00:24:54,194 --> 00:24:57,363
at the end of his shift
transfers Avianca 52
531
00:24:57,363 --> 00:24:59,833
to his counterpart
in approach control.
532
00:24:59,833 --> 00:25:01,868
They'll have to
begin all over again.
533
00:25:01,868 --> 00:25:05,105
Avianca 052 heavy,
contact approach on 1-1-8.4.
534
00:25:05,105 --> 00:25:07,407
Approach Avianca 052 heavy.
535
00:25:07,407 --> 00:25:11,244
We just missed a missed approach
and we are maintaining 2,000.
536
00:25:11,244 --> 00:25:12,779
Flaps 14.
537
00:25:12,779 --> 00:25:14,180
Avianca 052 heavy New York.
538
00:25:14,180 --> 00:25:14,981
Good evening.
539
00:25:14,981 --> 00:25:16,649
Climb and maintain 3,000.
540
00:25:16,649 --> 00:25:18,251
Advise him we don't have fuel!
541
00:25:18,251 --> 00:25:20,253
Climb and maintain 3,000.
542
00:25:20,253 --> 00:25:22,222
We are running out of fuel, sir.
543
00:25:22,222 --> 00:25:23,022
OK.
544
00:25:23,022 --> 00:25:24,324
Fly heading 0-8-0.
545
00:25:24,324 --> 00:25:26,025
Did you already advise
him we don't have fuel?
546
00:25:26,025 --> 00:25:26,826
Yes, sir.
547
00:25:26,826 --> 00:25:28,228
I already advised him.
548
00:25:28,228 --> 00:25:30,630
We are going to maintain 3,000
and he's going to get us back.
549
00:25:30,630 --> 00:25:32,932
As they get back in the
pattern and circle the field
550
00:25:32,932 --> 00:25:35,368
and come back in
again, that again
551
00:25:35,368 --> 00:25:37,303
adds to the traffic
jam that was being
552
00:25:37,303 --> 00:25:39,205
created at Kennedy Airport.
553
00:25:39,205 --> 00:25:41,508
Avianca 052 heavy.
554
00:25:41,508 --> 00:25:43,510
I'm going to turn you
about 15 miles northeast,
555
00:25:43,510 --> 00:25:44,944
and then bring you
back onto the approach.
556
00:25:44,944 --> 00:25:46,112
Is that OK with
you and your fuel?
557
00:25:46,112 --> 00:25:47,313
What did he say?
558
00:25:47,313 --> 00:25:49,315
The guy is angry.
559
00:25:49,315 --> 00:25:50,984
I guess so.
560
00:25:50,984 --> 00:25:52,252
Thank you very much.
561
00:25:52,252 --> 00:25:55,355
These guys were out, and
they didn't say we were out.
562
00:25:55,355 --> 00:25:57,557
And he allowed the
approach control
563
00:25:57,557 --> 00:26:00,293
to vector them way out
in the original pattern
564
00:26:00,293 --> 00:26:03,763
and 15 miles north of
the outer marker again.
565
00:26:03,763 --> 00:26:05,398
NARRATOR: Flight
52 is instructed
566
00:26:05,398 --> 00:26:10,303
to fly a long-approach pattern
for another landing attempt.
567
00:26:10,303 --> 00:26:13,506
The plane is down to
its last dregs of fuel
568
00:26:13,506 --> 00:26:17,443
as the crew waits for
final clearance to land.
569
00:26:17,443 --> 00:26:20,280
In their minds that they were
being handled and taken care of
570
00:26:20,280 --> 00:26:24,384
and they had enough fuel to go
around and shoot the approach.
571
00:26:24,384 --> 00:26:29,355
But on the way, they were given
a 360 turn because of traffic
572
00:26:29,355 --> 00:26:33,159
spacing, and then they were
run way out towards Long Island
573
00:26:33,159 --> 00:26:37,030
and vectored all around, which
was equivalent to holding
574
00:26:37,030 --> 00:26:39,299
for another 15, 20 minutes.
575
00:26:39,299 --> 00:26:40,800
Did you get clearance yet?
576
00:26:40,800 --> 00:26:42,235
Can you give us a final yet?
577
00:26:42,235 --> 00:26:44,304
Avianca 052 heavy.
578
00:26:44,304 --> 00:26:46,239
Avianca 052, affirmative sir.
579
00:26:46,239 --> 00:26:47,774
Turn left, heading 0-4-0.
