1
00:00:02,769 --> 00:00:06,406
A crippled
airliner falls toward
the Indian Ocean.
2
00:00:06,473 --> 00:00:08,842
It has no fuel.
3
00:00:08,909 --> 00:00:11,278
No engine power at all.
4
00:00:13,146 --> 00:00:15,315
Both engines are out.
That's it.
5
00:00:16,283 --> 00:00:20,153
The captain
struggles to do what no one
has ever done before...
6
00:00:20,921 --> 00:00:24,858
...safely land a passenger jet
on the open ocean.
7
00:00:37,171 --> 00:00:38,539
3000.
8
00:00:40,073 --> 00:00:42,409
We're not getting any oxygen!
We have the terrain alarm.
9
00:00:42,476 --> 00:00:45,312
- Aero Peru 603.
- We are in an emergency.
10
00:01:00,360 --> 00:01:02,362
The Comoros islands.
11
00:01:02,429 --> 00:01:05,832
A remote holiday playground
in the Indian Ocean.
12
00:01:07,100 --> 00:01:09,803
Days here are spent
playing in the sand
13
00:01:09,870 --> 00:01:12,639
and splashing
in the gentle waves.
14
00:01:12,706 --> 00:01:15,309
But in late 1996,
15
00:01:15,375 --> 00:01:18,312
the peace of the Comoros
islands is shattered.
16
00:01:19,847 --> 00:01:23,217
A plane is speeding
toward the beach.
17
00:01:23,283 --> 00:01:26,420
It's a passenger jet
hundreds of miles off course.
18
00:01:31,692 --> 00:01:34,795
There has been no explosion,
no mechanical failure,
19
00:01:34,862 --> 00:01:39,132
yet the jet is falling out of
the sky towards the ocean.
20
00:02:07,427 --> 00:02:10,964
Ethiopian Airlines
flight 961
21
00:02:11,031 --> 00:02:14,134
is on a routine trip
from Addis Ababa
to the Ivory Coast.
22
00:02:16,937 --> 00:02:19,239
The Captain is Leul Abate.
23
00:02:19,306 --> 00:02:22,476
At 42 he's an extremely
experienced pilot.
24
00:02:22,543 --> 00:02:24,344
7300 kilograms.
25
00:02:24,411 --> 00:02:26,480
Centre tank... zero...
26
00:02:26,547 --> 00:02:30,584
He has more
than 11 000 hours
of flying time to his credit.
27
00:02:30,651 --> 00:02:33,053
Total fuel is 14,500 kg.
28
00:02:33,120 --> 00:02:34,454
Check.
29
00:02:35,589 --> 00:02:41,195
Ethiopian flight 961
will stop briefly in Nairobi,
Brazzaville and Lagos
30
00:02:41,261 --> 00:02:44,765
before it reaches its final
destination of Abidjan.
31
00:02:46,366 --> 00:02:49,903
The plane has just enough fuel
for the first leg of the trip.
32
00:02:49,970 --> 00:02:52,339
It will get more in Nairobi.
33
00:02:52,406 --> 00:02:56,043
Less fuel on board makes
the plane lighter,
increasing efficiency.
34
00:02:57,878 --> 00:03:00,581
Captain Abate and his co-pilot
Yonas Mekuria
35
00:03:00,647 --> 00:03:04,384
expect their day's work will
be over in about 12 hours,
36
00:03:04,451 --> 00:03:06,186
when they land
in the Ivory Coast.
- All clear.
37
00:03:06,253 --> 00:03:10,691
That day was a bright day,
clear skies,
everything was fine.
38
00:03:12,693 --> 00:03:16,263
The passengers
on board 961 are a mix of
Ethiopians and travelers
39
00:03:16,330 --> 00:03:19,800
from other countries
flying for business
and pleasure.
40
00:03:23,570 --> 00:03:26,340
Michael Adenyo,
seated in economy class,
41
00:03:26,406 --> 00:03:29,343
is a Kenyan businessman
on his way home to Nairobi.
42
00:03:30,410 --> 00:03:33,347
I spent the whole of Friday
trying to get on that flight,
43
00:03:33,413 --> 00:03:35,649
calling the airline
every hour or so.
44
00:03:37,384 --> 00:03:40,554
I remember Friday night,
about 11 o'clock
45
00:03:40,621 --> 00:03:42,322
I called them again
and they said,
46
00:03:42,389 --> 00:03:43,824
'Look, just come to the airport.
47
00:03:43,891 --> 00:03:46,026
We'll see if we can find
a seat for you.'
48
00:03:46,093 --> 00:03:50,230
So, I sometimes feel I put
myself on that aircraft.
49
00:03:50,297 --> 00:03:52,299
Near the front of
the plane,
50
00:03:52,366 --> 00:03:56,103
American Frank Pancho Huddle
is also getting settled in.
51
00:03:56,170 --> 00:03:59,306
He's the United States
consul general in Bombay.
52
00:04:00,440 --> 00:04:04,411
My wife Pom and myself,
decided to take a trip
to Africa,
53
00:04:04,478 --> 00:04:06,246
and go on safari.
54
00:04:06,313 --> 00:04:09,616
And I wanted a daytime flight,
because it was safer.
55
00:04:10,717 --> 00:04:13,086
So I picked Ethiopian Airlines,
56
00:04:13,153 --> 00:04:15,088
which had a good reputation.
57
00:04:15,155 --> 00:04:19,159
It was one of the two carriers
in all of Africa
that was FAA certified.
58
00:04:19,226 --> 00:04:22,296
A few rows ahead
of them is Mo Amin,
59
00:04:22,362 --> 00:04:24,865
a legendary news cameraman
and journalist.
60
00:04:24,932 --> 00:04:28,035
He's a well-known personality,
especially in Ethiopia.
61
00:04:29,903 --> 00:04:33,807
In 1984, Amin captured images
which shocked the world.
62
00:04:33,874 --> 00:04:36,610
His pictures of the Ethiopian
famine
63
00:04:36,677 --> 00:04:38,512
prompted an outpouring of aid
64
00:04:38,579 --> 00:04:42,282
which helped pull Ethiopia back
from the brink of starvation.
65
00:04:45,419 --> 00:04:48,021
Mo Amin was, I think,
66
00:04:48,088 --> 00:04:51,391
the most famous news cameraman
of his time
67
00:04:51,458 --> 00:04:55,128
and also one of the strangest
of characters...
68
00:04:56,230 --> 00:05:00,000
Amin is known for
never backing down in a fight.
69
00:05:00,067 --> 00:05:02,569
He had stuck his nose
and his camera,
70
00:05:02,636 --> 00:05:04,071
into conflicts across Africa.
71
00:05:05,539 --> 00:05:07,040
While filming in Ethiopia,
72
00:05:07,107 --> 00:05:09,943
he had even lost an arm
in a bomb blast.
73
00:05:11,712 --> 00:05:15,849
Today, he's returning home
to Nairobi
after a brief business trip.
74
00:05:21,922 --> 00:05:24,491
By the time all the passengers
are on board,
75
00:05:24,558 --> 00:05:27,961
flight 961 is carrying
175 people.
76
00:05:34,168 --> 00:05:37,371
Not only is Captain Abate
used to this route,
77
00:05:37,437 --> 00:05:40,507
but he's also very comfortable
with this aircraft.
78
00:05:41,575 --> 00:05:43,010
Vee-one.
79
00:05:45,512 --> 00:05:49,216
He and other
members of Ethiopian Airlines
call it "Zulu".
80
00:05:57,591 --> 00:06:00,060
As the plane climbs
into the sky,
81
00:06:00,127 --> 00:06:03,197
three Ethiopian men
have settled into their seats.
82
00:06:03,263 --> 00:06:05,699
All are in their mid-twenties.
83
00:06:06,466 --> 00:06:08,569
The plane is bound for Nairobi,
84
00:06:08,635 --> 00:06:11,939
but it's not where these
passengers are planning to go.
85
00:06:18,645 --> 00:06:21,348
When we took off,
everything was fine...
86
00:06:21,415 --> 00:06:23,417
The cabin crew called us,
87
00:06:23,483 --> 00:06:26,186
she asked if we wanted to have
coffee or tea or whatever...
88
00:06:26,253 --> 00:06:28,288
Yeah, thank you.
Coffee?
89
00:06:28,355 --> 00:06:29,723
Make it two.
90
00:06:30,791 --> 00:06:33,527
The plane
is flying at 12,000 meters
91
00:06:33,594 --> 00:06:36,663
when the three young Ethiopians
make their move.
