Original subtitles

Nothing's working!

A confused John F. Kennedy Jr. is lost on his way

A confused John F. Kennedy Jr. is lost on his way

to Martha's Vineyard.

Disorientation can quickly lead

to the airplane getting into an uncontrollable situation.

to the airplane getting into an uncontrollable situation.

High over the Red Sea, a pilot

can't understand why his passenger jet

can't understand why his passenger jet

is plummeting toward the water.

We're at top power.

We're at top power!

Over a dark ocean without a defined visual horizon,

Over a dark ocean without a defined visual horizon,

the pilot may not be able to perceive whether he was flying

the pilot may not be able to perceive whether he was flying

up, down, left, or right.

Pull up, pull up!

And off the coast of Indonesia...

And off the coast of Indonesia...

Don't change it.

This is our heading.

...a Boeing 737 flies off course.

...a Boeing 737 flies off course.

We're going to get lost if it stays like this.

In all of these cases, we see pilots disoriented as

In all of these cases, we see pilots disoriented as

to which way's right side up.

It's a terrifying cause of airplane accidents,

It's a terrifying cause of airplane accidents,

a pilot lost in space.

a pilot lost in space.

Ladies and gentlemen, we are starting our approach.

We lost both engines.

We lost both engines.

Put the mask over your nose.

Emergency decent.

Brace for impact!

He's going to crash!

It's a warm summer evening

at Essex County Airport.

Less than an hour from the busy streets of Manhattan,

the small airfield serves many of New York's wealthy citizens.

the small airfield serves many of New York's wealthy citizens.

Preparing to pilot his own plane, a man who in many ways

Preparing to pilot his own plane, a man who in many ways

is the elite of the elite...

John F. Kennedy Jr.

John F. Kennedy Jr.

He was breathtakingly handsome.

He was such a crown prince, people

He was such a crown prince, people

kept waiting for the moment when he

would run for office publicly.

Kennedy is waiting for Carolyn Bessette, his wife

Kennedy is waiting for Carolyn Bessette, his wife

of three years, to arrive.

And hitching a ride on Kennedy's plane

And hitching a ride on Kennedy's plane

is his sister-in-law, Lauren Bessette.

At 8:20 PM, Carolyn arrives two hours late.

All right, ladies, hop in.

I just have to do a walk-around, and then we can get going.

Though John F. Kennedy Jr. has had his pilot's license

for more than a year, he hasn't flown solo since breaking

for more than a year, he hasn't flown solo since breaking

his ankle six weeks ago.

his ankle six weeks ago.

Still limping, he makes a final pre-flight check

of his new plane, a Piper Saratoga.

John plans to drop Lauren off at Martha's Vineyard

and continue on with his wife to the Kennedy family compound

and continue on with his wife to the Kennedy family compound

in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts.

Seatbelts on, please.

All right.

Battery on, fuel pump on, and propeller is clear.

Battery on, fuel pump on, and propeller is clear.

Battery on, fuel pump on, and propeller is clear.

At 8:40 PM, more than two hours behind schedule,

At 8:40 PM, more than two hours behind schedule,

the flight gets underway.

75 knots.

Oh, yeah.

Like many private pilots,

Kennedy is flying under visual flight rules, or VFR.

Kennedy is flying under visual flight rules, or VFR.

You stay clear of clouds.

You have to have good visibility.

You're always looking outside, able to see the horizon,

You're always looking outside, able to see the horizon,

and orient the airplane using your visual cues.

Kennedy cruises at just 5,500 feet,

a typical altitude for small planes.

a typical altitude for small planes.

Around 9:30 PM, he leaves the mainland coast behind.

Around 9:30 PM, he leaves the mainland coast behind.

Just leaving Montauk over there.

I don't see a thing.

His flight path was following the coast,

His flight path was following the coast,

so he would want to go south over the Long Island Sound

so he would want to go south over the Long Island Sound

to line up and set up for a long straight end for the runway.

to line up and set up for a long straight end for the runway.

He expects to reach their first destination

in about half an hour.

We'll have you on the ground by 10:00 for sure.

We'll have you on the ground by 10:00 for sure.

But by 10 o'clock...

Martha's Vineyard Tower.

Martha's Vineyard Tower.

Airport security here.

The air traffic controller

at Martha's Vineyard Airport has had no contact

at Martha's Vineyard Airport has had no contact

with Kennedy's plane.

Any word on that flight?

Negative.

Negative.

I haven't been notified of that arrival.

Around Martha's Vineyard,

weather can change quickly, and overdue flights

weather can change quickly, and overdue flights

are not uncommon.

But as the hours pass with no sign of the Piper Saratoga,

But as the hours pass with no sign of the Piper Saratoga,

a chilling reality sets in.

John F. Kennedy Jr., his wife, and sister-in-law

John F. Kennedy Jr., his wife, and sister-in-law

have vanished without a trace.

The Coast Guard launches a search for John F.

Kennedy Jr.'s Piper Saratoga.