580
00:26:47,774 --> 00:26:49,976
Climb and maintain 3,000.
581
00:26:49,976 --> 00:26:50,843
Negative sir.
582
00:26:50,843 --> 00:26:52,278
We are running out of fuel.
583
00:26:52,278 --> 00:26:53,112
OK.
584
00:26:53,112 --> 00:26:55,148
Turn left, heading 3-1-0, sir.
585
00:26:55,148 --> 00:26:57,383
Set flaps 14.
586
00:26:57,383 --> 00:26:58,885
OK, and you're number
two for the approach.
587
00:26:58,885 --> 00:27:00,153
I just have to give
you enough room
588
00:27:00,153 --> 00:27:01,888
so you can make it without
having to come out again.
589
00:27:01,888 --> 00:27:02,922
OK.
590
00:27:02,922 --> 00:27:05,058
We're number two and
flying 3-6-0 now.
591
00:27:11,197 --> 00:27:12,599
NARRATOR: The lights
in the aircraft
592
00:27:12,599 --> 00:27:17,503
start to flicker as the
engines are starved of fuel.
593
00:27:17,503 --> 00:27:20,607
3-3-0 on the
heading, Avianca 052.
594
00:27:20,607 --> 00:27:22,976
Once you're to no fuel
flowing through the pump out
595
00:27:22,976 --> 00:27:24,811
of the tank, an
amber light comes on
596
00:27:24,811 --> 00:27:26,846
to tell you that tank is empty.
597
00:27:26,846 --> 00:27:27,680
Flame out!
598
00:27:27,680 --> 00:27:31,284
Flame out on engine number four!
599
00:27:31,284 --> 00:27:33,152
Flame out on it?
600
00:27:33,152 --> 00:27:36,623
Flame out on
engine number three!
601
00:27:36,623 --> 00:27:38,691
Show me the runway.
602
00:27:38,691 --> 00:27:41,094
NARRATOR: The passengers can
hear the sound of the engines
603
00:27:41,094 --> 00:27:44,230
beginning to shut down.
604
00:27:44,230 --> 00:27:47,267
When the engines
went off, I looked over
605
00:27:47,267 --> 00:27:49,902
to the lady that was
sitting next to me
606
00:27:49,902 --> 00:27:51,938
and I asked her to
give me her hand.
607
00:27:51,938 --> 00:27:56,809
And I philosophically accepted,
you know, I might die here.
608
00:27:56,809 --> 00:27:58,945
This is it.
609
00:27:58,945 --> 00:28:02,448
Avianca 052, we
just lost two engines,
610
00:28:02,448 --> 00:28:04,217
and we need priority, please.
611
00:28:04,217 --> 00:28:07,186
Avianca 052, turn
left heading 2-5-0.
612
00:28:07,186 --> 00:28:08,421
Intercept the localizer.
613
00:28:08,421 --> 00:28:09,622
2-5-0, roger.
614
00:28:09,622 --> 00:28:10,456
Select the ILS.
615
00:28:10,456 --> 00:28:11,691
ILS!
616
00:28:11,691 --> 00:28:14,794
Avianca 052, you're 1-5
miles from the outer marker.
617
00:28:14,794 --> 00:28:17,930
Maintain 2,000 until
established in the localizer.
618
00:28:17,930 --> 00:28:19,999
Cleared for ILS, 2-2 left.
619
00:28:19,999 --> 00:28:20,800
Roger, Avianca.
620
00:28:20,800 --> 00:28:21,734
You select the ILS?
621
00:28:21,734 --> 00:28:23,069
He's ready on 2.
622
00:28:23,069 --> 00:28:25,538
When all the engines flame
out and the generators fall off
623
00:28:25,538 --> 00:28:28,841
the line, a considerable
amount of power is lost,
624
00:28:28,841 --> 00:28:29,942
electrical power is lost.
625
00:28:42,288 --> 00:28:45,258
In the cabin, the
screams, the crying,
626
00:28:45,258 --> 00:28:51,631
and then this terrible
sound of the wind
627
00:28:51,631 --> 00:28:56,169
against the fuselage as the
plane drops from the sky.
628
00:29:07,947 --> 00:29:11,417
[loud crash]
629
00:29:15,922 --> 00:29:18,491
Avianca 052,
radar contact lost.
630
00:29:18,491 --> 00:29:20,293
Avianca is missing due
to the weather thing.
631
00:29:20,293 --> 00:29:22,161
Yeah, Avianca
52 lost an engine.
