1 00:00:02,335 --> 00:00:04,804 NARRATOR: A commuter flight over France... 2 00:00:04,871 --> 00:00:06,272 FIRST OFFICER: Look. We can see the ship there. 3 00:00:06,339 --> 00:00:07,774 CAPTAIN: There she is. 4 00:00:07,841 --> 00:00:10,043 NARRATOR: ...gets a rare view of a national treasure. 5 00:00:10,110 --> 00:00:11,411 CAPTAIN: It's beautiful. 6 00:00:11,478 --> 00:00:12,612 MORGAN: It's a clear blue day. 7 00:00:12,679 --> 00:00:14,614 I'm sure both the crew members were feeling good, 8 00:00:14,681 --> 00:00:17,050 and maybe they were going to have a little fun along the way. 9 00:00:17,117 --> 00:00:18,485 PASSENGER: It's just stunning. 10 00:00:18,551 --> 00:00:21,054 NARRATOR: Something rips the plane to pieces. 11 00:00:23,056 --> 00:00:24,124 JULIEN: I was shocked. 12 00:00:24,190 --> 00:00:27,460 This was so quick and it was so horrible. 13 00:00:27,527 --> 00:00:30,196 NARRATOR: With an entire nation looking for answers, 14 00:00:30,263 --> 00:00:34,234 investigators struggle to explain what really happened. 15 00:00:34,300 --> 00:00:35,568 ALAIN: Stop it. 16 00:00:35,635 --> 00:00:38,638 NARRATOR: They uncover an unimaginable chain of events. 17 00:00:38,705 --> 00:00:40,039 ALAIN: What were they thinking? 18 00:00:40,106 --> 00:00:42,609 MORGAN: You really have to get inside the mind of the pilots 19 00:00:42,675 --> 00:00:45,011 to say whether or not you would have done the same thing 20 00:00:45,078 --> 00:00:46,780 in those circumstances. 21 00:00:46,846 --> 00:00:48,882 Flight attendant: LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE ARE STARTING OUR APPROACH. 22 00:00:48,948 --> 00:00:50,150 Pilot: WE LOST BOTH ENGINES! 23 00:00:50,216 --> 00:00:51,418 Flight attendant: PUT THE MASK OVER YOUR NOSE. 24 00:00:51,484 --> 00:00:52,352 EMERGENCY DESCENT. 25 00:00:52,419 --> 00:00:53,420 Pilot: MAYDAY, MAYDAY. 26 00:00:53,486 --> 00:00:55,121 Flight attendant: BRACE FOR IMPACT! 27 00:00:55,188 --> 00:00:56,423 Controller: I THINK I LOST ONE. 28 00:00:56,489 --> 00:00:59,559 Man: INVESTIGATION STARTING INTO THIS TRAGEDY... 29 00:00:59,626 --> 00:01:01,561 Man: HE'S GONNA CRASH! 30 00:01:01,628 --> 00:01:11,604 ♪ 31 00:01:11,671 --> 00:01:17,410 ♪ 32 00:01:17,477 --> 00:01:19,612 NARRATOR: In one of the busiest weeks of summer, 33 00:01:19,679 --> 00:01:22,882 Proteus Airlines Flight 706 heads to the coast 34 00:01:22,949 --> 00:01:26,920 of Brittany, Western France. 35 00:01:26,986 --> 00:01:29,989 CAPTAIN: Flaps zero-plus-thirty. 36 00:01:30,056 --> 00:01:33,593 NARRATOR: The 31-year-old captain is an experienced pilot. 37 00:01:33,660 --> 00:01:35,762 He's flown everything from passenger planes 38 00:01:35,829 --> 00:01:39,098 to water bombers. 39 00:01:39,165 --> 00:01:43,203 FIRST OFFICER: Confirmed. Descent in 10 nautical miles. 40 00:01:43,269 --> 00:01:46,206 NARRATOR: His first officer is just 27 years old, 41 00:01:46,272 --> 00:01:48,775 but he has more than 300 hours' flight experience 42 00:01:48,842 --> 00:01:52,111 in this same type of aircraft. 43 00:01:52,178 --> 00:01:55,114 MORGAN: The skill on these pilots in the Beech 1900 44 00:01:55,181 --> 00:01:57,183 is very high. They're professional aviators. 45 00:01:57,250 --> 00:01:58,618 This is what they're trained to do. 46 00:01:58,685 --> 00:02:00,453 This is what they do on a daily basis. 47 00:02:00,520 --> 00:02:03,223 This was just a normal day for them. 48 00:02:03,289 --> 00:02:04,424 NARRATOR: The captain and first officer 49 00:02:04,491 --> 00:02:08,528 have divided their workload. 50 00:02:08,595 --> 00:02:10,029 PATRICK: It's very common in the industry 51 00:02:10,096 --> 00:02:13,199 for the pilots to swap legs, 52 00:02:13,266 --> 00:02:16,936 meaning one pilot will take his turn flying the aircraft 53 00:02:17,003 --> 00:02:19,539 and then the other pilot will fly the next trip. 54 00:02:19,606 --> 00:02:22,642 On this particular flight, it was the first officer's turn 55 00:02:22,709 --> 00:02:24,177 to fly the aircraft. 56 00:02:24,244 --> 00:02:26,646 The captain was the pilot monitoring, 57 00:02:26,713 --> 00:02:29,883 and that involves communicating with air traffic control, 58 00:02:29,949 --> 00:02:33,920 doing checklists, managing the systems on the aircraft. 59 00:02:33,987 --> 00:02:36,256 NARRATOR: Flight 706 left Lyon Airport 60 00:02:36,322 --> 00:02:38,758 a little more than an hour ago. 61 00:02:38,825 --> 00:02:40,793 They're on schedule to land at Lorient 62 00:02:40,860 --> 00:02:43,129 in approximately 20 minutes, 63 00:02:43,196 --> 00:02:44,831 and they're being guided to their destination 64 00:02:44,898 --> 00:02:47,200 by local air traffic control. 65 00:02:47,267 --> 00:02:51,004 AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER: I authorize 3,700 feet in IFR. 66 00:02:51,070 --> 00:02:55,074 CAPTAIN: Confirmed. 67 00:02:55,141 --> 00:02:57,644 NARRATOR: The twin engine Beechcraft 1900D 68 00:02:57,710 --> 00:03:02,849 can carry 19 passengers. 69 00:03:02,916 --> 00:03:05,518 Some are headed to the beaches of southwest Brittany, 70 00:03:05,585 --> 00:03:09,455 a popular tourist destination in France. 71 00:03:09,522 --> 00:03:12,325 And today they're in for a treat -- 72 00:03:12,392 --> 00:03:14,193 the rare chance to see a treasured piece 73 00:03:14,260 --> 00:03:16,596 of French maritime history, 74 00:03:16,663 --> 00:03:21,401 a luxury ocean liner formerly known as the SS France. 75 00:03:21,467 --> 00:03:23,770 JULIEN: People in France, we are so proud of this boat, 76 00:03:23,836 --> 00:03:26,406 because of mechanical advancement but also, 77 00:03:26,472 --> 00:03:30,944 it was a showcase of French art and design. 78 00:03:31,010 --> 00:03:33,680 NARRATOR: When put into service in 1962, 79 00:03:33,746 --> 00:03:36,616 this was the longest passenger ship ever built, 80 00:03:36,683 --> 00:03:42,855 more than 150 feet longer than the Titanic. 81 00:03:42,922 --> 00:03:46,793 The ship is a huge draw whenever it's in French waters. 82 00:03:46,859 --> 00:03:49,729 So journalist Julien Beaumont is sent to cover the event 83 00:03:49,796 --> 00:03:52,432 for the local press. 84 00:03:52,498 --> 00:03:54,734 JULIEN: I went to Quiberon Bay that day because 85 00:03:54,801 --> 00:03:58,304 I was a young journalist, that's my very first job, 86 00:03:58,371 --> 00:04:02,875 and because it was the main story at that time. 87 00:04:02,942 --> 00:04:05,912 I decided to go there and cover the story 88 00:04:05,979 --> 00:04:08,848 and make some pictures. 89 00:04:08,915 --> 00:04:10,617 NARRATOR: The young journalist hires a small plane 90 00:04:10,683 --> 00:04:12,852 to get a better view. 91 00:04:12,919 --> 00:04:17,156 But he's not the only one fascinated by the ocean liner. 92 00:04:17,223 --> 00:04:19,425 FIRST OFFICER: Look. We can see the ship there. 93 00:04:19,492 --> 00:04:24,564 CAPTAIN: Yes, there she is. I'll let the passengers know. 94 00:04:24,631 --> 00:04:27,000 NARRATOR: As Flight 706 begins its descent 95 00:04:27,066 --> 00:04:29,902 towards Lorient airport, passengers and crew 96 00:04:29,969 --> 00:04:34,774 are about to get a perfect view of the famous ocean liner. 97 00:04:34,841 --> 00:04:36,109 MORGAN: The pilots definitely got caught up 98 00:04:36,175 --> 00:04:39,045 in the excitement of, let's go see the ship. 99 00:04:39,112 --> 00:04:40,780 It's not just the first-class service, 100 00:04:40,847 --> 00:04:44,183 but I think there was elements inside them as crew members 101 00:04:44,250 --> 00:04:45,785 that also wanted a front row seat 102 00:04:45,852 --> 00:04:47,820 taking a look at the ship itself. 103 00:04:47,887 --> 00:04:50,757 CAPTAIN: Lorient, 706. We'll keep a visual 104 00:04:50,823 --> 00:04:53,493 and we'll do a 360 for the passengers in the back. 105 00:04:53,559 --> 00:04:56,529 We'll resume contact after for the approach to Lorient. 