1
00:00:00,968 --> 00:00:02,302
3000.
2
00:00:03,537 --> 00:00:05,205
We're not getting any oxygen.
3
00:00:05,239 --> 00:00:07,574
We have the terrain alarm.
4
00:00:07,608 --> 00:00:09,409
We are in an emergency.
5
00:00:28,595 --> 00:00:31,899
In 1998,
off Canada's east coast,
6
00:00:31,932 --> 00:00:35,469
a modern passenger jet
run by one of the world's
best airlines,
7
00:00:35,502 --> 00:00:39,072
catches fire at 33,000 feet.
8
00:00:45,379 --> 00:00:48,115
Swiss Air 111.
We are dumping fuel now
9
00:00:48,182 --> 00:00:50,617
and we must land immediately.
10
00:00:51,151 --> 00:00:53,120
In its final six minutes,
11
00:00:53,187 --> 00:00:55,956
communications from the cockpit cease.
12
00:00:55,989 --> 00:00:58,025
It's burning already!
13
00:00:59,459 --> 00:01:01,828
Then the plane plummets
into the ocean.
14
00:01:10,137 --> 00:01:12,840
229 people are dead.
15
00:01:12,873 --> 00:01:15,709
What caused the fire
is a mystery.
16
00:01:15,742 --> 00:01:18,478
Many of the vessels
reported to the Canadian Navy
17
00:01:18,545 --> 00:01:21,148
vessels standing by on scene,
that they were finding bodies
18
00:01:21,181 --> 00:01:25,786
and making repeated requests
for more body bags...
19
00:01:25,819 --> 00:01:30,791
Now, after one
of the largest investigations
in aviation history,
20
00:01:30,858 --> 00:01:36,630
the complete story behind
the loss of Swiss Air Flight 111
can finally be told.
21
00:01:40,300 --> 00:01:43,670
It's a wake up call for
the entire airline industry
22
00:01:43,737 --> 00:01:48,775
to ensure that what happened
aboard Swiss Air 111 would
never happen again.
23
00:01:48,809 --> 00:01:53,247
This accident investigation
was a unique opportunity
24
00:01:53,313 --> 00:01:57,551
to assess the materials
in airplanes.
25
00:01:57,584 --> 00:02:01,021
The problem is not only
just the stuff that can burn,
26
00:02:01,088 --> 00:02:03,156
but the fact you can't see it.
27
00:02:03,190 --> 00:02:05,425
When you really
have fire on board,
28
00:02:05,492 --> 00:02:07,060
the clock is running
against you.
29
00:02:21,742 --> 00:02:24,478
September the 2nd, 1998,
30
00:02:24,545 --> 00:02:28,315
Swiss Air Flight 111 prepares
to depart New York's
31
00:02:28,382 --> 00:02:33,053
JFK International Airport
en route to Geneva, Switzerland.
32
00:02:37,191 --> 00:02:40,761
The aircraft was a MacDonald
Douglas 11 or MD11,
33
00:02:40,827 --> 00:02:43,530
a model first developed in 1986
34
00:02:43,597 --> 00:02:46,066
as a highly automated
modern replacement
35
00:02:46,133 --> 00:02:48,669
for the antiquated DC10.
36
00:02:51,405 --> 00:02:54,341
It was considered one of the
most reliable passenger jets
37
00:02:54,408 --> 00:02:56,510
in the skies,
and Swiss Air pilots
38
00:02:56,543 --> 00:02:58,912
were among the world's
best-trained.
39
00:03:02,149 --> 00:03:03,717
Okay, I have
to start checklist.
40
00:03:03,750 --> 00:03:06,653
- Uh, Engine Anti Ice.
- Not required.
41
00:03:06,687 --> 00:03:08,355
Roger. Not required.
42
00:03:08,422 --> 00:03:10,190
Auto brakes.
43
00:03:10,224 --> 00:03:13,527
Swiss Air 111'S pilots were
Captain Urs Zimmerman,
44
00:03:13,594 --> 00:03:15,829
and First Officer Stephan Loew.
45
00:03:15,896 --> 00:03:18,398
Swiss Air 111 hold short,
3-1 left.
46
00:03:18,432 --> 00:03:21,502
Zimmerman encouraged
an easy-going atmosphere
in the cockpit,
47
00:03:21,568 --> 00:03:24,638
but he was also known for his
by-the-book precision.
48
00:03:24,671 --> 00:03:27,708
When not flying, he was
an instructor of new pilots
49
00:03:27,774 --> 00:03:30,277
for Switzerland's
national airline.
50
00:03:30,310 --> 00:03:31,945
Flaps and slats.
51
00:03:31,979 --> 00:03:34,581
Flaps set 15 degrees.
52
00:03:34,615 --> 00:03:35,916
Set at 15.
53
00:03:42,456 --> 00:03:47,694
On board were 215 passengers,
12 crew and two pilots.
54
00:03:49,897 --> 00:03:53,166
Most were French,
American, or Swiss.
55
00:03:56,270 --> 00:03:59,339
23-year-old Stephanie Shaw
was on her way home
56
00:03:59,406 --> 00:04:01,341
to her parents in Geneva.
57
00:04:03,210 --> 00:04:06,446
Stephanie, uh, was blessed
in many ways.
58
00:04:06,480 --> 00:04:08,982
She was physically
very attractive.
59
00:04:09,016 --> 00:04:11,451
She was an intelligent girl.
60
00:04:11,485 --> 00:04:15,455
The reason she went to New York
was that she had been invited
61
00:04:15,522 --> 00:04:18,859
to become a member
of the world economic forum
62
00:04:18,926 --> 00:04:20,494
which is based in Geneva,
63
00:04:20,561 --> 00:04:24,431
and she wanted to have this trip
before she joined.
64
00:04:25,065 --> 00:04:27,734
She was a darling.
She was an absolute darling.
65
00:04:30,838 --> 00:04:32,639
8:18 PM.
66
00:04:32,673 --> 00:04:35,242
Swiss Air 111 heavy,
clear for take-off.
67
00:04:35,275 --> 00:04:36,577
Cleared for take-off.
68
00:04:36,610 --> 00:04:38,445
Roger, Swiss Air 111.
69
00:04:42,015 --> 00:04:44,818
For safety, the Swiss Air
pilots push the throttles
70
00:04:44,852 --> 00:04:49,289
forward together
ensuring no single pilot
can botch a takeoff.
71
00:04:49,323 --> 00:04:50,691
VR.
72
00:04:51,525 --> 00:04:52,693
V2.
73
00:04:57,130 --> 00:05:00,834
Swiss Air Flight 111 lifted
off and made her way Northeast,
74
00:05:00,901 --> 00:05:03,070
toward the open Atlantic.
75
00:05:05,405 --> 00:05:08,008
For the first 15 minutes
after takeoff,
76
00:05:08,075 --> 00:05:11,311
there was no communication
from Swiss Air 111.
77
00:05:11,345 --> 00:05:13,814
It was an unusual small detail
78
00:05:13,881 --> 00:05:16,216
that would later
baffle investigators.
79
00:05:17,217 --> 00:05:19,620
Well, it does happen, occasionally.
80
00:05:19,653 --> 00:05:23,023
They'd not yet reached what
we call the North Atlantic
Track System
81
00:05:23,090 --> 00:05:26,927
where then you're not usually
in radio contact.
82
00:05:26,960 --> 00:05:28,795
So, I thought it was
a little abnormal,
83
00:05:28,862 --> 00:05:32,966
but it appears it was just
nothing more than a mistake
in radio frequency.
84
00:05:33,000 --> 00:05:35,869
When the guy dialed it in
and swapped over the radio,
85
00:05:35,936 --> 00:05:39,339
he had put in the incorrect
frequency, and evidently,
86
00:05:39,406 --> 00:05:44,144
they didn't make another attempt
at contacting someone.
87
00:05:44,178 --> 00:05:45,646
It was strange.
88
00:05:45,679 --> 00:05:50,150
And I agree with you.
It was kind of like, well,
that's interesting.
89
00:05:55,789 --> 00:05:58,625
Atlantic air traffic
is handled by a remote centre
90
00:05:58,692 --> 00:06:01,261
in Moncton,
New Brunswick, Canada.
91
00:06:03,664 --> 00:06:05,866
Almost half an hour
after takeoff,
92
00:06:05,933 --> 00:06:09,469
Captain Zimmerman made his first
communication with Moncton.
93
00:06:09,503 --> 00:06:11,471
Moncton Centre,
Swiss Air 111 heavy.
94
00:06:11,505 --> 00:06:14,975
Good... evening,
level 3-3-0.
95
00:06:15,008 --> 00:06:17,711
Swiss Air 111 heavy,
Moncton Centre. Good evening.
96
00:06:17,744 --> 00:06:21,648
Reports of occasional light
turbulence at all levels.
97
00:06:21,682 --> 00:06:23,016
Moncton Swiss Air.
98
00:06:23,050 --> 00:06:25,953
It was a perfectly
normal transatlantic crossing.
99
00:06:33,660 --> 00:06:36,830
In First Class, Swiss Air
passengers were among the first
100
00:06:36,897 --> 00:06:41,235
in the world to have
a personalised in-flight
entertainment network.
101
00:06:41,268 --> 00:06:45,672
Though now common, the system
was an innovation in 1998.
102
00:06:45,706 --> 00:06:47,975
Passengers could choose
their own movie,
103
00:06:48,041 --> 00:06:50,544
browse the internet, and gamble.