Kennedy Jr.'s Piper Saratoga.

At first light, the US military and local law enforcement

At first light, the US military and local law enforcement

agencies join the search effort.

The scale of the effort to search for the aircraft, it

The scale of the effort to search for the aircraft, it

was massive.

This was JFK Jr. And it captured the eyes

This was JFK Jr. And it captured the eyes

of the country and the World.

News that one of America's favorite sons

is missing stuns the nation.

is missing stuns the nation.

We watched this adorable little child

playing in the Oval Office.

playing in the Oval Office.

We watched him of course at that one terribly tragic and sad

moment when the small child in a little short knee coat

moment when the small child in a little short knee coat

saluted his father's casket as it came by.

saluted his father's casket as it came by.

The public wants answers.

It seems like every news, major news organization had

It seems like every news, major news organization had

a presence in our parking lot.

With no aircraft to examine...

Hey.

...Jeff Gazetti from the National

Transportation Safety Board...

Transportation Safety Board...

Following this on television.

...compiles data from coastal radar stations

to build a picture of how the plane was flying.

to build a picture of how the plane was flying.

OK, ready when you are.

OK, ready when you are.

We always consider recorded radar

data as a poor man's blackbox.

data as a poor man's blackbox.

It's a way to get some information in regards

to the flight path, the airspeed, the altitude.

to the flight path, the airspeed, the altitude.

And that was very helpful in this investigation.

But the radar information

leaves investigators perplexed.

leaves investigators perplexed.

He suddenly starts heading away from Martha's Vineyard.

Why is he flying in the wrong direction?

Why is he flying in the wrong direction?

About 30 miles from Martha's Vineyard,

the plane makes a series of unusual maneuvers.

the plane makes a series of unusual maneuvers.

He's flying like someone who can't control the plane.

He's flying like someone who can't control the plane.

The pattern that was indicated by the radar

was quite unusual for a normal type of descent and approach

was quite unusual for a normal type of descent and approach

to an airport.

We don't know at that point exactly why.

We don't know at that point exactly why.

Finally, four days after Kennedy's

plane goes missing, the investigation

catches a giant break.

catches a giant break.

Today, we were able to bring closure to two families.

And I think that, we realize, is very important.

And I think that, we realize, is very important.

US Navy divers locate the sunken wreckage

US Navy divers locate the sunken wreckage

and the bodies.

75% of Kennedy's Piper Saratoga is recovered

from the ocean floor...

Get the cables all together in one spot.

Get the cables all together in one spot.

Let's keep them over there.

...and sent to a hangar for detailed analysis.

...and sent to a hangar for detailed analysis.

Because the small plane was not required

to carry flight recorders...

Each and every piece, no matter how small,

Each and every piece, no matter how small,

we need to know where it was found.

...investigators will have to uncover the story

behind this crash by interpreting

behind this crash by interpreting

the clues imprinted on the crumpled debris.

the clues imprinted on the crumpled debris.

I want to see every piece.

We start at the wingtips, we work our way in.

First, the team examines and tests the records

for any signs of a malfunction.

Their efforts reveal that at the moment

Their efforts reveal that at the moment

the plane hit the water...

Well, the aileron cables also seem fine.

Well, the aileron cables also seem fine.

...the engine, the flight controls,

and the instruments were working normally.

and the instruments were working normally.

We found no evidence of any kind of pre-impact

mechanical malfunction.

mechanical malfunction.

The focus now shifts from the plane to the pilot.

Investigators wonder, did John F. Kennedy

Investigators wonder, did John F. Kennedy

Jr. lose control of his plane?

Jr. lose control of his plane?

Over 300 flight hours.

He wasn't a total rookie.

He had a fair number of flight hours under his belt.

He had a fair number of flight hours under his belt.

They check Kennedy's training

records to learn all they can about his experience

as a pilot.

as a pilot.

So what did he learn in 300 hours?

I'd like to try a few eyeless approaches again today.

I'd like to try a few eyeless approaches again today.

They discover that Kennedy had been taking lessons

on and off for 17 years, but he had relatively little

on and off for 17 years, but he had relatively little

experience flying on his own.

experience flying on his own.

He's only qualified for visual flying.

He hadn't finished his training for instrument-only flights.

He hadn't finished his training for instrument-only flights.

Investigators also discover that Kennedy was still

Investigators also discover that Kennedy was still

working towards his instrument rating, a crucial qualification

working towards his instrument rating, a crucial qualification

for flying at night or in bad weather using only the flight

instruments as a guide.

instruments as a guide.

Instrument flight is one of the hardest ratings

to get when you're moving up through your licenses

to get when you're moving up through your licenses

and ratings.

And it involves flying without looking outside the aircraft

so that when you're in clouds, you can maintain

so that when you're in clouds, you can maintain

control of the aircraft.

So he wasn't ready to fly if he couldn't see.

So he wasn't ready to fly if he couldn't see.

So could he see or not?