106 00:04:56,596 --> 00:05:03,403 AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER: 706, Lorient confirmed. 107 00:05:03,469 --> 00:05:05,338 CAPTAIN: Ladies and gentlemen, on the left off the plane 108 00:05:05,405 --> 00:05:07,407 you'll see the ocean liner Le France. 109 00:05:07,473 --> 00:05:09,475 Air traffic control has just given us permission 110 00:05:09,542 --> 00:05:11,210 to do a 360 around her. 111 00:05:11,277 --> 00:05:13,713 We'll resume our route to Lorient immediately after 112 00:05:13,780 --> 00:05:15,982 in approximately five or six minutes. 113 00:05:16,049 --> 00:05:28,661 ♪ 114 00:05:28,728 --> 00:05:32,632 They descend to 2,000 feet and begin circling the ship. 115 00:05:32,699 --> 00:05:35,735 ♪ 116 00:05:35,802 --> 00:05:38,371 PATRICK: Two thousand feet is indeed quite low 117 00:05:38,438 --> 00:05:40,473 for a commercial aircraft. 118 00:05:40,540 --> 00:05:42,909 Now with that said, this is a regional aircraft. 119 00:05:42,975 --> 00:05:44,911 They tend to fly into smaller airports. 120 00:05:44,977 --> 00:05:48,081 So for them to go to spend a little more time 121 00:05:48,147 --> 00:05:51,517 at a lower altitude is not rare. 122 00:05:51,584 --> 00:05:53,086 PASSENGER: Isn't she a beauty? 123 00:05:57,924 --> 00:05:59,058 MORGAN: It would have been a tremendous view 124 00:05:59,125 --> 00:06:00,359 on a crystal clear day. 125 00:06:00,426 --> 00:06:02,128 You could have seen every detail of that ship 126 00:06:02,195 --> 00:06:07,066 from two thousand feet. 127 00:06:07,133 --> 00:06:09,001 NARRATOR: Not far away, Julien Beaumont 128 00:06:09,068 --> 00:06:12,004 is enjoying a similar view. 129 00:06:12,071 --> 00:06:13,239 JULIEN: It was a perfect day. 130 00:06:13,306 --> 00:06:17,243 I mean it was sunny, no wind, beautiful weather, 131 00:06:17,310 --> 00:06:19,145 high temperatures. 132 00:06:19,212 --> 00:06:21,814 CAPTAIN: Look at the number of yachts down there. 133 00:06:21,881 --> 00:06:28,521 FIRST OFFICER: Amazing. PASSENGER: Just stunning. 134 00:06:28,588 --> 00:06:30,890 NARRATOR: As they complete their 360-degree turn 135 00:06:30,957 --> 00:06:33,626 around the ship, the pilots begin preparations 136 00:06:33,693 --> 00:06:38,264 for their landing at Lorient Airport. 137 00:06:38,331 --> 00:06:41,067 CAPTAIN: 706. If permitted, we'll set direct course 138 00:06:41,134 --> 00:06:42,435 for the airport. 139 00:06:42,502 --> 00:06:48,608 AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER: 706, Lorient confirmed. 140 00:06:53,012 --> 00:06:54,180 NARRATOR: Without any warning, 141 00:06:54,247 --> 00:06:57,250 Flight 706 disintegrates in midair. 142 00:07:03,890 --> 00:07:06,159 JULIEN: I didn't hear the crash because the door was open 143 00:07:06,225 --> 00:07:07,960 and I was taking my pictures, you know, 144 00:07:08,027 --> 00:07:10,429 and the pilot told me, oh, look just in front of us. 145 00:07:10,496 --> 00:07:14,233 So I just looked in front and take my camera like this 146 00:07:14,300 --> 00:07:18,004 and just shoot. 147 00:07:18,070 --> 00:07:25,344 I was shocked because it was so quick and it was so horrible. 148 00:07:25,411 --> 00:07:28,581 I can see some big parts, big wreckage pieces 149 00:07:28,648 --> 00:07:31,450 just going under the sea, 150 00:07:31,517 --> 00:07:36,989 and some personal belongings like a jacket. 151 00:07:37,056 --> 00:07:40,026 At that time you just realize and say, wow... 152 00:07:40,092 --> 00:07:42,929 a lot of people died there. 153 00:07:42,995 --> 00:07:50,736 ♪ 154 00:07:50,803 --> 00:07:52,605 NARRATOR: The coast guard rushes to the crash site 155 00:07:52,672 --> 00:07:58,544 hoping to rescue any survivors. But they find no one. 156 00:07:58,611 --> 00:08:01,347 Hundreds of tourists aboard the ship and surrounding yachts 157 00:08:01,414 --> 00:08:04,984 are stunned by what they've just seen. 158 00:08:05,051 --> 00:08:08,821 JULIEN: It was like we are so happy to see the boat, 159 00:08:08,888 --> 00:08:14,660 and in two minutes all of this became a tragedy. 160 00:08:14,727 --> 00:08:16,996 ♪ 161 00:08:17,063 --> 00:08:20,299 NARRATOR: It's soon clear there are no survivors. 162 00:08:20,366 --> 00:08:24,704 All 14 passengers and crew are dead. 163 00:08:24,770 --> 00:08:27,874 The sad news stuns the nation. 164 00:08:27,940 --> 00:08:30,543 JULIEN: It was the big story in France. 165 00:08:30,610 --> 00:08:32,845 All the journalists were on this story, 166 00:08:32,912 --> 00:08:36,482 and all the French people wanted to know about this story. 167 00:08:36,549 --> 00:08:40,186 It was really the main story in France at that time. 168 00:08:40,253 --> 00:08:41,921 ♪ 169 00:08:41,988 --> 00:08:44,357 NARRATOR: As the tragedy begins to sink in, 170 00:08:44,423 --> 00:08:46,359 so the mystery deepens. 171 00:08:46,425 --> 00:08:48,194 Despite hundreds of eyewitnesses, 172 00:08:48,261 --> 00:08:52,064 no one seems to know what brought down Flight 706. 173 00:09:01,073 --> 00:09:02,108 NARRATOR: The morning after the crash 174 00:09:02,174 --> 00:09:05,011 of Proteus Airlines Flight 706, 175 00:09:05,077 --> 00:09:08,414 French air crash investigator Alain Bouillard and his team 176 00:09:08,481 --> 00:09:11,284 begin working the case. 177 00:09:11,350 --> 00:09:14,387 ALAIN: So what knocked this plane out of the sky? 178 00:09:16,055 --> 00:09:18,357 NARRATOR: With the entire country looking for answers, 179 00:09:18,424 --> 00:09:21,060 there's immense pressure to explain how and why 180 00:09:21,127 --> 00:09:23,129 the passenger plane went down. 181 00:09:24,563 --> 00:09:27,066 ALAIN: 182 00:09:27,133 --> 00:09:29,235 All we knew was that a plane had crashed 183 00:09:29,302 --> 00:09:33,139 into the sea, and there were no survivors. 184 00:09:33,205 --> 00:09:35,675 It was up to us to locate the wreckage, 185 00:09:35,741 --> 00:09:38,377 first to recover the flight recorders 186 00:09:38,444 --> 00:09:42,014 and then to find any other parts of the plane that we could. 187 00:09:47,553 --> 00:09:49,822 ♪ 188 00:09:49,889 --> 00:09:51,424 NARRATOR: The plane's black boxes are crucial 189 00:09:51,490 --> 00:09:53,793 to explain what happened in the final moments 190 00:09:53,859 --> 00:09:56,195 leading up to the crash. 191 00:09:56,262 --> 00:09:59,932 But finding them won't be easy, because the wreckage 192 00:09:59,999 --> 00:10:05,371 is a few miles off shore at the bottom of Quiberon Bay. 193 00:10:05,438 --> 00:10:06,806 NARRATOR: The job of locating them 194 00:10:06,872 --> 00:10:11,911 is up to investigator Sebastien David. 195 00:10:11,978 --> 00:10:14,747 SEBASTIEN: I went to the site with a beacon locator, 196 00:10:14,814 --> 00:10:19,385 which receives signals from beacons like the ones 197 00:10:19,452 --> 00:10:22,455 that are equipping flight recorders. 198 00:10:24,957 --> 00:10:26,826 NARRATOR: Navy divers waste no time 199 00:10:26,892 --> 00:10:33,666 and begin scouring the seabed searching for the wreckage. 200 00:10:33,733 --> 00:10:37,303 While waiting for the black boxes to be recovered, 201 00:10:37,370 --> 00:10:40,039 Alain Bouillard interviews the air traffic controller 202 00:10:40,106 --> 00:10:45,544 in charge of Flight 706's approach. 203 00:10:45,611 --> 00:10:49,315 He's immediately surprised by what he learns. 204 00:10:49,382 --> 00:10:53,119 ALAIN: Here's the scheduled route from Lyon to Lorient. 205 00:10:53,185 --> 00:10:56,756 NARRATOR: Quiberon Bay was not even on their flight path. 206 00:10:56,822 --> 00:10:58,891 Bouillard wants to know what they were doing there 207 00:10:58,958 --> 00:11:01,093 in the first place. 208 00:11:01,160 --> 00:11:02,828 AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER: They requested a detour 209 00:11:02,895 --> 00:11:05,664 to see Le France. 