104
00:06:53,514 --> 00:06:56,617
They evaluated the market
and they thought
105
00:06:56,683 --> 00:07:01,588
that introducing modern
in-flight entertainment system
106
00:07:01,655 --> 00:07:04,491
combined with a gambling system
107
00:07:04,558 --> 00:07:06,760
so that passengers actually
can use their credit card
108
00:07:06,827 --> 00:07:09,830
and gamble during
long-range flights,
109
00:07:09,897 --> 00:07:11,598
uh...
110
00:07:11,665 --> 00:07:14,868
would make them more
attractive.
111
00:07:16,937 --> 00:07:20,507
This luxury would be the
source of controversy to come.
112
00:07:49,503 --> 00:07:50,838
Do you smell something?
113
00:07:53,006 --> 00:07:54,041
Yeah. What is that?
114
00:07:57,477 --> 00:07:58,979
Go have a look.
I'll take the controls.
115
00:07:59,046 --> 00:08:00,447
Roger. You have control.
116
00:08:09,423 --> 00:08:11,391
1st Officer Loew investigates
117
00:08:11,458 --> 00:08:13,827
the area near
the air conditioner vent.
118
00:08:13,861 --> 00:08:16,797
Harmless smoke traces
from air conditioning systems
119
00:08:16,864 --> 00:08:19,066
are common on commercial jets.
120
00:08:23,270 --> 00:08:24,805
I don't see anything, Urs.
121
00:08:24,838 --> 00:08:26,173
And there's nothing
up there now.
122
00:08:30,978 --> 00:08:32,312
You hailed for me, Captain?
123
00:08:32,346 --> 00:08:34,915
Stephan and I were sure we
smelled smoke a few seconds ago.
124
00:08:34,948 --> 00:08:35,983
Can you smell anything?
125
00:08:36,617 --> 00:08:38,285
I smell it too, yeah.
126
00:08:39,152 --> 00:08:41,088
Could you smell it in
the cabin before you came in?
127
00:08:41,121 --> 00:08:42,856
No, definitely not.
128
00:08:42,890 --> 00:08:46,159
They agree that
the air conditioner
was the likely culprit.
129
00:08:46,193 --> 00:08:47,694
Can't see it
or smell it anymore.
130
00:08:48,462 --> 00:08:49,930
Air conditioning, is it?
- Yes.
131
00:08:50,764 --> 00:08:52,366
Please close it, thanks.
132
00:09:01,708 --> 00:09:05,212
Behind the sealed panel,
the pilots could not see
133
00:09:05,245 --> 00:09:07,047
that the problem
was getting worse.
134
00:09:14,388 --> 00:09:17,591
Less than 45 seconds
after smoke disappeared
135
00:09:17,658 --> 00:09:20,627
in the cockpit of Swiss Air 111,
it returned.
136
00:09:27,100 --> 00:09:29,469
Zimmerman followed
Swiss Air procedure.
137
00:09:29,503 --> 00:09:31,738
There it is again.- He made plans to divert
138
00:09:31,805 --> 00:09:33,740
to the nearest place to land.
139
00:09:33,774 --> 00:09:35,676
Find the closest place
to land, Stephan.
140
00:09:35,709 --> 00:09:37,277
We'll need the Nav charts
from the library.
141
00:09:37,311 --> 00:09:39,413
Also, weather data for the area.
142
00:09:39,446 --> 00:09:40,848
Boston is close.
143
00:09:47,054 --> 00:09:48,589
It's not doing well
at all up there.
144
00:09:49,523 --> 00:09:53,627
Zimmerman radioed
air traffic control
in Moncton, New Brunswick.
145
00:09:56,029 --> 00:09:59,132
Moncton Centre,
Swiss Air 111 heavy.
Good evening.
146
00:09:59,166 --> 00:10:02,069
United 9-7-0 heavy,
Moncton Centre, good evening.
147
00:10:02,135 --> 00:10:04,037
The controller
dealt with another aircraft
148
00:10:04,104 --> 00:10:05,973
before responding
to Swiss Air.
149
00:10:06,006 --> 00:10:07,741
Other aircraft calling
say again.
150
00:10:07,774 --> 00:10:10,944
Swiss Air 111 heavy
is declaring Pan Pan Pan.
151
00:10:10,978 --> 00:10:13,013
We have smoke in the cockpit,
152
00:10:13,080 --> 00:10:16,617
uh, request... immediate return
153
00:10:16,683 --> 00:10:19,820
to a convenient place,
I guess, Boston.
154
00:10:19,853 --> 00:10:22,422
Pan Pan Pan
is an international term
155
00:10:22,489 --> 00:10:26,093
used to notify air traffic
control of an urgent situation,
156
00:10:26,159 --> 00:10:28,862
one step below declaring Mayday.
157
00:10:28,896 --> 00:10:30,764
You say to Boston
you want to go?
158
00:10:30,797 --> 00:10:32,699
I guess Boston...
159
00:10:32,766 --> 00:10:34,468
We need first the weather there,
160
00:10:34,535 --> 00:10:37,971
we are starting
a right turn here.
161
00:10:38,005 --> 00:10:39,406
Swiss Air 111 heavy.
162
00:10:39,439 --> 00:10:41,108
Swiss Air 111, roger.
163
00:10:41,141 --> 00:10:42,910
And descend to flight
level 3-1-0.
164
00:10:42,943 --> 00:10:44,778
3-1-0, 3-1-0.
165
00:10:44,811 --> 00:10:46,480
Swiss Air 1-1-1 heavy.
166
00:10:47,681 --> 00:10:51,785
This is the first interview
with one of the air traffic
controllers in Moncton.
167
00:10:51,818 --> 00:10:55,455
My name is Bill Pickrell
and on September, 1998,
168
00:10:55,489 --> 00:10:58,859
September 2nd, 1998,
I was one of two Halifax
169
00:10:58,926 --> 00:11:01,595
terminal controllers working
the evening shift.
170
00:11:01,628 --> 00:11:05,465
The "pan" in any kind
of a special condition
171
00:11:05,532 --> 00:11:08,202
is usually dealt with
as an emergency
172
00:11:08,268 --> 00:11:10,170
and this in fact was dealt
with that way.
173
00:11:10,204 --> 00:11:12,973
The aircraft was immediately
given priority
174
00:11:13,040 --> 00:11:16,109
and the high level supervisor
initiated a call
175
00:11:16,176 --> 00:11:18,111
to the rescue
coordination centre.
176
00:11:19,780 --> 00:11:22,649
Pickrell's colleague
determined that Swiss Air 111
177
00:11:22,716 --> 00:11:27,821
was just 66 nautical miles from
Halifax, and 300 from Boston.
178
00:11:28,689 --> 00:11:32,192
But Captain Zimmerman had
chosen an airport he knew.
179
00:11:32,226 --> 00:11:34,761
And a lot of times,
when you're having a problem,
180
00:11:34,828 --> 00:11:36,496
you'd rather be dealing
with an issue
181
00:11:36,563 --> 00:11:39,399
where you're much more familiar
with the airport,
182
00:11:39,466 --> 00:11:41,635
because that relieves
a little stress on you.
183
00:11:41,668 --> 00:11:43,971
That was his initial problem.
He's looking up there
184
00:11:44,037 --> 00:11:47,975
and he's trying to think,
"I've got smoke here,
what does it mean?
185
00:11:48,842 --> 00:11:51,945
Let's see, where is the closest
place I can go to
186
00:11:52,012 --> 00:11:54,448
that I can talk
to a Swiss Air mechanic?
187
00:11:54,481 --> 00:11:55,549
Boston."
188
00:12:00,654 --> 00:12:02,155
Swiss Air 111 Centre.
189
00:12:02,689 --> 00:12:04,358
Swiss Air 111 heavy,
go ahead.
190
00:12:04,391 --> 00:12:06,293
Would you prefer
to go into Halifax?
191
00:12:14,701 --> 00:12:16,637
Urs, we better put
the masks on.
192
00:12:16,703 --> 00:12:18,105
Uh, standby.
193
00:12:31,285 --> 00:12:33,353
Realizing their location,
194
00:12:33,420 --> 00:12:36,690
Zimmerman decided Halifax
was now the best option.
195
00:12:37,758 --> 00:12:39,660
Affirmative,
Swiss Air 111 heavy.
196
00:12:39,693 --> 00:12:41,728
We prefer Halifax
from our position.
197
00:12:41,762 --> 00:12:44,164
Swiss Air 111, roger,
proceed direct to Halifax,
198
00:12:44,231 --> 00:12:46,900
descend now to flight
level two-niner-zero.
199
00:12:46,934 --> 00:12:50,571
Level two-niner-zero
to Halifax, Swiss Air 111 heavy.
200
00:12:53,073 --> 00:12:56,276
A British Airways pilot
in the area offered the crew
201
00:12:56,343 --> 00:12:58,078
what little help he could.
202
00:12:58,111 --> 00:13:01,515
Swiss Air 111 heavy
from Speedbird two-one-four,
203
00:13:01,548 --> 00:13:04,117
I can give you the Halifax
weather if you like?
204
00:13:04,151 --> 00:13:06,186
Swiss Air 111 heavy,
205
00:13:06,253 --> 00:13:09,223
we have the oxygen masks on,
go ahead with the weather.
206
00:13:09,256 --> 00:13:11,225
It's the 300
zulu weather...
207
00:13:11,258 --> 00:13:15,596
- Swiss Air 111
commenced its descent
to below 30,000 feet,
208
00:13:15,662 --> 00:13:18,532
the pilots calm
and in control.