Investigators look at Kennedy's activities

Investigators look at Kennedy's activities

in the hours before the flight.

Computer records reveal that he checked

Computer records reveal that he checked

the weather online at 6:34 PM.

At that time, it was a clear day with good visibility.

At that time, it was a clear day with good visibility.

Any word from your sister?

No.

No.

Stuck in traffic, I guess.

It's Friday.

I told her it was going to be jammed.

But they took off two hours later than planned.

But they took off two hours later than planned.

By that time, weather conditions over the ocean

were deteriorating with fog making

were deteriorating with fog making

it hard to see the horizon.

Starting to get a bit sucked in.

Starting to get a bit sucked in.

Hope it clears up for the weekend.

Suddenly, Kennedy found himself

Suddenly, Kennedy found himself

flying at night in bad weather, both conditions

he wasn't trained for.

he wasn't trained for.

Was Kennedy lost in a cloudy haze

before his plane went down?

before his plane went down?

What the hell?

John?

What are you doing.

Investigators now need to knew what was happening

Investigators now need to knew what was happening

in the cockpit as John F. Kennedy Jr. flew his plane

into worsening conditions.

Not a great night for this guy to be flying.

Not a great night for this guy to be flying.

Weather plays an immense role in all aviation

Weather plays an immense role in all aviation

accidents, even the ones that you might not think it would.

If Kennedy was concerned about weather,

If Kennedy was concerned about weather,

he could have been getting updates during the flight.

127.25.

127.25.

To get accurate information,

investigators know he would have tuned

his radio to the weather transmission

his radio to the weather transmission

from Martha's Vineyard.

The radio from Kennedy's plane is among the many parts

The radio from Kennedy's plane is among the many parts

salvaged from the ocean.

And it's tuned to 127.25, the wrong frequency.

And it's tuned to 127.25, the wrong frequency.

126.25.

He was off by one digit.

He was off by one digit.

Investigators now know for certain

that Kennedy wasn't receiving the weather updates he needed.

that Kennedy wasn't receiving the weather updates he needed.

It's a revealing discovery.

The team begins piecing together a likely scenario to explain

The team begins piecing together a likely scenario to explain

Kennedy's tragic end.

It started after he cleared New York.

It started after he cleared New York.

As he heads up the coast towards Long Island,

night falls, and visibility decreases.

night falls, and visibility decreases.

Visibility was bad and is getting worse.

Visibility was bad and is getting worse.

He starts his descent.

But Kennedy isn't properly trained to fly solo

in these dangerous conditions.

in these dangerous conditions.

As he headed out over the water

and all those lights were behind him,

and all those lights were behind him,

all that visual reference was gone.

It's possible that Kennedy

It's possible that Kennedy

decides to check the weather station

in preparation for landing.

He looks away from his instruments for like a second.

He looks away from his instruments for like a second.

127.25.

Remember, his frequency was off.

Remember, his frequency was off.

Maybe he was trying to tune the radio.

He might look to see if the frequency had changed.

He might look to see if the frequency had changed.

Still nothing.

While all of that's going on, it's

While all of that's going on, it's

quite easy for the airplane to slip

into a little bit of a bank, one direction or another.

into a little bit of a bank, one direction or another.

Investigators now believe that the disorienting

effects of the dark, hazy night begin to affect

effects of the dark, hazy night begin to affect

Kennedy's sense of space.

If you're in a turn for an extended period of time,

If you're in a turn for an extended period of time,

your inner ear can feel a reverse of the turn,

and you can become spatially disoriented very easily.

and you can become spatially disoriented very easily.

What the?

That can't be.

That can't be.

He looks back, his instruments are telling him one thing,

his senses another.

You have to be well trained to disregard what your brain is

You have to be well trained to disregard what your brain is

saying and look at your instruments, work on your scan,

saying and look at your instruments, work on your scan,

and fly by your instruments.

Come on.

Come on.

Level off.

What are you doing?

Climb.

Once he becomes disoriented,

Kennedy is too inexperienced to believe

his instruments no matter what his senses are telling him.

his instruments no matter what his senses are telling him.

Nothing's working.

Nothing's working.

He may not have even have known what type

of unusual attitude he was in and that he

of unusual attitude he was in and that he

was about to hit the water.

So it's the only thing that fits...

spacial disorientation.

You're really left with the gaping possibility that

You're really left with the gaping possibility that

was always there, which was the classic case

was always there, which was the classic case

of spacial disorientation, which unfortunately

has killed so many pilots.

Lost in the skies, Kennedy fights

Lost in the skies, Kennedy fights

to keep this plane airborne.

But he can't.

Investigators conclude that Kennedy's tragic crash

Investigators conclude that Kennedy's tragic crash

was caused by his inexperience flying in confusing conditions.

was caused by his inexperience flying in confusing conditions.

That is one sorry flight path...

textbook disorientation.

textbook disorientation.

I don't think the public wanted to accept sort

of pilot error as the cause.

of pilot error as the cause.