632
00:29:22,161 --> 00:29:25,164
We're trying to find out why.
633
00:29:25,164 --> 00:29:28,468
NARRATOR: Six and a half
hours after leaving Colombia,
634
00:29:28,468 --> 00:29:33,740
Avianca flight 52 is missing
somewhere over New York.
635
00:29:33,740 --> 00:29:34,707
CALLER ON PHONE: Yes, hello.
636
00:29:34,707 --> 00:29:37,043
I live in Cove
Neck in Oyster Bay.
637
00:29:37,043 --> 00:29:40,613
And there is a plane
crashed in our yard,
638
00:29:40,613 --> 00:29:43,750
in front of our house.
639
00:29:43,750 --> 00:29:45,385
When I woke up, I was--
640
00:29:45,385 --> 00:29:47,487
the first thing that I did,
I put my hand over here
641
00:29:47,487 --> 00:29:49,188
in my back, and I was bleeding.
642
00:29:49,188 --> 00:29:50,556
I said, oh my God, we crashed.
643
00:29:50,556 --> 00:29:54,227
Both my legs were broken and
I had blood all over the place.
644
00:29:54,227 --> 00:29:57,430
[speaking spanish]
645
00:29:57,430 --> 00:29:59,532
INTERPRETER: The seat where
my daughter was sitting
646
00:29:59,532 --> 00:30:02,201
was totally destroyed by
pieces of steel that happened
647
00:30:02,201 --> 00:30:03,302
to have come from the wing.
648
00:30:05,972 --> 00:30:07,273
[speaking spanish]
649
00:30:07,273 --> 00:30:09,675
INTERPRETER: I found my baby
Daniela amongst the pieces
650
00:30:09,675 --> 00:30:12,345
of a torn up, twisted chair.
651
00:30:12,345 --> 00:30:15,948
And I picked her up like this,
and she was drenched in blood.
652
00:30:20,853 --> 00:30:23,022
NARRATOR: Avianca
flight 52 has crashed
653
00:30:23,022 --> 00:30:28,995
on Long Island, New York, less
than 17 miles from JFK airport.
654
00:30:28,995 --> 00:30:31,197
Medical technician
Bob O'Brien hears
655
00:30:31,197 --> 00:30:33,433
the survivors before
he spots the shattered
656
00:30:33,433 --> 00:30:34,567
aircraft in the trees.
657
00:30:39,839 --> 00:30:42,842
There were just some people
who were crying in pain,
658
00:30:42,842 --> 00:30:44,811
but it was apparent
immediately what
659
00:30:44,811 --> 00:30:47,146
had happened when the
plane hit the mountain
660
00:30:47,146 --> 00:30:48,214
and just stopped dead.
661
00:30:50,783 --> 00:30:52,985
NEWS REPORTER 1: It just
fell out of the sky.
662
00:30:52,985 --> 00:30:55,955
That's how witnesses described
the crash of Avianca flight
663
00:30:55,955 --> 00:30:58,624
52, a strangely silent crash.
664
00:30:58,624 --> 00:31:00,860
NEWS REPORTER 2: You can see
there was not a big fire here.
665
00:31:00,860 --> 00:31:02,762
That will make it
easier for investigators
666
00:31:02,762 --> 00:31:04,997
to examine if there were
any gas or engine problems.
667
00:31:04,997 --> 00:31:06,365
NEWS REPORTER 3: There
have been reports
668
00:31:06,365 --> 00:31:09,335
of lightning in the area just
before the plane went down.
669
00:31:09,335 --> 00:31:11,070
NEWS REPORTER 4: Spokesman
for the Controllers Union
670
00:31:11,070 --> 00:31:14,640
says that Kennedy is critically
understaffed, a problem that
671
00:31:14,640 --> 00:31:16,709
is compounded by bad weather.
672
00:31:16,709 --> 00:31:18,811
NEWS REPORTER 5: Rescuers
have not yet given
673
00:31:18,811 --> 00:31:21,247
up on finding more victims.
674
00:31:21,247 --> 00:31:22,815
We're still conducting--
675
00:31:22,815 --> 00:31:25,017
[speaking spanish]
676
00:31:28,120 --> 00:31:30,389
INTERPRETER: First thing I
remember is that I looked up,
677
00:31:30,389 --> 00:31:33,125
and I saw a priest.
678
00:31:33,125 --> 00:31:37,663
He was praying for me, and I
was lying down on the ground.