92
00:06:38,432 --> 00:06:40,834
I heard a noise at the back...
93
00:06:40,901 --> 00:06:43,303
there was somebody shouting and,
when I looked back,
94
00:06:43,370 --> 00:06:45,272
he was running up towards
the front,
95
00:06:45,339 --> 00:06:48,675
pushing
the air hostesses away.
96
00:06:55,849 --> 00:06:58,352
There were two guys zipping
down the plane,
97
00:06:58,418 --> 00:07:00,721
yelling something
incomprehensible ...
98
00:07:00,787 --> 00:07:03,724
And then a guy sort of gliding
down silently
99
00:07:03,790 --> 00:07:05,259
came right after him,
and I said,
100
00:07:05,325 --> 00:07:07,494
"Uh-oh,
it's a hijacking because
they are coordinated."
101
00:07:07,561 --> 00:07:10,931
Initially, we, we sort of just
looked at each other
102
00:07:10,998 --> 00:07:12,466
and wondered what was going on.
103
00:07:12,533 --> 00:07:14,201
People didn't say much
immediately.
104
00:07:14,268 --> 00:07:17,804
There was some kind of noise
in the cabin
105
00:07:17,871 --> 00:07:21,508
and I heard the cockpit door
slamming open, just bang.
106
00:07:23,343 --> 00:07:25,012
Three men barge
through the door
107
00:07:25,078 --> 00:07:28,582
and arm themselves
with the cockpit's fire axe
and fire extinguisher.
108
00:07:28,649 --> 00:07:30,150
Get out.
109
00:07:31,218 --> 00:07:32,553
Get out!
110
00:07:33,287 --> 00:07:34,655
There was, you know, ...
111
00:07:34,721 --> 00:07:37,057
a little confusion
up in the front as if they were,
112
00:07:37,124 --> 00:07:39,960
you know, attacking
the pilots...
113
00:07:41,128 --> 00:07:43,497
There were three guys,
they were shouting.
114
00:07:43,564 --> 00:07:47,534
They just came straight
to the co-pilot and they started
hitting him, get up...
115
00:07:49,736 --> 00:07:51,471
There's eleven of us.
116
00:07:51,538 --> 00:07:52,940
If you don't do what we say,
117
00:07:53,006 --> 00:07:55,609
we'll blow this plane
out of the sky.
118
00:07:55,676 --> 00:07:58,412
I told them,
"Okay, don't hurt him.
119
00:07:58,478 --> 00:08:00,080
I'll do whatever you want."
120
00:08:00,147 --> 00:08:03,650
Passengers near the front of the plane
are concerned...
121
00:08:03,717 --> 00:08:06,019
but have no idea
what's going on.
122
00:08:07,154 --> 00:08:11,358
Captain Leul Abate is facing
the hijackers alone.
123
00:08:11,425 --> 00:08:13,393
Unlike most pilots though,
124
00:08:13,460 --> 00:08:16,763
Abate has some experience
in a situation like this.
125
00:08:16,830 --> 00:08:19,399
He has been hijacked
twice before.
126
00:08:19,466 --> 00:08:22,603
The first hijack was
a local flight.
127
00:08:22,669 --> 00:08:26,106
And then two hijackers
who had a hand grenade
128
00:08:26,173 --> 00:08:31,111
came into the cockpit
and forced us to fly to Nairobi.
129
00:08:32,379 --> 00:08:34,948
Abate's second
hijacking was just a few years
later
130
00:08:35,015 --> 00:08:37,518
when he was piloting a 737.
131
00:08:39,419 --> 00:08:44,691
The hijackers again held
the hostess hostage
132
00:08:44,758 --> 00:08:47,661
and they came into the cockpit;
they told me it was a hijack
133
00:08:47,728 --> 00:08:49,763
and they wanted to fly
to Sweden.
134
00:08:50,864 --> 00:08:53,934
No one had been
hurt or killed in either
of those incidents.
135
00:08:54,001 --> 00:08:57,638
In both cases, Captain Abate
had landed safely.
136
00:08:57,704 --> 00:09:00,974
But the turbulent political
situation in the region
137
00:09:01,041 --> 00:09:03,443
means hijacking is
an unpleasant reality.
138
00:09:04,912 --> 00:09:09,983
From 1990 to 1996,
10 Ethiopian airlines' planes
had been hijacked.
139
00:09:10,050 --> 00:09:14,354
This time though, the hijackers
make a very unusual request.
140
00:09:14,421 --> 00:09:17,024
- Fly to Australia.
- What?
141
00:09:17,090 --> 00:09:18,325
Fly us to Australia!
142
00:09:18,392 --> 00:09:21,094
We don't have enough fuel
to get to Australia.
143
00:09:21,161 --> 00:09:22,262
It's too far.
144
00:09:22,329 --> 00:09:26,600
We can go to Nairobi,
or Zanzibar,
145
00:09:26,667 --> 00:09:29,069
or Dar es Salaam
then refuel.
146
00:09:29,136 --> 00:09:31,071
And then go to Australia.
147
00:09:31,138 --> 00:09:36,109
In fact, the jet
took off with just 3.5 hours
worth of fuel.
148
00:09:38,178 --> 00:09:40,981
But the hijackers
don't know that.
149
00:09:41,048 --> 00:09:43,450
They've been reading the
in-flight magazine
150
00:09:43,517 --> 00:09:46,787
which tells them the maximum
flying time of a 767.
151
00:09:46,854 --> 00:09:48,155
Eleven hours.
152
00:09:48,222 --> 00:09:50,757
It won't take more than
10 hours to get to Australia.
153
00:09:50,824 --> 00:09:52,960
But we don't have
10 hours of fuel.
154
00:09:53,026 --> 00:09:55,529
- It says 11 hours!
- We don't carry that much fuel.
155
00:09:55,596 --> 00:09:57,264
We only carry what we need.
156
00:09:57,331 --> 00:09:58,999
They thought I was bluffing...
157
00:09:59,066 --> 00:10:02,169
They were convinced
that the airplane was able
to fly to Australia ...
158
00:10:02,236 --> 00:10:04,838
Abate is shocked.
159
00:10:04,905 --> 00:10:08,408
No one else on the plane
knows what the hijackers
are demanding.
160
00:10:08,475 --> 00:10:10,410
If he does what they say...
161
00:10:10,477 --> 00:10:12,446
his plane will crash
in the ocean.
162
00:10:12,513 --> 00:10:14,515
If he doesn't...
163
00:10:14,581 --> 00:10:17,251
they say they'll blow it out
of the sky.
164
00:10:20,287 --> 00:10:25,392
An Ethiopian Airlines jet
has been hijacked in the skies
above Africa.
165
00:10:25,459 --> 00:10:28,362
The hijackers want
to be flown to Australia.
166
00:10:28,428 --> 00:10:30,163
It's a 10-hour flight,
167
00:10:30,230 --> 00:10:33,800
but the plane took off with just
three and a half hours of fuel.
168
00:10:36,637 --> 00:10:39,940
The passengers have no idea what
the hijackers are demanding.
169
00:10:41,708 --> 00:10:45,612
Word spreads of the hijacking,
but not of their destination.
170
00:10:45,679 --> 00:10:48,782
Flight attendants feed
some of the children on board
171
00:10:48,849 --> 00:10:51,385
and keep working
as best they can.
172
00:10:51,451 --> 00:10:54,488
We started to ask the stewards
what was going on
173
00:10:54,555 --> 00:10:58,492
and they indicated
that it was a hijacking.
174
00:11:00,827 --> 00:11:03,163
Nervous and uncertain,
175
00:11:03,230 --> 00:11:06,333
passengers wait
to see what happens next.
176
00:11:08,635 --> 00:11:12,539
It was as if nobody wanted
to sort of rile the hijackers.
177
00:11:12,606 --> 00:11:14,608
Because they hadn't slapped
people around,
178
00:11:14,675 --> 00:11:16,243
it wasn't a sort of
a Middle Eastern style
179
00:11:16,310 --> 00:11:18,612
where they shoot somebody in
the head to make a point or...
180
00:11:18,679 --> 00:11:21,815
They were basically leaving
the passengers alone
181
00:11:21,882 --> 00:11:23,717
provided
that we didn't do anything.
182
00:11:23,784 --> 00:11:25,419
And that was enough for us.
183
00:11:25,485 --> 00:11:27,621
This is how much fuel
we have...