209
00:13:18,565 --> 00:13:22,336
It would take about 20 minutes
to reach Halifax.
210
00:13:22,369 --> 00:13:23,670
...over.
211
00:13:23,704 --> 00:13:25,339
Roger, Swiss Air 111 heavy.
212
00:13:25,405 --> 00:13:27,741
We copy. Two-niner-eight-zero.
213
00:13:27,774 --> 00:13:29,810
Swiss Air 111,
you're cleared to 10 000 feet
214
00:13:29,843 --> 00:13:33,614
and the Halifax altimeter
is two-niner-eight-zero.
215
00:13:34,615 --> 00:13:38,719
Swiss Air 111 heavy,
two-niner-eight-zero
at 10 000 feet.
216
00:13:38,752 --> 00:13:42,189
And Swiss Air 111,
can you tell me what
your fuel on board is?
217
00:13:42,222 --> 00:13:44,157
Stand by for this.
218
00:13:45,292 --> 00:13:47,327
Speedbird one-five-zero-six
219
00:13:47,361 --> 00:13:48,762
is at Tusky listening out.
220
00:13:48,795 --> 00:13:51,098
Speedbird
one-five-zero-six, roger.
221
00:13:51,131 --> 00:13:53,967
The controller
signed off with another
aircraft.
222
00:13:54,001 --> 00:13:56,570
His jurisdiction was
high-altitude flights.
223
00:13:56,603 --> 00:13:59,506
As Swiss Air was on descent
to Halifax,
224
00:13:59,573 --> 00:14:02,643
he hands over responsibility
to Bill Pickrell.
225
00:14:04,344 --> 00:14:07,781
At that point,
everything was normal.
226
00:14:07,814 --> 00:14:10,651
I gave the pilot
an initial descent
227
00:14:10,717 --> 00:14:14,521
and he requested to level off
at an intermediate altitude
228
00:14:14,588 --> 00:14:16,924
to get the cabin in order
for the landing
229
00:14:16,990 --> 00:14:19,459
which I took to mean
that they needed to pack away
230
00:14:19,526 --> 00:14:21,795
dinner trays
and things like that.
231
00:14:21,828 --> 00:14:27,167
It was an indication to me
that while his situation
was unusual,
232
00:14:27,234 --> 00:14:32,372
that they weren't considering it
as an emergency at that time.
233
00:14:32,406 --> 00:14:34,875
Watch your speed, Stephan,
don't descend too fast.
234
00:14:34,908 --> 00:14:36,143
Roger.
235
00:14:46,053 --> 00:14:47,087
Yes, Captain.
236
00:14:47,120 --> 00:14:48,622
We have got smoke
in the cockpit here.
237
00:14:48,655 --> 00:14:50,557
Have the cabin crew prepare
for landing,
238
00:14:50,624 --> 00:14:54,261
we'll be setting down
in Halifax in about 20 minutes.
239
00:14:54,294 --> 00:14:56,597
I'm about to start
the checklist here.
240
00:14:56,630 --> 00:14:57,664
Yes, Captain Zimmerman.
241
00:14:58,232 --> 00:15:01,368
Zimmerman had two checklists
for smoke in the cockpit.
242
00:15:01,435 --> 00:15:04,037
To complete both will take
20 minutes.
243
00:15:04,071 --> 00:15:06,640
This was Swiss Air
company policy.
244
00:15:06,673 --> 00:15:11,245
In the meantime, Loew continued
the descent into Halifax.
245
00:15:17,951 --> 00:15:19,686
Stephan, I'll need you
to handle the radio
246
00:15:19,753 --> 00:15:22,155
while I go do this checklist.
247
00:15:22,189 --> 00:15:25,993
One-one-niner, point-two for
the Swiss Air 1-1-1 heavy.
248
00:15:26,827 --> 00:15:30,797
Swiss Air 111 was now
at about 25,000 feet.
249
00:15:30,831 --> 00:15:34,134
Pickrell advises them
to descend to 3000.
250
00:15:34,168 --> 00:15:37,771
But First Officer Loew says
he'd rather fly at 8000,
251
00:15:37,838 --> 00:15:39,940
until the passenger cabin
was cleared.
252
00:15:42,709 --> 00:15:46,780
Their attitude underscored the
sense of control in the cockpit.
253
00:15:49,016 --> 00:15:52,486
From my point of view,
it gave all initial appearances
254
00:15:52,553 --> 00:15:55,222
that it should be a fairly
straight forward operation,
255
00:15:55,289 --> 00:15:58,926
assuming that
everything happened normally,
256
00:15:58,992 --> 00:16:02,296
the aircraft would require
a minimum of handling
257
00:16:02,362 --> 00:16:04,932
to lead them into Halifax.
258
00:16:05,365 --> 00:16:08,569
Swiss Air 111,
you can descend to 3,
259
00:16:08,602 --> 00:16:11,738
level off at
an intermediate altitude,
if you wish, just advise...
260
00:16:11,805 --> 00:16:14,141
But Pickrell
was concerned the plane
261
00:16:14,208 --> 00:16:16,076
was not coming down fast enough.
262
00:16:18,378 --> 00:16:22,182
It appeared that the aircraft
might've been a little bit high
263
00:16:22,249 --> 00:16:25,619
and I wanted to ensure
that the pilots were aware
264
00:16:25,686 --> 00:16:28,288
of how far they were
from the airport,
265
00:16:28,355 --> 00:16:30,424
how many miles they had to fly.
266
00:16:30,490 --> 00:16:32,526
So that they could judge
their own descent
267
00:16:32,593 --> 00:16:35,095
and make their decision
about what they wanted to do.
268
00:16:35,128 --> 00:16:39,366
Roger. At the time we descend
to 8000 feet.
269
00:16:39,399 --> 00:16:42,569
And we are clear anytime
to 3000 feet.
270
00:16:42,603 --> 00:16:44,104
I keep you advised.
271
00:16:44,137 --> 00:16:45,606
Okay. Can I vector you
272
00:16:45,672 --> 00:16:48,175
to set up for runway zero-six
at Halifax?
273
00:16:49,076 --> 00:16:50,944
Roger, vector for 6
will be fine.
274
00:16:50,978 --> 00:16:52,679
Swiss Air 111 heavy.
275
00:16:52,713 --> 00:16:57,451
Swiss Air 111 roger,
turn left heading 0-3-0.
276
00:16:58,318 --> 00:17:02,356
Left heading 0-3-0
for Swiss Air 111 heavy.
277
00:17:13,700 --> 00:17:15,903
Captain Zimmerman
needed information
278
00:17:15,969 --> 00:17:17,905
for the unfamiliar airfield,
279
00:17:17,971 --> 00:17:20,140
but his flight bag
was out of reach.
280
00:17:20,207 --> 00:17:22,543
He summoned the flight
attendant to help.
281
00:17:22,576 --> 00:17:24,912
- You hailed me, Captain?
- For two minutes now.
282
00:17:24,945 --> 00:17:26,213
I need the flight bag there,
283
00:17:26,280 --> 00:17:27,848
it's got the approach charts
for Halifax.
284
00:17:41,428 --> 00:17:44,298
Get back to your crew.
- Yes, Captain.
285
00:17:48,869 --> 00:17:50,337
This is your
Maitre de Cabin speaking.
286
00:17:50,404 --> 00:17:53,106
The chief flight attendant
notified passengers that
287
00:17:53,140 --> 00:17:55,242
the flight was being diverted.
288
00:17:55,275 --> 00:17:58,612
There was no panic,
the plane was flying normally,
289
00:17:58,679 --> 00:18:01,281
and there was no sign
of smoke in the cabin.
290
00:18:05,719 --> 00:18:08,121
Swiss Air 111,
the localizer frequency
291
00:18:08,188 --> 00:18:10,524
is one-zero-niner decimal niner.
292
00:18:10,557 --> 00:18:12,793
You've got 30 miles
to fly to the threshold.
293
00:18:12,826 --> 00:18:14,461
We're gonna need more
than 30 miles...
294
00:18:14,494 --> 00:18:16,663
But still at more
than 20,000 feet,
295
00:18:16,730 --> 00:18:19,533
Swiss Air 111 was too high
to make a landing
296
00:18:19,600 --> 00:18:21,502
in just 30 miles.
297
00:18:21,535 --> 00:18:26,340
The frequency
is one-zero-niner decimal niner
for the localizer.
298
00:18:26,373 --> 00:18:30,577
Okay, roger. One-zero-niner
point niner,
299
00:18:30,611 --> 00:18:35,315
and we are turning left
heading, uh... north.
300
00:18:35,349 --> 00:18:36,650
Swiss Air 111 heavy.
301
00:18:36,683 --> 00:18:38,685
We've got to dump fuel.
302
00:18:38,719 --> 00:18:40,120
Agreed.
303
00:18:40,153 --> 00:18:43,657
So far, communications from
Swiss Air have been calm.
304
00:18:43,690 --> 00:18:48,829
Still, Moncton Center
initiated emergency efforts
at Halifax airport.
305
00:18:54,701 --> 00:18:57,371
Preparing ground crews
for an emergency,
306
00:18:57,437 --> 00:19:00,140
Pickrell sought information
from the pilots.
307
00:19:04,878 --> 00:19:06,780
Swiss Air 111,
when you have time,
308
00:19:06,813 --> 00:19:08,615
could I have the number
of souls on board
309
00:19:08,649 --> 00:19:11,518
and your fuel on board please
for emergency services.
310
00:19:11,552 --> 00:19:16,256
Roger, at this time, fuel
on board is two-three-zero tons.