679
00:31:37,663 --> 00:31:39,232
Right above us, I
saw three or four
680
00:31:39,232 --> 00:31:41,000
helicopters flying over us.
681
00:31:46,539 --> 00:31:48,641
Oh, my leg!
682
00:31:48,641 --> 00:31:50,943
I managed to get up
on top of the fuselage,
683
00:31:50,943 --> 00:31:53,646
and there is that door handle
that says, in case of emergency
684
00:31:53,646 --> 00:31:55,014
pull here.
685
00:31:55,014 --> 00:31:57,750
So I pull that door handle, and
that door handle just went--
686
00:31:57,750 --> 00:31:58,951
[whooshes]
687
00:31:58,951 --> 00:32:01,654
And the door came open
about four inches.
688
00:32:01,654 --> 00:32:03,623
And then I was able
to flip that over,
689
00:32:03,623 --> 00:32:07,026
and I could just see
piles and piles of people
690
00:32:07,026 --> 00:32:09,662
strapped in their seats.
691
00:32:09,662 --> 00:32:12,398
NARRATOR: The force of the
crash has broken off the cockpit
692
00:32:12,398 --> 00:32:16,035
and catapulted it through the
trees and very close to a home,
693
00:32:16,035 --> 00:32:18,204
some 100 feet from
the impact site.
694
00:32:20,940 --> 00:32:23,509
We couldn't get into
the cockpit to get
695
00:32:23,509 --> 00:32:25,311
to the pilot and the co-pilot.
696
00:32:25,311 --> 00:32:29,148
All those chairs, they all
just hit that cockpit door
697
00:32:29,148 --> 00:32:31,918
and just piled
into that fuselage.
698
00:32:31,918 --> 00:32:34,787
And just that-- all that added
weight and all that inertia,
699
00:32:34,787 --> 00:32:37,490
now just took over in the front
of that and just popped it off.
700
00:32:37,490 --> 00:32:40,426
And it rolled to its left side
and stopped up against a tree.
701
00:32:45,331 --> 00:32:47,867
[sirens]
702
00:32:54,774 --> 00:32:55,575
Come on.
703
00:32:55,575 --> 00:32:57,009
Somebody get the back here.
704
00:32:57,009 --> 00:33:00,446
I saw some cables, and I
saw a big hole in the fuselage
705
00:33:00,446 --> 00:33:03,416
over the passengers that
were sitting next to me,
706
00:33:03,416 --> 00:33:05,618
who were kind of unconscious.
707
00:33:05,618 --> 00:33:07,920
And on top of me was
this guy who was bleeding.
708
00:33:07,920 --> 00:33:09,488
Big guy, I don't
know who he was.
709
00:33:09,488 --> 00:33:11,591
But he was on top of
me, but I was sitting.
710
00:33:11,591 --> 00:33:16,395
I pulled myself with those
cables towards that hole
711
00:33:16,395 --> 00:33:18,030
which was over the wing.
712
00:33:18,030 --> 00:33:19,031
I started screaming, hey!
713
00:33:19,031 --> 00:33:20,099
Help me out!
Help me!
714
00:33:20,099 --> 00:33:21,400
Take me out of here!
715
00:33:21,400 --> 00:33:23,903
And then somebody, when they
realized that I was alive,
716
00:33:23,903 --> 00:33:25,171
they removed the--
717
00:33:25,171 --> 00:33:26,939
I mean, they took away the
guy who was on top of me,
718
00:33:26,939 --> 00:33:29,175
and they took me
out of the airplane.
719
00:33:29,175 --> 00:33:34,714
At that moment, a fireman
was climbing on the wing
720
00:33:34,714 --> 00:33:38,718
and he saw me, and he
said, there's a guy here.
721
00:33:38,718 --> 00:33:40,486
And he pulled me out.
722
00:33:40,486 --> 00:33:43,422
[sirens]
723
00:33:46,325 --> 00:33:48,394
NARRATOR: 37 fire
and rescue companies
724
00:33:48,394 --> 00:33:51,530
from Nassau County respond.
725
00:33:51,530 --> 00:33:55,101
Before 9/11, the rescue was
one of the largest of its kind
726
00:33:55,101 --> 00:33:56,002
in the New York area.
727
00:33:59,705 --> 00:34:01,874
That little girl was
sitting up on the fuselage,
728
00:34:01,874 --> 00:34:04,377
and she was crying,
mi madre, mi madre!