184
00:11:27,688 --> 00:11:31,425
If we had fuel for 11 hours,
it would say 60,000 kilograms.
185
00:11:31,491 --> 00:11:33,060
But we don't carry
that much fuel.
186
00:11:33,126 --> 00:11:34,828
We only carry what we need.
187
00:11:34,895 --> 00:11:36,897
The hijackers seem
to think that Abate is bluffing.
188
00:11:36,964 --> 00:11:38,198
We have a bomb.
189
00:11:38,265 --> 00:11:40,167
Yes...
190
00:11:40,234 --> 00:11:42,035
and if you don't do
what we tell you to...
191
00:11:42,102 --> 00:11:44,538
we'll blow this plane
out of the sky.
192
00:11:44,605 --> 00:11:46,573
Abate knows
he's trapped.
193
00:11:46,640 --> 00:11:50,744
If he fights the hijackers,
they may blow up his plane.
194
00:11:50,811 --> 00:11:53,847
If he does what they want,
he'll run out of fuel.
195
00:11:53,914 --> 00:11:57,017
My feeling tells me that
it's not a real bomb
196
00:11:57,084 --> 00:12:00,287
but there's no way
that I can challenge that.
197
00:12:00,354 --> 00:12:03,123
One of them has a fire axe...
198
00:12:03,190 --> 00:12:06,226
That was good enough
to do serious damage.
199
00:12:06,293 --> 00:12:10,397
If I'm not alive,
everybody's not alive,
that's it.
200
00:12:13,300 --> 00:12:15,502
I want to talk
to the passengers.
201
00:12:17,471 --> 00:12:21,608
After about half an hour,
the hijackers came on
the public address system,
202
00:12:21,675 --> 00:12:23,410
and they made an announcement
203
00:12:23,477 --> 00:12:25,779
that they have taken
over the plane...
204
00:12:27,781 --> 00:12:30,918
...and if anybody
tried anything,
205
00:12:30,984 --> 00:12:33,820
they had one bomb and
they were going to blow it up.
206
00:12:35,656 --> 00:12:38,959
The announcement
is made in Anharek,
French, and English.
207
00:12:41,695 --> 00:12:46,400
The policy at that time
was we should follow
the hijackers' instruction.
208
00:12:46,466 --> 00:12:48,902
That was before 9/11,
209
00:12:48,969 --> 00:12:53,440
and every action taken is
to be taken on ground,
not in flight.
210
00:12:53,507 --> 00:12:56,910
Pilots are trained
to fly not to fight.
211
00:12:56,977 --> 00:13:00,948
We were following sort of
the standard script, as it were,
for passengers,
212
00:13:01,014 --> 00:13:03,884
which was to stay out of it,
keep quiet, keep cool,
213
00:13:03,951 --> 00:13:06,553
let them sort it out,
get the plane on the ground.
214
00:13:06,620 --> 00:13:10,724
Some people said,
"Oh, maybe we'll go to Sudan,
215
00:13:10,791 --> 00:13:12,492
land there, negotiate.
216
00:13:12,559 --> 00:13:15,829
And maybe they'll release us
after that.
217
00:13:15,896 --> 00:13:17,998
Or, if not, move on to some...
some other place."
218
00:13:18,065 --> 00:13:19,766
But it was all speculation.
219
00:13:19,833 --> 00:13:25,506
For years,
Clint Van Zandt was the FBI's
Chief hostage negotiator.
220
00:13:25,572 --> 00:13:28,642
What made this hijacking
so unique
221
00:13:28,709 --> 00:13:30,811
is that the pilot in command
222
00:13:30,878 --> 00:13:34,681
had been the victim
of two previous hijackings.
223
00:13:34,748 --> 00:13:37,784
His success rate
was 100 per cent.
224
00:13:37,851 --> 00:13:41,188
He probably had
a predisposition to:
225
00:13:41,255 --> 00:13:43,524
this will end like
the other two did,
226
00:13:43,590 --> 00:13:45,325
I'll be able to get it
on the ground,
227
00:13:45,392 --> 00:13:46,994
the authorities will deal
with it.
228
00:13:47,060 --> 00:13:51,198
But Captain Abate
knows this situation
is different.
229
00:13:51,265 --> 00:13:53,867
Instead of another destination
in Africa,
230
00:13:53,934 --> 00:13:56,270
the hijackers want
to go to Australia.
231
00:13:56,336 --> 00:13:59,006
Abate knows that heading out
into the open ocean
232
00:13:59,072 --> 00:14:00,908
could be
a death sentence.
233
00:14:02,042 --> 00:14:04,711
Captain Abate decides
to get help.
234
00:14:04,778 --> 00:14:06,413
I have to call
air traffic control.
235
00:14:06,480 --> 00:14:08,182
Why?
236
00:14:09,316 --> 00:14:11,618
Because they will be asking
why we are changing direction.
237
00:14:13,787 --> 00:14:15,022
Tell them you've been hijacked
238
00:14:15,088 --> 00:14:17,424
and tell them
where we are going.
239
00:14:21,228 --> 00:14:23,630
Addis area Control,
this Ethiopian 961...
240
00:14:23,697 --> 00:14:25,832
Since the plane
is still over Ethiopia,
241
00:14:25,899 --> 00:14:28,802
Abate contacts
Addis Ababa area control.
242
00:14:28,869 --> 00:14:30,804
Addis Ethiopian 961,
243
00:14:30,871 --> 00:14:32,873
there are passengers
in the cockpit.
244
00:14:34,274 --> 00:14:35,676
Say it again, 961.
245
00:14:35,742 --> 00:14:39,346
Addis 961,
we have been hijacked.
246
00:14:39,413 --> 00:14:41,782
We have orders
to divert to Australia.
247
00:14:41,849 --> 00:14:44,785
961, Australia, understood.
248
00:14:44,852 --> 00:14:46,753
Confirm your souls on board.
249
00:14:46,820 --> 00:14:48,956
Souls on board: 175.
250
00:14:49,022 --> 00:14:51,592
961, 175 souls on board.
251
00:14:52,826 --> 00:14:54,928
As the aircraft
flies south,
252
00:14:54,995 --> 00:14:58,765
Addis Ababa passes the captain
over to Nairobi
air traffic control.
253
00:15:00,133 --> 00:15:02,102
ETH Nairobi Centre,
254
00:15:02,169 --> 00:15:04,104
confirm you are going to land
Australia.
255
00:15:04,171 --> 00:15:06,740
Gentlemen.
We can't make Australia.
256
00:15:06,807 --> 00:15:09,176
We have only two hours of fuel.
257
00:15:09,243 --> 00:15:12,045
We can't make it
Australia...
258
00:15:14,014 --> 00:15:16,149
We will make a water landing.
259
00:15:16,216 --> 00:15:18,318
ETH 961.
260
00:15:18,385 --> 00:15:20,787
Confirm you can't divert
to Mombasa?
261
00:15:20,854 --> 00:15:23,090
They refused to land anywhere
other than Australia
262
00:15:23,156 --> 00:15:24,892
so we have no choice,
263
00:15:24,958 --> 00:15:29,162
except when we finish our fuel,
we will land on water.
264
00:15:31,265 --> 00:15:35,169
But with two hours of fuel
you can't make Australia,
265
00:15:35,235 --> 00:15:37,371
why don't you land Mombasa?
266
00:15:39,139 --> 00:15:41,708
Okay.
Just a minute.
267
00:15:41,775 --> 00:15:46,146
Abate connects
the Air Traffic Control
to the cockpit's speakers.
268
00:15:46,213 --> 00:15:49,449
Okay, I just wanted
our hijackers to hear
what you are communicating,
269
00:15:49,516 --> 00:15:52,786
and if you have anything to say,
go ahead and tell them.
270
00:15:52,853 --> 00:15:55,689
Okay, I am advising you
271
00:15:55,756 --> 00:15:57,925
that with two hours fuel,
272
00:15:57,991 --> 00:16:00,694
you will be unable
to reach your destination.
273
00:16:01,695 --> 00:16:04,831
And probably you will have
to land on the water.
274
00:16:06,099 --> 00:16:08,302
The solution is for you
to land in Mombasa.
275
00:16:09,336 --> 00:16:10,971
Go ahead.
276
00:16:12,172 --> 00:16:17,277
The hijackers of ETH 961,
if you have copied, go ahead...
277
00:16:21,515 --> 00:16:23,350
Waiting to talk.
Standby.