311
00:19:16,290 --> 00:19:18,091
We have to dump some fuel.
312
00:19:18,125 --> 00:19:20,394
May we do that in this area
during descent?
313
00:19:20,427 --> 00:19:22,863
Pickrell was
surprised to learn so late
314
00:19:22,930 --> 00:19:25,766
that Swiss Air 111
needed to dump fuel.
315
00:19:26,567 --> 00:19:30,637
At that point, it became more
of a complicated situation.
316
00:19:30,671 --> 00:19:33,273
In fact, with every transmission
after that,
317
00:19:33,340 --> 00:19:35,075
it became more and more
complicated.
318
00:19:36,610 --> 00:19:40,347
Pickrell considered
his options for a safe place,
319
00:19:40,414 --> 00:19:43,650
that wouldn't take the aircraft
too far from Halifax.
320
00:19:44,418 --> 00:19:47,754
He decided to direct the plane
over St. Margaret's Bay,
321
00:19:47,821 --> 00:19:50,357
about 30 miles
from the airport.
322
00:19:51,291 --> 00:19:54,361
The other choice,
if he had said he needed
to stay close,
323
00:19:54,428 --> 00:19:59,099
was to start the aircraft
in a right-hand turn
324
00:19:59,166 --> 00:20:02,703
to set them up for any
of the other runways.
325
00:20:02,736 --> 00:20:06,507
I had to keep them flying
in a circle or a constant track
326
00:20:06,573 --> 00:20:09,076
so that he wouldn't fly back
into his own fuel
327
00:20:09,142 --> 00:20:11,278
which would have been not good.
328
00:20:12,246 --> 00:20:14,948
Dumping fuel
is standard procedure.
329
00:20:14,982 --> 00:20:17,918
A fully fuelled passenger jet
is too heavy,
330
00:20:17,985 --> 00:20:19,753
and could break up on landing.
331
00:20:20,888 --> 00:20:23,924
But Co-Pilot Loew wondered if,
given their situation,
332
00:20:23,991 --> 00:20:26,593
they might forgo
the regulations.
333
00:20:26,627 --> 00:20:28,762
They want us to turn
to the south.
334
00:20:28,795 --> 00:20:31,331
Should we just forget about
dumping and just land?
335
00:20:32,599 --> 00:20:34,034
No, dump it.
336
00:20:35,035 --> 00:20:37,604
Okay, we are able
for a left or right turn
337
00:20:37,671 --> 00:20:39,039
to the south
in order to dump.
338
00:20:39,072 --> 00:20:42,409
I initiated the vector back
toward St. Margaret's Bay
339
00:20:42,476 --> 00:20:44,077
to start him in that direction.
340
00:20:44,111 --> 00:20:46,446
It indicated to me that again
341
00:20:46,513 --> 00:20:49,683
it wasn't a critical
situation on board
342
00:20:49,750 --> 00:20:52,553
and in fact he did have time
to be able to go back
343
00:20:52,586 --> 00:20:54,588
and dump his fuel
over the water.
344
00:20:55,455 --> 00:20:57,858
Swiss Air 111, roger.
345
00:20:57,891 --> 00:21:01,361
Turn left heading of
two-zero-zero degrees
346
00:21:01,428 --> 00:21:04,031
and advise me when
you're ready to dump.
347
00:21:04,064 --> 00:21:08,035
It will be about ten miles
before you are off the coast.
348
00:21:08,068 --> 00:21:10,971
You will still be within
about 25 miles of the airport.
349
00:21:11,004 --> 00:21:13,941
Roger,
we are turning left 2-0-0.
350
00:21:13,974 --> 00:21:15,576
In that case,
we're going to descend
351
00:21:15,642 --> 00:21:18,745
to only 10 000 feet
in order to dump the fuel.
352
00:21:18,779 --> 00:21:21,148
Roger, maintain
one-zero-thousand.
353
00:21:21,181 --> 00:21:23,383
I'll advise you when you
are over the water.
354
00:21:23,417 --> 00:21:25,018
It will be very shortly.
355
00:21:25,052 --> 00:21:26,653
Roger.
356
00:21:26,687 --> 00:21:29,423
While Zimmerman continued
with his checklist,
357
00:21:29,489 --> 00:21:32,793
Loew accidentally transmitted
to Bill Pickrell in Moncton.
358
00:21:33,460 --> 00:21:34,895
Are you in the
emergency checklist
359
00:21:34,928 --> 00:21:37,331
for air conditioning smoke?
- Yes.
360
00:21:37,364 --> 00:21:39,666
Uh, Swiss Air 111,
say again please.
361
00:21:39,700 --> 00:21:40,834
Sorry,
that was not for you.
362
00:21:40,868 --> 00:21:43,136
Swiss Air 111
was asking internally.
363
00:21:43,170 --> 00:21:43,971
Okay.
364
00:21:44,805 --> 00:21:48,108
Airspeed is decreasing below
306, level off speed here?
365
00:21:48,141 --> 00:21:50,210
Just fly the plane
as you see fit.
366
00:21:51,278 --> 00:21:55,549
Swiss Air 111, continue left
heading 1-8-0,
367
00:21:55,616 --> 00:21:58,352
you'll be off the coast
in about 15 miles.
368
00:21:58,385 --> 00:22:01,421
Left heading
one-eight-zero, roger.
369
00:22:01,455 --> 00:22:04,525
Swiss Air 111 and maintaining
at 10 000 feet.
370
00:22:04,558 --> 00:22:05,726
Roger.
371
00:22:05,759 --> 00:22:07,261
Cabin Bus off?
372
00:22:07,294 --> 00:22:08,495
Cabin Bus off, roger.
373
00:22:09,663 --> 00:22:13,033
The cabin bus switch
knocked out all the lighting
in the cabin.
374
00:22:13,066 --> 00:22:15,202
It was an indication
for the passengers
375
00:22:15,235 --> 00:22:18,472
that something was wrong,
but hardly alarming.
376
00:22:18,505 --> 00:22:22,543
Ladies and gentlemen,
we have temporarily lost
the lights in the cabin.
377
00:22:22,576 --> 00:22:25,112
Please, remain calm,
the crew will be coming around
378
00:22:25,179 --> 00:22:27,447
with flashlights
to assist in landing.
379
00:22:27,481 --> 00:22:30,184
Despite a cockpit
filled with smoke,
380
00:22:30,250 --> 00:22:33,053
there was still no trace
in the passenger cabin.
381
00:22:41,895 --> 00:22:45,866
You will be staying
within about 35, 40 miles
of the airport
382
00:22:45,933 --> 00:22:48,769
if you have to get back
to the airport in a hurry.
383
00:22:48,802 --> 00:22:50,704
Okay, that's fine with us.
384
00:22:50,737 --> 00:22:53,574
Please tell us when we can
start to dump the fuel.
385
00:22:55,542 --> 00:22:58,378
Suddenly, the aircraft
sent out a warning
386
00:22:58,445 --> 00:23:01,148
that the smoke was a sign
of a more serious problem.
387
00:23:01,181 --> 00:23:02,482
Autopilot disconnect.
388
00:23:02,516 --> 00:23:04,518
Copy that,
autopilot disconnect.
389
00:23:04,551 --> 00:23:05,485
Swiss Air 111...
390
00:23:05,552 --> 00:23:06,987
The autopilot disconnected
391
00:23:07,054 --> 00:23:10,157
because the plane's computers
sensed erratic readings.
392
00:23:10,190 --> 00:23:14,094
In the next 90 seconds,
those readings went haywire.
393
00:23:14,127 --> 00:23:17,264
11 000 and 9 000 feet!
394
00:23:17,297 --> 00:23:19,333
Swiss Air 111, you can block
395
00:23:19,399 --> 00:23:22,269
between 5 000 and 12 000
if you wish.
396
00:23:22,302 --> 00:23:24,905
Once by one,
the instruments failed.
397
00:23:24,938 --> 00:23:27,541
The calm in the cockpit
dissolved.
398
00:23:28,609 --> 00:23:33,947
Copy that! We are between
12 and 5 000 feet.
399
00:23:34,014 --> 00:23:36,183
We are declaring emergency now,
400
00:23:36,250 --> 00:23:40,220
Swiss Air 111,
at time zero-one-two-four.
401
00:23:41,088 --> 00:23:43,891
Then the two pilots spoke
simultaneously.
402
00:23:43,924 --> 00:23:46,960
Combined with other distractions
in the control room,
403
00:23:47,027 --> 00:23:49,563
Pickrell was unable to hear
a critical transmission:
404
00:23:49,630 --> 00:23:52,833
Loew's declaration that they
must land immediately.
405
00:23:52,866 --> 00:23:56,436
We are dumping fuel now.
We must land immediately!
406
00:23:56,470 --> 00:23:59,640
Swiss Air 111,
just a couple more miles.
I'll be right with you.
407
00:23:59,673 --> 00:24:01,074
Roger that.
408
00:24:01,108 --> 00:24:04,811
We are declaring emergency now,
Swiss Air 111.
409
00:24:07,381 --> 00:24:11,952
Missing this transmission
is a moment Bill Pickrell
relives today.
410
00:24:13,520 --> 00:24:14,955
I'm not sure
that it's a feeling
411
00:24:15,022 --> 00:24:17,491
that you can
adequately describe.
