1
00:00:01,208 --> 00:00:02,416
3000.
2
00:00:03,658 --> 00:00:05,005
We're not getting any oxygen.
3
00:00:05,108 --> 00:00:07,317
We have the terrain alarm.
4
00:00:07,421 --> 00:00:09,285
We are in an emergency.
5
00:00:23,368 --> 00:00:26,198
What's the worst
that could happen on
an airplane?
6
00:00:26,302 --> 00:00:27,337
Maybe this.
7
00:00:30,444 --> 00:00:32,411
There's not enough oxygen
to survive up here.
8
00:00:35,759 --> 00:00:37,623
A freezing wind
of hurricane force
9
00:00:37,727 --> 00:00:39,004
is roaring through the cabin.
10
00:00:39,108 --> 00:00:41,489
- Aloha 243!
- The flight crew call
"Mayday"...
11
00:00:41,593 --> 00:00:43,146
but nobody hears.
12
00:00:43,250 --> 00:00:46,287
And the airplane
is headed for a mountain.
13
00:00:47,116 --> 00:00:48,910
It sounds like a nightmare.
14
00:00:49,152 --> 00:00:52,121
For everyone aboard Aloha
Airlines Flight 243
15
00:00:52,224 --> 00:00:54,019
this is no nightmare...
16
00:00:54,123 --> 00:00:55,262
It's reality.
17
00:00:55,365 --> 00:00:57,436
Aloha 243, you still up?
18
00:00:57,540 --> 00:00:59,921
When crash detectives
discover what happened,
19
00:01:00,163 --> 00:01:02,200
their verdict shakes
the airline business.
20
00:01:02,303 --> 00:01:04,340
This accident changed
aviation history.
21
00:01:12,141 --> 00:01:14,695
Some people choose to
trespass in that narrow space
22
00:01:14,798 --> 00:01:16,869
between life and death.
23
00:01:17,732 --> 00:01:19,700
It's a scary place to be.
24
00:01:20,494 --> 00:01:21,736
Surfers get there...
25
00:01:21,840 --> 00:01:23,669
by chasing killer waves.
26
00:01:25,326 --> 00:01:28,122
Just occasionally, fate puts
ordinary people
27
00:01:28,226 --> 00:01:31,401
not just thrill seekers
into that same deadly zone
28
00:01:31,505 --> 00:01:33,748
where life hangs by a thread.
29
00:01:35,440 --> 00:01:40,030
On the afternoon of April 28th,
1988, it will happen...
30
00:01:40,134 --> 00:01:42,274
in the sky over Hawaii.
31
00:01:47,969 --> 00:01:51,145
At 1 p.m.,
Aloha Airlines Flight 243
32
00:01:51,249 --> 00:01:52,940
is preparing to depart.
33
00:01:54,355 --> 00:01:57,324
A Boeing 737 is on the tarmac
at Hilo Airport
34
00:01:57,427 --> 00:01:59,429
on Hawaii's Big Island,
35
00:01:59,533 --> 00:02:02,156
the southern most
of the Hawaii chain.
36
00:02:02,260 --> 00:02:05,780
Flight 243 will be just
a 35-minute hop to Honolulu
37
00:02:05,884 --> 00:02:07,989
on the island of Oahu.
38
00:02:08,749 --> 00:02:12,373
Serving the islands means that
Aloha works its airplanes hard.
39
00:02:12,477 --> 00:02:14,858
They make short flights
but plenty of them.
40
00:02:16,446 --> 00:02:19,104
This airplane has been
shuttling between the islands
41
00:02:19,208 --> 00:02:22,556
since early morning.
It'll be its ninth flight
today.
42
00:02:25,662 --> 00:02:29,218
For the flight crew,
it's a routine they've followed
for many years.
43
00:02:30,909 --> 00:02:32,462
Aloha 243...
44
00:02:32,566 --> 00:02:33,946
Roger.
45
00:02:34,568 --> 00:02:37,812
Captain Bob Schornstheimer
has been flying for 11 years
46
00:02:37,916 --> 00:02:39,883
with Aloha Airlines.
47
00:02:39,987 --> 00:02:43,680
His first officer Mimi Tompkins
is hoping for promotion
48
00:02:43,784 --> 00:02:46,407
to captain after almost
nine years with Aloha.
49
00:02:46,511 --> 00:02:48,996
Did you hear any more
about uh...?
50
00:02:51,516 --> 00:02:55,105
Each of the flight attendants
has a long service record too -
51
00:02:55,209 --> 00:02:57,625
but none so long as Clarabelle
Lansing -
52
00:02:57,729 --> 00:03:00,180
known to everyone
as just "CB".
53
00:03:00,283 --> 00:03:02,665
Well Mr. Kiner, welcome!
54
00:03:02,768 --> 00:03:04,356
Always good to see you CB.
55
00:03:04,460 --> 00:03:05,702
You've fixed some good weather
for us.
56
00:03:05,806 --> 00:03:07,187
Absolutely!
That's the only way...
57
00:03:07,290 --> 00:03:09,879
She's been flying
for 37 years,
58
00:03:09,982 --> 00:03:12,468
since before the days
of the first jet airliner.
59
00:03:12,571 --> 00:03:14,884
- Let me help you with this.
- Oh, yeah.
60
00:03:14,987 --> 00:03:17,783
CB is the boss in the cabin -
First flight attendant.
61
00:03:18,612 --> 00:03:21,787
Michelle Honda, a 14-year
veteran, is number 2.
62
00:03:21,891 --> 00:03:25,343
Jane Sato Tomita
has served 19 years.
63
00:03:25,446 --> 00:03:29,174
This is one of the most
experienced crews you'll find
64
00:03:29,278 --> 00:03:32,833
in an airplane that's been
criss-crossing Hawaii's islands
safely,
65
00:03:32,936 --> 00:03:34,835
for 19 years.
66
00:03:34,938 --> 00:03:36,216
Circuit breakers?
67
00:03:36,319 --> 00:03:39,219
It's made more
than 89,000 flights.
68
00:03:39,322 --> 00:03:43,223
On this day, only one other
737 in the entire world
69
00:03:43,326 --> 00:03:44,707
beats that record.
70
00:03:44,810 --> 00:03:46,087
Checked!
71
00:03:46,329 --> 00:03:49,401
Passengers have no reason
to doubt they're in safe hands.
72
00:03:51,403 --> 00:03:53,612
Until one passenger
- Gayle Yamamoto -
73
00:03:53,716 --> 00:03:55,890
sees something that makes
her pause.
74
00:04:00,378 --> 00:04:02,552
But what is it
she's concerned about?
75
00:04:04,968 --> 00:04:06,867
And how worried should
she be?
76
00:04:06,970 --> 00:04:08,524
Do I say something?
77
00:04:11,665 --> 00:04:13,494
Patricia Aubrey lives
in Hilo,
78
00:04:13,598 --> 00:04:15,945
but has an appointment today
in Honolulu.
79
00:04:16,048 --> 00:04:19,983
At first she opts for the very
front of the airplane, in row
1.
80
00:04:21,502 --> 00:04:24,678
But, somehow, she feels
uneasy and decides to move
further back.
81
00:04:26,990 --> 00:04:29,890
She chooses a free seat
in row 17.
82
00:04:38,692 --> 00:04:42,489
At 1:25, Flight 243
is ready for take off.
83
00:04:50,393 --> 00:04:53,741
This airplane often rattles and
shakes on take off and landing.
84
00:04:54,604 --> 00:04:56,606
But it's something the crew
- and regular passengers -
85
00:04:56,710 --> 00:04:57,883
have grown used to.
86
00:04:57,987 --> 00:05:00,127
What's there to worry about?
87
00:05:05,028 --> 00:05:07,824
Aloha Departure,
this is Aloha 243
88
00:05:07,928 --> 00:05:10,551
climbing through 3000.
89
00:05:11,518 --> 00:05:13,313
Roger. Climbing to flight
level...
90
00:05:13,416 --> 00:05:16,212
Though he's the captain,
Bob Schornstheimer has chosen
91
00:05:16,454 --> 00:05:18,904
to take charge of radio links
with air traffic control.
92
00:05:19,008 --> 00:05:22,425
It's Mimi Tompkins who will fly
the plane to Honolulu.
93
00:05:24,772 --> 00:05:27,430
Most of the flight time
is taken up in climbing
94
00:05:27,534 --> 00:05:28,983
to their cruising altitude.
95
00:05:31,020 --> 00:05:35,058
It'll take 20 minutes to climb
to 7,300 metres.
96
00:05:40,478 --> 00:05:42,859
For many passengers,
soaring high over the Pacific
97
00:05:42,963 --> 00:05:44,965
is all part of the daily
routine.
98
00:05:50,626 --> 00:05:53,767
People like salesman
Howard Kitaoka, in row 5.
99
00:05:53,870 --> 00:05:55,734
He makes this trip often.
100
00:05:56,528 --> 00:05:58,530
When you've seen the view
a hundred times...
101
00:05:58,634 --> 00:06:01,913
35 minutes is precious time
to catch up on paperwork.
102
00:06:03,984 --> 00:06:06,607
The flight's so short that
the attendants serve drinks
103
00:06:06,711 --> 00:06:08,195
while they're still climbing.
104
00:06:09,161 --> 00:06:11,094
They can move around.
105
00:06:12,061 --> 00:06:14,891
But the passengers are still
strapped in.
106
00:06:17,549 --> 00:06:19,344
It's 1:45.
107
00:06:19,448 --> 00:06:20,863
20 minutes into the flight,
108
00:06:20,966 --> 00:06:22,692
the aircraft
is at cruising height.
109
00:06:22,796 --> 00:06:27,490
Aloha Centre, Aloha 243
leveling off at 2-4-0.
110
00:06:28,802 --> 00:06:30,251
The crew relax.
111
00:06:30,355 --> 00:06:33,254
Say where's that National
Weather Service Weather Station
out here?
112
00:06:33,496 --> 00:06:34,946
Is that in the old tower?
113
00:06:35,049 --> 00:06:36,568
In perfect flying weather,
114
00:06:36,672 --> 00:06:39,191
everything is following
the familiar pattern...
115
00:06:46,164 --> 00:06:48,477
- What was that?
- We have to get it down!
116
00:06:48,580 --> 00:06:50,444
We've lost pressure...
117
00:06:53,067 --> 00:06:57,693
I saw a brilliant flash
of light and boom.
118
00:06:57,796 --> 00:06:59,142
Everything was going...
119
00:06:59,246 --> 00:07:00,730
was being sucked out
of the plane.
120
00:07:01,248 --> 00:07:02,560
Here's what's happened:
121
00:07:03,423 --> 00:07:06,184
An explosive decompression
has torn away
122
00:07:06,287 --> 00:07:08,531
35 square metres of fuselage.