278
00:16:24,351 --> 00:16:25,986
Do you want to talk to them?
279
00:16:30,157 --> 00:16:31,992
Okay, they say
they don't want to talk.
280
00:16:32,059 --> 00:16:36,463
They are not willing
to negotiate on any terms.
281
00:16:36,530 --> 00:16:39,600
Confirm they are ready to land
in the ocean and drown?
282
00:16:41,034 --> 00:16:43,937
Do you have another
alternate aerodrome?
283
00:16:44,004 --> 00:16:45,405
Please advise.
284
00:16:45,472 --> 00:16:47,241
I have no alternate aerodrome.
285
00:16:48,275 --> 00:16:50,477
Sir, I am in a very
tight corner.
- Enough talk!
286
00:16:50,544 --> 00:16:51,845
We will not negotiate.
287
00:16:51,912 --> 00:16:53,313
That's bullshit,
it's bullshit!!
288
00:16:53,380 --> 00:16:55,949
They said follow
our instructions.
289
00:16:56,016 --> 00:16:58,385
If you don't,
we'll blow the airplane up.
290
00:16:58,452 --> 00:16:59,786
That's it.
291
00:17:00,954 --> 00:17:03,624
Ethiopian 961,
Nairobi Control, do you read?
292
00:17:04,992 --> 00:17:06,860
There would be
no further communications
293
00:17:06,927 --> 00:17:09,263
between the aircraft
and air traffic control.
294
00:17:11,298 --> 00:17:14,234
An hour has passed since the
beginning of the hijacking.
295
00:17:14,301 --> 00:17:17,905
No one knows exactly what's
going on in the cockpit.
296
00:17:17,971 --> 00:17:23,443
For the rest of the passengers
and crew, the flight has settled
into an uneasy routine.
297
00:17:24,912 --> 00:17:27,514
There was a lot of time,
people were just whispering
298
00:17:27,581 --> 00:17:29,650
and we were trying to figure out
where we were going,
299
00:17:29,716 --> 00:17:32,719
where they were taking us,
what's going to happen.
300
00:17:32,786 --> 00:17:35,455
And at least the people
I was sitting next to,
301
00:17:35,522 --> 00:17:38,759
we thought that we would go
from airport to airport
302
00:17:38,825 --> 00:17:42,896
and there would be negotiations
and finally,
we would be released.
303
00:17:42,963 --> 00:17:45,098
We went generally south.
304
00:17:47,034 --> 00:17:50,070
And there was an eerie,
edgy, nervous calm.
305
00:17:50,137 --> 00:17:51,872
Nobody's talking much,
306
00:17:51,939 --> 00:17:54,308
people are in their own little
individual worlds.
307
00:17:55,542 --> 00:17:58,745
With only a
fraction of the fuel needed
to get to Australia,
308
00:17:58,812 --> 00:18:02,115
Abate decides to defy
the hijackers.
309
00:18:02,182 --> 00:18:04,451
Without their knowledge
he continues south,
310
00:18:04,518 --> 00:18:07,054
instead of east
towards Australia.
311
00:18:07,120 --> 00:18:10,624
I started following
the African coastline
312
00:18:10,691 --> 00:18:12,626
because in case
anything happens
313
00:18:12,693 --> 00:18:15,729
we'll have a place to...
314
00:18:15,796 --> 00:18:17,664
ditch or land safely
315
00:18:17,731 --> 00:18:20,567
because most of the cities
are by the coastline.
316
00:18:20,634 --> 00:18:22,936
But with a glance
out the window,
317
00:18:23,003 --> 00:18:26,139
the hijackers suddenly
realize they've been tricked.
318
00:18:26,206 --> 00:18:29,142
I still see land!
Turn the plane!
319
00:18:29,209 --> 00:18:32,479
Now, Captain Abate
has no choice.
320
00:18:32,546 --> 00:18:35,616
He turns his plane east,
over the open ocean.
321
00:18:44,324 --> 00:18:46,793
As the ocean unfolds below him,
322
00:18:46,860 --> 00:18:49,162
the Captain begins
forming another plan.
323
00:18:55,002 --> 00:18:56,937
I had no charts nearby
324
00:18:57,004 --> 00:18:59,239
because
it was on the co-pilot's side
325
00:18:59,306 --> 00:19:02,142
so I had a small atlas...
326
00:19:02,209 --> 00:19:06,079
so I took that atlas
and I saw the Comoros islands.
327
00:19:06,146 --> 00:19:10,717
Nestled between
the African continent and
the island of Madagascar
328
00:19:10,784 --> 00:19:13,987
is their only hope:
the Comoros Islands.
329
00:19:15,822 --> 00:19:18,525
A remote holiday playground
in the Indian Ocean.
330
00:19:21,161 --> 00:19:23,630
I had no idea
what that place was.
331
00:19:23,697 --> 00:19:26,033
I never heard of the word
Comoros before...
332
00:19:26,767 --> 00:19:28,402
I just headed towards it ...
333
00:19:28,468 --> 00:19:30,003
it was a guess.
334
00:19:30,938 --> 00:19:36,043
The Comoros
Islands are his last chance
to land safely.
335
00:19:36,109 --> 00:19:40,380
We sat... we just sat
and sat for hours.
336
00:19:40,447 --> 00:19:44,618
I tried to read the newspaper
but couldn't concentrate on it
because I was nervous.
337
00:19:44,685 --> 00:19:46,720
I wondered how much
extra fuel we had.
338
00:19:46,787 --> 00:19:50,290
Because the rule of thumb is
you have enough for the
alternative airport
339
00:19:50,357 --> 00:19:53,961
and then you're supposed
to have an extra 45 minutes
of fuel beyond that.
340
00:19:54,027 --> 00:19:57,631
So roughly three hours or so
of fuel they had to have.
341
00:19:57,698 --> 00:20:00,601
So after we'd flown three hours,
I began to get nervous.
342
00:20:02,703 --> 00:20:06,106
Suddenly an alarm
breaks the tense silence
in the cockpit.
343
00:20:06,173 --> 00:20:10,244
It's a warning that the plane
has less than 30 minutes of fuel
left.
344
00:20:11,545 --> 00:20:13,247
I need to tell the passengers.
345
00:20:13,313 --> 00:20:14,915
There's no need.
346
00:20:14,982 --> 00:20:17,084
You know what I'm going to
tell them?
347
00:20:17,150 --> 00:20:19,753
It's out of my control:
the aircraft is going to crash.
348
00:20:19,820 --> 00:20:21,855
- Do you want to die?
- We're going to die anyway!
349
00:20:21,922 --> 00:20:24,791
So... shall we kill you?
No more talking.
350
00:20:27,361 --> 00:20:30,497
Don't worry, I have the axe.
351
00:20:34,735 --> 00:20:36,370
Please,
352
00:20:36,436 --> 00:20:39,406
at least let us attempt
a controlled landing.
353
00:20:40,774 --> 00:20:43,277
I will die along with him.
354
00:20:43,343 --> 00:20:45,412
I will show him
that I have guts.
355
00:20:45,479 --> 00:20:47,414
It's finished.
356
00:20:47,481 --> 00:20:49,716
We will die together.
357
00:20:49,783 --> 00:20:52,319
With almost
no fuel,
358
00:20:52,386 --> 00:20:54,788
Abate decides
to make his stand.
359
00:20:54,855 --> 00:20:57,024
We came over the island.
360
00:20:57,090 --> 00:20:59,026
By then fuel was running out
361
00:20:59,092 --> 00:21:02,529
and I decided, "No,
we should not go any
further than this one"
362
00:21:02,596 --> 00:21:05,365
and I started circling
that area.
363
00:21:07,734 --> 00:21:11,138
But how
can he convince the hijackers
to let him land?
364
00:21:11,205 --> 00:21:13,473
He'll have to find
an answer soon,
365
00:21:13,540 --> 00:21:17,044
or flight 961
will crash into the sea.
366
00:21:19,079 --> 00:21:23,417
For three hours,
Captain Leul Abate has been
fighting a lonely battle.
367
00:21:23,483 --> 00:21:26,620
Hijackers have taken over
his passenger jet.
368
00:21:26,687 --> 00:21:28,922
They want to be flown
to Australia
369
00:21:28,989 --> 00:21:31,592
but Abate doesn't have
enough fuel.
370
00:21:32,726 --> 00:21:35,229
Warning alarms are already
beginning to sound.