412
00:24:17,524 --> 00:24:21,028
I recall reviewing the events
of that night
413
00:24:21,094 --> 00:24:24,031
a thousand times to determine
414
00:24:24,097 --> 00:24:25,966
if there was
something additionally
415
00:24:25,999 --> 00:24:29,203
that I could have done or if
there was some mistake
416
00:24:29,269 --> 00:24:33,507
that I might have made
or was there any way that
I contributed to this.
417
00:24:33,540 --> 00:24:38,378
And eventually, I was able to
come to the point of realization
418
00:24:38,412 --> 00:24:40,480
that there wasn't anything
that I could have done.
419
00:24:40,547 --> 00:24:44,051
That... everything
that could have was done.
420
00:24:46,153 --> 00:24:49,156
Now, there was nothing
to do but wait.
421
00:24:59,032 --> 00:25:02,236
30 seconds after declaring
an emergency,
422
00:25:02,302 --> 00:25:05,873
the pilots of Swiss Air 111
faced an inferno.
423
00:25:06,773 --> 00:25:08,542
All my screens are down!
424
00:25:08,575 --> 00:25:12,346
I'm flying on standby
instruments, maintaining 300.
425
00:25:14,748 --> 00:25:18,151
Swiss Air 111, you are cleared
to commence your fuel dump
426
00:25:18,218 --> 00:25:21,255
on that track and advise me
when your dump is complete.
427
00:25:21,288 --> 00:25:23,824
Soon after I gave him
authorization
428
00:25:23,891 --> 00:25:27,594
to commence the fuel dump,
there was no acknowledgement.
429
00:25:27,661 --> 00:25:31,832
Initially, I wasn't concerned
by that because I considered
430
00:25:31,899 --> 00:25:35,035
that he was probably
doing the fuel dump.
431
00:25:35,068 --> 00:25:37,037
He was reviewing a checklist.
432
00:25:37,070 --> 00:25:40,641
He was busy doing things,
and as per our training,
433
00:25:40,707 --> 00:25:43,410
we're told not to bother
the pilots
434
00:25:43,477 --> 00:25:45,078
in those kinds of situations.
435
00:25:49,917 --> 00:25:53,253
Swiss Air 111, check.
You're cleared to start
the fuel dump.
436
00:26:12,139 --> 00:26:15,342
There was no further
communication from the aircraft.
437
00:26:23,217 --> 00:26:26,787
Six minutes later,
residents of Peggy's Cove
438
00:26:26,854 --> 00:26:29,489
heard a devastating explosion.
439
00:26:48,175 --> 00:26:51,879
No one knew what had happened
to 229 people
440
00:26:51,945 --> 00:26:54,414
after six minutes of silence.
441
00:27:00,020 --> 00:27:02,956
It was probably one
of the most helpless feelings
442
00:27:03,023 --> 00:27:04,925
that any individual can have,
443
00:27:04,992 --> 00:27:07,027
not being able to do anything,
444
00:27:07,094 --> 00:27:08,862
but just sit and watch
the target
445
00:27:08,929 --> 00:27:11,598
and hope that it would turn back
toward the airport.
446
00:27:12,299 --> 00:27:13,934
And of course,
it didn't.
447
00:27:30,083 --> 00:27:32,853
The following morning,
would-be rescuers
448
00:27:32,920 --> 00:27:36,156
glimpsed the terrible remains
of Swiss Air 111.
449
00:27:36,190 --> 00:27:39,459
Only one body
was discovered intact.
450
00:27:57,711 --> 00:28:00,614
In Geneva, Ian Shaw
had a premonition
451
00:28:00,681 --> 00:28:03,350
about his 23-year-old
daughter Stephanie.
452
00:28:05,953 --> 00:28:09,156
That night, the night
on which she was due to return,
453
00:28:09,223 --> 00:28:11,859
for reasons I can't explain
even now,
454
00:28:11,925 --> 00:28:14,027
I was restless
and I was disturbed
455
00:28:14,094 --> 00:28:18,131
and I slept early and woke
456
00:28:18,198 --> 00:28:20,400
while my wife was still awake
457
00:28:20,467 --> 00:28:22,236
and asked her if she had
had news of Stephanie.
458
00:28:22,269 --> 00:28:25,439
No, she had not,
but she didn't expect
to have news of Stephanie,
459
00:28:25,506 --> 00:28:27,441
we knew she was coming
on that flight
460
00:28:27,474 --> 00:28:30,043
and that she would certainly
expect me to be at the airport
461
00:28:30,110 --> 00:28:31,545
to fetch her in the morning.
462
00:28:31,578 --> 00:28:35,215
I awoke around 6:00,
Geneva time,
463
00:28:35,282 --> 00:28:38,352
and on television,
there was a report
464
00:28:38,418 --> 00:28:41,088
of the crash of Swiss Air 111.
465
00:28:41,788 --> 00:28:45,192
And I knew instantaneously that
we had lost our daughter.
466
00:28:48,061 --> 00:28:51,498
Air traffic controller
Bill Pickrell was in shock.
467
00:28:54,434 --> 00:28:56,236
It's a strange experience.
468
00:28:56,270 --> 00:29:00,073
I'm not sure that
I can adequately express
the feelings. But it's...
469
00:29:01,909 --> 00:29:04,945
You work to provide a service
470
00:29:05,012 --> 00:29:09,883
and you read about aircraft
flying into a mountain
471
00:29:09,950 --> 00:29:12,753
or ending up in a swamp
in some distant country,
472
00:29:12,819 --> 00:29:15,856
but you never expect
that it's going to happen
in your backyard.
473
00:29:15,889 --> 00:29:17,891
And when it does, it's...
474
00:29:19,459 --> 00:29:22,129
...it's kind of
a lonely experience,
I guess, in one sense.
475
00:29:24,398 --> 00:29:27,100
The Transportation
Safety Board of Canada
476
00:29:27,167 --> 00:29:30,137
launched what would become the
largest disaster investigation
477
00:29:30,204 --> 00:29:32,372
in the nation's history.
478
00:29:33,674 --> 00:29:37,578
They only knew Swiss Air 111
experienced a cockpit fire,
479
00:29:37,644 --> 00:29:40,447
but what caused it
remained a mystery.
480
00:29:46,386 --> 00:29:49,289
Well, this accident
was a challenging one
481
00:29:49,356 --> 00:29:51,925
to investigate
in that initially, of course,
482
00:29:51,992 --> 00:29:57,564
we had to recover the aircraft
from about 55 metres of water,
483
00:29:57,631 --> 00:29:59,399
around 185 feet.
484
00:30:00,267 --> 00:30:03,270
Of course, it was also
in many pieces,
485
00:30:03,337 --> 00:30:07,107
as it turns out,
it was in a couple
of million pieces.
486
00:30:07,140 --> 00:30:09,409
So that was
the initial challenge.
487
00:30:09,443 --> 00:30:11,512
And then after that, of course,
488
00:30:11,578 --> 00:30:15,482
when you have so many pieces,
you need to determine
489
00:30:15,549 --> 00:30:17,451
which are the relevant ones
490
00:30:17,518 --> 00:30:19,353
and what are these pieces
telling you,
491
00:30:19,419 --> 00:30:21,188
about what happened and why.
492
00:30:25,192 --> 00:30:28,562
The TSB embarked
on a five-stage plan.
493
00:30:28,595 --> 00:30:32,533
First, divers were deployed
to survey the wreckage.
494
00:30:34,067 --> 00:30:35,869
They discover that the plane
495
00:30:35,903 --> 00:30:37,804
was smashed into
millions of pieces.
496
00:30:38,839 --> 00:30:40,774
But as the autumn
weather worsened,
497
00:30:40,841 --> 00:30:42,976
the risks to divers increased.
498
00:30:43,577 --> 00:30:47,347
At this rate, the salvage would
take years to complete.
499
00:30:55,722 --> 00:30:57,257
Stage two.
500
00:30:57,291 --> 00:30:59,293
With help from
the United States Navy,
501
00:30:59,359 --> 00:31:02,596
Remote Operated Vehicles began
a more detailed search.
502
00:31:02,629 --> 00:31:06,400
The ROV's helped investigators
survey the site.
503
00:31:07,000 --> 00:31:08,735
But the question remained:
504
00:31:08,802 --> 00:31:11,672
how to recover tiny pieces
of twisted metal
505
00:31:11,738 --> 00:31:13,340
from the bottom of the sea.
506
00:31:14,341 --> 00:31:18,545
We have to go through little
bits of airplane, pieces.
507
00:31:18,579 --> 00:31:22,416
In Swiss Air, we had about
two million pieces of airplane
508
00:31:22,482 --> 00:31:25,452
and we pretty much almost had
to look at them all,
509
00:31:25,519 --> 00:31:28,388
because we had to discredit
certain things:
510
00:31:28,455 --> 00:31:32,459
terrorists, bombs,
various other types of faults.
511
00:31:34,962 --> 00:31:38,398
The TSB's investigators
finally got the breakthrough
512
00:31:38,432 --> 00:31:40,868
they'd been seeking,
the black boxes.
513
00:31:42,369 --> 00:31:44,938
Recordings of cockpit
and computer data
514
00:31:45,005 --> 00:31:47,441
told investigators
that everything on the plane
515
00:31:47,508 --> 00:31:50,410
was working perfectly
until the last few minutes.
516
00:31:51,812 --> 00:31:53,814
When the crew declared
the Pan Pan Pan,
517
00:31:53,881 --> 00:31:55,449
that they had smoke
in the cockpit,
518
00:31:55,516 --> 00:31:58,051
after going through
all of these parameters,
519
00:31:58,118 --> 00:32:03,023
we found no anomalies,
no problems in any
of the flight data
520
00:32:03,090 --> 00:32:05,492
that suggested there was
a problem with the aircraft.