123
00:07:08,635 --> 00:07:11,707
We were in a tremendous
blast of wind.
124
00:07:11,810 --> 00:07:14,226
The wind blast was unbelievable.
125
00:07:14,330 --> 00:07:18,265
A mass of things just went out
the plane.
126
00:07:18,368 --> 00:07:20,198
You know, hair was up here.
127
00:07:20,612 --> 00:07:22,338
Everybody was in their seat.
128
00:07:22,442 --> 00:07:23,684
Except the stewardesses.
129
00:07:25,583 --> 00:07:28,586
I saw the stewardess
get smashed down in the...
130
00:07:29,276 --> 00:07:32,003
in the aisle.
I could see her hair blowing
131
00:07:32,244 --> 00:07:34,419
and I could see blood, but--
That's all I could see of her.
132
00:07:34,523 --> 00:07:38,665
Jane Sato Tomita has been
struck by debris at row 2.
133
00:07:38,975 --> 00:07:42,220
Michelle Honda has been
thrown to the floor at row 15.
134
00:07:42,600 --> 00:07:45,223
There's no sign at all
of CB Lansing.
135
00:07:45,326 --> 00:07:48,606
I can't hear you!
136
00:07:48,709 --> 00:07:50,470
Only seconds have passed
since the explosion.
137
00:07:50,573 --> 00:07:52,713
The wind noise makes it
impossible
138
00:07:52,817 --> 00:07:54,474
for the flight crew
to communicate.
139
00:07:54,577 --> 00:07:57,131
- I can't hear you!
- We've lost pressure!
140
00:07:57,235 --> 00:07:58,339
Now, for the first time,
141
00:07:58,443 --> 00:08:00,721
they gain a sense
of what's happened.
142
00:08:01,411 --> 00:08:03,793
Visible over a mound
of tangled debris,
143
00:08:03,897 --> 00:08:07,487
there's blue sky where
the airplane roof used to be.
144
00:08:08,971 --> 00:08:12,319
The first five rows are now
completely exposed to the sky,
145
00:08:12,422 --> 00:08:13,976
on both sides of the plane.
146
00:08:15,598 --> 00:08:18,428
The initial threat,
of being sucked out, is past,
147
00:08:18,532 --> 00:08:21,017
since the airplane is
now completely depressurized.
148
00:08:21,259 --> 00:08:23,226
But passengers are still
in danger.
149
00:08:24,262 --> 00:08:28,197
My seat mate was flopping out
outside the aircraft,
150
00:08:28,300 --> 00:08:31,441
cause at that point, it was just
the floor,
151
00:08:31,545 --> 00:08:36,585
and no walls or ceiling,
and so I grabbed him.
152
00:08:36,688 --> 00:08:39,449
The cold and oxygen
deprivation
153
00:08:39,553 --> 00:08:41,451
are both potentially deadly.
154
00:08:41,555 --> 00:08:42,556
Just imagine the scene
up there:
155
00:08:42,660 --> 00:08:44,524
the top of the airplane
broken off;
156
00:08:44,627 --> 00:08:47,872
the passengers don't have
any ability to get supplemental
oxygen
157
00:08:47,975 --> 00:08:50,909
because the critical
tubing that feeds that oxygen is
now gone.
158
00:08:51,013 --> 00:08:54,603
And at 24,000 feet with
very little to breathe up there,
159
00:08:54,706 --> 00:08:56,777
the passengers become
incapacitated.
160
00:08:56,881 --> 00:08:58,399
That's called hypoxia.
161
00:08:58,503 --> 00:09:01,644
If you stay up at that
altitude for any prolonged
period of time,
162
00:09:01,748 --> 00:09:04,302
you become more and more
physically disabled.
163
00:09:04,405 --> 00:09:05,717
With the top of the airplane
gone,
164
00:09:05,821 --> 00:09:08,582
you now have 300-mile an hour
winds blowing into that cabin,
165
00:09:08,686 --> 00:09:10,895
that's three times hurricane
force winds.
166
00:09:10,998 --> 00:09:13,622
Those people were dressed
for Hawaii in the springtime,
167
00:09:13,725 --> 00:09:15,658
not -50 degree temperatures.
168
00:09:15,762 --> 00:09:18,212
Any period of time
at 24,000 feet
169
00:09:18,316 --> 00:09:19,800
and those people will die.
170
00:09:22,285 --> 00:09:23,804
High above the Pacific Ocean
171
00:09:23,908 --> 00:09:25,841
an extraordinary drama
is unfolding...
172
00:09:29,707 --> 00:09:32,502
An explosion at 7,300 metres
173
00:09:32,606 --> 00:09:36,334
aboard a Boeing 737 bound
for the Hawaiian island of
Oahu,
174
00:09:36,437 --> 00:09:39,717
tears 35 square metres
of fuselage from the airplane,
175
00:09:39,820 --> 00:09:42,685
exposing passengers
to the sky.
176
00:09:43,859 --> 00:09:47,897
The cabin is depressurized
with no emergency oxygen
supply.
177
00:09:48,001 --> 00:09:50,693
Unless they rapidly reach
a lower altitude
178
00:09:50,797 --> 00:09:53,006
where they can breathe again,
the passengers will die.
179
00:09:57,148 --> 00:09:59,840
Captain Bob Schornstheimer
takes over command of the
aircraft
180
00:09:59,944 --> 00:10:02,463
from first officer
Mimi Tompkins.
181
00:10:02,567 --> 00:10:04,500
He begins an emergency descent,
182
00:10:04,604 --> 00:10:06,744
dropping 1200 metres
per minute.
183
00:10:06,847 --> 00:10:10,575
Its speed now increasing
to more than 500 kilometres
an hour.
184
00:10:11,887 --> 00:10:15,856
As the aircraft hurtles down,
passengers face a new terror.
185
00:10:16,443 --> 00:10:18,687
Wreckage blocks their view
of the cockpit,
186
00:10:18,790 --> 00:10:20,965
and when the airplane
split apart,
187
00:10:21,068 --> 00:10:23,761
the nose dropped down by
around one metre.
188
00:10:24,416 --> 00:10:27,834
The plane is held together
by just the narrow floor beams.
189
00:10:28,455 --> 00:10:30,526
The floor was buckling
up,
190
00:10:30,630 --> 00:10:33,874
and you could tell the
plane was bending in the middle.
191
00:10:36,843 --> 00:10:39,397
Michelle Honda can't go
forward far enough
192
00:10:39,500 --> 00:10:41,779
to see whether the pilots
are alive or dead.
193
00:10:41,882 --> 00:10:44,574
She tries to make contact
via the intercom.
194
00:10:44,678 --> 00:10:46,922
Can anyone hear me?
195
00:10:47,025 --> 00:10:48,717
The wires are severed.
196
00:10:49,579 --> 00:10:51,961
As she struggles forward
to try to reach the cockpit,
197
00:10:52,065 --> 00:10:55,378
she gets asked the one question
she can't answer.
198
00:10:55,482 --> 00:10:56,828
Do we have a pilot!!
199
00:10:56,932 --> 00:10:58,278
I don't know!
200
00:10:58,381 --> 00:11:00,763
Do we have a pilot?
201
00:11:00,867 --> 00:11:03,490
I do not know!
202
00:11:07,011 --> 00:11:09,634
Can you fly a plane?
203
00:11:09,738 --> 00:11:12,223
The terror of those on board
can only be imagined
204
00:11:12,430 --> 00:11:16,434
as she asks the one question
no airplane passenger wants
to hear.
205
00:11:16,883 --> 00:11:19,471
Can you fly a plane?
206
00:11:19,817 --> 00:11:22,716
Michelle Honda was coming up
and cupping her hands
207
00:11:22,820 --> 00:11:25,754
and yelling in everyone's ear
individually,
208
00:11:25,857 --> 00:11:27,859
"Can you fly a plane?"
209
00:11:27,963 --> 00:11:30,793
It's like, what? You know!
Get out of here!
210
00:11:30,897 --> 00:11:33,244
Is the...
Is the pilot gone, too?
211
00:11:33,451 --> 00:11:36,730
You know because
you couldn't tell if there
was anybody up there.
212
00:11:37,248 --> 00:11:39,768
Do you know how to fly
a plane?
213
00:11:39,871 --> 00:11:40,941
No!
214
00:11:43,910 --> 00:11:46,257
First officer Mimi Tompkins
tries to alert
215
00:11:46,464 --> 00:11:48,466
air traffic control
at Honolulu.
216
00:11:49,536 --> 00:11:51,331
Recordings from the cockpit
voice recorder,
217
00:11:51,434 --> 00:11:54,783
the black box, analyzed later
by accident investigators
218
00:11:54,886 --> 00:11:58,579
provide a dramatic record
of exactly what took place.
219
00:12:04,896 --> 00:12:07,071
The nearest place
where they can try to land
220
00:12:07,174 --> 00:12:08,866
is the island of Maui.
221
00:12:09,280 --> 00:12:13,042
Kahului Airport lies between
two volcanic mountains.
222
00:12:15,631 --> 00:12:19,911
Between them and safety
lies a 3,000-metre high summit.
223
00:12:20,705 --> 00:12:23,087
To fly from the location
of the explosion,
224
00:12:23,190 --> 00:12:25,227
to the safety
of Kahului Airport,
225
00:12:25,330 --> 00:12:27,367
the pilot needs to carefully
maneuver
226
00:12:27,470 --> 00:12:29,231
avoiding this high ground.
227
00:12:29,334 --> 00:12:34,684
Can the fragile aircraft
survive the stresses of
turning?
228
00:12:34,788 --> 00:12:37,687
Or, if they ever reach
the airport of landing?
229
00:12:40,449 --> 00:12:42,623
And how can those on board
survive?
230
00:12:42,727 --> 00:12:45,592
Jane Sato Tomita is barely
conscious.
231
00:12:47,905 --> 00:12:49,734
Howard Kitaoka
clutches her hand...
232
00:12:50,321 --> 00:12:53,082
The only faint sign of life
is once,
233
00:12:53,186 --> 00:12:54,704
when Jane squeezes back.
234
00:12:54,808 --> 00:12:57,742
I'm not exactly sure
if she was conscious,
235
00:12:57,846 --> 00:13:00,262
but I did manage
to squeeze her hand,
236
00:13:00,365 --> 00:13:02,540
and she responded
by squeezing my hand.
237
00:13:02,643 --> 00:13:04,749
And we just held hands.
238
00:13:04,853 --> 00:13:08,373
That simple squeeze
of the hand,
239
00:13:08,477 --> 00:13:10,444
at a time like that, is very...
240
00:13:10,548 --> 00:13:11,756
very emotional.