371
00:21:35,295 --> 00:21:39,433
An airport on the Comoros
Islands is within reach
372
00:21:39,499 --> 00:21:42,569
but the hijackers refuse
to negotiate
and won't let him land.
373
00:21:45,639 --> 00:21:50,644
At stake: the lives of
all 175 people on board.
374
00:21:55,782 --> 00:21:59,853
They took whiskey
from the duty-free.
375
00:21:59,920 --> 00:22:03,590
They wanted me to drink
actually but I refused.
376
00:22:07,060 --> 00:22:09,029
Once again
alarms sound.
377
00:22:09,096 --> 00:22:11,598
One engine is now completely
out of fuel.
378
00:22:11,665 --> 00:22:13,634
It's shutting down.
379
00:22:13,700 --> 00:22:16,303
Captain Abate is quickly
running out of time.
380
00:22:20,040 --> 00:22:23,443
With the airplane being at
39,000 feet in cruise flight,
381
00:22:23,510 --> 00:22:26,213
the airplane is not going
to run out of gas
382
00:22:26,280 --> 00:22:28,549
with each engine simultaneously.
383
00:22:28,615 --> 00:22:30,617
There'll probably be
a bit of a lag,
384
00:22:30,684 --> 00:22:32,419
which in this case
there was.
385
00:22:32,486 --> 00:22:35,289
The right engine stopped
functioning first.
386
00:22:37,925 --> 00:22:40,661
First thing I noticed,
the engines sound different...
387
00:22:42,462 --> 00:22:44,598
'cause there's only one engine
running.
388
00:22:45,832 --> 00:22:48,302
It had a much deeper sound.
389
00:22:49,803 --> 00:22:53,040
Abate follows
standard emergency procedures.
390
00:22:53,106 --> 00:22:56,877
He starts the APU,
or auxiliary power unit.
391
00:22:56,944 --> 00:23:01,582
It's a generator that can
supply extra electrical power
when one engine is lost.
392
00:23:03,684 --> 00:23:07,821
Most of the passengers
don't know how serious
the situation is.
393
00:23:09,590 --> 00:23:13,126
But Captain Abate knows
the plane is in grave danger.
394
00:23:14,628 --> 00:23:16,997
I lost the engine
at 39,000 feet.
395
00:23:17,064 --> 00:23:20,334
I cannot keep flying
at 39,000 feet
with engine failure.
396
00:23:21,869 --> 00:23:23,670
With thrust
from only one engine,
397
00:23:23,737 --> 00:23:26,340
the aircraft
immediately slows down.
398
00:23:26,406 --> 00:23:29,810
At a lower speed, the wings
don't provide as much lift.
399
00:23:29,877 --> 00:23:33,480
Abate must descend
to an altitude
where the air is thicker.
400
00:23:33,547 --> 00:23:36,517
Denser air means the wings
can provide enough lift
401
00:23:36,583 --> 00:23:38,585
to keep
the aircraft flying level.
402
00:23:40,020 --> 00:23:42,456
The plane continues to descend.
403
00:23:42,523 --> 00:23:46,059
Even with only one engine,
and despite the drop
in altitude,
404
00:23:46,126 --> 00:23:48,729
the tiny Comoros Islands
are still within reach
405
00:23:48,795 --> 00:23:50,864
of the crippled airliner.
406
00:23:50,931 --> 00:23:53,000
There is an airport
at the capital, Moroni.
407
00:23:54,268 --> 00:23:57,704
If he can convince
the hijackers,
Abate could land there.
408
00:23:58,805 --> 00:24:00,440
It's gone down a thousand.
409
00:24:00,507 --> 00:24:02,776
When the engine stops,
it descends.
410
00:24:02,843 --> 00:24:04,845
It will descend
whether you like it or not.
411
00:24:08,282 --> 00:24:11,952
Alone in the cockpit, Captain
Abate takes a dangerous chance.
412
00:24:12,019 --> 00:24:14,821
He explains the situation
to everyone on board.
413
00:24:14,888 --> 00:24:16,823
Ladies and gentlemen,
this is your pilot...
414
00:24:16,890 --> 00:24:18,625
We have run out of fuel
415
00:24:18,692 --> 00:24:21,261
and we are losing an engine
at this time;
416
00:24:21,328 --> 00:24:23,330
we are going to make
a crash landing...
417
00:24:23,397 --> 00:24:26,066
When the pilot came
onto the public address system,
418
00:24:26,133 --> 00:24:29,203
and said that he had
no alternative
but to crash land,
419
00:24:29,269 --> 00:24:33,473
that is when we, it actually
dawned on us and we realized
420
00:24:33,540 --> 00:24:35,809
that this was a life and death
situation.
421
00:24:35,876 --> 00:24:39,947
Captain Abate also
makes a desperate call for help.
422
00:24:40,013 --> 00:24:42,382
We have already lost
one of the engines.
423
00:24:42,449 --> 00:24:45,819
He wants
the passengers
to overpower the hijackers,
424
00:24:45,886 --> 00:24:47,588
so he can land the plane.
425
00:24:47,654 --> 00:24:50,424
I ask all passengers
to react to the hijackers.
Thank you.
426
00:24:50,490 --> 00:24:54,161
Captain Abate
knows the call for help is
a huge risk.
427
00:24:54,228 --> 00:24:57,731
Even though I was
expecting some kind of movement
in the cabin
428
00:24:57,798 --> 00:25:00,100
but... I had to do my job.
429
00:25:00,167 --> 00:25:03,003
I was doing what I had to do,
you know,
430
00:25:03,070 --> 00:25:05,939
keep the airplane in control,
fly it.
431
00:25:06,006 --> 00:25:08,942
While Captain Abate waits for action,
432
00:25:09,009 --> 00:25:11,478
the passengers are
more confused than ever.
433
00:25:13,947 --> 00:25:16,817
He said,
"React against the hijackers."
434
00:25:16,884 --> 00:25:19,052
Which is an odd phraseology.
435
00:25:20,153 --> 00:25:21,788
But nobody reacted.
436
00:25:21,855 --> 00:25:23,857
I think part of it
was the way he said it.
437
00:25:23,924 --> 00:25:25,792
It was not sort of a normal way
in English
438
00:25:25,859 --> 00:25:28,262
that you would ask someone
to take on the hijackers.
439
00:25:28,328 --> 00:25:32,366
But he also was trying to do it
so they wouldn't notice
what he was saying.
440
00:25:32,432 --> 00:25:36,170
At least one of
the passengers does understand.
441
00:25:36,236 --> 00:25:38,305
As a news cameraman,
442
00:25:38,372 --> 00:25:41,408
Mo Amin has never shied away
from a challenge.
443
00:25:44,945 --> 00:25:49,082
Amin makes his way
to the economy section
in the rear of the plane.
444
00:25:50,651 --> 00:25:55,355
Here is a man who had spent
20 or 30 years
445
00:25:55,422 --> 00:25:59,393
in some of the most difficult
and dangerous war zones
of the world,
446
00:25:59,459 --> 00:26:03,330
who'd been beaten up,
who'd been shot at,
447
00:26:03,397 --> 00:26:05,265
who'd been jailed.
448
00:26:05,332 --> 00:26:08,602
He was a kind of alpha male,
if you know what I mean.
449
00:26:08,669 --> 00:26:12,206
He could talk anybody
into anything.
450
00:26:12,272 --> 00:26:14,308
He made like he was going
to the bathroom,
451
00:26:14,374 --> 00:26:16,844
then he came back and he started
talking to people
452
00:26:16,910 --> 00:26:20,447
who were three or four seats
ahead of me.
453
00:26:20,514 --> 00:26:23,183
And, from his gestures and
actions,
454
00:26:23,250 --> 00:26:25,619
he was trying to get us
to stand up
against the hijackers...
455
00:26:25,686 --> 00:26:27,054
With your help,
we can take them!
456
00:26:27,120 --> 00:26:29,323
There's only three of them.
Come on!
457
00:26:30,290 --> 00:26:31,658
Come on!
458
00:26:35,662 --> 00:26:40,033
Not knowing what would happen,
not knowing what these people
were capable of doing...
459
00:26:40,100 --> 00:26:43,770
and of course, the fact that
they had indicated
460
00:26:43,837 --> 00:26:46,573
that they would blow up the
plane if anybody tried anything.
461
00:26:46,640 --> 00:26:50,143
You always, always have
to measure,
462
00:26:50,210 --> 00:26:52,513
"Am I going to make
the situation better
463
00:26:52,579 --> 00:26:54,615
or am I going
to make it worse?"