521
00:32:05,559 --> 00:32:06,927
So this led us to believe
522
00:32:06,994 --> 00:32:10,531
that the crew had a relatively
operational aircraft.
523
00:32:10,564 --> 00:32:14,468
Aside from the smoke
in the cockpit that they noted,
524
00:32:14,535 --> 00:32:17,237
everything else appeared
to be working fine.
525
00:32:17,271 --> 00:32:22,309
And as they were making their
plan to descend the aircraft,
526
00:32:22,376 --> 00:32:25,112
they experienced a series
of systems failures
527
00:32:25,179 --> 00:32:28,015
that were in rapid succession
and exponential.
528
00:32:28,048 --> 00:32:30,117
Copy that.
Autopilot disconnect.
529
00:32:30,150 --> 00:32:33,453
Swiss Air 111,
we must fly manually now.
530
00:32:33,487 --> 00:32:37,691
Mike Poole's CVR team
then faced a serious setback.
531
00:32:37,724 --> 00:32:41,895
The last six minutes on both
flight recorders were missing.
532
00:32:42,529 --> 00:32:44,898
You're losing systems rapidly
on the airplane
533
00:32:44,932 --> 00:32:47,968
in that 90-second period when
things are happening very fast.
534
00:32:48,669 --> 00:32:51,839
And one of the last things
we knew about
535
00:32:51,872 --> 00:32:53,473
was the two recorders
went off-line.
536
00:32:53,507 --> 00:32:57,144
So the fire has presumably
breached the lines,
537
00:32:57,211 --> 00:33:01,615
breached the sources to these
recorders and has stopped them.
538
00:33:02,516 --> 00:33:04,418
With the failure
of the black boxes,
539
00:33:04,484 --> 00:33:08,555
investigators were no closer
to learning how, or where,
540
00:33:08,622 --> 00:33:11,892
the fire started
on Swiss Air 111.
541
00:33:17,364 --> 00:33:18,832
Stage Three.
542
00:33:18,866 --> 00:33:22,603
Barges were deployed to scour
the seabed for evidence.
543
00:33:28,242 --> 00:33:33,413
One by one, sad remnants of the
airplane reach the surface.
544
00:33:35,883 --> 00:33:37,951
Her engines were recovered.
545
00:33:40,521 --> 00:33:42,222
Then the landing gear.
546
00:33:43,023 --> 00:33:45,192
These were among
the largest pieces
547
00:33:45,225 --> 00:33:47,995
of Swiss Air 111
to be recovered.
548
00:33:48,996 --> 00:33:51,431
The rest were mere fragments,
549
00:33:51,498 --> 00:33:54,701
dredged up in a painfully
slow process.
550
00:33:58,472 --> 00:33:59,940
Stage Four.
551
00:33:59,973 --> 00:34:02,976
A nearby military hangar
provided a makeshift lab
552
00:34:03,043 --> 00:34:05,879
for the growing team
of forensic investigators.
553
00:34:06,813 --> 00:34:10,350
Representatives from
the American NTSB, Boeing,
554
00:34:10,417 --> 00:34:13,153
Swiss Air, and the Royal
Canadian Mounted Police
555
00:34:13,220 --> 00:34:15,389
joined in the search
for answers.
556
00:34:20,194 --> 00:34:23,564
Pieces of Swiss Air 111
arrive by the truckload,
557
00:34:23,630 --> 00:34:27,034
organised into various
categories for analysis.
558
00:34:28,268 --> 00:34:30,771
Soon, the hangar was stacked
to capacity
559
00:34:30,838 --> 00:34:34,074
with the biggest jigsaw
puzzle in aviation history.
560
00:34:36,410 --> 00:34:39,046
All the investigators
knew for sure
561
00:34:39,079 --> 00:34:41,615
was that an initially
small cockpit fire
562
00:34:41,682 --> 00:34:44,384
suddenly turned to catastrophe.
563
00:34:49,857 --> 00:34:53,827
The team sorted through
nearly 155 miles of wiring
564
00:34:53,894 --> 00:34:56,597
retrieved from the wreckage
of Swiss Air 111.
565
00:34:57,264 --> 00:34:59,967
Here, the first real clue.
566
00:35:00,000 --> 00:35:02,536
Evidence of electrical arcing.
567
00:35:06,139 --> 00:35:09,543
Scorch marks on metal reveal
that the source of the fire
568
00:35:09,610 --> 00:35:13,747
was in the back
of the cockpit directly
behind the first officer.
569
00:35:17,751 --> 00:35:20,521
By examining the aircraft's
wiring plans,
570
00:35:20,587 --> 00:35:23,357
investigators found
a likely suspect:
571
00:35:23,423 --> 00:35:26,159
the entertainment system
in first-class.
572
00:35:26,193 --> 00:35:28,462
The system had some
major deficiencies.
573
00:35:28,495 --> 00:35:30,330
It was getting very hot,
574
00:35:30,397 --> 00:35:32,165
it drew a lot of power.
575
00:35:33,567 --> 00:35:38,539
And thereby, for example,
raising the cabin temperature
576
00:35:38,572 --> 00:35:41,842
considerably, because it was
always running.
577
00:35:43,510 --> 00:35:45,712
They did not install
a simple off switch.
578
00:35:46,413 --> 00:35:50,951
Nor did they install appropriate
cooling systems
579
00:35:51,018 --> 00:35:52,419
to cool the system down.
580
00:35:52,986 --> 00:35:55,556
The TSB's investigators
finally thought
581
00:35:55,622 --> 00:35:57,658
they had the breakthrough
they'd been seeking.
582
00:35:57,691 --> 00:36:01,895
Our report indicates
that there was a design flaw
583
00:36:01,962 --> 00:36:05,499
in the way the in-flight
entertainment network installed
584
00:36:05,566 --> 00:36:07,901
in the first-class and
business-class sections
585
00:36:07,968 --> 00:36:09,469
of the aircraft were installed,
586
00:36:09,536 --> 00:36:13,140
integrated into the electrical
system of the airplane.
587
00:36:14,141 --> 00:36:16,977
When Captain Zimmerman
threw the cabin bus switch,
588
00:36:17,044 --> 00:36:20,480
all power to the cabin should
have been switched off.
589
00:36:20,514 --> 00:36:24,785
But the entertainment system
remained on, over-heating.
590
00:36:25,586 --> 00:36:27,421
If you'd ask most pilots,
they would say,
591
00:36:27,454 --> 00:36:29,323
"Well, if I pushed
the cabin bus switch,
592
00:36:29,389 --> 00:36:31,592
it's going to turn off
the things behind the cockpit.
593
00:36:31,625 --> 00:36:33,994
It's going to isolate
that electrically for me,
594
00:36:34,061 --> 00:36:35,929
so that I don't have to worry
about that,
595
00:36:35,996 --> 00:36:38,065
and then I can just concentrate
on those things
596
00:36:38,131 --> 00:36:40,534
that might affect me
flying the airplane."
597
00:36:41,401 --> 00:36:45,672
Well, it turns out
that this switch
598
00:36:45,739 --> 00:36:47,908
was kind of bypassed,
in this case,
599
00:36:47,975 --> 00:36:51,345
for this IFE
or entertainment system.
600
00:36:51,378 --> 00:36:54,915
Swiss Air immediately disabled
the entertainment systems
601
00:36:54,982 --> 00:36:56,650
on the rest of its fleet.
602
00:36:56,683 --> 00:36:59,386
And the US National
Transportation Safety Board
603
00:36:59,453 --> 00:37:03,557
ordered an inspection of
cockpit wiring on all MD-11s.
604
00:37:03,590 --> 00:37:07,361
Unfortunately, this simple
solution proved insufficient.
605
00:37:07,394 --> 00:37:10,264
By the time that cabin switch
was turned off,
606
00:37:10,330 --> 00:37:12,766
the fire was well under way,
607
00:37:12,833 --> 00:37:18,539
so that had no real bearing
on the initiation
608
00:37:18,572 --> 00:37:22,009
or propagation of the fire
on the Swiss Air 111 aircraft.
609
00:37:23,577 --> 00:37:26,280
But investigators determined
that the problem
610
00:37:26,346 --> 00:37:28,282
with the entertainment
system alone
611
00:37:28,315 --> 00:37:31,351
could not have brought down
Swiss Air 111.
612
00:37:33,687 --> 00:37:36,256
The search for answers
continued.
613
00:37:40,561 --> 00:37:42,029
Stage Five.
614
00:37:42,062 --> 00:37:46,767
Undaunted, the TSB reconstructed
the MD-11 from the wreckage.
615
00:37:46,800 --> 00:37:50,537
A wire-frame mock-up they call
"the jig" provided a spine
616
00:37:50,604 --> 00:37:53,874
for placing tiny pieces
back where they once belonged.
617
00:37:56,543 --> 00:37:59,079
The reconstruction revealed
that the fire spread
618
00:37:59,112 --> 00:38:01,348
with alarming speed,
from the cockpit,
619
00:38:01,415 --> 00:38:03,884
back into
the first-class galleys.
620
00:38:03,917 --> 00:38:06,420
Some metal showed heat damage
from temperatures
621
00:38:06,486 --> 00:38:09,389
as high as 600 degrees
centigrade.
622
00:38:13,393 --> 00:38:15,696
As the investigation continued,
623
00:38:15,762 --> 00:38:18,031
some argued that the actions
of the pilots
624
00:38:18,098 --> 00:38:20,501
may have contributed
to the disaster.