241
00:13:11,860 --> 00:13:14,483
Aloha 243...
242
00:13:14,586 --> 00:13:16,278
Do you read me?
243
00:13:17,486 --> 00:13:19,488
Mimi Tompkins
is not getting through
244
00:13:19,591 --> 00:13:21,731
to Honolulu Air Traffic
control.
245
00:13:21,835 --> 00:13:24,217
So she switches to the
frequency for the tower
246
00:13:24,320 --> 00:13:26,529
at Maui's Kahului Airport.
247
00:13:26,633 --> 00:13:27,668
Maui tower.
248
00:13:27,772 --> 00:13:29,843
Aloha 243.
249
00:13:31,362 --> 00:13:34,192
Maui tower. Aloha 243.
250
00:13:34,296 --> 00:13:36,125
Aircraft calling tower.
Say again?
251
00:13:36,229 --> 00:13:37,540
Aloha 243.
252
00:13:37,644 --> 00:13:39,266
We're inbound for landing.
253
00:13:39,370 --> 00:13:40,716
At 1:48,
254
00:13:40,820 --> 00:13:42,856
three minutes after
the explosion,
255
00:13:42,960 --> 00:13:46,239
the crew make their first voice
contact with the ground.
256
00:13:46,342 --> 00:13:47,412
...depressurized!
257
00:13:47,516 --> 00:13:49,518
Declaring an emergency!
258
00:13:49,621 --> 00:13:52,245
Aloha 243.
Say your position.
259
00:13:52,348 --> 00:13:55,731
We're just, ah,
to the east of Makena Point.
260
00:13:55,835 --> 00:13:57,837
Descending out of 11,000.
261
00:13:57,940 --> 00:14:00,494
Request clearance into Maui
for landing.
262
00:14:00,598 --> 00:14:03,463
Request the emergency
equipment.
263
00:14:05,914 --> 00:14:07,329
Airport fire station?
264
00:14:07,432 --> 00:14:10,573
We have an Aloha 737
five minutes out.
265
00:14:10,677 --> 00:14:14,439
Approximately 20 miles,
clear to runway 0-2.
266
00:14:14,543 --> 00:14:15,889
Decompression problems.
267
00:14:15,993 --> 00:14:18,202
Pilot is declaring
an emergency!
268
00:14:18,305 --> 00:14:19,582
Thank you Maui tower!
269
00:14:20,618 --> 00:14:23,241
In the station! In the station!
270
00:14:23,345 --> 00:14:25,209
Attention in the station.
271
00:14:25,312 --> 00:14:26,762
We have an in-flight emergency.
272
00:14:26,866 --> 00:14:28,522
We have a 737,
273
00:14:28,626 --> 00:14:32,319
five minutes out, 20 miles,
runway 2.
274
00:14:34,977 --> 00:14:36,806
It has decompression problems
at this time.
275
00:14:36,910 --> 00:14:38,670
Runway 2! Runway 2!
276
00:14:46,299 --> 00:14:47,714
Aloha 243.
277
00:14:47,817 --> 00:14:49,612
Okay, the equipment is
on the field.
278
00:14:49,716 --> 00:14:50,890
It's on the way.
279
00:14:52,822 --> 00:14:55,860
At 3,000 metres flying west
of the mountain,
280
00:14:55,964 --> 00:14:57,793
the pilot slows the aircraft,
281
00:14:57,897 --> 00:14:59,415
and as gently as possible,
282
00:14:59,519 --> 00:15:01,970
begins the right-hand turn
towards Kahului.
283
00:15:02,902 --> 00:15:07,354
Passengers sense that
someone must be in control
of the aircraft.
284
00:15:07,458 --> 00:15:09,494
I've had some training
as a pilot.
285
00:15:09,598 --> 00:15:11,945
And we were at wings level.
286
00:15:12,635 --> 00:15:16,881
It wasn't in a dive or a roll,
it was wings level.
287
00:15:16,985 --> 00:15:20,747
At that moment I thought,
"We have a chance."
288
00:15:22,024 --> 00:15:24,440
Meanwhile, those on the
ground are unsure
289
00:15:24,544 --> 00:15:26,753
about what kind of crisis
they're facing.
290
00:15:27,443 --> 00:15:28,858
It's a small airport.
291
00:15:28,962 --> 00:15:30,860
An airliner in trouble will
test the fire crew's
experience.
292
00:15:30,964 --> 00:15:33,139
For the air controller,
293
00:15:33,346 --> 00:15:35,382
it's hard to hear
the airplane at all.
294
00:15:35,486 --> 00:15:37,212
Just to verify again,
you're breaking up,
295
00:15:37,315 --> 00:15:41,285
your call sign is 243?
Is that correct?
296
00:15:41,388 --> 00:15:42,458
Or 244?
297
00:15:42,562 --> 00:15:46,842
Aloha 243! Aloha 243!
298
00:15:47,084 --> 00:15:48,706
Aloha 243.
299
00:15:48,809 --> 00:15:51,571
Plan straight ahead for
runway 0-2.
300
00:15:51,674 --> 00:15:53,573
I'll keep you advised
of any wind change.
301
00:15:59,544 --> 00:16:01,684
Four minutes after
the explosion.
302
00:16:01,788 --> 00:16:05,378
At this lower altitude,
they're able to remove their
oxygen masks.
303
00:16:06,689 --> 00:16:08,760
With their speed having dropped
to a little over
304
00:16:08,864 --> 00:16:10,762
380 kilometers an hour,
305
00:16:10,866 --> 00:16:13,903
the wind noise decreases
just enough for them to hear
one another.
306
00:16:14,490 --> 00:16:16,147
Do you want me to call for
anything else?
307
00:16:16,389 --> 00:16:17,700
No.
308
00:16:20,600 --> 00:16:22,602
Aloha 243.
309
00:16:22,705 --> 00:16:24,845
It looks like we've lost a door.
310
00:16:24,949 --> 00:16:28,159
We have a hole in the left side
of the aircraft.
311
00:16:28,780 --> 00:16:30,920
= But the tower can't hear
this new information.
312
00:16:31,024 --> 00:16:33,509
They've lost contact with
the aircraft.
313
00:16:33,613 --> 00:16:35,649
Their transmissions
aren't being picked up.
314
00:16:38,583 --> 00:16:40,792
Aloha 243.
315
00:16:40,896 --> 00:16:42,725
You still up?
316
00:16:43,933 --> 00:16:46,419
Is this a radio malfunction?
Or something worse?
317
00:16:46,522 --> 00:16:47,834
Aloha 243?
318
00:16:47,937 --> 00:16:49,939
Hearing nothing
from the stricken aircraft,
319
00:16:50,043 --> 00:16:51,907
the controller fears the worst.
320
00:16:52,011 --> 00:16:54,013
Aloha 243.
321
00:16:54,116 --> 00:16:56,601
Aloha 243?
Are you still up?
322
00:16:58,051 --> 00:17:02,228
Aloha 243, if you're still here,
please ident!
323
00:17:02,469 --> 00:17:03,574
Affirmative!
324
00:17:04,782 --> 00:17:06,508
Aloha 243, Roger.
325
00:17:06,611 --> 00:17:08,510
I've got your idents
straight away.
326
00:17:08,613 --> 00:17:12,962
Cleared to land.
Wind 0-4-0 at 20 knots.
327
00:17:13,066 --> 00:17:15,655
Communication is restored,
328
00:17:15,758 --> 00:17:17,933
but the crew's ordeal
is far from over.
329
00:17:18,037 --> 00:17:19,348
Cabin.
330
00:17:19,452 --> 00:17:20,867
Do you hear?
331
00:17:21,833 --> 00:17:25,561
Now, Mimi Tompkins tries to
contact the cabin by intercom,
332
00:17:25,665 --> 00:17:27,529
but there's no response.
333
00:17:27,632 --> 00:17:29,876
Well, the crew really
doesn't know what's going on
behind them.
334
00:17:29,979 --> 00:17:31,981
The airplane is still flying...
335
00:17:32,085 --> 00:17:35,399
The captain has to now
maintain his focus on flying
that airplane,
336
00:17:35,502 --> 00:17:38,678
but he doesn't know what
real damage exists behind him.
337
00:17:39,886 --> 00:17:41,922
Tell them we'll need
a distance to evacuate...
338
00:17:42,026 --> 00:17:43,441
Right.
339
00:17:43,545 --> 00:17:48,101
Maui Tower, Aloha 243! Can you
hear me on tower frequency?
340
00:17:49,516 --> 00:17:52,485
Aloha 243, I hear you loud
and clear. Go ahead.
341
00:17:52,588 --> 00:17:55,004
We're going to need
assistance.
342
00:17:55,936 --> 00:17:58,594
We can't communicate
with the flight attendants.
343
00:17:59,078 --> 00:18:03,944
We'll need assistance with
the passengers when we land.
344
00:18:04,048 --> 00:18:07,051
Okay. You're going to need
an ambulance, is that correct?
345
00:18:07,155 --> 00:18:08,535
Affirmative.
346
00:18:08,915 --> 00:18:10,227
During the descent,
347
00:18:10,330 --> 00:18:13,126
passengers experience moments
of pure terror.
348
00:18:13,230 --> 00:18:16,164
The plane kept vibrating
and shaking,
349
00:18:16,267 --> 00:18:18,476
and the luggage racks
were falling in
350
00:18:18,580 --> 00:18:21,169
and there was electrical wires
flying around and zapping
351
00:18:21,272 --> 00:18:24,275
and, uh, you know, pretty much
pandemonium,
352
00:18:24,379 --> 00:18:26,243
but it looked like the plane was
ripping in half.
353
00:18:29,694 --> 00:18:33,215
And suddenly there's
a new problem for the flight
crew to handle.
354
00:18:33,319 --> 00:18:35,252
It feels like manual
reversion!!
355
00:18:35,355 --> 00:18:36,598
What?
356
00:18:36,701 --> 00:18:40,395
The flight controls feel like
manual reversion!
357
00:18:40,498 --> 00:18:43,536
It feels to the pilot
as though hydraulic systems
358
00:18:43,639 --> 00:18:46,987
like power steering in
an automobile have now failed.
359
00:18:47,195 --> 00:18:49,335
The airframe is under
great stress.
360
00:18:49,438 --> 00:18:51,199
They need to land as soon
as possible.
361
00:18:51,302 --> 00:18:53,304
Can we maintain altitude okay?
362
00:18:55,341 --> 00:18:58,206
There are so many thoughts
that go through your head.
363
00:18:58,309 --> 00:19:00,622
Like, one of my thoughts
was,
364
00:19:00,725 --> 00:19:03,556
uh man, don't put this thing
in the water.