Losing him was one thing, but losing him essentially to his

own mistake made it much worse.

own mistake made it much worse.

Research shows that spatial disorientation is a

factor in 15% of all accidents.

factor in 15% of all accidents.

As one of the most significant hazards to air safety,

even the most experienced pilots are susceptible

even the most experienced pilots are susceptible

to this deadly confusion.

Five years later, another crew experiences

spacial disorientation when their passenger

spacial disorientation when their passenger

jet from Egypt...

I was at a loss to understand how

a flight crew with this level of experience would end up here.

a flight crew with this level of experience would end up here.

...mysteriously crashes into the Red Sea.

...mysteriously crashes into the Red Sea.

Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, it's a city perched on the Red Sea.

Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, it's a city perched on the Red Sea.

Former Egyptian Air Force pilot Khadr

Former Egyptian Air Force pilot Khadr

Abdullah is now a highly respected

captain with FLASH Airlines.

captain with FLASH Airlines.

Morning.

Good morning, sir.

His first officer today is Amr Al-Shaafei.

Ashraf Abdelhamid is the third member of the crew,

Ashraf Abdelhamid is the third member of the crew,

training as a first officer.

Visibility 6 kilometers.

Clouds and sky clear.

Clouds and sky clear.

They're piloting an early morning flight to Paris.

In all, 148 passengers and crew settle into their seats

In all, 148 passengers and crew settle into their seats

aboard FLASH Airlines Flight 604.

aboard FLASH Airlines Flight 604.

Good morning, ladies and gentlemen.

On behalf of Captain Khadr and his entire crew,

On behalf of Captain Khadr and his entire crew,

we welcome you onboard FLASH Airlines Boeing 737 300.

we welcome you onboard FLASH Airlines Boeing 737 300.

we welcome you onboard FLASH Airlines Boeing 737 300.

It's still hours before dawn

when the plane lifts off.

The FLASH Airlines flight will head out over the Red Sea

before turning toward Cairo.

before turning toward Cairo.

The jet climbs through a moonless pitch black night.

The ascent after takeoff is going well.

Then, out of nowhere, a simple turn over the Red Sea...

See what the aircraft just did?

See what the aircraft just did?

...takes a bizarre twist.

Captain Khadr doesn't like the way his plane is behaving.

Captain Khadr doesn't like the way his plane is behaving.

Aircraft is turning right.

Turning right?

How turning right?

The plane is supposed to be turning left on its way

The plane is supposed to be turning left on its way

to Cairo.

Instead, it's turning in the opposite direction.

Instead, it's turning in the opposite direction.

The captain tries to get his plane back on course,

The captain tries to get his plane back on course,

but his situation just gets worse.

Pull it back.

Autopilot.

Autopilot.

Autopilot, take command.

Autopilot, autopilot!

But the autopilot doesn't work.

But the autopilot doesn't work.

Just minutes after takeoff, the plane is out of control.

Just minutes after takeoff, the plane is out of control.

The 737 is now flying almost completely

on its side and gains speed as it spirals toward the Red Sea.

on its side and gains speed as it spirals toward the Red Sea.

on its side and gains speed as it spirals toward the Red Sea.

The enormous g-forces make it difficult for Captain Abdullah

to fly.

We're at top power.

We're at top power.

We're at top power.

We're at top power!

For the love of God!

Three minutes after FLASH

Airlines Flight 604 takes off, the plane

Airlines Flight 604 takes off, the plane

disappears into the Red Sea.

disappears into the Red Sea.

By the time the sun rises, the crash site is found.

By the time the sun rises, the crash site is found.

But there's little rescuers can do.

But there's little rescuers can do.

148 people are dead.

148 people are dead.

There are no survivors.

Egyptian, French, and American teams join forces

Egyptian, French, and American teams join forces

to investigate the crash.

The light debris scattered on the surface of the Red Sea

gives them their first clue.

gives them their first clue.

There was very, very few pieces

and all located in a very small area.

and all located in a very small area.

So this indicated that the plane was intact

So this indicated that the plane was intact

and went into the water intact.

The debris pattern rules out an onboard explosion

The debris pattern rules out an onboard explosion

or break-up mid-flight.

To learn more, investigators must recover the wreckage

To learn more, investigators must recover the wreckage

and blackboxes currently thousands of feet underwater.

and blackboxes currently thousands of feet underwater.

Whenever an airplane crashes into the water,

there's always a fear by investigators

that the cockpit voice recorder and the flight data recorder

that the cockpit voice recorder and the flight data recorder

may not be recovered.

Without them, it could make the investigation

process very, very difficult.

process very, very difficult.

Finally, after an exhaustive search,

Finally, after an exhaustive search,

a breakthrough.

The blackboxes are recovered by a remotely operated sub.

The blackboxes are recovered by a remotely operated sub.

Investigators now have some hard evidence.

In Cairo, the multinational investigation team

examines the critical devices.

examines the critical devices.