210 00:11:05,731 --> 00:11:07,533 NARRATOR: It's a shocking discovery. 211 00:11:07,600 --> 00:11:10,269 A commercial airliner should only request a detour 212 00:11:10,336 --> 00:11:13,506 for safety reasons. 213 00:11:13,572 --> 00:11:17,043 MORGAN: It's very, very rare for a passenger aircraft 214 00:11:17,109 --> 00:11:20,279 to deviate from their standard flight plan. 215 00:11:20,346 --> 00:11:25,918 ALAIN: Why would they decide to go sightseeing? 216 00:11:25,985 --> 00:11:27,386 NARRATOR: The official flight path should have taken 217 00:11:27,453 --> 00:11:30,756 the airplane in a straight line over land. 218 00:11:30,823 --> 00:11:35,161 But at the time of the crash, it was flying over the SS France 219 00:11:35,227 --> 00:11:38,030 ...many miles off course. 220 00:11:38,097 --> 00:11:40,800 The captain's decision to deviate from his flight path 221 00:11:40,866 --> 00:11:45,438 for such a trivial reason seems almost reckless. 222 00:11:45,504 --> 00:11:46,972 But the controller in Lorient 223 00:11:47,039 --> 00:11:49,375 saw no conflicting traffic on radar, 224 00:11:49,442 --> 00:11:53,212 so he had no reason to deny the request. 225 00:11:53,279 --> 00:11:56,182 CAPTAIN: Brest, Proteus descending 7-0-6. 226 00:11:56,248 --> 00:11:58,984 And one little special request is to fly slightly west 227 00:11:59,051 --> 00:12:03,389 over Quiberon Bay, sir, to go see Le France anchored there. 228 00:12:03,456 --> 00:12:04,957 ALAIN: The controller in Lorient 229 00:12:05,024 --> 00:12:07,660 simply advised the pilot of the Beechcraft 230 00:12:07,726 --> 00:12:12,631 that he didn't have any information on the traffic. 231 00:12:12,698 --> 00:12:17,403 ALAIN: Thanks for your time. 232 00:12:17,470 --> 00:12:19,738 NARRATOR: Investigators now know Flight 706 233 00:12:19,805 --> 00:12:23,609 was in an area where it was never supposed to be. 234 00:12:23,676 --> 00:12:27,813 But they don't know what actually happened there. 235 00:12:27,880 --> 00:12:30,683 NARRATOR: Bouillard begins investigating eyewitnesses. 236 00:12:30,749 --> 00:12:34,920 Maybe they saw something the radar at Lorient didn't pick up. 237 00:12:34,987 --> 00:12:38,390 ALAIN: So this is the area that we're focusing on, 238 00:12:38,457 --> 00:12:39,692 and we understand... 239 00:12:39,758 --> 00:12:41,460 NARRATOR: Although all of them saw burning wreckage 240 00:12:41,527 --> 00:12:44,597 falling from the sky, nobody saw what happened 241 00:12:44,663 --> 00:12:47,066 to cause this accident. 242 00:12:47,133 --> 00:12:52,438 But what they did see catches Bouillard's full attention. 243 00:12:52,505 --> 00:12:54,206 PATRICK: On this wonderful day there were 244 00:12:54,273 --> 00:12:56,942 many, many general aviation aircraft sightseeing 245 00:12:57,009 --> 00:12:59,478 over the SS France. 246 00:12:59,545 --> 00:13:02,181 Eyewitnesses had seen more than a dozen 247 00:13:02,248 --> 00:13:05,818 pleasure-seeing aircraft out on that nice afternoon. 248 00:13:09,455 --> 00:13:10,956 ALAIN: You're positive? 249 00:13:11,023 --> 00:13:13,225 NARRATOR: These aircraft would have been flying too low 250 00:13:13,292 --> 00:13:17,029 to be detected by Lorient's radar, which explains 251 00:13:17,096 --> 00:13:20,466 why the air traffic controller never saw them. 252 00:13:20,533 --> 00:13:24,403 And that opens up a frightening possibility. 253 00:13:24,470 --> 00:13:25,771 ALAIN: Is it plausible this could have been 254 00:13:25,838 --> 00:13:27,840 a midair collision? 255 00:13:31,844 --> 00:13:34,180 NARRATOR: A midair collision with a passenger plane 256 00:13:34,246 --> 00:13:37,249 is so unusual it's almost unthinkable. 257 00:13:42,555 --> 00:13:46,559 ALAIN: Air collisions with passenger planes were very rare. 258 00:13:52,264 --> 00:13:55,968 NARRATOR: If it was a collision with another aircraft, 259 00:13:56,035 --> 00:13:58,737 Bouillard knows the evidence lies in whatever wreckage 260 00:13:58,804 --> 00:14:00,806 they find on the seabed. 261 00:14:07,746 --> 00:14:10,883 Two days after the crash, Sebastien David picks up 262 00:14:10,950 --> 00:14:15,888 a signal from Flight 706's homing beacon. 263 00:14:15,955 --> 00:14:19,291 SEBASTIEN: The flight recorders were found on the seabed 264 00:14:19,358 --> 00:14:23,162 at around 16 or 18 meters. 265 00:14:23,229 --> 00:14:25,264 NARRATOR: The wreckage is finally located 266 00:14:25,331 --> 00:14:28,367 and the bodies are found. 267 00:14:28,434 --> 00:14:30,669 SEBASTIEN: This accident was tragic 268 00:14:30,736 --> 00:14:36,008 because two pilots from the Beechcraft, 12 passengers, 269 00:14:36,075 --> 00:14:38,911 including two babies, died. 270 00:14:38,978 --> 00:14:44,984 NARRATOR: The nation is in mourning and in need of answers. 271 00:14:45,050 --> 00:14:47,820 Now that wreckage has been pulled from the seabed, 272 00:14:47,886 --> 00:14:50,823 accident investigators begin to examine the pieces, 273 00:14:50,889 --> 00:14:54,059 searching for clues. 274 00:14:54,126 --> 00:14:56,462 PATRICK: The whole purpose of accident investigation 275 00:14:56,528 --> 00:15:00,165 is to determine the root cause of the accident 276 00:15:00,232 --> 00:15:05,671 so they can prevent other accidents from happening. 277 00:15:05,738 --> 00:15:09,275 Being able to retrieve all of the wreckage, 278 00:15:09,341 --> 00:15:12,778 the flight data recorder, the instruments, the engines, 279 00:15:12,845 --> 00:15:15,014 flight controls, the cables, 280 00:15:15,080 --> 00:15:19,485 the accident investigators are able to definitively rule out 281 00:15:19,551 --> 00:15:22,955 factors that likely didn't contribute to the accident 282 00:15:23,022 --> 00:15:27,693 and allows you to focus on something out of the ordinary. 283 00:15:27,760 --> 00:15:31,330 ALAIN: What do we have here? 284 00:15:31,397 --> 00:15:33,766 NARRATOR: Recovered along with the wreckage of the Beechcraft, 285 00:15:33,832 --> 00:15:38,737 they find pieces of another aircraft. 286 00:15:38,804 --> 00:15:44,276 ALAIN: 287 00:15:44,343 --> 00:15:46,078 The concentration of debris, 288 00:15:46,145 --> 00:15:49,315 along with the examination done by the divers, 289 00:15:49,381 --> 00:15:54,119 clearly showed that the wreckage was from two different planes. 290 00:15:54,186 --> 00:15:56,755 So immediately we could confirm that the accident 291 00:15:56,822 --> 00:15:59,758 was caused by a collision. 292 00:16:02,961 --> 00:16:05,230 NARRATOR: It's a huge discovery. 293 00:16:05,297 --> 00:16:07,299 And the shape of the recovered nose cone 294 00:16:07,366 --> 00:16:09,768 is unmistakable to investigators. 295 00:16:09,835 --> 00:16:18,410 ALAIN: It's a Cessna, but where did it come from? 296 00:16:18,477 --> 00:16:20,813 NARRATOR: Air crash investigators now know they're dealing 297 00:16:20,879 --> 00:16:22,314 with a midair collision. 298 00:16:27,753 --> 00:16:29,822 They have a mystery Cessna on their hands, 299 00:16:29,888 --> 00:16:34,026 and they need to find out where it came from. 300 00:16:34,093 --> 00:16:36,395 NARRATOR: With no witnesses to the actual collision 301 00:16:36,462 --> 00:16:39,932 and no radar data tracking the mystery plane, 302 00:16:39,998 --> 00:16:42,334 they look for answers in the cockpit voice recorder 303 00:16:42,401 --> 00:16:45,971 found in the Beechcraft. 304 00:16:46,038 --> 00:16:49,308 SEBASTIEN: The cockpit voice recorder was in good condition. 305 00:16:49,375 --> 00:16:51,844 We were really relieved because we knew 306 00:16:51,910 --> 00:16:55,280 that we could proceed with the safety investigation. 307 00:16:55,347 --> 00:16:59,351 ALAIN: Okay. Let's begin. 308 00:16:59,418 --> 00:17:01,687 CAPTAIN: Flaps zero plus thirty. 309 00:17:01,754 --> 00:17:03,055 SEBASTIEN: The recording was very important 310 00:17:03,122 --> 00:17:07,025 to determine the flight path of the commercial aircraft 311 00:17:07,092 --> 00:17:10,996 and to hear what happened in the cockpit. 