365
00:19:04,453 --> 00:19:08,285
I mean you've got people around,
you've got hurt, unconscious.
366
00:19:09,044 --> 00:19:12,737
I didn't want to have
to say, well,
367
00:19:12,841 --> 00:19:14,808
I'm going to try to save
this guy first,
368
00:19:14,912 --> 00:19:17,156
or that guy first or whatever.
369
00:19:17,259 --> 00:19:19,503
And don't put it in
under water.
370
00:19:20,538 --> 00:19:23,403
The crew fear that critical
wiring and control cables
371
00:19:23,507 --> 00:19:24,887
may have been severed.
372
00:19:24,991 --> 00:19:27,994
Have any of the airplane's
vital parts been damaged?
373
00:19:28,236 --> 00:19:29,996
Let's try flying with
the gear down!
374
00:19:30,238 --> 00:19:31,480
All right.
You've got it!
375
00:19:33,241 --> 00:19:35,726
There are lights to indicate
whether or not the landing gear
376
00:19:35,829 --> 00:19:37,590
has safely deployed.
377
00:19:38,280 --> 00:19:40,765
The main undercarriage
has extended as normal.
378
00:19:41,939 --> 00:19:44,769
But the light showing
that the nose wheel has
extended
379
00:19:44,873 --> 00:19:46,702
doesn't come on.
380
00:19:47,082 --> 00:19:49,326
The last thing the pilot
wanted to see
381
00:19:49,429 --> 00:19:52,398
especially with his airplane
in the condition it was in
382
00:19:52,501 --> 00:19:53,744
was that he didn't have
a nose gear,
383
00:19:53,847 --> 00:19:56,056
because when the plane touched
down on the runway,
384
00:19:56,298 --> 00:19:58,197
it would have broken
the airplane apart,
385
00:19:58,300 --> 00:20:01,303
therefore breaking probably
the fuel tanks apart,
386
00:20:01,407 --> 00:20:03,926
which could lead to a very
dramatic fire and explosion.
387
00:20:04,962 --> 00:20:07,585
A second attempt to extend
the landing gear.
388
00:20:07,689 --> 00:20:10,243
The nose gear light is
still out.
389
00:20:10,347 --> 00:20:12,072
But the radio link is so bad,
390
00:20:12,314 --> 00:20:14,661
the tower is still trying to
assimilate the crisis.
391
00:20:14,765 --> 00:20:16,180
Aloha 243.
392
00:20:16,284 --> 00:20:18,389
Just to verify,
you do need an ambulance.
393
00:20:18,493 --> 00:20:19,666
Is that correct?
394
00:20:20,391 --> 00:20:22,566
They still don't understand!
Affirmative!
395
00:20:22,669 --> 00:20:24,499
Roger. How many
do you think are injured?
396
00:20:24,602 --> 00:20:25,914
We have no idea.
397
00:20:26,017 --> 00:20:29,089
We can't communicate
with our flight attendants.
398
00:20:29,331 --> 00:20:31,644
Okay. We'll have the ambulance
on the way
399
00:20:31,747 --> 00:20:36,545
There's a possibility
that we won't have a nose gear!
400
00:20:38,789 --> 00:20:42,551
Now Bob Schornstheimer
has to make a critical
decision.
401
00:20:42,655 --> 00:20:45,830
Should he wait for confirmation
that the undercarriage is down?
402
00:20:45,934 --> 00:20:48,247
Or land anyway?
403
00:20:48,350 --> 00:20:51,422
The textbook in this case
would tell the pilots to over
fly the airfield
404
00:20:51,526 --> 00:20:54,218
so that the air traffic
controllers can look at
the landing gear
405
00:20:54,322 --> 00:20:56,496
and give them a report
whether it's up or down.
406
00:20:56,600 --> 00:20:58,636
The pilots would then have
to maneuver the airplane
407
00:20:58,740 --> 00:21:00,293
all the way around the airfield
408
00:21:00,397 --> 00:21:02,053
come in for an approach
and land.
409
00:21:03,676 --> 00:21:06,265
But with an airplane which
might break apart at any
moment,
410
00:21:06,368 --> 00:21:08,267
that's out of the question.
411
00:21:08,370 --> 00:21:11,442
Tell him we've got problems,
but we're going to land anyway,
412
00:21:11,546 --> 00:21:13,479
even without a nose gear.
413
00:21:13,582 --> 00:21:17,137
But they should be aware
that we don't have a nose gear
indication down.
414
00:21:17,379 --> 00:21:21,452
Aloha 243.
Wind now 0-5-0.
415
00:21:21,556 --> 00:21:23,316
The emergency equipment
is in place.
416
00:21:23,420 --> 00:21:26,871
Okay. Be advised we have
no nose gear.
417
00:21:26,975 --> 00:21:30,323
We are landing with
no nose gear!
418
00:21:30,427 --> 00:21:33,499
Okay. If you need
any other assistance, advise.
419
00:21:33,602 --> 00:21:35,673
We'll need all
the equipment you've got!
420
00:21:36,709 --> 00:21:39,367
Maui is not an ideal place
to head for
421
00:21:39,470 --> 00:21:41,369
with a damaged airplane.
422
00:21:41,472 --> 00:21:44,268
The island's exposed north
shore lies directly in the path
423
00:21:44,372 --> 00:21:45,925
of the trade winds.
424
00:21:46,028 --> 00:21:48,548
I've done that landing,
a lot of times,
425
00:21:48,652 --> 00:21:54,174
and that particular approach
corridor is very windy
426
00:21:54,416 --> 00:21:57,661
because of the mountain on one
side, a mountain on the other.
427
00:21:57,764 --> 00:22:00,111
So, it's a very bumpy approach.
428
00:22:01,078 --> 00:22:05,013
But, ah, that's basically
all we had.
429
00:22:05,116 --> 00:22:07,671
Get in a brace position!
Brace yourself!
430
00:22:07,774 --> 00:22:09,776
Brace yourself! Get down!
431
00:22:09,880 --> 00:22:12,331
Any kind of inflight
turbulence that would have put
432
00:22:12,434 --> 00:22:14,333
great stresses on the front end
of the airplane
433
00:22:14,436 --> 00:22:16,507
and there's a high probability
that the cockpit
434
00:22:16,611 --> 00:22:18,854
would have separated
from the rest of the fuselage.
435
00:22:18,958 --> 00:22:21,719
Catastrophic loss of
the airplane and loss of life.
436
00:22:23,687 --> 00:22:25,482
With the airfield now
in sight,
437
00:22:25,585 --> 00:22:28,830
Bob Schornstheimer has
more critical decisions to
make.
438
00:22:28,933 --> 00:22:31,626
He begins to slow
the aircraft for landing.
439
00:22:32,143 --> 00:22:34,491
Let's try flaps 15...
440
00:22:35,871 --> 00:22:38,218
An airplane's flaps
are sliding panels
441
00:22:38,460 --> 00:22:39,772
at the back of the wings.
442
00:22:39,875 --> 00:22:41,774
To increase lift at low speeds,
443
00:22:41,877 --> 00:22:44,777
they need to be extended
during takeoff and landing.
444
00:22:47,469 --> 00:22:49,575
Is it easier to control with
the flaps up?
445
00:22:49,678 --> 00:22:51,128
Yeah.
446
00:22:52,578 --> 00:22:54,027
Put them back to five.
447
00:22:55,719 --> 00:22:58,722
Can you give me a Vspeed for
a flaps five landing?
448
00:22:59,654 --> 00:23:02,242
No two aircraft landings
are the same.
449
00:23:02,484 --> 00:23:04,728
Pilots have to factor in
many things:
450
00:23:04,831 --> 00:23:07,972
the wind speed and direction,
passenger and fuel load,
451
00:23:08,076 --> 00:23:10,112
and the length of
the runway before them.
452
00:23:10,906 --> 00:23:13,495
Do you want the flaps
right down as we land?
453
00:23:14,600 --> 00:23:15,877
What?
454
00:23:17,741 --> 00:23:20,709
Do you want the flaps
right down as we land?
455
00:23:21,848 --> 00:23:24,989
Yeah, but after
we've touched down.
456
00:23:25,093 --> 00:23:26,370
Okay.
457
00:23:26,474 --> 00:23:28,924
A complicated formula
provides the 'Vref',
458
00:23:29,028 --> 00:23:31,030
indicating the safe
landing speed.
459
00:23:31,133 --> 00:23:33,066
Even in a crisis like this,
460
00:23:33,170 --> 00:23:35,552
pilots have to reach
for the manual.
461
00:23:36,863 --> 00:23:39,590
Extending the flaps fully
will help act as a brake
462
00:23:39,694 --> 00:23:41,627
once they touch down.
463
00:23:41,730 --> 00:23:45,044
But to do it earlier
could stress the airframe
to breaking point.
464
00:23:45,147 --> 00:23:48,081
What you have to remember is
that the pilots weren't trained
465
00:23:48,185 --> 00:23:50,083
to handle a situation like this.
466
00:23:50,187 --> 00:23:51,291
With the top of their airplane
missing,
467
00:23:51,533 --> 00:23:52,879
they became test pilots.
468
00:23:52,983 --> 00:23:54,985
The aerodynamic effects
of the airplane
469
00:23:55,088 --> 00:23:57,470
were drastically different than
they were used to.
470
00:23:57,574 --> 00:23:59,472
They really had to fly
by the seat of their pants.
471
00:23:59,576 --> 00:24:03,614
Aloha 243. Wind now 0-5-0
at 20.
472
00:24:03,718 --> 00:24:08,550
Vref 40 plus 30
for flaps 1 through flaps 15.
473
00:24:08,654 --> 00:24:09,655
What? Wait!
474
00:24:09,758 --> 00:24:11,001
Ah...
475
00:24:11,104 --> 00:24:12,209
Using her flight manual,
476
00:24:12,312 --> 00:24:14,556
the first officer makes
the complicated calculation
477
00:24:14,660 --> 00:24:17,076
that will give their correct
landing speed.
478
00:24:17,179 --> 00:24:18,560
Right!
479
00:24:20,597 --> 00:24:22,806
The safe speed for landing,
taking into account
480
00:24:22,909 --> 00:24:25,153
the length of Kahului's
runway 2,
481
00:24:25,256 --> 00:24:29,916
is calculated to be 152 knots,
282 kilometres an hour.
482
00:24:36,682 --> 00:24:40,444
As the airplane slows, it
becomes much harder to control.
483
00:24:40,548 --> 00:24:43,447
And so the pilot has
to make another crucial call.
484
00:24:43,551 --> 00:24:46,036
Speeding up, to keep control,
485
00:24:46,277 --> 00:24:49,246
means he'll hit the runway
faster than he should.