They mine the data from both boxes

to recreate the final minutes of the doomed plane.

to recreate the final minutes of the doomed plane.

To depict the path of the aircraft,

we created an animation based on the data we got and from radar.

we created an animation based on the data we got and from radar.

The simulation paints a devastating picture.

The simulation paints a devastating picture.

Shortly after takeoff, the plane begins heading left

just as it was supposed to do.

just as it was supposed to do.

But then it quickly starts banking in the other direction.

But then it quickly starts banking in the other direction.

The cockpit voice recorder shows that the turn

catches the captain off guard.

catches the captain off guard.

Turning right, sir.

How turning right?

How turning right?

The pilots were experiencing definitely

some kind of an abnormality, a problem

some kind of an abnormality, a problem

that they could not understand.

Digging deeper into the flight data recorder,

investigators discover something peculiar.

investigators discover something peculiar.

We believe from the data we are looking at in the flight

data recorder that there is a very

high possibility that the plane was tending

to turn to the right by itself.

to turn to the right by itself.

Data also reveals that before the plane's

bizarre turn to the right, three things seem

bizarre turn to the right, three things seem

to happen at the same time.

The plane ends its left turn early, its nose rises,

The plane ends its left turn early, its nose rises,

The plane ends its left turn early, its nose rises,

and the airspeed drops.

But shockingly, the captain says nothing.

But shockingly, the captain says nothing.

In fact, he seems completely unaware of the dramatic changes

to his flight path.

to his flight path.

I've flown out of Sharm El Sheikh at nighttime

and in the same type of aircraft.

and in the same type of aircraft.

And in no way should the pilot allow the airspeed

to drop by as much as 30 knots or the bank angle

to change beyond 5 degrees without clearly

to change beyond 5 degrees without clearly

stating the reasons for the change in the flight path.

stating the reasons for the change in the flight path.

Investigators are stumped.

The Egyptian team suspects the aircraft failed somehow.

The Egyptian team suspects the aircraft failed somehow.

Q and H1013.

But there's nothing in the flight data

that proves a mechanical failure was capable of bringing

that proves a mechanical failure was capable of bringing

the plane down.

American investigators want to explore

American investigators want to explore

the possibility that the highly regarded

pilots may have been at fault.

pilots may have been at fault.

In Egypt, pilots are very respected.

And in particular, Air Force pilots

are very highly regarded.

are very highly regarded.

In an environment like this, the pilot is

somewhat immune to suspicion.

When something goes wrong, the natural tendency

is to blame the equipment.

is to blame the equipment.

Nevertheless, some investigators

begin to consider a provocative theory that might explain

begin to consider a provocative theory that might explain

the flight's erratic behavior.

Turning right, sir.

Turning right, sir.

What?

Aircraft is turning right.

Perhaps Captain Khadr had lost his bearings.

Perhaps Captain Khadr had lost his bearings.

A plane's flight path into a dark, moonless night

A plane's flight path into a dark, moonless night

is ideal for creating a sense of vertigo.

Vertigo is a physiological condition

Vertigo is a physiological condition

that would exist with any person, not just pilots.

And it's based on the inner ear.

Over a dark ocean, without a defined visual horizon,

Over a dark ocean, without a defined visual horizon,

no ground lights, the pilot may not

be able to perceive visually whether he was flying

be able to perceive visually whether he was flying

up, down, left, or right.

That may cause the pilot to believe

the airplane is flying straight and level

when it's actually turning.

Soon after takeoff, Captain Khadr

Soon after takeoff, Captain Khadr

was flying manually and starts turning left as planned.

was flying manually and starts turning left as planned.

Heading out over dark water with no visible horizon,

it would be very difficult using just his senses for the pilot

it would be very difficult using just his senses for the pilot

to know exactly where he was.

Left turn.

Roger when ready, inshallah.

Roger when ready, inshallah.

Left turn to establish 306, Sharm VOR.

Left turn to establish 306, Sharm VOR.

Investigators need to know

how could a veteran combat pilot become so mixed up that he

how could a veteran combat pilot become so mixed up that he

crashes his jet into the ocean?

Investigators pore through the cockpit

Investigators pore through the cockpit

voice recordings and flight data of FLASH Airways Flight 604.

voice recordings and flight data of FLASH Airways Flight 604.

They're searching for an explanation as to how Captain

They're searching for an explanation as to how Captain

Khadr may have become oblivious to his plane's sudden bank

to the right.

When you study the movement of the aircraft control surfaces,

When you study the movement of the aircraft control surfaces,

it appears that something was guiding

Captain Khadr to the right.

Captain Khadr to the right.

Now, that could have been a false horizon or something he's

seen outside of his window.

See what the aircraft just did?

See what the aircraft just did?

He thinks he's gained his flight path again

when all of a sudden at this moment, he

when all of a sudden at this moment, he

receives contradictory information.

Turning right, sir.

What?

What?