312 00:17:11,063 --> 00:17:12,664 FIRST OFFICER: Descent in 10 nautical miles. 313 00:17:12,731 --> 00:17:14,066 NARRATOR: The recording might also reveal 314 00:17:14,133 --> 00:17:17,803 if the pilots of Flight 706 made a fatal error 315 00:17:17,870 --> 00:17:20,873 as they were flying over the SS France. 316 00:17:24,042 --> 00:17:29,314 FIRST OFFICER: Pass over the outer marker at 1,440 feet. 317 00:17:29,381 --> 00:17:31,083 CAPTAIN: Thank you. 318 00:17:31,150 --> 00:17:36,455 ALAIN: 319 00:17:36,522 --> 00:17:38,490 From analyzing the cockpit voice recorder, 320 00:17:38,557 --> 00:17:42,227 you could tell that there was a good atmosphere in the cockpit. 321 00:17:42,294 --> 00:17:45,197 The weather was good, the crew was relaxed 322 00:17:45,264 --> 00:17:47,666 but still conducting themselves professionally. 323 00:17:52,671 --> 00:17:54,773 NARRATOR: Then, as they listen to the recording, 324 00:17:54,840 --> 00:17:59,978 investigators hear something completely unexpected. 325 00:18:00,045 --> 00:18:02,347 PASSENGER: You're not flying over Quiberon Bay? 326 00:18:02,414 --> 00:18:03,782 ALAIN: Who's that? 327 00:18:03,849 --> 00:18:05,951 PASSENGER: Because Le France is moored there. 328 00:18:06,018 --> 00:18:06,919 CAPTAIN: Is that right? 329 00:18:06,985 --> 00:18:11,557 PASSENGER: Yeah. Right over here. 330 00:18:11,623 --> 00:18:14,493 CAPTAIN: Lorient's here. Quiberon Bay is here. 331 00:18:14,560 --> 00:18:18,831 ALAIN: There's somebody else in the cockpit with the pilots. 332 00:18:18,897 --> 00:18:20,399 PASSENGER: You're not flying over Quiberon Bay? 333 00:18:20,466 --> 00:18:22,734 Because Le France is moored there. 334 00:18:22,801 --> 00:18:23,535 CAPTAIN: Is that right? 335 00:18:23,602 --> 00:18:25,370 PASSENGER: Yeah. 336 00:18:25,437 --> 00:18:26,572 ALAIN: 337 00:18:26,638 --> 00:18:28,140 We were surprised that a passenger 338 00:18:28,207 --> 00:18:31,076 was able to step into the pilot area. 339 00:18:31,143 --> 00:18:34,046 As a general rule, the presence of a third person 340 00:18:34,112 --> 00:18:35,280 is not allowed. 341 00:18:38,317 --> 00:18:40,853 NARRATOR: On most commercial airlines, it's strictly forbidden 342 00:18:40,919 --> 00:18:44,223 for passengers to enter the cockpit. 343 00:18:44,289 --> 00:18:49,027 But that rule doesn't apply to small aircraft. 344 00:18:49,094 --> 00:18:51,263 MORGAN: The Beechcraft 1900 is an aircraft designed 345 00:18:51,330 --> 00:18:52,865 for short flights. 346 00:18:52,931 --> 00:18:54,500 Because there is no flight attendants, 347 00:18:54,566 --> 00:18:56,268 the crew is going to have open communications 348 00:18:56,335 --> 00:18:59,705 between the passengers and the crew throughout the flight. 349 00:18:59,771 --> 00:19:01,373 PATRICK: Look, it's a small regional aircraft. 350 00:19:01,440 --> 00:19:04,309 There's no door in between the cabin and the flight crew. 351 00:19:04,376 --> 00:19:06,411 It's just rather natural. 352 00:19:06,478 --> 00:19:08,313 A passenger felt that they were going to be fairly close 353 00:19:08,380 --> 00:19:10,382 to this scenic event, 354 00:19:10,449 --> 00:19:13,519 and he saw no harm in them deviating away. 355 00:19:13,585 --> 00:19:16,321 CAPTAIN: Brest, Proteus descending 7-0-6, 356 00:19:16,388 --> 00:19:19,157 and one little special request is to fly slightly west 357 00:19:19,224 --> 00:19:24,363 over Quiberon Bay, sir, to go see Le France anchored there. 358 00:19:24,429 --> 00:19:27,032 NARRATOR: It's now clear why the captain decided to make 359 00:19:27,099 --> 00:19:29,301 that fateful detour. 360 00:19:29,368 --> 00:19:34,473 ALAIN: He did it because a passenger asked him to. 361 00:19:34,540 --> 00:19:36,275 SEBASTIEN: Without the CVR recording, 362 00:19:36,341 --> 00:19:40,345 we would never have known this information. 363 00:19:40,412 --> 00:19:42,347 FIRST OFFICER: Look. You can see the ship there. 364 00:19:42,414 --> 00:19:44,283 PATRICK: The captain had made the decision 365 00:19:44,349 --> 00:19:47,819 to try to comply with the passenger request. 366 00:19:47,886 --> 00:19:50,889 Pilots like to please their passengers. 367 00:19:57,563 --> 00:19:58,964 CAPTAIN: Yeah. There she is. 368 00:19:59,031 --> 00:20:01,133 NARRATOR: As investigators continue listening, 369 00:20:01,199 --> 00:20:04,736 it becomes clear how the desire to entertain passengers 370 00:20:04,803 --> 00:20:07,639 leads Flight 706 into danger. 371 00:20:07,706 --> 00:20:13,879 ♪ 372 00:20:13,946 --> 00:20:16,415 They approach the bay at 5,000 feet, 373 00:20:16,481 --> 00:20:20,919 but the ocean liner below is difficult to see. 374 00:20:20,986 --> 00:20:22,654 CAPTAIN: Ask them if we can go lower, 375 00:20:22,721 --> 00:20:25,090 3,000 feet if it's possible. 376 00:20:25,157 --> 00:20:27,593 FIRST OFFICER: Can we descend lower please? 377 00:20:27,659 --> 00:20:32,397 AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER: I authorize 3,700 feet in IFR. 378 00:20:32,464 --> 00:20:35,267 NARRATOR: Air traffic control gives them permission to descend 379 00:20:35,334 --> 00:20:39,404 to 3,700 feet, but it's not enough. 380 00:20:39,471 --> 00:20:42,474 The pilots want to go even lower. 381 00:20:47,479 --> 00:20:50,148 PATRICK: In order for all the passengers in the cabin 382 00:20:50,215 --> 00:20:52,451 to see the ship, they would have had to come down 383 00:20:52,517 --> 00:20:55,053 to a lower altitude because the passengers 384 00:20:55,120 --> 00:20:58,056 really don't like steep bank angles. 385 00:20:58,123 --> 00:21:00,125 Coming down to a lower altitude allowed them to fly 386 00:21:00,192 --> 00:21:06,098 at a shallower bank angle, getting a much better view. 387 00:21:06,164 --> 00:21:07,633 NARRATOR: The captain decides to descend 388 00:21:07,699 --> 00:21:11,470 all the way down to two thousand feet. 389 00:21:11,536 --> 00:21:17,075 At this point, everything is about to change. 390 00:21:17,142 --> 00:21:18,176 The pilots are entering 391 00:21:18,243 --> 00:21:20,712 unrestricted airspace and cannot be seen 392 00:21:20,779 --> 00:21:23,915 by Lorient's radar. 393 00:21:23,982 --> 00:21:27,219 They are no longer guided by air traffic control. 394 00:21:27,285 --> 00:21:28,920 They're on their own. 395 00:21:28,987 --> 00:21:30,122 CAPTAIN: Listen. 396 00:21:30,188 --> 00:21:32,557 What we're going to do if possible is cancel IFR. 397 00:21:32,624 --> 00:21:35,060 We'll keep the visual. 398 00:21:35,127 --> 00:21:38,130 AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER: 706, Lorient confirmed. 399 00:21:38,196 --> 00:21:43,135 Your IFR is canceled at 15:54 local. 400 00:21:43,201 --> 00:21:49,274 ALAIN: Stop it. He canceled instrument flight rules. 401 00:21:49,341 --> 00:21:51,543 MORGAN: It's very, very rare for a commercial airline 402 00:21:51,610 --> 00:21:53,612 to cancel IFR. 403 00:21:57,049 --> 00:21:59,184 FIRST OFFICER: Look, we can see the ship there. 404 00:21:59,251 --> 00:22:04,122 CAPTAIN: Yes, there she is. 405 00:22:04,189 --> 00:22:06,792 ALAIN: The decision to cancel instrument flight rules 406 00:22:06,858 --> 00:22:11,229 and switch to visual flight rules did surprise us. 407 00:22:11,296 --> 00:22:13,365 CAPTAIN: Lorient, 706. 408 00:22:13,432 --> 00:22:15,333 We'll keep a visual and we'll do a 360 409 00:22:15,400 --> 00:22:16,668 for the passengers in the back. 410 00:22:16,735 --> 00:22:19,838 We'll resume contact after for the approach to Lorient. 411 00:22:19,905 --> 00:22:22,908 AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER: 706, Lorient confirmed. 412 00:22:28,380 --> 00:22:30,015 NARRATOR: In order to avoid a collision, 413 00:22:30,082 --> 00:22:33,118 the pilots must now rely solely on what they can see 414 00:22:33,185 --> 00:22:35,187 with their own eyes. 415 00:22:42,994 --> 00:22:45,163 PATRICK: This is see-and-avoid country. 