729
00:34:04,377 --> 00:34:06,879
And that imprint of horror
just was, you know, you
730
00:34:06,879 --> 00:34:09,982
just, in your mind's eye,
focus right back in on,
731
00:34:09,982 --> 00:34:11,150
I saw mi madre.
732
00:34:11,150 --> 00:34:12,818
I saw her mother,
and I know what
733
00:34:12,818 --> 00:34:14,220
that little girl was seeing.
734
00:34:14,220 --> 00:34:18,090
It was horrible enough for me,
and I'm a professional rescuer.
735
00:34:18,090 --> 00:34:20,026
[speaking spanish]
736
00:34:20,026 --> 00:34:22,561
INTERPRETER: I realized
that my baby was dying,
737
00:34:22,561 --> 00:34:24,563
so I began to scream--
738
00:34:24,563 --> 00:34:26,365
Please help me!
739
00:34:26,365 --> 00:34:28,000
I have the baby here.
740
00:34:28,000 --> 00:34:29,135
Please!
741
00:34:29,135 --> 00:34:30,636
Coming through!
742
00:34:30,636 --> 00:34:31,637
Coming through!
743
00:34:31,637 --> 00:34:32,438
Back it up.
744
00:34:32,438 --> 00:34:33,773
Watch your back.
745
00:34:33,773 --> 00:34:35,841
NARRATOR: The plane crashed
in the wealthy neighborhood
746
00:34:35,841 --> 00:34:38,744
of Cove Neck, near
the home of the father
747
00:34:38,744 --> 00:34:41,647
of tennis star John McEnroe.
748
00:34:41,647 --> 00:34:44,550
Medics set up a makeshift
triage unit on his lawn.
749
00:34:47,319 --> 00:34:49,822
When daylight breaks
10 hours later,
750
00:34:49,822 --> 00:34:52,391
85 survivors have been
pulled from the wreckage.
751
00:34:58,330 --> 00:35:00,332
The lead flight attendant
is the only crew
752
00:35:00,332 --> 00:35:04,103
member to survive the crash.
753
00:35:04,103 --> 00:35:08,140
Of the 11 babies on board,
all but one are found alive.
754
00:35:14,380 --> 00:35:18,017
Bob O'Brien scours the
tail section for survivors
755
00:35:18,017 --> 00:35:20,453
and finds FAA
investigators looking
756
00:35:20,453 --> 00:35:23,923
for the aircraft's black boxes.
757
00:35:23,923 --> 00:35:25,024
BOB O'BRIEN: I
grabbed the handle
758
00:35:25,024 --> 00:35:26,892
and just pulled
the whole box out
759
00:35:26,892 --> 00:35:29,228
and brought that out the
door and gave it to them.
760
00:35:33,032 --> 00:35:35,935
NARRATOR: Even as people are
being pulled from the wreckage,
761
00:35:35,935 --> 00:35:39,205
the investigation begins.
762
00:35:39,205 --> 00:35:42,174
In charge on the ground is
Barry Trotter of the National
763
00:35:42,174 --> 00:35:44,510
Transportation Safety Board.
764
00:35:44,510 --> 00:35:47,680
A former pilot, Trotter
became an investigator
765
00:35:47,680 --> 00:35:52,084
after losing his right arm
in a motorcycle accident.
766
00:35:52,084 --> 00:35:56,455
The condition of the aircraft
was really astonishing to see
767
00:35:56,455 --> 00:35:59,992
that much of the structure
was left in the condition
768
00:35:59,992 --> 00:36:01,927
that it was in.
769
00:36:01,927 --> 00:36:05,264
It hit right on about
a 28-degree embankment,
770
00:36:05,264 --> 00:36:07,199
and with the wings and
all the other trees,
771
00:36:07,199 --> 00:36:08,601
it only slid 28 feet.
772
00:36:08,601 --> 00:36:12,605
So it hit and stopped instantly.
773
00:36:12,605 --> 00:36:15,975
NARRATOR: Unaware of the details
of Avianca's troubled flight,
774
00:36:15,975 --> 00:36:20,546
investigators quickly
find valuable evidence.
775
00:36:20,546 --> 00:36:21,981
You could look at
the engines right away,
776
00:36:21,981 --> 00:36:24,683
and you could tell the
engines were not turning.
777
00:36:24,683 --> 00:36:26,919
So there was no
power on the engines.
778
00:36:26,919 --> 00:36:29,688
That was the first big clue.
779
00:36:34,026 --> 00:36:36,862
NARRATOR: Trotter and his
team check the fuel tanks
780
00:36:36,862 --> 00:36:40,065
and find just a few
gallons remaining.