In this particular instance, not only

are you trying to fly the airplane

and understand situationally what's happening,

and understand situationally what's happening,

but you're going through the mental gymnastics

because your expectations are one way.

Meanwhile, you have the first officer

Meanwhile, you have the first officer

who's telling him something that's totally different.

But investigators know that with proper training,

But investigators know that with proper training,

pilots should trust the help of a co-pilot

when disorientation sets in.

when disorientation sets in.

Investigators are curious.

Investigators are curious.

Not yet.

Why didn't the co-pilot

take control of the plane?

The team turns to the FLASH Airlines pilot training.

The team turns to the FLASH Airlines pilot training.

They make a disturbing find.

Flight crews had not been provided with CRM, or crew

Flight crews had not been provided with CRM, or crew

resource management training despite it being

a requirement of the company.

a requirement of the company.

Had the pilots of FLASH Air 604 received a formal CRM

Had the pilots of FLASH Air 604 received a formal CRM

training program, the outcome of this flight

may have been substantially different.

Investigators now believe this explains

Investigators now believe this explains

why the first officer made no attempt

to take control of the plane.

to take control of the plane.

Formal CRM training would have empowered the first officer,

who had the best situational awareness and the most

who had the best situational awareness and the most

information about the position of the airplane,

to take command of the airplane when he saw

to take command of the airplane when he saw

that the captain wasn't taking the appropriate corrective

action.

The final report recognizes that the pitch black

The final report recognizes that the pitch black

night may have fooled the captain's brain

into thinking he was flying straight when he wasn't.

into thinking he was flying straight when he wasn't.

But Egyptian investigators do not entirely rule out

a possible mechanical issue.

a possible mechanical issue.

Aircraft is turning right.

Turning right?

How turning right?

It also suggests that with more of an emphasis on CRM

It also suggests that with more of an emphasis on CRM

training, the co-pilot might have been

able to recover the plane and pull back

able to recover the plane and pull back

from the brink of disaster.

The pilots are responding based

on skills, abilities, knowledge, and what

they got out of training.

If the training was deficient, that's

If the training was deficient, that's

a company responsibility.

Proper training can be the difference

between life and death.

between life and death.

And where there are very few outside visual cues,

it can be very easy to get in a position

it can be very easy to get in a position

where you're disoriented.

And when you're disoriented, you might

make decisions as a pilot that will

make decisions as a pilot that will

put that aircraft in danger.

And without the use of navigation instruments,

a pilot can be flying totally blind.

a pilot can be flying totally blind.

Surabaya, Indonesia, captain Refri Widodo is in command

Surabaya, Indonesia, captain Refri Widodo is in command

of Adam Air Flight 574.

of Adam Air Flight 574.

He's been flying with Adam Air for six months.

His first officer, Yoga Susanto, has been with the airline

for almost a year and a half.

for almost a year and a half.

There are 96 passengers and six crew members on today's flight.

There are 96 passengers and six crew members on today's flight.

80 knots.

Check.

81.

Rotate.

It's a routine two-hour hop from Surabaya

on the island of Java to Manado on the island of Sulawesi,

on the island of Java to Manado on the island of Sulawesi,

a little over 1,056 miles northeast.

Minutes after takeoff, the crew turns on the autopilot.

Minutes after takeoff, the crew turns on the autopilot.

The flight computer will fly the plane

The flight computer will fly the plane

and navigate it along a preplanned route to Manado.

Now passing flight level 220.

Now passing flight level 220.

Climbing to flight level 330.

Roger, Adam 574.

Roger, Adam 574.

Track direct to Diola.

Confirmed.

Tracking direct to Diola, Adam 574.

Tracking direct to Diola, Adam 574.

22,000 feet below, air traffic controllers

track the flight's progress.

But they're mystified by what they see.

Where is Adam direct to?

Where is Adam direct to?

My god, he's flying north.

Less than 30 minutes after takeoff,

Less than 30 minutes after takeoff,

Flight 574 has flown off course, directly

towards a violent storm.

May I have your attention?

This is your captain speaking.

We are about to experience some turbulence.

We are about to experience some turbulence.

Air traffic controllers work

with the flight crew...

Yes.

Yes.

...to try to understand how

far they've drifted off course.

The pilots realize the coordinates

in the flight navigation system aren't matching

their current position.

their current position.

But the IRS, 28 is the difference.

The weather is making it hard to see.

And without a navigation system they can trust,

And without a navigation system they can trust,

they risk veering even more wildly off course.

they risk veering even more wildly off course.

Getting lost over the ocean is everyone's worry.

Because when you lose trust of your navigational instruments,

Because when you lose trust of your navigational instruments,

what do you do?

It's starting to fly like a bamboo ship.

The pilots of Adam Air Flight 574

are way off course, headed into a bad thunderstorm.

are way off course, headed into a bad thunderstorm.

Confirm our position.

Adam 574, confirm our position, please.

Adam 574, confirm our position, please.

Roger, Adam 574.