416 00:22:45,230 --> 00:22:48,500 That means that each aircraft is entirely responsible 417 00:22:48,567 --> 00:22:54,606 for seeing and avoiding any other aircraft in that airspace. 418 00:22:54,673 --> 00:22:56,374 They're not under radar control. 419 00:22:56,441 --> 00:22:59,444 There's no coordination of altitudes or flight patterns. 420 00:22:59,511 --> 00:23:02,848 So when you put high-speed traffic -- 421 00:23:02,914 --> 00:23:04,382 the Beechcraft in this case -- 422 00:23:04,449 --> 00:23:08,720 in a mix of all of these other general aviation aircraft, 423 00:23:08,787 --> 00:23:14,092 it greatly increases the risk of midair collision. 424 00:23:14,159 --> 00:23:16,094 MORGAN: You don't have that extra set of eyes 425 00:23:16,161 --> 00:23:17,329 looking out after you. 426 00:23:17,395 --> 00:23:19,598 You don't have anyone else specifically putting you 427 00:23:19,664 --> 00:23:21,767 on a course that they know is going to be clear 428 00:23:21,833 --> 00:23:23,468 of other air traffic. 429 00:23:23,535 --> 00:23:25,737 Once that IFR clearance is canceled, 430 00:23:25,804 --> 00:23:29,040 it absolves the controller of all responsibility 431 00:23:29,107 --> 00:23:31,209 for any traffic avoidance. 432 00:23:31,276 --> 00:23:33,345 CAPTAIN: Ladies and gentlemen, on the left off the plane 433 00:23:33,411 --> 00:23:35,413 you will see the ocean liner Le France. 434 00:23:35,480 --> 00:23:37,482 Air traffic control has just given us permission 435 00:23:37,549 --> 00:23:39,251 to do a 360 around her. 436 00:23:39,317 --> 00:23:41,753 We'll resume our route to Lorient immediately after 437 00:23:41,820 --> 00:23:44,389 in approximately five or six minutes. 438 00:23:44,456 --> 00:23:47,692 ALAIN: What were they thinking? 439 00:23:47,759 --> 00:23:50,095 NARRATOR: They have just entered a high traffic zone 440 00:23:50,162 --> 00:23:51,730 and are only seconds from colliding 441 00:23:51,797 --> 00:23:54,900 with an unidentified aircraft. 442 00:23:54,966 --> 00:23:59,037 Now Bouillard needs to know who was flying the other plane 443 00:23:59,104 --> 00:24:02,140 and where it came from. 444 00:24:06,878 --> 00:24:08,680 NARRATOR: As investigators struggle to explain 445 00:24:08,747 --> 00:24:11,750 a deadly midair collision, they search for answers 446 00:24:11,817 --> 00:24:15,420 in the final minutes of the cockpit voice recorder. 447 00:24:15,487 --> 00:24:17,923 ALAIN: Let's continue. 448 00:24:17,989 --> 00:24:20,258 CAPTAIN: Lorient, 706. 449 00:24:20,325 --> 00:24:22,327 We'll keep a visual and we'll do a 360 450 00:24:22,394 --> 00:24:24,362 for the passengers in the back. 451 00:24:24,429 --> 00:24:26,431 NARRATOR: They learn that as Flight 706 452 00:24:26,498 --> 00:24:29,201 descended into uncontrolled airspace, 453 00:24:29,267 --> 00:24:31,770 the pilots had no trouble spotting and identifying 454 00:24:31,837 --> 00:24:34,806 other planes nearby. 455 00:24:34,873 --> 00:24:38,076 FIRST OFFICER: We've got a DR400. It's pretty much beneath us. 456 00:24:38,143 --> 00:24:41,513 CAPTAIN: There's a Cessna. I've got it in my sights. 457 00:24:41,580 --> 00:24:43,915 ALAIN: They were doing their jobs. 458 00:24:43,982 --> 00:24:47,752 The captain followed the rules of see and avoid. 459 00:24:47,819 --> 00:24:49,721 NARRATOR: But for some reason there's one Cessna 460 00:24:49,788 --> 00:24:56,995 they didn't see, nor did anyone at air traffic control. 461 00:24:57,062 --> 00:24:59,865 ALAIN: Okay. Here's our Beechcraft that we know 462 00:24:59,931 --> 00:25:02,667 saw the traffic in the area. 463 00:25:02,734 --> 00:25:07,372 Why didn't they see the Cessna they collided with? 464 00:25:07,439 --> 00:25:09,140 NARRATOR: To find out more, investigators 465 00:25:09,207 --> 00:25:14,980 have been working to identify this mystery aircraft... 466 00:25:15,046 --> 00:25:18,984 until they finally make a breakthrough. 467 00:25:19,050 --> 00:25:23,388 ALAIN: Bouillard. We found it. 468 00:25:23,455 --> 00:25:25,257 NARRATOR: They get a report from a small airfield 469 00:25:25,323 --> 00:25:30,362 10 miles inland from Quiberon Bay. 470 00:25:30,428 --> 00:25:36,268 The air traffic controller there has a missing plane. 471 00:25:36,334 --> 00:25:38,036 AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER: This plane left here shortly 472 00:25:38,103 --> 00:25:41,139 before the accident. 473 00:25:41,206 --> 00:25:46,244 NARRATOR: Just nine minutes before Flight 706 went down, 474 00:25:46,311 --> 00:25:52,050 a private Cessna took off and it never returned. 475 00:25:52,117 --> 00:25:54,519 ALAIN: Yeah, that looks like our plane. 476 00:25:54,586 --> 00:25:58,256 AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER: He was planning to fly over to see Le France. 477 00:25:58,323 --> 00:26:01,693 NARRATOR: The Cessna pilot is Francis Gilibert. 478 00:26:01,760 --> 00:26:03,428 He's a retired airline pilot 479 00:26:03,495 --> 00:26:06,965 with more than 15,000 hours of flight time. 480 00:26:07,032 --> 00:26:08,433 AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER: He was highly experienced 481 00:26:08,500 --> 00:26:10,769 and a well respected pilot. 482 00:26:10,835 --> 00:26:14,472 PATRICK: For a pilot to reach 15,000 hours with an airline, 483 00:26:14,539 --> 00:26:16,908 you can assume he was a very skilled pilot 484 00:26:16,975 --> 00:26:19,311 in every aspect of aviating, 485 00:26:19,377 --> 00:26:23,114 not only his stick-and-rudder skills, his decision making, 486 00:26:23,181 --> 00:26:24,883 all of the attributes necessary 487 00:26:24,950 --> 00:26:28,353 to be a successful professional pilot. 488 00:26:28,420 --> 00:26:30,555 NARRATOR: Even though the Cessna was flying at an altitude 489 00:26:30,622 --> 00:26:33,525 where it should have been detected on radar, 490 00:26:33,591 --> 00:26:35,627 for some reason the air traffic controller 491 00:26:35,694 --> 00:26:38,530 was never able to see him. 492 00:26:38,596 --> 00:26:43,068 ALAIN: Why didn't the Cessna show up on Lorient's radar? 493 00:26:43,134 --> 00:26:46,671 AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER: It looks like he didn't have his transponder on. 494 00:26:46,738 --> 00:26:48,740 ALAIN: It wasn't on? 495 00:26:53,111 --> 00:26:55,580 NARRATOR: The transponder allows air traffic control 496 00:26:55,647 --> 00:27:00,752 to identify and track the exact location of an airplane. 497 00:27:00,819 --> 00:27:03,722 PATRICK: A transponder is absolutely critical. 498 00:27:03,788 --> 00:27:06,624 The radar may show very little, if anything, 499 00:27:06,691 --> 00:27:09,127 from a small aircraft. 500 00:27:09,194 --> 00:27:11,863 NARRATOR: In 1998, French aviation rules 501 00:27:11,930 --> 00:27:15,800 don't mandate the use of transponders on small aircraft, 502 00:27:15,867 --> 00:27:19,371 so Francis Gilibert wasn't breaking any rules. 503 00:27:21,473 --> 00:27:23,074 MORGAN: He didn't turn the transponder on 504 00:27:23,141 --> 00:27:24,776 for his flight that day, 505 00:27:24,843 --> 00:27:26,911 and this is an incredible surprise because 506 00:27:26,978 --> 00:27:29,981 certainly he wouldn't have flown many of those 15,000 hours 507 00:27:30,048 --> 00:27:34,119 without that transponder being on. 508 00:27:34,185 --> 00:27:35,653 There's many things that could have played a factor 509 00:27:35,720 --> 00:27:38,256 in why he didn't turn the transponder on. 510 00:27:38,323 --> 00:27:40,692 It could have been just his mindset of hey, 511 00:27:40,759 --> 00:27:41,826 I'm going on a pleasure flight. 512 00:27:41,893 --> 00:27:43,895 I'm going on a visual flight plan. 513 00:27:43,962 --> 00:27:47,032 It's not going to make any difference. 