486
00:24:49,764 --> 00:24:51,973
He gambles that the higher
speed landing
487
00:24:52,214 --> 00:24:53,837
is still the best option.
488
00:24:54,458 --> 00:24:57,668
Our approach speed I felt
was hot,
489
00:24:57,772 --> 00:24:59,394
I mean we were coming in hot.
490
00:24:59,498 --> 00:25:02,604
I don't know, don't ask me
how many miles an hour it was
cause I don't know,
491
00:25:02,708 --> 00:25:07,402
but from other landings,
we were coming in fairly hot.
492
00:25:07,506 --> 00:25:10,370
Crash rescue teams prepare
themselves
493
00:25:10,474 --> 00:25:12,131
for a worst-case scenario.
494
00:25:12,234 --> 00:25:14,409
At high speed and without
the nose gear,
495
00:25:14,513 --> 00:25:17,826
a crash landing followed
by a catastrophic fuel fire
496
00:25:17,930 --> 00:25:19,483
now seems inevitable.
497
00:25:20,380 --> 00:25:22,728
Under these conditions,
the lack of a nose gear
498
00:25:22,831 --> 00:25:25,731
could have been a death
sentence for everyone aboard
this aircraft.
499
00:25:25,834 --> 00:25:29,769
A Boeing 737 with
95 people on board
500
00:25:29,873 --> 00:25:32,323
has suffered an explosive
decompression
501
00:25:32,427 --> 00:25:34,463
near the Hawaiian island
of Maui.
502
00:25:34,567 --> 00:25:36,604
It's still airborne but
only just,
503
00:25:36,707 --> 00:25:40,780
with 35 square metres
of fuselage missing from
the Aloha plane.
504
00:25:41,988 --> 00:25:44,577
As they prepare
for an emergency landing,
505
00:25:44,681 --> 00:25:46,890
warning lights indicate
that the forward landing gear
506
00:25:46,993 --> 00:25:48,685
has not deployed.
507
00:25:49,375 --> 00:25:52,551
If so, the airplane will
most likely crash and burn.
508
00:25:54,035 --> 00:25:57,210
In the 12 horrifying minutes
since the explosion,
509
00:25:57,314 --> 00:26:00,489
some passengers are
convinced they're not going
to make it alive.
510
00:26:00,593 --> 00:26:03,562
I thought it was going to go
in the water.
511
00:26:03,665 --> 00:26:05,667
And, uh, I was eaten
by sharks.
512
00:26:05,771 --> 00:26:07,635
And then, we saw the mountain
513
00:26:07,738 --> 00:26:09,740
and I didn't think we were going
to make it over it.
514
00:26:09,844 --> 00:26:12,571
I just knew we were going
to crash into that mountain.
515
00:26:13,330 --> 00:26:14,883
And then when we could
tell,
516
00:26:14,987 --> 00:26:17,541
we could see the airport
and then, you know,
517
00:26:17,645 --> 00:26:20,440
then I burned to death,
because the plane blew up when
we...
518
00:26:20,544 --> 00:26:22,063
When we hit the runway.
519
00:26:22,995 --> 00:26:25,860
Suddenly, the news the pilots
have been praying for.
520
00:26:25,963 --> 00:26:27,931
The gear is down!
521
00:26:28,034 --> 00:26:29,726
Make a phone call with command,
the gear is down!
522
00:26:33,281 --> 00:26:34,523
Okay thanks.
523
00:26:35,455 --> 00:26:38,976
Aloha 243, just for
your information the gear
appears down.
524
00:26:39,080 --> 00:26:41,634
The gear appears down.
525
00:26:41,738 --> 00:26:45,120
Want me to go to flaps 40?
Help you?
526
00:26:45,327 --> 00:26:47,502
No. On the ground.
527
00:26:48,089 --> 00:26:50,712
The crew have had to make
life or death decisions.
528
00:26:50,816 --> 00:26:52,576
In the next few seconds,
529
00:26:52,680 --> 00:26:54,889
they'll find out whether
they're the right ones.
530
00:26:58,582 --> 00:27:00,757
Michelle Honda cradles
her injured colleague
531
00:27:00,860 --> 00:27:03,414
as the critical moment
approaches.
532
00:27:07,108 --> 00:27:09,593
Passengers comfort one other,
533
00:27:09,697 --> 00:27:11,457
in what may be
their last moments alive.
534
00:27:11,560 --> 00:27:14,598
A woman that was sitting next
to me and her husband,
535
00:27:14,702 --> 00:27:16,807
he was on the other side,
in the next row up,
536
00:27:16,911 --> 00:27:18,395
and she was next to me.
537
00:27:18,498 --> 00:27:19,568
And they were reaching
their hands out
538
00:27:19,672 --> 00:27:22,364
and they were trying to
touch fingers to say goodbye.
539
00:27:22,468 --> 00:27:25,713
That was a really touching
moment for me.
540
00:27:25,816 --> 00:27:27,887
It was when I really knew
I was going to die
541
00:27:27,991 --> 00:27:29,786
because they were saying goodbye
to each other.
542
00:27:31,995 --> 00:27:33,479
What gave me the most
comfort,
543
00:27:33,582 --> 00:27:37,000
was knowing that my wife
and my kids
544
00:27:37,103 --> 00:27:39,692
knew what I felt.
545
00:27:40,141 --> 00:27:41,970
That was great comfort.
546
00:27:42,074 --> 00:27:44,421
I didn't need to tell them
anything further,
547
00:27:44,524 --> 00:27:47,596
"I love you", or, you know
"I worry about you",
548
00:27:47,700 --> 00:27:51,152
because I felt that
I had already said that.
549
00:27:57,434 --> 00:27:59,885
Though the forward
undercarriage has extended,
550
00:27:59,988 --> 00:28:02,888
the crew still can't be certain
whether it is locked in place
551
00:28:02,991 --> 00:28:05,166
or whether it'll collapse,
on landing.
552
00:28:05,407 --> 00:28:07,513
If it doesn't hold firm,
553
00:28:07,616 --> 00:28:09,549
40,000 kilos of airplane
554
00:28:09,653 --> 00:28:12,552
traveling at close
to 320 kilometres an hour
555
00:28:12,656 --> 00:28:15,521
will smash nose down onto
the tarmac.
556
00:28:32,987 --> 00:28:34,505
One reverse.
557
00:28:34,609 --> 00:28:35,852
Okay.
558
00:28:37,163 --> 00:28:39,165
Thrust reverser...
559
00:28:45,793 --> 00:28:48,450
Aloha 243. Just shut it down
where you are.
560
00:28:48,554 --> 00:28:50,418
- Okay.
- Everything's fine.
561
00:28:50,521 --> 00:28:51,971
The gear did it.
562
00:28:52,075 --> 00:28:54,077
The fire trucks are on the way.
563
00:28:58,737 --> 00:29:01,015
- Okay. Shut it down
- Shut it down?
564
00:29:01,118 --> 00:29:02,430
Yeah.
565
00:29:09,126 --> 00:29:10,852
Oh God!
566
00:29:29,526 --> 00:29:32,840
In this extraordinary video,
captured moments after landing,
567
00:29:32,943 --> 00:29:35,290
the amount of damage
the airplane suffered
568
00:29:35,532 --> 00:29:37,051
is difficult to comprehend.
569
00:29:38,638 --> 00:29:41,987
An emergency evacuation
of passengers who escaped
injury
570
00:29:42,090 --> 00:29:43,954
has just been completed.
571
00:29:45,335 --> 00:29:49,028
Some injured passengers
have still to be helped from
the plane.
572
00:29:49,132 --> 00:29:52,169
How it flew for those
13 terrifying minutes
573
00:29:52,273 --> 00:29:54,551
seems astonishing.
574
00:29:54,654 --> 00:29:57,554
Captain Bob Schornstheimer
is thanked by passengers who,
575
00:29:57,657 --> 00:30:00,764
just minutes before,
had expected to die.
576
00:30:00,868 --> 00:30:02,524
The tension is released.
577
00:30:02,628 --> 00:30:05,113
Oh, I just said,
"Yes baby!"
578
00:30:05,217 --> 00:30:07,046
That's all I said.
579
00:30:07,150 --> 00:30:09,324
The pilot did a tremendous job.
580
00:30:10,256 --> 00:30:14,122
Patricia Aubrey hugs
her heroine: Michelle Honda.
581
00:30:14,226 --> 00:30:17,643
I was crying and, of course
everybody was traumatized.
582
00:30:17,746 --> 00:30:20,301
Looking at the plane and looking
at the people bleeding,
583
00:30:20,404 --> 00:30:22,441
and I just...
584
00:30:22,544 --> 00:30:24,753
I kept touching myself
going, "I'm here.
585
00:30:24,857 --> 00:30:27,618
I can't believe
I'm still alive."
586
00:30:27,722 --> 00:30:30,690
Her last-minute impulse
to switch seats
587
00:30:30,794 --> 00:30:32,761
saves her from injury,
maybe from death.
588
00:30:32,865 --> 00:30:35,695
Something was telling me
not to sit there,
589
00:30:35,799 --> 00:30:39,009
cause I didn't have
a good reason to move, you know.
590
00:30:39,251 --> 00:30:41,322
My guardian angel
was tapping me on the shoulder
591
00:30:41,425 --> 00:30:42,841
and telling me to move.
592
00:30:44,221 --> 00:30:46,603
A final desperate headcount
by Michelle Honda
593
00:30:46,706 --> 00:30:48,812
confirms the crew's worst
fears.
594
00:30:49,675 --> 00:30:52,540
CB Lansing,
the veteran of 37 years
595
00:30:52,643 --> 00:30:55,336
flying for this airline
is missing.
596
00:30:58,270 --> 00:31:00,617
A sea search begins
in the area of ocean
597
00:31:00,720 --> 00:31:02,481
where the explosion
took place.
598
00:31:02,584 --> 00:31:04,966
Neither body, nor wreckage,
are found.
599
00:31:05,794 --> 00:31:08,970
Jane Sato Tomita
has started to recover.
600
00:31:09,453 --> 00:31:11,766
Seven passengers
are seriously hurt.
601
00:31:11,870 --> 00:31:14,182
The worst injury:
a skull fracture.
602
00:31:14,286 --> 00:31:17,047
But how have the rest survived?
603
00:31:17,289 --> 00:31:19,429
At the moment
of decompression...
604
00:31:19,532 --> 00:31:21,638
it's just their seatbelts which
made the difference
605
00:31:21,741 --> 00:31:23,398
between life and death.
606
00:31:23,502 --> 00:31:25,745
It just went poof, a loud
noise
607
00:31:25,849 --> 00:31:28,507
and the whole thing came apart
and, uh...