Position is 125 miles, mike, kilo,

sierra, crossing radial 307.

sierra, crossing radial 307.

Mike, kilo, sierra.

The storm is growing worse.

The storm is growing worse.

This is crazy!

We're going to get lost if it stays like this.

We're going to get lost if it stays like this.

Captain Widodo wants to take

over navigation of the plane from the flight computer.

over navigation of the plane from the flight computer.

OK, put the IRS in attitude.

Suddenly, a warning.

Suddenly, a warning.

The autopilot has disengaged completely.

Then many of Susanto's computerized instruments

Then many of Susanto's computerized instruments

go blank.

To make matters worse, Flight 574 is now banking

To make matters worse, Flight 574 is now banking

right at a dangerous angle.

We can enter this.

We can enter this.

Captain Widodo wants to re-engage the autopilot.

OK, put it back on auto.

Yes.

Put it on nav again!

An alarm tells the pilots they

are beginning a steep descent.

Don't turn it.

This is our heading!

This is our heading!

Pull up!

Flight 574 vanishes from radar.

Adam 574, u-gen control.

Adam 574, u-gen control.

Adam 574, u-gen control.

Adam 574, u-gen control.

News of the disappearance spreads quickly.

News of the disappearance spreads quickly.

Search and rescue teams are mobilized.

Search and rescue teams are mobilized.

Indonesia's National Transportation Safety

Indonesia's National Transportation Safety

Committee, or NTSC, is notified.

Frans Wenas is the investigator of Adam Air 574.

Frans Wenas is the investigator of Adam Air 574.

The first steps that we take when there was an accident,

The first steps that we take when there was an accident,

we will find all the resources that we have

and get a team together before we dispatch to the area.

and get a team together before we dispatch to the area.

To have any hope of conducting

To have any hope of conducting

a successful investigation, he needs

to locate the wreckage and the blackboxes as soon as he can.

to locate the wreckage and the blackboxes as soon as he can.

When the plane was last detected by radar,

When the plane was last detected by radar,

it was crossing Makassar Strait.

The search area is the size of Ireland.

The search area is the size of Ireland.

Pinpointing the wreckage is nearly impossible.

When the aircraft went missing,

it was a bit of a shock for everybody

because in this day and age, nobody expects

because in this day and age, nobody expects

an aircraft to go missing.

Within a few weeks of the crash,

Within a few weeks of the crash,

investigators pinpoint the wreckage some 6,500 feet

below the surface.

But the airline and Indonesian government can't agree on who

should pay for the salvage.

should pay for the salvage.

After a grueling seven-month long battle,

the salvage operation finally begins.

the salvage operation finally begins.

Pull up quadrant 3.

Because the plane is American-made,

Because the plane is American-made,

Clint Crookshanks from the National Transportation Safety

Board joins the investigation.

It was quite deep water, deeper than we're normally used

to recovering airplanes from.

The only items they can recover...

That's it.

That's it.

That's it.

...are the aircraft's blackboxes.

The blackbox is the only source for evidence

that we have.

Because we don't have any wreckage.

Because we don't have any wreckage.

We don't have the witnesses.

The discovery is a massive breakthrough.

The discovery is a massive breakthrough.

The boxes will provide investigators

with the first solid clues about why

with the first solid clues about why

Flight 574 fell from the sky.

Roger, Adam 574.

Roger, Adam 574.

Track direct to Diola.

Confirmed.

Tracking direct to Diola, Adam 574.

Tracking direct to Diola, Adam 574.

The conversation on the cockpit voice recorder

tells investigators that the crew discovered

that the plane's navigation system

that the plane's navigation system

was sending them off course.

The IRS, 28 is the difference.

The IRS, 28 is the difference.

They're drifting.

They seem preoccupied with fixing the problem.

They seem preoccupied with fixing the problem.

This is messed up.

Investigators need to understand why the plane flew

Investigators need to understand why the plane flew

so far off the flight path set by the jet's navigation system.

so far off the flight path set by the jet's navigation system.

To maintain the plane's flight path,

the flight computer always has to know

the flight computer always has to know

the plane's exact location.

That information comes from a component called the IRS,

That information comes from a component called the IRS,

or inertial reference system.

or inertial reference system.

It tracks every adjustment to the plane's course to calculate

its exact position.

It then feeds that information to the autopilot.

It then feeds that information to the autopilot.

The autopilot needs to know where the aircraft is

The autopilot needs to know where the aircraft is

and where it needs to go.

Now, the autopilot takes those data from the IRS in terms

Now, the autopilot takes those data from the IRS in terms

of height, heading, and speed.

Investigators need to know

if the IRS was faulty and leading the plane

if the IRS was faulty and leading the plane

in the wrong direction.

They check the IRS information from the flight data recorder.

They check the IRS information from the flight data recorder.

The numbers are fine when they're on the ground.

Yes, yes.

The data confirms the IRS

was properly calibrated before Adam Air Flight 574 took off.

was properly calibrated before Adam Air Flight 574 took off.