464
00:26:54,681 --> 00:26:59,586
Who's ready to take the chance
that your precipitous action
465
00:26:59,653 --> 00:27:00,854
against the hijacker
466
00:27:00,921 --> 00:27:04,892
might not cause him to set
that explosive device off
467
00:27:04,958 --> 00:27:07,561
and take the life of everybody
on board the plane?
468
00:27:08,862 --> 00:27:12,199
In the end,
the passengers choose
not to act.
469
00:27:12,266 --> 00:27:15,602
Captain Abate is still alone
against the hijackers.
470
00:27:17,271 --> 00:27:20,607
In the cockpit, the hijackers
try to take control,
471
00:27:20,674 --> 00:27:23,210
in a vain attempt to keep
the plane in the air.
472
00:27:23,277 --> 00:27:25,012
It's descending.
473
00:27:25,078 --> 00:27:27,981
Don't worry, I am not
the one who is doing that.
474
00:27:28,048 --> 00:27:31,485
Inadvertently one of the hijackers
disconnects the autopilot.
475
00:27:31,552 --> 00:27:33,720
The plane swerves wildly.
476
00:27:39,660 --> 00:27:41,428
Don't move! Listen.
477
00:27:41,495 --> 00:27:43,297
I'm not applying any motion.
478
00:27:43,363 --> 00:27:45,866
The aircraft is doing it
by itself.
479
00:27:45,933 --> 00:27:49,102
He was trying to fly
the airplane, he was trying
to disconnect the autopilot,
480
00:27:49,169 --> 00:27:51,238
all sorts of things.
481
00:27:51,305 --> 00:27:54,975
It's all over,
we will drop in the ocean.
482
00:27:55,042 --> 00:27:56,877
31!
483
00:27:56,944 --> 00:28:00,013
Abate makes
another attempt to explain
484
00:28:00,080 --> 00:28:01,582
the desperate situation
to the hijackers;
485
00:28:01,648 --> 00:28:05,919
perhaps they will finally
allow him to land
at the nearby airport.
486
00:28:05,986 --> 00:28:07,654
This is zero.
487
00:28:07,721 --> 00:28:10,224
And this is coming to zero.
488
00:28:10,290 --> 00:28:14,127
I prayed to God,
I wish I wasn't in
this situation.
489
00:28:14,194 --> 00:28:15,495
Now I am in it
490
00:28:15,562 --> 00:28:17,865
but help me
to save these people.
491
00:28:17,931 --> 00:28:19,800
Ladies and Gentlemen,
492
00:28:19,867 --> 00:28:21,535
please sit down
and fasten your seat belts.
493
00:28:21,602 --> 00:28:23,570
Don't panic.
Please fasten...
494
00:28:23,637 --> 00:28:26,473
I was starting to say,
"Oh, I love you, dear,
it's been a good ride."
495
00:28:26,540 --> 00:28:31,545
And my wife is sort
of unsentimental,
psychiatric nurse.
496
00:28:31,612 --> 00:28:35,449
And she tells me,
"Get up, stand up,
497
00:28:35,516 --> 00:28:37,584
get our bag down
from the overhead,
498
00:28:37,651 --> 00:28:40,487
pull out your extra glasses,
put them in your pocket,
499
00:28:40,554 --> 00:28:42,289
and get some food for me
500
00:28:42,356 --> 00:28:44,558
and I want this,
this and this, and food.
501
00:28:44,625 --> 00:28:47,661
She carefully picked things
that wouldn't make her thirsty.
502
00:28:47,728 --> 00:28:50,697
She said there's not going
to be any meal service
once we hit the water.
503
00:28:53,667 --> 00:28:56,003
Finally the plane
runs out of fuel.
504
00:28:58,438 --> 00:29:01,542
- So you're killing everyone.
- That is all. Sit down!
505
00:29:01,608 --> 00:29:03,977
From now on you can't do
anything to me.
506
00:29:04,044 --> 00:29:05,612
What?
507
00:29:05,679 --> 00:29:08,048
From now on, you can do
nothing to me.
508
00:29:12,119 --> 00:29:15,189
The other engine stopped
509
00:29:15,255 --> 00:29:17,591
and it sort of went quiet.
510
00:29:20,527 --> 00:29:23,697
Then, it started to get hot
within the cabin,
511
00:29:23,764 --> 00:29:25,899
the lights started to flicker...
512
00:29:27,100 --> 00:29:28,735
and, gradually,
513
00:29:28,802 --> 00:29:31,705
it went out.
514
00:29:31,772 --> 00:29:34,141
That's it.
Both engines are out.
515
00:29:34,208 --> 00:29:37,010
That's it.
Is this what you wanted?
516
00:29:39,913 --> 00:29:42,149
This 40-million-dollar aircraft
517
00:29:42,216 --> 00:29:44,985
has become
a 100-tonne glider.
518
00:29:45,052 --> 00:29:48,856
The plane is out of fuel,
and Abate is out of options.
519
00:29:48,922 --> 00:29:51,892
A crash landing in the sea
is all but inevitable.
520
00:29:54,595 --> 00:29:56,463
Both engines are out.
That's it.
521
00:29:56,530 --> 00:29:58,332
Is this what you wanted?
522
00:29:59,433 --> 00:30:00,901
Almost four hours
after take-off
523
00:30:00,968 --> 00:30:05,405
Ethiopian Airlines Flight 961
has finally run out of fuel.
524
00:30:05,472 --> 00:30:07,674
Hijackers have taken over
the plane
525
00:30:07,741 --> 00:30:10,577
and have forced the captain
to fly over the ocean.
526
00:30:14,781 --> 00:30:18,118
The loss of engine power starts
rippling through the plane.
527
00:30:18,185 --> 00:30:20,888
As well as driving the jet
through the skies,
528
00:30:20,954 --> 00:30:24,458
the engines supply power
to most of the electrical
and hydraulic systems.
529
00:30:24,525 --> 00:30:28,228
Without the engines
the computer screens,
automatic pilot
530
00:30:28,295 --> 00:30:31,798
and many other functions
of the plane stop working.
531
00:30:33,367 --> 00:30:35,736
Although the engines are now
useless,
532
00:30:35,802 --> 00:30:40,174
a low-tech backup system
allows the pilot
to retain some control.
533
00:30:41,375 --> 00:30:43,310
The Ram Air Turbine, or RAT,
534
00:30:43,377 --> 00:30:45,979
is the last line of defense
when all the engines fail.
535
00:30:47,915 --> 00:30:50,350
A small trap door
automatically opens,
536
00:30:50,417 --> 00:30:53,554
and the turbine,
a small propeller, pops out.
537
00:30:53,620 --> 00:30:56,390
The rushing air turns
the propeller like a windmill,
538
00:30:56,456 --> 00:30:58,625
generating just enough
electrical power
539
00:30:58,692 --> 00:31:02,029
for basic flight instruments
and controls,
including airspeed.
540
00:31:03,931 --> 00:31:06,300
Since it was power off,
541
00:31:06,366 --> 00:31:09,069
that means there was no
electrical or hydraulic power,
542
00:31:09,136 --> 00:31:10,871
the controls were heavy.
543
00:31:10,938 --> 00:31:15,576
The turbine does
not provide enough power
for Abate to operate the flaps,
544
00:31:15,642 --> 00:31:18,512
which would help slow
the plane down for landing.
545
00:31:18,579 --> 00:31:20,480
Wherever he lands,
546
00:31:20,547 --> 00:31:23,917
Captain Abate will have to do
so at a dangerously high speed.
547
00:31:26,653 --> 00:31:29,356
Power off landing,
power off ditching.
548
00:31:29,423 --> 00:31:31,391
Nobody's trained in the world.
549
00:31:32,893 --> 00:31:36,730
Flying over the water,
you need accurate instruments.
550
00:31:36,797 --> 00:31:39,666
I didn't have any
of the instruments.
551
00:31:42,336 --> 00:31:43,971
Without engines,
552
00:31:44,037 --> 00:31:46,874
a large passenger jet can glide
18 and a half kilometers
553
00:31:46,940 --> 00:31:49,843
for every 1000 meters
of altitude it loses.
554
00:31:54,014 --> 00:31:56,116
At 6,400 meters,
555
00:31:56,183 --> 00:32:00,387
the Ethiopian Airlines plane
can glide
for nearly 120 kilometers
556
00:32:00,454 --> 00:32:02,789
before it hits the ground.