608
00:31:28,610 --> 00:31:30,543
I personally thought we were
all gone,
609
00:31:30,647 --> 00:31:32,787
and we were uh,
610
00:31:32,891 --> 00:31:35,824
passengers all had
our seatbelts fastened.
611
00:31:35,928 --> 00:31:38,586
Or most of us evidently, or
we would have lost a lot more.
612
00:31:38,689 --> 00:31:40,588
But there is something else.
613
00:31:40,691 --> 00:31:42,383
At the most critical moment,
614
00:31:42,486 --> 00:31:45,317
Maui's notorious high winds
died away.
615
00:31:46,352 --> 00:31:49,355
I was amazed to see the
front of the fuselage missing.
616
00:31:49,459 --> 00:31:51,564
What was so funny about
the whole thing is that,
617
00:31:51,668 --> 00:31:53,739
when it came in, it had no wind.
618
00:31:53,842 --> 00:31:56,707
You know, I do believe
if you did have that wind,
619
00:31:56,811 --> 00:31:58,399
that aircraft wouldn't have
made it.
620
00:31:58,502 --> 00:32:01,264
It would have split in two.
Two pieces.
621
00:32:01,367 --> 00:32:02,679
And it's a miracle.
622
00:32:02,782 --> 00:32:04,474
It's very much a miracle.
623
00:32:04,577 --> 00:32:07,718
This is one of the most
remarkable flying events in
history.
624
00:32:07,822 --> 00:32:10,652
No airplane has ever landed with
this amount of damage.
625
00:32:10,756 --> 00:32:13,379
The only thing that was
holding the forward section,
cockpit,
626
00:32:13,483 --> 00:32:15,968
to the rest of the
fuselage were the floor beams.
627
00:32:16,072 --> 00:32:17,832
Basically, they were hanging
by a thread.
628
00:32:18,522 --> 00:32:20,490
From a close study
of the fuselage,
629
00:32:20,593 --> 00:32:22,595
crash investigators try
to determine
630
00:32:22,699 --> 00:32:25,495
how the airplane structure
remained in one piece.
631
00:32:27,669 --> 00:32:31,950
The critical factor proves
to be the precise location of
the explosion.
632
00:32:32,709 --> 00:32:33,986
The thing that saved
them was that,
633
00:32:34,090 --> 00:32:37,300
because the damage was
across the top of the airplane,
634
00:32:37,403 --> 00:32:39,440
as the nose tried to bend down,
635
00:32:39,543 --> 00:32:41,407
these members through here
are in tension
636
00:32:41,511 --> 00:32:43,547
and it kept them in line,
it kept them straight.
637
00:32:43,651 --> 00:32:46,723
So, even though it was almost
ready to break off, uh,
638
00:32:46,826 --> 00:32:49,691
the structure was still strong
enough here to keep it together.
639
00:32:49,795 --> 00:32:51,728
If this damage had been along
the bottom,
640
00:32:51,831 --> 00:32:54,455
and the nose is trying
to bend down this way,
641
00:32:54,558 --> 00:32:56,595
this structure would have been,
642
00:32:56,698 --> 00:32:59,218
a similar structure
would have been in compression
643
00:32:59,460 --> 00:33:01,772
and it would have buckled and
the nose would have certainly
come off.
644
00:33:01,876 --> 00:33:04,361
So it was fortunate that
the damage was across the top.
645
00:33:04,465 --> 00:33:08,676
How does the roof of
a jet airliner simply blow
away?
646
00:33:08,779 --> 00:33:12,921
The US National Transportation
Safety Board, NTSB,
647
00:33:13,025 --> 00:33:15,407
is tasked with discovering
what happened.
648
00:33:15,510 --> 00:33:18,375
Investigators pull
the airplane's records,
649
00:33:18,479 --> 00:33:20,826
something like an automobile
service history
650
00:33:20,929 --> 00:33:24,071
and suspicion falls right away
on the airplane itself.
651
00:33:24,899 --> 00:33:26,935
The best evidence for what
happened,
652
00:33:27,039 --> 00:33:29,041
the missing fuselage section,
653
00:33:29,145 --> 00:33:31,664
is now lying at the bottom of
the Pacific Ocean.
654
00:33:31,768 --> 00:33:35,013
But by carefully piecing
together the clues they do
have,
655
00:33:35,116 --> 00:33:38,050
investigators hope to solve one
of the most spectacular
656
00:33:38,154 --> 00:33:40,432
accidents of all time.
657
00:33:41,881 --> 00:33:45,575
In the 38 years since
its launch in 1967,
658
00:33:45,678 --> 00:33:48,716
more than 5,000
737s were sold.
659
00:33:49,268 --> 00:33:53,238
Somewhere in the world,
a 737 takes off every 5
seconds.
660
00:33:53,893 --> 00:33:56,551
The accident airplane
was number 152
661
00:33:56,655 --> 00:33:59,589
off the production line,
delivered in May 1969.
662
00:34:00,797 --> 00:34:05,802
The airplane was designed
for a 20-year service life
and 75,000 flights.
663
00:34:08,425 --> 00:34:10,427
This one had exceeded
that number.
664
00:34:10,531 --> 00:34:12,636
Though many were of short
duration.
665
00:34:13,810 --> 00:34:16,054
Its fuselage was under
constant stress
666
00:34:16,157 --> 00:34:18,125
because of pressurization.
667
00:34:19,540 --> 00:34:22,577
The fuselage of the airplane
is actually breathing,
668
00:34:22,681 --> 00:34:25,442
it expands and contracts
depending on altitude.
669
00:34:25,546 --> 00:34:27,927
When it's on the ground
it's in a contracted status,
670
00:34:28,031 --> 00:34:31,034
when it's at altitude,
24,000 feet,
671
00:34:31,138 --> 00:34:32,898
the fuselage expands.
672
00:34:33,001 --> 00:34:36,695
So the airplane is constantly
cycling, that's pressurization.
673
00:34:36,798 --> 00:34:39,698
That will weaken the structure
over a long period of time,
674
00:34:39,801 --> 00:34:41,734
and given the history of this
airplane,
675
00:34:41,838 --> 00:34:43,598
being a very high-cycle
airplane
676
00:34:43,702 --> 00:34:47,085
that probably had something
to do with weakening
677
00:34:47,188 --> 00:34:48,776
the structure of the fuselage.
678
00:34:48,879 --> 00:34:52,814
With thousands of 737s taking
to the skies each day...
679
00:34:52,918 --> 00:34:56,991
investigators need to be
certain what made this one
burst apart.
680
00:34:58,130 --> 00:35:00,995
An Aloha Airlines
Boeing 737
681
00:35:01,099 --> 00:35:03,066
bursts apart in midair
over Hawaii.
682
00:35:03,170 --> 00:35:06,690
After 13 extraordinary minutes
in the air,
683
00:35:06,794 --> 00:35:09,866
it makes an emergency landing
on the island of Maui.
684
00:35:10,246 --> 00:35:12,731
Investigators need to discover
what caused
685
00:35:12,834 --> 00:35:14,802
this spectacular incident.
686
00:35:16,597 --> 00:35:17,908
In Washington DC,
687
00:35:18,012 --> 00:35:22,120
Jim Wildey is one of the NTSB
team who worked the case.
688
00:35:22,223 --> 00:35:25,571
His expertise as a metallurgist
proves crucial.
689
00:35:25,675 --> 00:35:27,677
I got a call, about two
in the morning,
690
00:35:27,780 --> 00:35:29,161
the middle of the night,
from my boss
691
00:35:29,265 --> 00:35:31,819
and there had been the
accident in Hawaii.
692
00:35:31,922 --> 00:35:32,992
They were putting the team
together
693
00:35:33,096 --> 00:35:36,686
and I hopped on a plane
and went to Hawaii
694
00:35:37,065 --> 00:35:39,827
He takes samples
from the remaining fuselage
695
00:35:39,930 --> 00:35:41,863
and back in the lab,
discovers something
696
00:35:41,967 --> 00:35:43,762
barely visible to the naked
eye.
697
00:35:43,865 --> 00:35:46,074
Hairline cracks, like this,
698
00:35:46,178 --> 00:35:48,801
beside the holes where
rivets had been.
699
00:35:49,319 --> 00:35:51,701
Figuring out how those cracks
came to be there
700
00:35:51,804 --> 00:35:53,461
means going back to basics,
701
00:35:53,565 --> 00:35:56,499
to the way the Boeing 737
was put together.
702
00:35:58,017 --> 00:36:01,020
Airplanes are built
from many separate panels.
703
00:36:01,262 --> 00:36:03,368
Where they overlap,
they're bonded together
704
00:36:03,471 --> 00:36:05,853
by a powerful adhesive
known as epoxy.
705
00:36:07,372 --> 00:36:09,132
Rivets hold the panels
tight together
706
00:36:09,236 --> 00:36:11,445
while the epoxy sets hard.
707
00:36:12,308 --> 00:36:15,863
On the Aloha airplane
there's telltale discoloration
708
00:36:15,966 --> 00:36:17,865
inside the overlapping joints.
709
00:36:17,968 --> 00:36:20,178
Here is the vital clue.
710
00:36:20,281 --> 00:36:23,664
You can see now this
dark material is the epoxy
711
00:36:23,767 --> 00:36:26,149
that was used to bond
the two layers
712
00:36:26,253 --> 00:36:27,875
of the lap joint together.
713
00:36:27,978 --> 00:36:30,498
The white material you see
here is corrosion damage
714
00:36:30,602 --> 00:36:33,156
of the aluminum fuselage skin.
715
00:36:33,260 --> 00:36:34,744
So, the original intent was,
716
00:36:34,847 --> 00:36:38,265
the stress that's trying
to pull one skin away from
the other skin piece,
717
00:36:38,368 --> 00:36:40,267
the stresses would go through
the bonding
718
00:36:40,370 --> 00:36:41,647
and not through the rivets.
719
00:36:41,751 --> 00:36:44,409
Of course, as this thing
becomes disbonded,
720
00:36:44,512 --> 00:36:47,170
now the rivets, themselves,
are loaded
721
00:36:47,274 --> 00:36:49,724
and especially this top row
of rivets
722
00:36:49,828 --> 00:36:53,383
and this is the row of rivets
we think that had the fatigue
cracking in it,
723
00:36:53,487 --> 00:36:56,179
that lead to the eventual
opening of the roof structure
724
00:36:56,283 --> 00:36:58,423
on the Aloha 737 airplane.
725
00:36:59,596 --> 00:37:02,599
The files reveal that Boeing
warned airlines
726
00:37:02,703 --> 00:37:06,293
including Aloha of problems
with some early 737s.
727
00:37:07,363 --> 00:37:10,849
If the epoxy isn't applied at
exactly the right temperature,
728
00:37:10,952 --> 00:37:13,300
if the panels have moisture
or dirt on them,
729
00:37:13,403 --> 00:37:14,991
the bonding can fail.