514 00:27:47,098 --> 00:27:48,700 NARRATOR: Without the transponder, 515 00:27:48,767 --> 00:27:51,536 Lorient's air traffic control had no way of knowing 516 00:27:51,603 --> 00:27:54,339 the Cessna was even in the sky. 517 00:27:54,406 --> 00:28:00,912 AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER: Your IFR is canceled at 15:54 local. 518 00:28:00,979 --> 00:28:03,148 NARRATOR: But even without air traffic control, 519 00:28:03,214 --> 00:28:09,220 why didn't the pilots hear each other over the radio? 520 00:28:09,287 --> 00:28:11,423 Bouillard studies the different approach charts 521 00:28:11,489 --> 00:28:15,527 that would have been used aboard each aircraft, 522 00:28:15,593 --> 00:28:20,765 and he uncovers a startling detail. 523 00:28:20,832 --> 00:28:26,771 The pilots were communicating on different radio frequencies. 524 00:28:26,838 --> 00:28:27,872 ALAIN: 525 00:28:27,939 --> 00:28:29,607 It was a big discovery to know 526 00:28:29,674 --> 00:28:33,011 that in such tight airspace there could be two planes 527 00:28:33,078 --> 00:28:35,213 on totally different frequencies. 528 00:28:35,280 --> 00:28:37,415 CPT. GILIBERT: Position report Juliette Echo 529 00:28:37,482 --> 00:28:41,820 is 3,000 abeam Arradon. 530 00:28:41,886 --> 00:28:44,456 ALAIN: The pilot of the Cessna had not been in contact 531 00:28:44,522 --> 00:28:46,558 with control at Lorient. 532 00:28:46,624 --> 00:28:49,928 He was in contact with the tower at Quiberon, 533 00:28:49,994 --> 00:28:53,465 and so both planes were on different frequencies 534 00:28:53,531 --> 00:28:55,667 with different controllers. 535 00:28:55,733 --> 00:28:59,404 CPT. GILIBERT: I am descending from 3,000 to 1,500. 536 00:28:59,471 --> 00:29:00,572 NARRATOR: With no transponder 537 00:29:00,638 --> 00:29:03,174 and no radio communication between them, 538 00:29:03,241 --> 00:29:05,510 there's no way the pilots could have known about each other 539 00:29:05,577 --> 00:29:07,378 in advance. 540 00:29:07,445 --> 00:29:09,481 CAPTAIN: Ask him if we can go lower. 541 00:29:09,547 --> 00:29:12,917 NARRATOR: As Flight 706 descended into traffic, 542 00:29:12,984 --> 00:29:18,823 Francis Gilibert never would have heard their calls. 543 00:29:18,890 --> 00:29:20,258 But that still doesn't explain 544 00:29:20,325 --> 00:29:24,229 why such experienced pilots collided. 545 00:29:24,295 --> 00:29:31,069 ♪ 546 00:29:31,136 --> 00:29:34,405 Bouillard orders the full reconstruction of both planes 547 00:29:34,472 --> 00:29:37,642 to determine who hit who and where they were positioned 548 00:29:37,709 --> 00:29:39,978 moments before the crash. 549 00:29:40,044 --> 00:29:43,148 ALAIN: Let's see what this can tell us. 550 00:29:43,214 --> 00:29:46,417 ALAIN: Rebuilding the plane is always extremely difficult, 551 00:29:46,484 --> 00:29:52,257 but it's necessary in order to understand the events. 552 00:29:52,323 --> 00:29:56,327 PATRICK: Imagine dumping a puzzle box on a table 553 00:29:56,394 --> 00:29:58,630 and trying to figure out where do I begin? 554 00:29:58,696 --> 00:30:02,433 It's the same way except now imagine taking tin foil 555 00:30:02,500 --> 00:30:05,537 and wrapping it up, squeezing it, compressing it, 556 00:30:05,603 --> 00:30:07,805 unwrapping it and doing that a dozen times 557 00:30:07,872 --> 00:30:10,508 and now trying to figure out where do those pieces 558 00:30:10,575 --> 00:30:13,711 go back together, because all of this wreckage, 559 00:30:13,778 --> 00:30:17,215 especially in a violent midair like this, was mangled. 560 00:30:17,282 --> 00:30:23,288 It was shredded, sheared apart, small pieces, large pieces. 561 00:30:23,354 --> 00:30:25,590 NARRATOR: Eventually, the tireless efforts of investigators 562 00:30:25,657 --> 00:30:28,693 begin to pay off. 563 00:30:28,760 --> 00:30:30,762 ALAIN: What's this? 564 00:30:39,170 --> 00:30:41,072 PATRICK: By reconstructing the aircraft, 565 00:30:41,139 --> 00:30:44,642 they were able to find key pieces of evidence 566 00:30:44,709 --> 00:30:49,847 and, in this case, it was the paint transfer marks. 567 00:30:49,914 --> 00:30:52,884 ALAIN: This paint is definitely from the Cessna. 568 00:30:52,951 --> 00:30:54,285 PATRICK: A paint transfer is like, well, 569 00:30:54,352 --> 00:30:56,821 when you have two cars that bump up against each other 570 00:30:56,888 --> 00:30:59,357 and one car leaves paint on another. 571 00:30:59,424 --> 00:31:01,726 Same thing happened here. 572 00:31:01,793 --> 00:31:04,062 NARRATOR: Alongside the paint transfer, 573 00:31:04,128 --> 00:31:06,431 investigators also find distinctive marks 574 00:31:06,497 --> 00:31:13,538 on the Beechcraft's wing caused by a propeller. 575 00:31:13,605 --> 00:31:15,940 ALAIN: This is the Cessna's point of contact. 576 00:31:16,007 --> 00:31:19,344 PATRICK: So the Cessna initially struck out at the wingtip. 577 00:31:19,410 --> 00:31:22,814 As it continued moving forward, the heavier parts of the Cessna 578 00:31:22,880 --> 00:31:28,186 continued and struck the rear part of the aircraft. 579 00:31:29,587 --> 00:31:32,156 That part of the tail was found over 400 meters away. 580 00:31:32,223 --> 00:31:36,394 That tells you this would have been a very violent impact. 581 00:31:36,461 --> 00:31:38,396 ALAIN: I'd say this confirms it. 582 00:31:38,463 --> 00:31:39,864 The Cessna's point of impact 583 00:31:39,931 --> 00:31:42,800 above Beechcraft's seventh porthole 584 00:31:42,867 --> 00:31:44,669 causing catastrophic failure 585 00:31:44,736 --> 00:31:48,139 and the Beechcraft tail to break off. 586 00:31:48,206 --> 00:31:53,645 NARRATOR: The evidence is clear. The Cessna hit the Beechcraft. 587 00:31:53,711 --> 00:31:56,814 The marks also reveal the exact position of the two planes 588 00:31:56,881 --> 00:32:00,318 at the moment of impact. 589 00:32:00,385 --> 00:32:05,923 PATRICK: By the red paint going at that angle across the wing, 590 00:32:05,990 --> 00:32:07,592 the accident investigators can determine 591 00:32:07,659 --> 00:32:10,762 what the direction of the two aircraft were, 592 00:32:10,828 --> 00:32:13,998 what the relative converging pattern flight pass 593 00:32:14,065 --> 00:32:15,233 would have been, 594 00:32:15,300 --> 00:32:18,569 and that opens up a whole new set of questions. 595 00:32:18,636 --> 00:32:19,637 NARRATOR: Bouillard now knows 596 00:32:19,704 --> 00:32:23,374 how the Beechcraft and Cessna collided. 597 00:32:23,441 --> 00:32:27,512 What he still doesn't understand is why on such a clear day 598 00:32:27,578 --> 00:32:29,380 the pilots failed to see each other. 599 00:32:34,152 --> 00:32:36,587 Armed with physical evidence of the collision, 600 00:32:36,654 --> 00:32:38,923 French investigators now want to find out 601 00:32:38,990 --> 00:32:42,260 what the two pilots could see in the last moments 602 00:32:42,327 --> 00:32:44,629 leading up to the crash. 603 00:32:44,696 --> 00:32:47,598 ALAIN: Why didn't they just look out the window? 604 00:32:47,665 --> 00:32:49,901 NARRATOR: Bouillard turns to the flight data recorder 605 00:32:49,967 --> 00:32:54,372 recovered from the Beechcraft. 606 00:32:54,439 --> 00:32:55,606 ALAIN: Play it, please. 607 00:32:55,673 --> 00:32:57,408 NARRATOR: It records the plane's every move 608 00:32:57,475 --> 00:33:02,080 as well as the inputs from the pilots. 609 00:33:02,146 --> 00:33:03,881 ALAIN: The flight data recording allowed us 610 00:33:03,948 --> 00:33:07,885 to reconstruct the 360 611 00:33:07,952 --> 00:33:10,788 and the different altitudes and tilts of the plane 612 00:33:10,855 --> 00:33:13,925 during the turn. 613 00:33:13,991 --> 00:33:15,226 PATRICK: The flight data recorders 614 00:33:15,293 --> 00:33:17,562 allowed the accident investigators to figure out 615 00:33:17,628 --> 00:33:19,897 what the approximate geometry of both aircraft 616 00:33:19,964 --> 00:33:25,837 at the time of the impact. 