557
00:32:02,856 --> 00:32:05,959
One of the things that the
captain's got to worry about now
558
00:32:06,026 --> 00:32:09,363
is with both engines shut down,
the airplane's going to go down.
559
00:32:09,429 --> 00:32:13,200
It's just a matter of where,
and that's going to be
controlled by the pilot flying.
560
00:32:15,035 --> 00:32:17,838
It's an extremely
dangerous situation
561
00:32:17,905 --> 00:32:20,107
few pilots in the world
have ever faced.
562
00:32:22,109 --> 00:32:27,181
In 1983, another 767 pilot
found himself
in a similar predicament.
563
00:32:27,247 --> 00:32:30,784
Air Canada flight 143
ran out of fuel
564
00:32:30,851 --> 00:32:33,320
and landed on an abandoned
Air Force base,
565
00:32:33,387 --> 00:32:35,355
sustaining only minor damage.
566
00:32:35,422 --> 00:32:37,925
In the right circumstances,
567
00:32:37,991 --> 00:32:40,894
a safe landing without power
is possible.
568
00:32:42,996 --> 00:32:46,166
Captain Abate hopes to land
at the airport
in the Comoros Islands.
569
00:32:46,233 --> 00:32:49,203
But struggling against
the hijackers on the final turn
570
00:32:49,269 --> 00:32:53,040
he loses his bearings and cannot
visually locate the runway.
571
00:32:54,374 --> 00:32:57,110
I was within the vicinity
of the airport
572
00:32:57,177 --> 00:33:00,714
so I was keeping the airport
in my sight all the time.
573
00:33:00,781 --> 00:33:04,151
Then through the struggle,
I lost my position.
574
00:33:04,218 --> 00:33:06,253
I lost where I was.
575
00:33:07,955 --> 00:33:11,158
In the critical
seconds it takes
to find the airport again,
576
00:33:11,225 --> 00:33:13,293
he loses too much altitude
577
00:33:13,360 --> 00:33:15,963
and doesn't know
if he can make it to a runway.
578
00:33:16,029 --> 00:33:18,832
A water landing is
now his only option.
579
00:33:21,702 --> 00:33:23,704
He knew that he was going
to have to ditch the airplane.
580
00:33:23,770 --> 00:33:26,206
He was going to have to put
the airplane down in the water.
581
00:33:26,273 --> 00:33:29,476
How he was going to do that
was now a different plan
582
00:33:29,543 --> 00:33:32,479
because he'd never been
trained to do that,
not with two engines out.
583
00:33:32,546 --> 00:33:34,681
Landing on the ocean
584
00:33:34,748 --> 00:33:37,951
is even more dangerous
than bringing a plane down
on the ground.
585
00:33:40,687 --> 00:33:42,956
If you were trying to crash
land on the ground,
586
00:33:43,023 --> 00:33:45,692
the airplane would have
a surface to slide across.
587
00:33:45,759 --> 00:33:48,128
That surface does not exist
588
00:33:48,195 --> 00:33:50,497
when you're ditching
the airplane in water.
589
00:33:50,564 --> 00:33:53,700
The airplane is going
to touch down on the water
590
00:33:53,767 --> 00:33:57,237
and then at some point, it's
going to dig into that water.
591
00:33:58,138 --> 00:34:01,441
When that happens,
the airplane's going
to try to stop instantly.
592
00:34:01,508 --> 00:34:03,911
In trying to bring
his plane down safely,
593
00:34:03,977 --> 00:34:06,280
Abate faces
unique challenges.
594
00:34:07,548 --> 00:34:10,584
Planes such as the DC-9
have flat bottoms,
595
00:34:10,651 --> 00:34:12,753
which would skim the surface
of the ocean on landing,
596
00:34:12,819 --> 00:34:14,588
slowing down more gently.
597
00:34:15,956 --> 00:34:20,460
But the engines on Abate's 767
hang below the body.
598
00:34:20,527 --> 00:34:22,563
They could act
as enormous scoops,
599
00:34:22,629 --> 00:34:24,298
grabbing hold of the water
600
00:34:24,364 --> 00:34:26,433
as the rest of the plane
plows ahead.
601
00:34:26,500 --> 00:34:29,236
The force will tear
the jet apart.
602
00:34:30,938 --> 00:34:33,540
It was getting hotter and
hotter, so we started to sweat.
603
00:34:33,607 --> 00:34:36,910
Because I guess
the air conditioning system
was not working
604
00:34:36,977 --> 00:34:38,712
since there was no power.
605
00:34:38,779 --> 00:34:42,316
And that's when
the people started to scream,
606
00:34:42,382 --> 00:34:44,184
started to panic...
607
00:34:45,552 --> 00:34:47,721
looking for life jackets.
608
00:34:48,622 --> 00:34:51,425
Praying to Jesus,
praying to Allah...
609
00:34:53,827 --> 00:34:57,097
Some ladies were asking people
to go and plead with the
hijackers,
610
00:34:57,164 --> 00:35:00,467
not realizing that it wouldn't
make any difference
at this particular time.
611
00:35:00,534 --> 00:35:02,569
We didn't have any fuel and
that was it, we're going down.
612
00:35:02,636 --> 00:35:07,541
But I guess at that time,
your hope is all you have.
613
00:35:12,112 --> 00:35:15,315
We're descending
fairly rapidly,
the plane is lurching wildly.
614
00:35:15,382 --> 00:35:18,385
A couple of times
they're fighting up
in the cockpit for the controls.
615
00:35:18,452 --> 00:35:20,954
It's my responsibility,
616
00:35:21,021 --> 00:35:23,624
the passengers must know
what's going on.
617
00:35:23,690 --> 00:35:25,926
Descend
and increase the speed.
618
00:35:25,993 --> 00:35:28,362
It doesn't make
any difference.
619
00:35:28,428 --> 00:35:30,464
Please.
620
00:35:30,531 --> 00:35:33,100
All the same,
we are going to die.
621
00:35:39,673 --> 00:35:41,842
Please maintain calm.
622
00:35:41,909 --> 00:35:44,645
Prepare for an emergency
landing.
623
00:35:45,646 --> 00:35:49,149
Put on your life jackets
but do not inflate them.
624
00:35:49,216 --> 00:35:52,819
Some passengers
either don't hear the Captain's
instructions
625
00:35:52,886 --> 00:35:54,855
or decide
to ignore them.
626
00:35:54,922 --> 00:35:57,090
They inflate their life jackets.
627
00:36:01,395 --> 00:36:04,531
I heard a pop, pop, pop, pop
back in the tourist class.
628
00:36:04,598 --> 00:36:07,534
And everybody panicked and
inflated their life jackets.
629
00:36:08,435 --> 00:36:10,304
I actually got up on my seat
630
00:36:10,370 --> 00:36:12,639
and told people,
631
00:36:12,706 --> 00:36:15,642
"Don't inflate your life jackets
inside the plane."
632
00:36:15,709 --> 00:36:19,913
At the front
of the plane, Mo Amin tries
a last ditch attempt
633
00:36:19,980 --> 00:36:22,115
to negotiate with the hijackers.
634
00:36:22,182 --> 00:36:24,218
No, sit down.
635
00:36:24,284 --> 00:36:29,423
Mo had a desire to dominate
every situation he was in.
636
00:36:29,489 --> 00:36:33,193
In a situation like that,
it would be Mo
talking to the hijackers,
637
00:36:33,260 --> 00:36:37,164
he would be negotiating
with the hijackers, he would be,
I'm sure,
638
00:36:37,231 --> 00:36:40,067
trying to get
the other passengers
to face these guys down.
639
00:36:41,235 --> 00:36:43,537
But Amin's efforts
have no effect.
640
00:36:43,604 --> 00:36:47,107
The hijackers are determined
to let the aircraft crash.
641
00:36:51,411 --> 00:36:54,081
Then, for the first time
since the hijacking began,
642
00:36:54,147 --> 00:36:56,517
Captain Abate gets some help.
643
00:37:03,123 --> 00:37:05,526
The controls... I need help...
644
00:37:06,960 --> 00:37:08,896
They're too heavy.
645
00:37:10,230 --> 00:37:13,367
We told them, "Guys,
now we are in the last point,
646
00:37:13,433 --> 00:37:18,639
you should sit down and fasten
your seat belts." They refused.
647
00:37:20,741 --> 00:37:24,478
I never thought I would ditch
in my lifetime.