This is where it begins.

That's right.

But for some reason, the IRS

But for some reason, the IRS

began to send the plane off course almost as soon

as the flight got into the air.

Pull up, pull up!

Pull up, pull up!

Investigators now face a disturbing new question.

Did a faulty IRS contribute to the jet's catastrophic nosedive

Did a faulty IRS contribute to the jet's catastrophic nosedive

into the sea?

This just gets worse and worse.

This just gets worse and worse.

Indonesian and American investigators

dig through Flight 574's maintenance history

dig through Flight 574's maintenance history

to better understand why it got lost in space.

And I have something else I'd like to show you.

They discovered that the IRS

unit that led the plane off course

unit that led the plane off course

was plagued with problems.

As you can tell, there's more than 100 write-ups here.

As you can tell, there's more than 100 write-ups here.

Look at this.

Same unit.

Same unit.

The same problem.

That's right.

Over the past three months,

numerous complaints had been written up.

numerous complaints had been written up.

Again and again.

The case of the IRS of this aircraft, that unit

The case of the IRS of this aircraft, that unit

should have been taken out and sent to maintenance

for calibration or repairs.

It's a big break in the investigation.

It's a big break in the investigation.

But the failing IRS only explains why

the plane steered off course.

the plane steered off course.

Investigators still don't know what caused

the plane to actually crash.

the plane to actually crash.

To paint a vivid picture of the moments leading up

to the mysterious accident, the team

to the mysterious accident, the team

creates a computer simulation of the flight

by combining the flight data and cockpit voice recorder.

by combining the flight data and cockpit voice recorder.

Investigators can now see that once

Investigators can now see that once

Captain Widodo realizes the flight computer is

sending the plane off course...

sending the plane off course...

OK, put the IRS in attitude.

...copilot Susanto overrides the flight computer

by switching the navigation system

by switching the navigation system

to a mode that would keep the plane

flying straight and level.

Captain Widodo could now change his course.

Captain Widodo could now change his course.

This is where they switch from nav to attitude.

But when the navigation mode is switched,

it forces some computerized navigation controls, including

it forces some computerized navigation controls, including

the attitude indicator, to go blank for about 30 seconds

the attitude indicator, to go blank for about 30 seconds

while they reset.

ADI goes off and stays off.

ADI goes off and stays off.

During this time, the autopilot systems are totally

During this time, the autopilot systems are totally

disengaged, and the pilots need to fly

the plane straight and level using visual flight rules.

the plane straight and level using visual flight rules.

Maintain straight and level constant

Maintain straight and level constant

airspeed flight until altitude displays recover.

Approximately 30 seconds.

Approximately 30 seconds.

It's in the manual.

But with no natural horizon

But with no natural horizon

and no navigation control panels,

the captain has absolutely no way of knowing if the plane is

the captain has absolutely no way of knowing if the plane is

flying straight.

That's where the plane starts its right roll.

That's where the plane starts its right roll.

These are the perfect conditions for the pilots

to become totally disoriented.

to become totally disoriented.

The autopilot disengaged when they

consciously selected from the nav mode to the attitude mode.

consciously selected from the nav mode to the attitude mode.

And then the aircraft commenced an almost imperceptible roll

And then the aircraft commenced an almost imperceptible roll

to the right of around about one degree per second.

to the right of around about one degree per second.

The crew has no idea that their plane is

dipping one degree per second.

dipping one degree per second.

It's a very common way for pilots to become disoriented.

Your body will start to fool you.

Your senses will start sending you false information.

Your senses will start sending you false information.

You might think that you are actually going straight

and level where you're actually rolling slowly to the right

or to the left.

or to the left.

Pull up!

Completely disoriented, Widodo tries

to straighten the plane by pulling back on his control

to straighten the plane by pulling back on his control

column before his wings are level,

column before his wings are level,

forcing the plane into a tight spiral dive.

It just kept rolling until it almost went inverted

It just kept rolling until it almost went inverted

and just fell.

It kind of fell out of the sky once it got to a point

where it wasn't flying like a normal airplane should.

where it wasn't flying like a normal airplane should.

Investigators conclude that equipment designed

to prevent pilots from getting lost in space

to prevent pilots from getting lost in space

tragically failed the crew of Adam Air Flight 574.

And when the flight crew became confused

And when the flight crew became confused

and lost their bearings, they couldn't save the plane.

OK, enter this.

Time and again, it's a human factor

that can never be completely eliminated as a flight risk.

that can never be completely eliminated as a flight risk.

But a pilot can learn how to fight

the effect of deceptive illusions with good training.

the effect of deceptive illusions with good training.

In all of these cases, we see pilots

that are disoriented as to which way's right side up.

that are disoriented as to which way's right side up.

It means that you have to revert back

It means that you have to revert back

to your primary instrument training of trust

the instruments.

That's one of the lessons that we learned,

That's one of the lessons that we learned,

and it continues to evolve today.