781
00:36:40,065 --> 00:36:44,537
It becomes clear why the
707's engines stopped.
782
00:36:44,537 --> 00:36:48,207
But the question of who's to
blame is still to be answered.
783
00:36:52,211 --> 00:36:55,014
In Cove Neck, New
York, salvage workers
784
00:36:55,014 --> 00:36:58,551
begin to dismantle the shattered
remains of Avianca flight 52.
785
00:37:02,354 --> 00:37:05,958
But there's still one
critical question--
786
00:37:05,958 --> 00:37:09,662
who is responsible for
flight 52 running out of fuel
787
00:37:09,662 --> 00:37:14,433
and causing the deaths of
72 passengers and crew?
788
00:37:14,433 --> 00:37:16,836
The answer will be worth
millions of dollars
789
00:37:16,836 --> 00:37:18,337
and affect dozens of lives.
790
00:37:23,242 --> 00:37:26,345
At the National Transportation
and Safety Board in Washington
791
00:37:26,345 --> 00:37:30,449
DC, investigators are eager
to recover data locked
792
00:37:30,449 --> 00:37:32,084
inside the two black boxes.
793
00:37:35,421 --> 00:37:37,990
They begin with the flight
data recorder, which
794
00:37:37,990 --> 00:37:41,193
records information such as
the plane's altitude, speed,
795
00:37:41,193 --> 00:37:42,495
and heading.
796
00:37:42,495 --> 00:37:44,530
But it proves useless.
797
00:37:44,530 --> 00:37:47,333
We opened it and
found that the foil
798
00:37:47,333 --> 00:37:49,401
wrap was not hooked up.
799
00:37:49,401 --> 00:37:52,338
So someone had actually
intentionally taped the end
800
00:37:52,338 --> 00:37:55,040
of the foil so it wouldn't
fly around and put
801
00:37:55,040 --> 00:37:56,041
it back in the airplane.
802
00:37:59,245 --> 00:38:01,313
NARRATOR: Without the
flight data recorder,
803
00:38:01,313 --> 00:38:03,282
investigators rely
heavily on flight
804
00:38:03,282 --> 00:38:06,218
52's cockpit voice recorder.
805
00:38:06,218 --> 00:38:08,888
It's found with more than
40 minutes of recordings
806
00:38:08,888 --> 00:38:10,990
of the crew in between
the first officer
807
00:38:10,990 --> 00:38:13,859
and air traffic controllers.
808
00:38:13,859 --> 00:38:15,594
Yes sir, we are
cleared to land.
809
00:38:15,594 --> 00:38:17,363
Standby.
810
00:38:17,363 --> 00:38:20,633
All set for landing.
811
00:38:20,633 --> 00:38:22,868
Below glide slope.
812
00:38:22,868 --> 00:38:25,771
And it was apparent from
the voice recorder transcript
813
00:38:25,771 --> 00:38:29,241
and tape that the captain
was not understanding
814
00:38:29,241 --> 00:38:32,178
the first officer's
radio communications that
815
00:38:32,178 --> 00:38:33,779
were being made in English.
816
00:38:33,779 --> 00:38:35,948
Everybody wants
to blame the pilot,
817
00:38:35,948 --> 00:38:38,517
but he may be the last
person to make a decision.
818
00:38:38,517 --> 00:38:41,287
And the scenario which caused
him to be in that position
819
00:38:41,287 --> 00:38:44,723
where he makes the decision was
created by several other people
820
00:38:44,723 --> 00:38:45,724
along the route.
821
00:38:45,724 --> 00:38:49,528
The captain asked
the first officer
822
00:38:49,528 --> 00:38:53,098
about nine times, clarify
information or repeat it
823
00:38:53,098 --> 00:38:55,334
or to pass on information.
824
00:38:55,334 --> 00:38:56,402
We are going to attempt again.
825
00:38:56,402 --> 00:38:58,003
Advise him we
have an emergency!
826
00:38:58,003 --> 00:38:59,238
Do you tell him?
827
00:38:59,238 --> 00:39:01,307
Did you make a conscious
decision to run out of fuel?
828
00:39:01,307 --> 00:39:02,708
No.
829
00:39:02,708 --> 00:39:05,611
He was sucked into a situation
by the air traffic controllers
830
00:39:05,611 --> 00:39:06,679
where he ran out of fuel.