617 00:33:25,903 --> 00:33:29,173 ALAIN: The Beechcraft was on a bank to the left. 618 00:33:29,240 --> 00:33:31,642 NARRATOR: The flight data recorder tells investigators 619 00:33:31,709 --> 00:33:36,247 the Beechcraft was still turning when the two planes collided. 620 00:33:36,314 --> 00:33:37,448 PATRICK: The accident investigation team 621 00:33:37,515 --> 00:33:41,486 was able to determine is at the time of the impact 622 00:33:41,552 --> 00:33:43,988 the Beechcraft was in a gentle bank angle, 623 00:33:44,055 --> 00:33:47,625 the Cessna in a gentle descent. 624 00:33:47,692 --> 00:33:48,893 NARRATOR: Bouillard knows the Cessna 625 00:33:48,960 --> 00:33:51,596 was descending on the right 626 00:33:51,662 --> 00:33:58,202 because its propeller struck the Beechcraft's right wing. 627 00:33:58,269 --> 00:34:01,706 From the flight data, he also knows that at the time of impact 628 00:34:01,773 --> 00:34:04,208 the Beechcraft was still banked to the left 629 00:34:04,275 --> 00:34:10,815 at a 17-degree angle. 630 00:34:10,882 --> 00:34:13,818 He combines the data to find out what the Beechcraft pilots 631 00:34:13,885 --> 00:34:16,621 could see out of their windows. 632 00:34:16,687 --> 00:34:18,556 CAPTAIN: Look at the number of yachts down there. 633 00:34:18,623 --> 00:34:19,857 FIRST OFFICER: Amazing. 634 00:34:19,924 --> 00:34:21,793 NARRATOR: The first officer is in a better position 635 00:34:21,859 --> 00:34:24,829 to see the Cessna approaching on the right. 636 00:34:24,896 --> 00:34:27,565 But today he's busy executing the turn 637 00:34:27,632 --> 00:34:29,700 and preparing for landing. 638 00:34:29,767 --> 00:34:32,904 MORGAN: The pilot flying is actually going to be very focused 639 00:34:32,970 --> 00:34:34,105 and very concentrated. 640 00:34:34,172 --> 00:34:35,740 It's a very high workload ensuring that 641 00:34:35,807 --> 00:34:38,543 he's staying on his altitude that he's limited to 642 00:34:38,609 --> 00:34:41,746 and he's looking in the direction on his instruments 643 00:34:41,813 --> 00:34:44,215 in the direction of which he's going to be turning. 644 00:34:44,282 --> 00:34:48,953 So he's not going to be looking out the window at all. 645 00:34:49,020 --> 00:34:51,055 NARRATOR: With the first officer flying, the captain 646 00:34:51,122 --> 00:34:54,625 was the one responsible for scanning the sky. 647 00:34:54,692 --> 00:34:57,795 Why didn't he see the Cessna? 648 00:35:00,665 --> 00:35:02,233 Bouillard uses the flight data 649 00:35:02,300 --> 00:35:05,970 to reconstruct what the captain could see at different stages 650 00:35:06,037 --> 00:35:10,374 during their turn around the ship. 651 00:35:10,441 --> 00:35:12,376 ALAIN: Okay. Let's start just before the 360 652 00:35:12,443 --> 00:35:20,918 and go up until the collision. Now we're entering our turn. 653 00:35:20,985 --> 00:35:22,253 NARRATOR: They discover the Cessna 654 00:35:22,320 --> 00:35:26,691 was in the captain's line of sight for several seconds, 655 00:35:26,757 --> 00:35:30,228 but it was much too far away to see. 656 00:35:30,294 --> 00:35:33,164 MORGAN: The size of the Cessna is a tremendous factor. 657 00:35:33,231 --> 00:35:35,099 It's a very, very small aircraft, 658 00:35:35,166 --> 00:35:39,804 and in fact the difference between that and say a 757, 659 00:35:39,871 --> 00:35:42,573 which would be huge in your windscreen -- 660 00:35:42,640 --> 00:35:45,510 this would be the size of an ant on your windscreen. 661 00:35:45,576 --> 00:35:47,912 NARRATOR: As they continue the banking turn, 662 00:35:47,979 --> 00:35:53,017 the Cessna drops below the captain's line of sight. 663 00:35:53,084 --> 00:35:57,121 ALAIN: We know the Cessna would have approached from his right. 664 00:35:57,188 --> 00:35:58,556 NARRATOR: By the time the smaller Cessna 665 00:35:58,623 --> 00:36:02,527 is close enough to be seen, just seconds before impact, 666 00:36:02,593 --> 00:36:05,162 it remains hidden from view. 667 00:36:05,229 --> 00:36:06,631 MORGAN: The captain sitting in the left seat 668 00:36:06,697 --> 00:36:09,066 would have had to look across the first officer 669 00:36:09,133 --> 00:36:12,670 out the right window to see the Cessna coming. 670 00:36:12,737 --> 00:36:15,306 And in this case that just was not possible at all. 671 00:36:15,373 --> 00:36:16,741 ALAIN: There's no way he would have seen anything 672 00:36:16,807 --> 00:36:20,011 from that direction. 673 00:36:24,515 --> 00:36:26,918 NARRATOR: It's now clear why the Beechcraft pilots 674 00:36:26,984 --> 00:36:28,953 didn't see the Cessna. 675 00:36:29,020 --> 00:36:32,256 But why didn't the Cessna pilot see the Beechcraft? 676 00:36:32,323 --> 00:36:38,162 ALAIN: That Beechcraft's a pretty big plane. 677 00:36:38,229 --> 00:36:40,298 NARRATOR: The 19-passenger commercial aircraft 678 00:36:40,364 --> 00:36:44,168 was almost 60 feet long. 679 00:36:44,235 --> 00:36:46,304 ALAIN: 680 00:36:46,370 --> 00:36:49,206 We tried to understand why the pilot of the Cessna 681 00:36:49,273 --> 00:36:51,842 hadn't been able to detect anything, 682 00:36:51,909 --> 00:36:55,413 since he was in a better position to see the other plane. 683 00:36:59,283 --> 00:37:00,818 CPT. GILIBERT: No! 684 00:37:03,221 --> 00:37:07,491 ♪ 685 00:37:07,558 --> 00:37:10,628 NARRATOR: Using the same model as the crashed Cessna, 686 00:37:10,695 --> 00:37:12,930 Bouillard tries to figure out how the pilot 687 00:37:12,997 --> 00:37:17,501 could have missed what was directly in front of him. 688 00:37:17,568 --> 00:37:19,437 ALAIN: Okay. Now start walking around the cockpit. 689 00:37:19,503 --> 00:37:22,373 PATRICK: They would walk around the aircraft holding objects 690 00:37:22,440 --> 00:37:26,544 to find out if the pilot sitting there could see the object, 691 00:37:26,611 --> 00:37:28,679 and this would help them to determine 692 00:37:28,746 --> 00:37:30,081 what the blind spots would be 693 00:37:30,147 --> 00:37:33,384 and where the good-visibility spots would have been for him. 694 00:37:33,451 --> 00:37:35,052 ALAIN: Continue. 695 00:37:35,119 --> 00:37:36,687 NARRATOR: As Bouillard directs the marker 696 00:37:36,754 --> 00:37:38,289 to where the Beechcraft would have been 697 00:37:38,356 --> 00:37:46,197 as it came out of its final turn, it disappears. 698 00:37:46,263 --> 00:37:48,899 ALAIN: That's it! We found it. 699 00:37:48,966 --> 00:37:50,468 NARRATOR: It's a major breakthrough. 700 00:37:50,534 --> 00:37:57,408 The side blind spot covers a zone from 35 to 55 degrees, 701 00:37:57,475 --> 00:37:59,977 which means it would have blocked the Beechcraft 702 00:38:00,044 --> 00:38:02,813 for as long as 30 seconds before impact. 703 00:38:02,880 --> 00:38:05,082 MORGAN: Even the best pilot would likely not be able 704 00:38:05,149 --> 00:38:09,787 to see something coming from their side window to them. 705 00:38:09,854 --> 00:38:11,689 NARRATOR: Then, investigators discover that, 706 00:38:11,756 --> 00:38:15,493 just as the Beechcraft exited the blind spot on the side, 707 00:38:15,559 --> 00:38:17,662 it entered an even bigger blind spot 708 00:38:17,728 --> 00:38:20,665 right in front of the Cessna pilot. 709 00:38:20,731 --> 00:38:22,933 MORGAN: The engine is directly in front of you, 710 00:38:23,000 --> 00:38:26,370 so you would have to look around over the top of the cowling 711 00:38:26,437 --> 00:38:28,873 of the engine as well as the large instrument panels, 712 00:38:28,939 --> 00:38:30,441 and those would also be a factor 713 00:38:30,508 --> 00:38:36,981 in being able to see around from the pilot's position. 714 00:38:37,048 --> 00:38:39,250 NARRATOR: Even in those final seconds when the Beechcraft 715 00:38:39,316 --> 00:38:41,819 was directly in front of the Cessna, 716 00:38:41,886 --> 00:38:47,358 it was blocked from the pilot's line of sight. 