730
00:37:16,510 --> 00:37:18,650
In warnings and service
bulletins,
731
00:37:18,753 --> 00:37:21,169
some issued over 15 years
earlier,
732
00:37:21,273 --> 00:37:23,275
Boeing spells out the danger.
733
00:37:26,416 --> 00:37:29,557
The Hawaii climate, with humid
and salt-laden air,
734
00:37:29,661 --> 00:37:31,697
helps corrosion to occur.
735
00:37:32,422 --> 00:37:36,115
But instead of grounding
airplanes for a nose-to-tail
examination,
736
00:37:36,357 --> 00:37:38,946
Aloha has inspectors
make occasional checks,
737
00:37:39,049 --> 00:37:42,467
often at night, when those on
duty are least alert.
738
00:37:42,570 --> 00:37:44,814
Working under artificial light.
739
00:37:45,470 --> 00:37:47,886
Those tiny cracks escape
detection.
740
00:37:49,681 --> 00:37:53,201
These cracks go
unrepaired and now you have an
airplane
741
00:37:53,305 --> 00:37:55,480
that is a ticking time
bomb.
742
00:37:56,550 --> 00:37:57,896
There are other problems.
743
00:37:57,999 --> 00:38:00,278
Boeing's service bulletins,
744
00:38:00,381 --> 00:38:02,452
and what are called
"airworthiness directives"
745
00:38:02,556 --> 00:38:04,765
issued by the Federal Aviation
Administration,
746
00:38:04,868 --> 00:38:06,801
are often difficult
to understand.
747
00:38:06,905 --> 00:38:09,321
Airworthiness directives are
very complex
748
00:38:09,425 --> 00:38:10,771
and read like a legal document.
749
00:38:10,874 --> 00:38:13,912
Aloha needed to have someone
who could read that document
750
00:38:14,015 --> 00:38:16,501
and interpret it into plain
English for the mechanics,
751
00:38:16,604 --> 00:38:19,331
the wrench turners.
That never happened.
752
00:38:19,435 --> 00:38:22,023
An airplane that has been
worked so hard
753
00:38:22,127 --> 00:38:25,544
serviced by mechanics
who don't fully understand
the briefings
754
00:38:25,648 --> 00:38:27,788
is a recipe for disaster.
755
00:38:29,583 --> 00:38:33,518
Investigators now believe
they know why the airplane
burst open.
756
00:38:33,621 --> 00:38:35,589
But they don't yet know how.
757
00:38:36,866 --> 00:38:40,007
I was flying back from Hawaii
to Los Angeles
758
00:38:40,110 --> 00:38:43,838
and while I was in the air
I got a message that, uh,
759
00:38:43,942 --> 00:38:46,876
that we needed to interview this
passenger who had,
760
00:38:46,979 --> 00:38:49,016
apparently, seen a crack
761
00:38:49,119 --> 00:38:50,845
as she was getting on
the accident flight.
762
00:38:50,949 --> 00:38:53,365
You saw something as you got
on this airplane,
763
00:38:53,469 --> 00:38:55,954
which uh, you pointed out to
your roommate...
764
00:38:56,057 --> 00:38:57,887
Cynthia Johnson.
765
00:38:57,990 --> 00:38:59,578
Yeah. Cynthia.
766
00:39:00,407 --> 00:39:01,615
Uh, talk me through it.
767
00:39:01,718 --> 00:39:02,995
What did you see?
768
00:39:03,099 --> 00:39:04,687
What I saw was...
769
00:39:04,790 --> 00:39:07,068
to the right of the door,
where the paint was white...
770
00:39:08,138 --> 00:39:10,589
Well, it was a crack,
771
00:39:11,521 --> 00:39:14,628
it was like, not a hole exactly,
but the metal on top
772
00:39:14,731 --> 00:39:16,871
had come away from
the metal below.
773
00:39:16,975 --> 00:39:18,873
I was going to tell the flight
attendant you know,
774
00:39:18,977 --> 00:39:20,496
but they were busy...
775
00:39:20,599 --> 00:39:21,807
We had to take our seats.
776
00:39:21,911 --> 00:39:23,568
Well yeah, and you figured,
they know what they're doing,
777
00:39:23,671 --> 00:39:24,741
it's their airplane.
778
00:39:24,845 --> 00:39:26,916
I didn't want to make a fuss
or anything.
779
00:39:27,019 --> 00:39:29,470
No, no. Absolutely.
780
00:39:34,786 --> 00:39:37,029
The witness saw cracking
in this area
781
00:39:37,133 --> 00:39:39,860
and we found fatigue cracking
back in here.
782
00:39:39,963 --> 00:39:43,104
So, this is the line where
the fatigue cracking joined up.
783
00:39:43,208 --> 00:39:45,900
One piece came down this way
and folded off
784
00:39:46,004 --> 00:39:47,799
and the other piece went across
the top and came off
785
00:39:47,902 --> 00:39:49,041
to the right side.
786
00:39:49,145 --> 00:39:51,906
But something still
doesn't make sense.
787
00:39:52,010 --> 00:39:55,738
Boeing designed the 737
and other of its aircraft,
788
00:39:55,841 --> 00:39:57,636
so that this should never
happen.
789
00:39:59,604 --> 00:40:02,641
Every ten inches along
the airplane are what are
called
790
00:40:02,745 --> 00:40:06,127
"tear straps" inside
the fuselage to strengthen it.
791
00:40:07,232 --> 00:40:10,787
If a tear begins, it should
only reach the next strap,
792
00:40:10,891 --> 00:40:13,238
before shooting off at
a 90-degree angle.
793
00:40:15,240 --> 00:40:16,966
Though there's a hole
in the aircraft,
794
00:40:17,069 --> 00:40:19,313
it acts like a safety valve.
795
00:40:19,555 --> 00:40:22,420
The purpose of the tear strip
is to confine any kind of rip
796
00:40:22,523 --> 00:40:26,285
or tear in the fuselage skin
to a 10-inch square basically.
797
00:40:26,527 --> 00:40:30,324
If you allow it to propagate
beyond this 10-inch square,
798
00:40:30,566 --> 00:40:33,016
you could then compromise
larger sections of the fuselage
799
00:40:33,120 --> 00:40:35,087
and cause a blowout.
800
00:40:35,191 --> 00:40:38,159
The 10-inch square allows
a controlled decompression
801
00:40:38,263 --> 00:40:42,198
and confines any structural
damage to a very small area.
802
00:40:43,717 --> 00:40:46,823
So why has the safety valve
failed here?
803
00:40:47,893 --> 00:40:51,310
The NTSB believe there were
so many cracks in the fuselage
804
00:40:51,552 --> 00:40:52,898
that they simply joined
together,
805
00:40:53,002 --> 00:40:55,073
running right through
the tear straps.
806
00:40:57,178 --> 00:41:00,112
The Aloha airplane was
kind of unique in a couple of
ways.
807
00:41:00,216 --> 00:41:02,667
The way it was operated
was with very short flights,
808
00:41:02,770 --> 00:41:06,084
so you had large numbers
of these pressurization cycles.
809
00:41:06,187 --> 00:41:09,121
And stress was going on and off
on these rivet locations.
810
00:41:09,225 --> 00:41:11,469
And secondly,
with the disbonding,
811
00:41:11,572 --> 00:41:14,472
all this stress is now going
through the rivets,
812
00:41:14,575 --> 00:41:16,991
and that led to the linking up
of these cracks,
813
00:41:17,095 --> 00:41:19,477
and then the roof coming off
of the airplane.
814
00:41:19,580 --> 00:41:23,826
But is that the final answer
on what happened to flight 243?
815
00:41:24,205 --> 00:41:26,691
A new theory claims to shed
fresh light
816
00:41:26,794 --> 00:41:28,589
on those dramatic events.
817
00:41:35,700 --> 00:41:39,186
Matt Austin is an engineer
who lives in Honolulu.
818
00:41:39,289 --> 00:41:43,604
The story of flight 243
both appalls and fascinates
him.
819
00:41:45,088 --> 00:41:47,505
I flew very regularly on Aloha
airlines,
820
00:41:47,608 --> 00:41:50,197
and I'd been on that plane about
a week before
821
00:41:50,300 --> 00:41:52,095
it actually lost the roof.
822
00:41:52,199 --> 00:41:55,513
You could tell that
something was loose in the
airplane.
823
00:41:55,616 --> 00:41:58,205
It's just like when you're
in an old car and you hit a
bump.
824
00:41:58,308 --> 00:42:01,933
You can hear the rattles
in it that you won't hear in
a new aircraft.
825
00:42:02,036 --> 00:42:04,832
In this case,
when the aircraft landed,
826
00:42:04,936 --> 00:42:08,111
there would be noises and
rattles you wouldn't hear on
a newer aircraft.
827
00:42:09,043 --> 00:42:11,080
He begins his own
investigation,
828
00:42:11,183 --> 00:42:14,670
scrutinizing the 4,000 pages of
evidence and photographs
829
00:42:14,773 --> 00:42:17,396
gathered during
the official inquiry.
830
00:42:17,604 --> 00:42:20,123
I am an expert in explosion
dynamics
831
00:42:20,227 --> 00:42:22,919
and how pressure vessels
explode,
832
00:42:23,023 --> 00:42:25,922
what causes them to explode,
which way the cracks run,
833
00:42:26,026 --> 00:42:28,200
uh, as they're coming apart.
834
00:42:28,304 --> 00:42:30,720
In the case of the Aloha
accident,
835
00:42:30,824 --> 00:42:33,689
the main focus from
the aeronautical industry
836
00:42:33,792 --> 00:42:36,415
was they were looking at it as
an airplane structural failure,
837
00:42:36,657 --> 00:42:38,556
whereas I analyzed it from
the point of view
838
00:42:38,659 --> 00:42:39,936
of a pressure vessel failure.
839
00:42:40,040 --> 00:42:43,871
As he reviews the evidence,
one question keeps recurring.
840
00:42:45,114 --> 00:42:48,151
Why is CB Lansing sucked out
of the aircraft,
841
00:42:48,255 --> 00:42:50,947
and not her colleague
Jane Sato Tomita?
842
00:42:51,051 --> 00:42:54,606
Jane was further forward
than CB at the crucial moment.
843
00:42:58,092 --> 00:42:59,749
Jane was at row 2...
844
00:43:00,336 --> 00:43:02,718
CB was at row 5.
845
00:43:02,821 --> 00:43:07,170
The NTSB believes the roof
separation began near row 3.
846
00:43:09,069 --> 00:43:12,279
Passenger testimony gathered
shortly after the incident
847
00:43:12,382 --> 00:43:15,144
suggests that CB Lansing was
sucked upwards
848
00:43:15,247 --> 00:43:17,940
and to the left,
but not forward.