625
00:38:24,538 --> 00:38:28,008
Some experts charged
that Zimmerman and Loew's
by-the-book approach,
626
00:38:28,041 --> 00:38:29,776
may have cost them their lives.
627
00:38:29,810 --> 00:38:32,246
...Swiss Air 111
was asking internally.
628
00:38:32,946 --> 00:38:36,049
Some operators emphasize,
in the very early stage,
629
00:38:36,116 --> 00:38:37,951
land as soon as possible,
630
00:38:38,018 --> 00:38:40,320
and then if you have time,
go into the checklist.
631
00:38:40,354 --> 00:38:43,790
Others say: use the checklist,
632
00:38:43,857 --> 00:38:45,492
and at the end
of the checklist,
633
00:38:45,559 --> 00:38:48,562
if that doesn't help,
then land as soon as possible.
634
00:38:50,397 --> 00:38:53,901
Pretty contradictory
to basic flying instructions
635
00:38:53,967 --> 00:38:56,837
where student pilots
636
00:38:56,904 --> 00:39:00,908
learn at a very early stage
that whenever you have smoke,
637
00:39:00,974 --> 00:39:04,411
you have a fire and fire
means land as soon as possible.
638
00:39:04,945 --> 00:39:07,147
Emergency light switch on.
639
00:39:07,214 --> 00:39:08,882
Emergency light switch on.
640
00:39:08,949 --> 00:39:10,384
Unfortunately, in this case,
641
00:39:10,450 --> 00:39:12,252
the way the checklist
was written,
642
00:39:12,319 --> 00:39:16,790
it didn't identify that,
"Now, start towards a divert."
643
00:39:16,823 --> 00:39:20,227
It started more on,
"Let's try to see if we can
solve the problem."
644
00:39:21,361 --> 00:39:22,796
And...
645
00:39:22,863 --> 00:39:24,198
So now all of a sudden,
646
00:39:24,231 --> 00:39:26,366
you're taking on a problem that
just kind of crept up on you.
647
00:39:26,400 --> 00:39:27,501
You weren't expecting it.
648
00:39:30,304 --> 00:39:31,672
We're gonna need more
than 30 miles...
649
00:39:31,738 --> 00:39:34,808
But the TSB considered
the timeline.
650
00:39:34,875 --> 00:39:38,145
Investigators determine
that Swiss Air 111
651
00:39:38,178 --> 00:39:42,182
would not have made Halifax
airport under any circumstances.
652
00:39:42,216 --> 00:39:44,218
There just wasn't enough time.
653
00:39:46,220 --> 00:39:47,654
In our calculation...
654
00:39:48,655 --> 00:39:54,194
we showed that starting
at the ideal decent point,
655
00:39:54,261 --> 00:39:57,798
from 33,000 feet, which was
656
00:39:57,865 --> 00:40:02,569
at about 10:14 PM that night,
657
00:40:02,603 --> 00:40:05,138
it would take some 13 minutes
658
00:40:05,172 --> 00:40:07,040
to get the airplane
onto the ground.
659
00:40:07,074 --> 00:40:09,977
Which would take us to 10:27 PM.
660
00:40:10,010 --> 00:40:15,816
By 10:24, the systems
in the aircraft
661
00:40:15,849 --> 00:40:17,918
were starting to deteriorate.
662
00:40:17,951 --> 00:40:21,588
So we believe that under
these circumstances,
663
00:40:21,655 --> 00:40:24,124
the crew would not have been
able to successfully
664
00:40:24,157 --> 00:40:26,793
land the airplane
under those conditions
665
00:40:26,860 --> 00:40:28,729
with the amount of time
that they had.
666
00:40:29,763 --> 00:40:32,199
Whatever caused the fire
on Swiss Air,
667
00:40:32,266 --> 00:40:34,668
it happened at a lethal speed.
668
00:40:35,269 --> 00:40:37,371
The mystery remained.
669
00:40:44,511 --> 00:40:48,882
A year passed, then another
ambitious operation began.
670
00:40:56,423 --> 00:41:00,160
The TSB hired a sophisticated
Dutch salvage ship,
671
00:41:00,227 --> 00:41:01,862
Queen of the Netherlands.
672
00:41:06,400 --> 00:41:09,136
The vessel has
a gigantic vacuum system,
673
00:41:09,203 --> 00:41:11,872
capable of dredging
even the tiniest pieces
674
00:41:11,939 --> 00:41:14,174
of Swiss Air 111
from the ocean floor.
675
00:41:16,376 --> 00:41:19,279
A mixture of sea water,
silt and aircraft
676
00:41:19,346 --> 00:41:21,248
were pumped into
the ship's hold.
677
00:41:24,685 --> 00:41:29,423
This cargo was then pumped
into a specially-constructed
reservoir on shore.
678
00:41:31,658 --> 00:41:33,527
When the water drained away,
679
00:41:33,594 --> 00:41:37,331
investigators found another
million pieces of the aircraft.
680
00:41:38,699 --> 00:41:43,036
Any one of them may have held
the clue to what caused
the catastrophic fire.
681
00:41:44,338 --> 00:41:47,474
The pain-staking sorting
once again resumed.
682
00:41:55,949 --> 00:41:58,218
Finally, after 15 months,
683
00:41:58,285 --> 00:42:00,654
they found what
they'd been seeking:
684
00:42:00,721 --> 00:42:03,223
A single faulty wire.
685
00:42:07,094 --> 00:42:11,098
We looked at all of the
possible sources of heat
686
00:42:11,164 --> 00:42:14,168
that might start a fire
in that area.
687
00:42:14,201 --> 00:42:18,839
And in this instance,
we did discover a wire
688
00:42:18,906 --> 00:42:22,709
that arced in that way
and right next to it
689
00:42:22,776 --> 00:42:25,913
was some very flammable material
690
00:42:25,979 --> 00:42:29,116
called Metalized Polyethylene
Terrathalate,
691
00:42:29,149 --> 00:42:33,820
covering material, that covers
the insulation blankets.
692
00:42:33,854 --> 00:42:37,624
This polyethylene insulate
which lined the MD-11
693
00:42:37,691 --> 00:42:40,160
is common on commercial
airlines worldwide.
694
00:42:40,961 --> 00:42:43,797
It has passed the industry's
flammability tests
695
00:42:43,864 --> 00:42:46,633
that require materials
to self-extinguish
696
00:42:46,700 --> 00:42:49,169
after a reasonable
period of time.
697
00:42:53,240 --> 00:42:56,276
The investigation now took
an abrupt turn.
698
00:42:56,343 --> 00:42:58,979
Instead of seeking
the cause of the fire,
699
00:42:59,046 --> 00:43:03,383
the TSB now focussed
on the flammable materials
that fuelled it.
700
00:43:04,384 --> 00:43:06,653
The thermo-acoustical
material that was
701
00:43:06,720 --> 00:43:09,456
in this aircraft
was very flammable.
702
00:43:09,489 --> 00:43:11,425
Even though it passed a test,
703
00:43:11,491 --> 00:43:13,994
it does sustain and it does
propagate flame.
704
00:43:14,061 --> 00:43:18,599
So this investigation did focus
on the flammability of materials
705
00:43:18,665 --> 00:43:23,270
and the requirement
to reassess the criteria
706
00:43:23,303 --> 00:43:26,406
that is used
to certify materials.
707
00:43:26,440 --> 00:43:29,843
Not just thermal acoustical
insulation blanket materials,
708
00:43:29,910 --> 00:43:33,847
but also other materials
that goes into aircraft,
709
00:43:33,914 --> 00:43:35,983
much of it in hidden areas.
710
00:43:36,984 --> 00:43:39,586
Investigators now
had their answer.
711
00:43:39,620 --> 00:43:42,756
A wire arced in a closed
space behind the cockpit.
712
00:43:42,789 --> 00:43:45,259
The arc ignited the insulation
713
00:43:45,325 --> 00:43:47,327
which in turn
lit other materials,
714
00:43:47,394 --> 00:43:49,796
such as foams and plastics.
715
00:43:50,564 --> 00:43:54,701
The pilots could not sense how
quickly the fire intensified.
716
00:43:54,735 --> 00:43:58,005
But 14 minutes after
they declared "pan pan pan",
717
00:43:58,071 --> 00:44:01,308
the fire disabled
all electronics in the cockpit.
718
00:44:01,341 --> 00:44:03,277
The black boxes went dead.
719
00:44:04,811 --> 00:44:07,648
A forensic examination
also shed light
720
00:44:07,714 --> 00:44:10,184
on the desperate
final minutes in the cockpit.
721
00:44:11,018 --> 00:44:14,254
Loew was in his seat.
Captain Zimmerman was not.
722
00:44:14,288 --> 00:44:18,859
Likely fighting the fire and
probably dead before impact.
723
00:44:18,892 --> 00:44:22,329
The first officer was probably
trying to find a place
724
00:44:22,396 --> 00:44:24,131
where he could put
this big airplane.
725
00:44:25,065 --> 00:44:26,900
He just didn't have
a lot going for him.
726
00:44:26,934 --> 00:44:29,837
He didn't have a lot
of instrumentation left.
727
00:44:29,870 --> 00:44:32,372
And I'm sure he was
looking for something,
728
00:44:32,439 --> 00:44:34,908
some indication that would
give him an idea
729
00:44:34,975 --> 00:44:36,610
where he could put
the airplane down,
730
00:44:36,677 --> 00:44:38,278
maybe even ditch the airplane.