831
00:39:06,679 --> 00:39:08,848
Once the airplane
got into the JFK area,
832
00:39:08,848 --> 00:39:12,184
there was certainly a serious
breakdown in communications
833
00:39:12,184 --> 00:39:15,187
on the part of the pilots
within the cockpit,
834
00:39:15,187 --> 00:39:17,990
on the part of the pilots
talking to controllers,
835
00:39:17,990 --> 00:39:22,228
and controllers talking to the
pilots, and the controllers
836
00:39:22,228 --> 00:39:24,864
amongst themselves,
because there were handoffs
837
00:39:24,864 --> 00:39:27,633
and some of the urgency
was not passed on
838
00:39:27,633 --> 00:39:29,735
within the controllers' system.
839
00:39:29,735 --> 00:39:32,972
So we had multiple
breakdowns in multiple areas
840
00:39:32,972 --> 00:39:36,041
here that ultimately
led to this accident.
841
00:39:36,041 --> 00:39:37,576
Glide slope!
842
00:39:37,576 --> 00:39:38,811
[inaudible]
843
00:39:38,811 --> 00:39:40,613
NARRATOR: The cockpit voice
recorder reveals a crew
844
00:39:40,613 --> 00:39:43,315
desperate to land
the 707 in near zero
845
00:39:43,315 --> 00:39:45,885
visibility and
extreme wind shear
846
00:39:45,885 --> 00:39:48,587
without the aid of an autopilot.
847
00:39:48,587 --> 00:39:52,091
In this case, the captain had
a difficult time maintaining
848
00:39:52,091 --> 00:39:55,361
the glide slope during the
approach with the wind shear,
849
00:39:55,361 --> 00:39:58,230
didn't see the airport, and
had to make a go-around.
850
00:39:58,230 --> 00:40:01,133
That almost doomed the
airplane at that point.
851
00:40:01,133 --> 00:40:03,669
The information
being given to pilots
852
00:40:03,669 --> 00:40:09,208
en route was a wind shear
up as high as 1,500 feet,
853
00:40:09,208 --> 00:40:12,578
but the pilots, on
approach, were encountering
854
00:40:12,578 --> 00:40:14,446
wind shear as low as 300 feet.
855
00:40:14,446 --> 00:40:19,351
And that wasn't passed
on to the Avianca pilot.
856
00:40:19,351 --> 00:40:20,753
This is the wind shear!
857
00:40:20,753 --> 00:40:23,789
NARRATOR: The crew of flight
52 is caught off guard.
858
00:40:23,789 --> 00:40:27,126
As they descend below
500 feet and slow down,
859
00:40:27,126 --> 00:40:30,396
a violent vertical wind forces
them toward the ground--
860
00:40:30,396 --> 00:40:32,398
The runway, where is it?
861
00:40:32,398 --> 00:40:33,198
I don't see it.
862
00:40:33,198 --> 00:40:34,266
I don't see it!
863
00:40:34,266 --> 00:40:35,567
NARRATOR: nearly causing
the plane to crash
864
00:40:35,567 --> 00:40:37,036
two miles short of the runway.
865
00:40:39,838 --> 00:40:42,708
With little fuel
left, there is no fire
866
00:40:42,708 --> 00:40:47,046
or explosion on impact, saving
many from almost certain death.
867
00:40:50,249 --> 00:40:53,819
Transmission
about is primary--
868
00:40:53,819 --> 00:40:56,121
NARRATOR: As the hearings
into the crash begin,
869
00:40:56,121 --> 00:40:59,191
controllers maintain that
the Avianca crew failed
870
00:40:59,191 --> 00:41:02,528
to use the word,
emergency, instead,
871
00:41:02,528 --> 00:41:06,865
using the word, priority, to
communicate their situation.
872
00:41:06,865 --> 00:41:08,600
The government took the
position that the pilot
873
00:41:08,600 --> 00:41:12,471
never declared an
emergency, so no one
874
00:41:12,471 --> 00:41:14,173
knew that he had a problem.
875
00:41:14,173 --> 00:41:18,110
But saying you're getting low
on fuel and saying you cannot
876
00:41:18,110 --> 00:41:20,446
make your alternate,
the word, emergency
877
00:41:20,446 --> 00:41:22,014
is not necessary to say.
878
00:41:22,014 --> 00:41:22,848
Negative, sir.
879
00:41:22,848 --> 00:41:24,616
We are running out of fuel.
880
00:41:24,616 --> 00:41:28,120
We just lost two engines and
we need priority, please!