717 00:38:47,425 --> 00:38:56,133 CPT. GILIBERT: I'm descending from 3,000 to 1,500. 718 00:38:56,200 --> 00:38:59,270 ALAIN: By the time he came out of that last blind spot, 719 00:38:59,336 --> 00:39:00,638 he didn't have a chance. 720 00:39:02,606 --> 00:39:03,274 CPT. GILBERT: No! 721 00:39:06,711 --> 00:39:08,979 NARRATOR: Investigators believe they now understand 722 00:39:09,046 --> 00:39:12,550 the unusual sequence of events that led to tragedy 723 00:39:12,616 --> 00:39:15,519 in the sky over Quiberon Bay. 724 00:39:15,586 --> 00:39:18,989 ALAIN: I think we now know what happened. 725 00:39:19,056 --> 00:39:22,893 NARRATOR: The Beechcraft is nearing the airport in Lorient. 726 00:39:22,960 --> 00:39:24,595 At the request of a passenger, 727 00:39:24,662 --> 00:39:27,465 the captain asks to deviate from the flight path. 728 00:39:27,531 --> 00:39:29,867 CAPTAIN: ...06 and one little special request 729 00:39:29,934 --> 00:39:33,537 to fly slightly west over Quiberon Bay, sir. 730 00:39:33,604 --> 00:39:39,076 ALAIN: They decide to take a look at the ocean liner Le France. 731 00:39:39,143 --> 00:39:41,345 NARRATOR: Proteus Airlines Flight 706 732 00:39:41,412 --> 00:39:45,516 diverts over the bay and descends to 3,700 feet. 733 00:39:45,583 --> 00:39:47,785 CAPTAIN: Ladies and gentlemen, on the left off the plane 734 00:39:47,852 --> 00:39:50,020 you will see the ocean liner Le France. 735 00:39:50,087 --> 00:39:51,922 Air traffic control has just given us permission 736 00:39:51,989 --> 00:39:53,557 to do a 360 around her. 737 00:39:53,624 --> 00:39:56,093 We'll resume our route to Lorient immediately after, 738 00:39:56,160 --> 00:39:59,730 in approximately five or six minutes. 739 00:39:59,797 --> 00:40:02,066 MORGAN: You know, you really have to get inside the mind 740 00:40:02,133 --> 00:40:03,968 of the captain to say whether or not 741 00:40:04,034 --> 00:40:06,637 you would have done the same thing in those circumstances. 742 00:40:06,704 --> 00:40:07,838 It's a clear blue day. 743 00:40:07,905 --> 00:40:10,207 I'm sure both the crew members were feeling good, 744 00:40:10,274 --> 00:40:13,244 and maybe they were going to have a little fun along the way. 745 00:40:13,310 --> 00:40:17,181 ALAIN: Once near the ship they decide to descend 746 00:40:17,248 --> 00:40:20,384 to get a closer look. 747 00:40:20,451 --> 00:40:25,923 But to go below 3,700 feet, they cancel instrument flight rules 748 00:40:25,990 --> 00:40:27,725 and go visual. 749 00:40:27,792 --> 00:40:31,595 AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER: 706, Lorient confirmed. 750 00:40:31,662 --> 00:40:34,732 NARRATOR: Now the Beechcraft is in uncontrolled airspace, 751 00:40:34,799 --> 00:40:36,200 below radar. 752 00:40:36,267 --> 00:40:38,736 With no guidance from air traffic control, 753 00:40:38,803 --> 00:40:42,907 it's up to the captain to visually scan for nearby planes. 754 00:40:42,973 --> 00:40:44,241 CAPTAIN: There's a Cessna. 755 00:40:44,308 --> 00:40:47,278 ALAIN: And once at 2,000 feet, 756 00:40:47,344 --> 00:40:52,149 they decide to do a 360 degree turn around the ship. 757 00:40:52,216 --> 00:40:54,351 ♪ 758 00:40:54,418 --> 00:40:56,687 NARRATOR: With the 360 almost complete, 759 00:40:56,754 --> 00:41:02,159 the pilots begin to prepare for landing at Lorient. 760 00:41:02,226 --> 00:41:05,930 ALAIN: At the same moment, the Cessna is approaching 761 00:41:05,996 --> 00:41:07,731 from the right. 762 00:41:07,798 --> 00:41:10,634 NARRATOR: The Cessna does not have its transponder on, 763 00:41:10,701 --> 00:41:13,470 and it's communicating on a different radio frequency 764 00:41:13,537 --> 00:41:15,339 than the Beechcraft. 765 00:41:15,406 --> 00:41:18,776 CPT. GILIBERT: I am descending from 3,000 to 1,500. 766 00:41:18,843 --> 00:41:24,048 NARRATOR: Lorient air traffic control has no idea it's there. 767 00:41:24,114 --> 00:41:25,249 CAPTAIN: It's beautiful. 768 00:41:25,316 --> 00:41:27,117 NARRATOR: The bank angle of the Beechcraft, 769 00:41:27,184 --> 00:41:29,420 combined with the fact that the pilot responsible 770 00:41:29,486 --> 00:41:32,857 for scanning the skies was sitting in the left seat, 771 00:41:32,923 --> 00:41:37,895 makes the approaching Cessna impossible to see. 772 00:41:37,962 --> 00:41:41,031 ALAIN: They can see only sky out of the right-hand side 773 00:41:41,098 --> 00:41:42,566 of the plane. 774 00:41:42,633 --> 00:41:44,201 NARRATOR: By terrible coincidence, 775 00:41:44,268 --> 00:41:48,505 the Cessna pilot can't see the Beechcraft either. 776 00:41:48,572 --> 00:41:52,643 ALAIN: But the structure of the aircraft creates a blind spot, 777 00:41:52,710 --> 00:41:57,214 and the pilot is unable to see the Beechcraft. 778 00:41:57,281 --> 00:41:59,216 PATRICK: During the last 10 seconds of flight, 779 00:41:59,283 --> 00:42:01,986 the pilot of the Cessna was likely paying attention 780 00:42:02,052 --> 00:42:05,489 to his sightseeing over the SS France. 781 00:42:05,556 --> 00:42:08,459 The Beechcraft was coming in from this approximate position 782 00:42:08,525 --> 00:42:10,461 in his peripheral vision. 783 00:42:10,527 --> 00:42:12,596 ALAIN: At the last moment the Beechcraft 784 00:42:12,663 --> 00:42:20,938 comes out of the blind spot. And it's too late. 785 00:42:21,005 --> 00:42:21,672 CPT. GILIBERT: No! 786 00:42:35,185 --> 00:42:38,856 MORGAN: This was a perfect storm. 787 00:42:38,923 --> 00:42:41,191 That crash at the speeds that they were traveling 788 00:42:41,258 --> 00:42:42,793 would have been catastrophic. 789 00:42:42,860 --> 00:42:45,796 It would have completely torn apart both of the aircraft 790 00:42:45,863 --> 00:42:49,300 into pieces. 791 00:42:49,366 --> 00:42:52,903 NARRATOR: While the crash of Flight 706 remains a tragedy, 792 00:42:52,970 --> 00:42:55,673 what was learned through the course of this investigation 793 00:42:55,739 --> 00:43:03,180 would lead to significant innovations in airline safety. 794 00:43:03,247 --> 00:43:05,783 They include the mandatory use of transponders 795 00:43:05,849 --> 00:43:11,655 in small aircraft such as the Cessna and 796 00:43:11,722 --> 00:43:15,693 limited access to the cockpit on all commercial flights. 797 00:43:15,759 --> 00:43:18,062 PASSENGER: You're not flying over Quiberon Bay? 798 00:43:18,128 --> 00:43:19,263 CAPTAIN: Listen. 799 00:43:19,330 --> 00:43:21,699 What we're going to do if possible is cancel IFR. 800 00:43:21,765 --> 00:43:23,834 We'll keep the visual. 801 00:43:23,901 --> 00:43:26,971 NARRATOR: Finally, it is now prohibited for commercial pilots 802 00:43:27,037 --> 00:43:30,941 to cancel Instrument Flight Rules unless it's an emergency. 803 00:43:31,008 --> 00:43:33,143 AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER: IFR is canceled 15:54 local. 804 00:43:33,210 --> 00:43:35,412 MORGAN: As a result of this investigation, 805 00:43:35,479 --> 00:43:37,881 the skies have been made safer. 806 00:43:37,948 --> 00:43:40,117 This catastrophe could have been avoided 807 00:43:40,184 --> 00:43:42,987 with the use of the automation that we now have available 808 00:43:43,053 --> 00:43:45,489 and is now in use today. 809 00:43:45,556 --> 00:43:47,658 PATRICK: Fortunately, midair collisions 810 00:43:47,725 --> 00:43:51,762 involving commercial airliners are almost nonexistent anymore. 811 00:43:51,829 --> 00:43:54,031 And the reason for that is that we've employed 812 00:43:54,098 --> 00:43:58,335 a multi-layered system, airspace regulations, radar, 813 00:43:58,402 --> 00:44:01,839 air traffic control, traffic collision and avoidance systems 814 00:44:01,905 --> 00:44:04,575 to prevent this from ever happening again. 815 00:44:04,641 --> 00:44:06,443 ♪