731
00:44:39,313 --> 00:44:42,549
What is known is that the
first officer was in his seat.
732
00:44:44,151 --> 00:44:47,721
Whether he was unconscious,
733
00:44:47,788 --> 00:44:53,360
conscious, maybe had severe
degree burns on his skin.
734
00:44:53,393 --> 00:44:54,695
It's not known.
735
00:44:54,728 --> 00:44:57,030
We know the captain
was not in his seat,
736
00:44:57,097 --> 00:45:00,367
so very likely,
he was trying to fight the fire.
737
00:45:02,202 --> 00:45:06,039
The checklists were found, uh...
738
00:45:07,140 --> 00:45:09,843
...molten together, the pages.
739
00:45:09,877 --> 00:45:14,014
It indicates they were used
to fight a fire.
740
00:45:14,047 --> 00:45:18,986
At 10:30, Halifax time,
Loew shut down engine 2.
741
00:45:19,019 --> 00:45:22,055
Investigators determined that
he probably received a warning
742
00:45:22,089 --> 00:45:24,091
the engine was on fire.
743
00:45:26,393 --> 00:45:28,428
Chillingly, it proved that Loew
744
00:45:28,495 --> 00:45:30,797
was alive a minute
before impact.
745
00:45:33,534 --> 00:45:35,569
They could not determine
whether the passengers
746
00:45:35,602 --> 00:45:40,440
were aware of the fire, at least
until the very final moments.
747
00:45:41,475 --> 00:45:44,478
There were traces found
of soot and smoke,
748
00:45:44,545 --> 00:45:49,516
extending as far as the business
class, overhead area.
749
00:45:49,550 --> 00:45:52,252
Whether... the passengers
750
00:45:52,319 --> 00:45:54,354
had smelled the smoke,
it is not known.
751
00:45:55,489 --> 00:46:00,761
DNA analysis showed that they
had no residue in their body.
752
00:46:02,329 --> 00:46:06,266
The aircraft hit the water
with a force of 350 Gs.
753
00:46:16,743 --> 00:46:19,479
The TSB spent
four and a half years
754
00:46:19,546 --> 00:46:21,448
and 40 million US dollars
755
00:46:21,515 --> 00:46:24,384
analyzing the wreckage
of Swiss Air 111,
756
00:46:24,451 --> 00:46:28,355
the largest
air disaster investigation
in Canada's history.
757
00:46:29,223 --> 00:46:32,526
Their conclusion:
Flammable materials
758
00:46:32,593 --> 00:46:35,262
do not belong
on commercial aircraft.
759
00:46:35,295 --> 00:46:38,232
The rate of progression
in this airplane, I think,
760
00:46:38,298 --> 00:46:40,400
surprised us
and surprised others
761
00:46:40,434 --> 00:46:43,570
and that's why
we emphasize again
762
00:46:43,637 --> 00:46:47,541
the importance
of raising the bar
763
00:46:47,608 --> 00:46:49,643
on the flammability standards
764
00:46:49,710 --> 00:46:51,912
for materials used in airplanes.
765
00:46:53,347 --> 00:46:56,984
Ian Shaw waited four years
for the report to reveal
766
00:46:57,017 --> 00:47:00,420
the fatal flaw that took
the life of his daughter.
767
00:47:00,454 --> 00:47:03,924
The truth has not diminished
his anger at Swiss Air.
768
00:47:05,759 --> 00:47:07,828
There has to be
accountability.
769
00:47:08,462 --> 00:47:10,464
If you are involved
in wrongdoing,
770
00:47:10,531 --> 00:47:13,867
you must be held accountable.
771
00:47:15,269 --> 00:47:20,774
And you must declare your
sense of responsibility.
772
00:47:20,807 --> 00:47:23,577
Otherwise, you are hiding.
773
00:47:23,610 --> 00:47:26,046
And you are hiding,
in this case,
774
00:47:26,079 --> 00:47:28,582
behind the flag of Switzerland.
I think it's unbelievable.
775
00:47:30,250 --> 00:47:33,387
In the aftermath,
Swiss Air decided to remove
776
00:47:33,453 --> 00:47:36,290
the flammable insulate
from its entire fleet.
777
00:47:36,323 --> 00:47:39,393
They also made changes
to checklist procedure,
778
00:47:39,459 --> 00:47:43,130
reducing response time
in a cockpit smoke emergency.
779
00:47:44,431 --> 00:47:46,533
Swiss Air did something
very interesting,
780
00:47:46,600 --> 00:47:49,303
they modified their entire
Swiss Air 11 fleet
781
00:47:49,336 --> 00:47:50,704
according to all these findings.
782
00:47:50,737 --> 00:47:52,706
They built in cameras
and smoke detectors
783
00:47:52,773 --> 00:47:54,808
even into hidden areas...
784
00:47:54,842 --> 00:47:57,778
where pilots have
a little TV monitor
785
00:47:57,845 --> 00:48:00,981
and they can see whenever
there is a smoke warning,
786
00:48:01,014 --> 00:48:03,450
which makes them all
help gain time,
787
00:48:03,517 --> 00:48:05,652
and that's most important
when you have a case of...
788
00:48:05,719 --> 00:48:06,820
when you have a fire.
789
00:48:08,455 --> 00:48:10,624
Plagued with
financial problems,
790
00:48:10,657 --> 00:48:13,193
the mighty Swiss Air
shocked the industry
791
00:48:13,260 --> 00:48:17,130
when it declared bankruptcy
in October, 2001.
792
00:48:23,770 --> 00:48:27,307
The flammable insulation
that set Swiss Air ablaze
793
00:48:27,374 --> 00:48:30,844
remains in two-thirds
of commercial airplanes today.
794
00:48:32,079 --> 00:48:34,481
But not for very much longer.
795
00:48:34,515 --> 00:48:38,018
The Metalized Polyethylene
Terrethalate material
796
00:48:38,085 --> 00:48:42,189
has been essentially banned
from aircraft
797
00:48:42,256 --> 00:48:45,859
and the criteria to certify
that kind of material
798
00:48:45,926 --> 00:48:50,097
for use in airplanes
has been worked on.
799
00:48:50,130 --> 00:48:54,301
It has not been
put into law as yet,
800
00:48:54,368 --> 00:48:57,004
but we look forward
to that being done.
801
00:48:57,037 --> 00:48:58,705
So the criteria
is more stringent.
802
00:48:59,740 --> 00:49:02,242
The US Federal Aviation
Administration
803
00:49:02,309 --> 00:49:04,878
has given a deadline of 2005
804
00:49:04,945 --> 00:49:08,315
to remove the material
from all commercial aircraft.
805
00:49:08,348 --> 00:49:11,185
This major overhaul
is designed to ensure
806
00:49:11,251 --> 00:49:15,889
that what took place on Swiss
Air 111 will never happen again.
807
00:49:15,923 --> 00:49:17,858
The industry is trying
to remove it,
808
00:49:17,925 --> 00:49:21,061
but I don't think they're
removing it as quickly,
809
00:49:21,128 --> 00:49:22,896
necessarily, as they could.
810
00:49:22,930 --> 00:49:24,765
There's always that battle.
811
00:49:24,798 --> 00:49:28,335
How expensive is it to do
something that's a replacement,
812
00:49:28,402 --> 00:49:30,304
or are you going to replace it
in an airplane
813
00:49:30,337 --> 00:49:33,106
that you're going to throw away
in another couple years.
814
00:49:33,140 --> 00:49:36,076
We have to live within certain
economic realities.
815
00:49:41,682 --> 00:49:44,218
For Ian Shaw,
losing his daughter
816
00:49:44,284 --> 00:49:48,422
so suddenly and violently has
left a permanent emotional scar.
817
00:49:49,590 --> 00:49:53,160
He left his wife and his wealth
behind in Geneva,
818
00:49:53,227 --> 00:49:56,263
and now runs a modest
restaurant in Nova Scotia,
819
00:49:56,330 --> 00:49:59,433
in view of the sea,
where his daughter died.
820
00:50:03,170 --> 00:50:07,407
Why would I come here to this
particular point in Nova Scotia?
821
00:50:07,441 --> 00:50:10,410
A lot of people have said,
"Oh yes, we fully understand,
822
00:50:10,477 --> 00:50:12,880
you want to be close...
823
00:50:12,946 --> 00:50:17,251
to your daughter and the point
where the plane crashed."
824
00:50:17,284 --> 00:50:20,354
That is no part
of my being here.
825
00:50:20,387 --> 00:50:23,624
Swiss Air ripped out of me
826
00:50:23,690 --> 00:50:25,993
any possibility
of proximity to my daughter.
827
00:50:27,261 --> 00:50:32,099
I found a comfort
in the awareness
828
00:50:32,165 --> 00:50:35,502
of the presence
of the eternal ocean,
829
00:50:35,569 --> 00:50:38,972
the ocean which has been going
backwards and forwards
830
00:50:39,039 --> 00:50:41,875
for many, many, many thousands
and millions of years.
831
00:50:42,876 --> 00:50:46,280
I came here because I had to.
832
00:50:47,648 --> 00:50:48,882
Um, I...
833
00:50:50,317 --> 00:50:55,989
I can't give a fully
rational declaration
834
00:50:56,023 --> 00:50:59,026
to you of why I came here.
835
00:50:59,893 --> 00:51:01,695
I can only say to you
836
00:51:01,728 --> 00:51:04,198
I am in the right place
for the wrong reasons.
837
00:51:30,891 --> 00:51:33,193
difuze