849
00:43:18,043 --> 00:43:20,287
I was on the aisle,
on the right.
850
00:43:20,390 --> 00:43:22,151
So I look up from my magazine
851
00:43:22,254 --> 00:43:26,155
and I see a pair of legs go up
and out on the left.
852
00:43:26,258 --> 00:43:28,157
Just back of first class.
853
00:43:29,054 --> 00:43:30,608
From where I was...
854
00:43:30,711 --> 00:43:35,682
if the nose was 12
this is at 11, yeah?
855
00:43:36,372 --> 00:43:40,376
Forensic evidence suggests
another possible scenario.
856
00:43:41,170 --> 00:43:43,310
Michael Sweet, an ex-cop,
857
00:43:43,413 --> 00:43:46,106
is now a specialist
in blood spatter analysis.
858
00:43:47,797 --> 00:43:50,351
By studying the blood stains
at crime scenes,
859
00:43:50,455 --> 00:43:52,837
he can help put
a killer behind bars.
860
00:43:52,940 --> 00:43:54,493
Or, free the innocent.
861
00:43:55,736 --> 00:43:59,671
He examines official
photographs of the 737
fuselage.
862
00:44:01,397 --> 00:44:04,711
This is a large
photograph of the left side
863
00:44:04,814 --> 00:44:06,264
of the airplane.
864
00:44:06,367 --> 00:44:08,438
Ah, the front would be
at this location.
865
00:44:09,474 --> 00:44:13,236
There's a, what we suspect
to be a bloodstain pattern
866
00:44:13,340 --> 00:44:17,447
on the... right beside
the window, right here.
867
00:44:18,172 --> 00:44:21,210
Could this bloodstain be
where CB Lansing's head
868
00:44:21,313 --> 00:44:23,868
impacted with the outside
of the fuselage?
869
00:44:23,971 --> 00:44:25,663
The analyst believes so.
870
00:44:25,766 --> 00:44:30,115
Well the fact that there
are bloodstains on the side
of this airplane,
871
00:44:30,564 --> 00:44:34,637
suggests to me that the blood
source in this case
872
00:44:34,741 --> 00:44:36,812
was momentarily trapped
873
00:44:36,915 --> 00:44:39,746
when it came into contact
with the side of the airplane.
874
00:44:40,781 --> 00:44:44,405
If the flight attendant
in this case,
875
00:44:44,509 --> 00:44:47,236
was ejected outside
of the gaping hole,
876
00:44:47,339 --> 00:44:50,204
I would expect her to disappear
almost immediately
877
00:44:50,308 --> 00:44:53,967
and not leave any bloodstains on
the side of the airplane.
878
00:44:54,070 --> 00:44:57,039
This analysis suggests
only that she was trapped...
879
00:44:57,142 --> 00:44:59,766
but without explaining
how or why.
880
00:44:59,869 --> 00:45:03,321
Matt Austin believes he has
the answer.
881
00:45:06,186 --> 00:45:08,775
On April the 28th,
1988,
882
00:45:08,878 --> 00:45:12,088
a Boeing 737 owned by
Aloha Airlines in Hawaii,
883
00:45:12,192 --> 00:45:15,057
suffers an explosive
decompression in midair.
884
00:45:15,160 --> 00:45:18,957
Amazingly it lands safely, with
the loss of one crew member.
885
00:45:20,096 --> 00:45:21,995
Investigators blame metal
fatigue,
886
00:45:22,098 --> 00:45:24,066
due to poor maintenance.
887
00:45:24,169 --> 00:45:27,276
But a new and controversial
theory has emerged,
888
00:45:27,379 --> 00:45:30,106
challenging at least
part of the chain of events.
889
00:45:30,969 --> 00:45:34,145
What if a safety hole has
opened up as it was designed to
do
890
00:45:34,248 --> 00:45:36,699
but directly above
the flight attendant?
891
00:45:36,803 --> 00:45:40,323
Matt Austin believes
CB Lansing is sucked into
the safety hole...
892
00:45:40,427 --> 00:45:42,567
momentarily blocking it.
893
00:45:43,499 --> 00:45:47,330
All of the air that's trying
to escape has no place to go.
894
00:45:47,434 --> 00:45:49,401
So it built up a huge
pressure spike
895
00:45:49,505 --> 00:45:53,612
and that's what blew the
roof off the top of the
airplane.
896
00:45:54,406 --> 00:45:57,133
What he's describing
is known as a fluid hammer.
897
00:45:57,237 --> 00:46:00,861
In scientific terms,
air is fluid as is water.
898
00:46:02,207 --> 00:46:05,314
Here's a simple demonstration
in a bathtub.
899
00:46:05,417 --> 00:46:08,662
The water is in fact escaping
through the drain.
900
00:46:08,869 --> 00:46:11,285
As we move the drain plug back
down toward the hole,
901
00:46:11,389 --> 00:46:14,185
it will immediately slam shut
and create a force,
902
00:46:14,288 --> 00:46:16,359
which is a simple example
of a fluid hammer.
903
00:46:16,463 --> 00:46:19,155
He believes this phenomenon
on a giant scale
904
00:46:19,259 --> 00:46:21,364
caused the accident.
905
00:46:22,158 --> 00:46:25,852
It's very tragic, but
if we don't look at the forensic
evidence that's left
906
00:46:25,955 --> 00:46:28,820
then we won't understand
exactly what caused
907
00:46:28,924 --> 00:46:30,339
the explosive decompression
908
00:46:30,442 --> 00:46:32,928
and possibly prevent
a future occurrence.
909
00:46:33,031 --> 00:46:37,070
The NTSB say the fluid hammer
theory is valid scientifically,
910
00:46:37,173 --> 00:46:40,245
but for them the evidence still
points to something simpler.
911
00:46:40,349 --> 00:46:45,078
A virtually simultaneous
failure in the airplane's
many weak spots.
912
00:46:45,181 --> 00:46:47,908
The safety board's
investigations are never
really closed.
913
00:46:48,012 --> 00:46:51,049
And we also would take
into account any new information
914
00:46:51,153 --> 00:46:52,119
that comes out.
915
00:46:52,223 --> 00:46:53,914
I believe in the case
of the Aloha accident
916
00:46:54,018 --> 00:46:57,090
we have not changed
our probable cause.
917
00:46:57,193 --> 00:46:59,920
And we still are sticking
with the probable cause
918
00:47:00,024 --> 00:47:03,234
as we determined back
in 1988.
919
00:47:05,236 --> 00:47:08,101
Since the crucial physical
evidence was never found,
920
00:47:08,204 --> 00:47:10,966
what happened on board
at the precise moment of
explosion
921
00:47:11,069 --> 00:47:13,106
will probably never be known.
922
00:47:15,971 --> 00:47:19,284
Aloha Airlines management
took most of the blame
923
00:47:19,388 --> 00:47:21,562
for their poor maintenance
regime.
924
00:47:22,356 --> 00:47:25,532
The NTSB demanded that the
Federal Aviation Administration
925
00:47:25,635 --> 00:47:28,604
do a much better job enforcing
maintenance standards.
926
00:47:29,708 --> 00:47:32,850
Boeing had already improved
their manufacturing process
927
00:47:32,953 --> 00:47:36,060
to prevent the adhesive
becoming so easily
contaminated.
928
00:47:37,647 --> 00:47:41,962
What happened on flight 243
made flying safer.
929
00:47:42,411 --> 00:47:43,964
Soon after,
930
00:47:44,068 --> 00:47:47,071
Congress passed the Aviation
Safety Research Act.
931
00:47:47,174 --> 00:47:48,969
This accident had a very
profound effect
932
00:47:49,073 --> 00:47:53,042
on the aviation industry
and the way we look at aging
airplanes, old aircraft.
933
00:47:53,146 --> 00:47:55,562
We changed the way we monitor
how they age,
934
00:47:55,665 --> 00:47:57,598
the way we inspect them
and of course,
935
00:47:57,702 --> 00:48:00,878
now how we manufacture them.
We use different processes.
936
00:48:00,981 --> 00:48:03,984
This was a very critical
accident for aviation history.
937
00:48:05,365 --> 00:48:08,609
Those 13 terrifying minutes
also left their impact
938
00:48:08,713 --> 00:48:11,336
on the survivors of
flight 243.
939
00:48:13,131 --> 00:48:15,375
I had to go through a healing
process,
940
00:48:15,478 --> 00:48:18,861
I took fear of flying classes
and, uh...
941
00:48:18,965 --> 00:48:21,070
The old saying of "You
fall off a horse,
942
00:48:21,174 --> 00:48:24,315
and you get back on it"
is very accurate,
943
00:48:24,418 --> 00:48:28,595
but it's a lot tougher
to actually do it.
944
00:48:35,222 --> 00:48:38,329
Patricia Aubrey had to find
a way of dealing
945
00:48:38,432 --> 00:48:40,158
with the memories also.
946
00:48:40,262 --> 00:48:43,265
Her way was to revisit the same
piece of airspace
947
00:48:43,368 --> 00:48:45,267
where the terror unfolded.
948
00:48:45,819 --> 00:48:48,891
I would go flying
with my psychologist.
949
00:48:48,995 --> 00:48:51,411
You go through what they call
desensitization,
950
00:48:51,514 --> 00:48:54,103
where you confront your fear,
951
00:48:54,207 --> 00:48:56,278
and you do it so many times
952
00:48:56,381 --> 00:48:59,143
that you can do it without
having a bad reaction.
953
00:49:01,386 --> 00:49:04,527
Before that happened, if
something bad happened to me,
954
00:49:04,631 --> 00:49:07,392
I'd go, "I hate life."
955
00:49:07,496 --> 00:49:09,601
But I don't hate life.
956
00:49:09,705 --> 00:49:12,328
I can deal with it.
Bring it on.
957
00:49:12,432 --> 00:49:15,573
I'll take care of it.
I'd much rather be alive.
958
00:49:19,784 --> 00:49:22,856
There's one further legacy
of that fateful day.
959
00:49:23,063 --> 00:49:26,791
The ocean never did surrender
the body of CB Lansing.
960
00:49:28,068 --> 00:49:30,553
Instead, a memorial garden,
961
00:49:30,657 --> 00:49:32,624
honoring the veteran
flight attendant
962
00:49:32,728 --> 00:49:37,422
was planted at Honolulu Airport
beneath the big Hawaiian sky
963
00:49:37,526 --> 00:49:40,356
where she spent the better part
of her life.
964
00:49:40,839 --> 00:49:43,256
And where it was
so suddenly ended.
965
00:50:13,044 --> 00:50:14,011
difuze