881
00:41:28,120 --> 00:41:30,255
And they thought they
were telling them when
882
00:41:30,255 --> 00:41:32,825
they said we need priority.
883
00:41:32,825 --> 00:41:35,694
To me, priority
means a priority.
884
00:41:35,694 --> 00:41:37,262
[speaking spanish]
885
00:41:37,262 --> 00:41:41,734
INTERPRETER: In Spanish, for us,
the word, priority means first.
886
00:41:41,734 --> 00:41:42,668
Attend to me.
887
00:41:42,668 --> 00:41:43,869
Run to me.
888
00:41:43,869 --> 00:41:45,104
I need you right now.
889
00:41:47,639 --> 00:41:50,909
NARRATOR: The NTSB concludes
that air traffic's handling
890
00:41:50,909 --> 00:41:54,480
of Avianca 52 was proper,
given the information they
891
00:41:54,480 --> 00:41:58,283
received from the flight crew.
892
00:41:58,283 --> 00:42:00,886
Many passengers are
outraged by what they feel
893
00:42:00,886 --> 00:42:03,655
is a gross injustice
that air traffic
894
00:42:03,655 --> 00:42:05,691
control is found blameless.
895
00:42:11,330 --> 00:42:14,633
Avianca sues the FAA, which
employs the air traffic
896
00:42:14,633 --> 00:42:16,468
controllers, saying
they should have
897
00:42:16,468 --> 00:42:18,570
done more when
flight 52 told them
898
00:42:18,570 --> 00:42:19,905
they were running out of fuel.
899
00:42:19,905 --> 00:42:21,807
Senior staff people that we
have here from the National
900
00:42:21,807 --> 00:42:22,975
Transportation--
901
00:42:22,975 --> 00:42:25,611
NARRATOR: The FAA settles
and pays around 40%
902
00:42:25,611 --> 00:42:28,847
of the estimated $200
million compensation
903
00:42:28,847 --> 00:42:29,748
due to the victims.
904
00:42:32,451 --> 00:42:35,587
And if you listen and read
the tapes, the transcripts
905
00:42:35,587 --> 00:42:38,157
of the tapes of each air
traffic control center
906
00:42:38,157 --> 00:42:41,427
along the route and the final
in New York TRACON, New York
907
00:42:41,427 --> 00:42:45,931
tower, Kennedy tower,
you'll find 20 places where
908
00:42:45,931 --> 00:42:48,000
this accident could have
been avoided if somebody
909
00:42:48,000 --> 00:42:52,137
had done something differently.
910
00:42:52,137 --> 00:42:54,039
NARRATOR: Among the
85 survivors who
911
00:42:54,039 --> 00:42:56,909
escaped the shattered
remains of flight 52
912
00:42:56,909 --> 00:42:58,777
are the Montoya's two daughters.
913
00:43:02,181 --> 00:43:04,950
Daniela, the baby
covered in blood,
914
00:43:04,950 --> 00:43:06,985
grows to be a
healthy young woman.
915
00:43:09,855 --> 00:43:11,223
[speaking spanish]
916
00:43:11,223 --> 00:43:13,459
INTERPRETER: The day
just before the flight,
917
00:43:13,459 --> 00:43:15,994
we took a long trip to
visit the Virgin Mary.
918
00:43:15,994 --> 00:43:18,931
This is a very important
sanctuary in Medellin.
919
00:43:18,931 --> 00:43:21,233
Perhaps it was a miracle
of God and the Virgin
920
00:43:21,233 --> 00:43:22,935
that the four of us survived.
921
00:43:22,935 --> 00:43:25,904
It was a miracle, and
we feel blessed by that.
922
00:43:28,941 --> 00:43:30,576
NARRATOR: For many
of the survivors,
923
00:43:30,576 --> 00:43:33,378
recovering from their
injuries has been easier
924
00:43:33,378 --> 00:43:35,247
than coming to terms
with the reason
925
00:43:35,247 --> 00:43:38,750
why flight 52 ran out of fuel.
926
00:43:38,750 --> 00:43:41,120
I had to learn to
walk from scratch.
927
00:43:41,120 --> 00:43:46,792
It's difficult to enough
to deal with the injuries.
928
00:43:46,792 --> 00:43:52,030
It makes me very angry to think
that a plane went down with 161
929
00:43:52,030 --> 00:43:55,701
souls and had almost
half the people lost
930
00:43:55,701 --> 00:43:59,505
their lives because of a word.
71522
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