648
00:37:25,078 --> 00:37:27,581
I never thought I would lose
two engines
649
00:37:27,648 --> 00:37:30,284
and ditch in the middle
of the ocean.
650
00:37:31,985 --> 00:37:35,289
I never thought anything like
that would happen in my life.
651
00:37:37,024 --> 00:37:39,793
The last few seconds,
I remember looking out
both sides of the window.
652
00:37:39,860 --> 00:37:41,528
I could see water.
653
00:37:43,463 --> 00:37:46,200
And, then, I took
the crash landing position.
654
00:37:47,234 --> 00:37:49,469
All these things
go through your mind.
655
00:37:50,504 --> 00:37:53,607
I guess, having been brought up
in a Christian family,
656
00:37:53,674 --> 00:37:55,242
I said my last prayers.
657
00:37:55,309 --> 00:37:56,710
And said, um, "Well,
658
00:37:56,777 --> 00:37:58,078
if there is Heaven,
659
00:37:58,145 --> 00:38:00,180
I hope I get out
on the right side of things."
660
00:38:03,784 --> 00:38:07,421
Outside in the window,
you could see land
at the last minute,
661
00:38:07,487 --> 00:38:09,389
and we realized that we were...
662
00:38:09,456 --> 00:38:11,658
for the first time that we were
near land but over water.
663
00:38:14,228 --> 00:38:17,364
I used to love that airplane;
we used to call it Zulu.
664
00:38:19,233 --> 00:38:21,869
In my heart I was talking to it.
665
00:38:21,935 --> 00:38:24,338
So I said, "Zulu, you can make
it now,
666
00:38:24,404 --> 00:38:26,540
you should be able to make it,
I know you can make it."
667
00:38:26,607 --> 00:38:28,041
You know, I was talking to it.
668
00:38:29,510 --> 00:38:31,912
On the beach,
tourists are stunned.
669
00:38:31,979 --> 00:38:36,884
The horror of the crash
is captured on
one of their video cameras.
670
00:38:36,950 --> 00:38:41,788
The plane is flying at more than
370 km per hour
when it hits the water.
671
00:38:43,390 --> 00:38:45,692
The first bump was
fairly gentle.
672
00:38:45,759 --> 00:38:48,228
And I sort of breathed
a sigh of relief. Wow!
673
00:38:48,295 --> 00:38:51,465
As soon as we touched
the water, it was quite violent.
674
00:38:51,532 --> 00:38:55,068
Then the second bump, like a
30-mile-an-hour auto accident.
675
00:38:55,135 --> 00:38:58,639
I had a feeling the plane
was not going to hold.
676
00:38:58,705 --> 00:39:02,576
The third bump, I said,
"Uh-oh, I'm dead."
677
00:39:02,643 --> 00:39:03,977
I blacked out.
678
00:39:08,348 --> 00:39:11,618
Oh my God! Oh no!
679
00:39:15,322 --> 00:39:17,357
The ditching was
very rough.
680
00:39:18,192 --> 00:39:20,761
The aircraft broke apart
into three pieces.
681
00:39:21,628 --> 00:39:23,764
The cockpit broke off
and the tail end broke off,
682
00:39:23,830 --> 00:39:25,632
so we went, started to go down.
683
00:39:26,466 --> 00:39:30,304
There was water
gushing in on both sides.
684
00:39:32,172 --> 00:39:35,075
Passengers who survive the initial impact
685
00:39:35,142 --> 00:39:38,712
struggle to escape
from the shattered wreckage.
686
00:39:38,779 --> 00:39:40,914
As water pours in,
687
00:39:40,981 --> 00:39:44,518
people who have already inflated
their life jackets
become trapped.
688
00:39:44,585 --> 00:39:48,021
The water pushes them towards
the ceiling of the plane.
689
00:39:52,159 --> 00:39:55,562
In that kind of panic, uh,
people, um, do all sorts of
things
690
00:39:55,629 --> 00:39:57,197
that, maybe, are not rational.
691
00:40:01,535 --> 00:40:05,572
The life jackets
make it very difficult
to swim under water.
692
00:40:05,639 --> 00:40:08,842
Many passengers can't escape
the sinking cabin.
693
00:40:12,980 --> 00:40:15,315
The aircraft was
full of water...
694
00:40:16,083 --> 00:40:19,553
I have no fear of water,
having done competitive swimming
in school.
695
00:40:20,487 --> 00:40:22,189
And then I went
for my seat belt.
696
00:40:22,256 --> 00:40:24,124
And I couldn't find the buckle.
697
00:40:24,191 --> 00:40:26,593
So, I moved my hand
down to my knee and found it.
698
00:40:26,660 --> 00:40:29,429
I pulled it open
and I pushed out.
699
00:40:30,664 --> 00:40:33,233
And I looked at the back
of the aircraft.
700
00:40:33,300 --> 00:40:36,270
I could see some light
at the end
701
00:40:36,336 --> 00:40:39,173
and I decided to swim out
in that direction.
702
00:40:46,613 --> 00:40:50,284
As I swam out, one of the
passengers trying to get out of
the seat grabbed my leg...
703
00:40:51,351 --> 00:40:54,821
I said to myself, "Oh, my God,
this can cause me to drown."
704
00:40:54,888 --> 00:40:56,757
But I decided not to fight back
705
00:40:56,823 --> 00:40:59,927
and they pulled themselves out
and they let go of my leg.
706
00:40:59,993 --> 00:41:03,597
And, then I continued to swim
out to the back of the aircraft,
707
00:41:03,664 --> 00:41:05,766
and swam to the surface.
708
00:41:07,534 --> 00:41:10,270
I was really exhausted,
I felt very tired.
709
00:41:12,539 --> 00:41:15,509
And I looked up and said,
"Okay, could this be heaven?"
710
00:41:16,343 --> 00:41:20,214
'Cause I wasn't really sure
whether I was alive or...
711
00:41:20,280 --> 00:41:22,249
or... or dead.
712
00:41:22,316 --> 00:41:24,785
I was trying to tell
the co-pilot to get out,
713
00:41:24,852 --> 00:41:27,221
then he was not there.
714
00:41:27,287 --> 00:41:30,090
Then I said, "Okay, then, it's
about time for me to go out."
715
00:41:30,157 --> 00:41:33,393
I woke up, I was floating
in the water,
716
00:41:33,460 --> 00:41:35,629
and I went,
"Hey, I'm alive."
717
00:41:35,696 --> 00:41:39,399
I looked for my wife who'd been
sitting on my right
and she was gone...
718
00:41:39,466 --> 00:41:41,568
and my heart sank.
719
00:41:41,635 --> 00:41:44,171
Then I looked to my left
and she was now on my left.
720
00:41:44,238 --> 00:41:46,640
She had swirled around
and swapped...
721
00:41:46,707 --> 00:41:49,443
We were out
floating in the ocean.
722
00:41:49,510 --> 00:41:51,879
You can see just what looks
like an uninhabited cliff,
723
00:41:51,945 --> 00:41:54,381
what might be a tropical island.
724
00:41:54,448 --> 00:41:56,316
It's like a movie, you know.
725
00:41:57,784 --> 00:42:00,487
When I leveled out
and looked at sea level,
726
00:42:00,554 --> 00:42:02,489
I saw all these boats,
these tourist boats,
727
00:42:02,556 --> 00:42:04,391
beautiful sails and all that
and I said,
728
00:42:04,458 --> 00:42:07,160
"I must still be on earth."
729
00:42:11,698 --> 00:42:15,169
And I looked around me,
I could see all these people,
life jackets and,
730
00:42:15,235 --> 00:42:19,973
bits and pieces of debris,
broken seats,
731
00:42:20,040 --> 00:42:22,009
floating bodies.
732
00:42:26,280 --> 00:42:29,082
As I swam towards the beach,
I saw this passport,
733
00:42:29,149 --> 00:42:31,485
which was a Kenyan passport,
734
00:42:31,552 --> 00:42:35,155
and I stopped and
opened the passport
735
00:42:35,222 --> 00:42:37,391
and believe it or not
it was mine.
736
00:42:38,892 --> 00:42:42,729
So I took the passport
and folded it and put it in my
pocket and continued to swim.
737
00:42:44,498 --> 00:42:47,434
Oddenyu makes
his way to a floating
pallet of cargo
738
00:42:47,501 --> 00:42:49,837
that's burst loose
from the plane.
739
00:42:49,903 --> 00:42:52,873
He pulls himself on top
and waits for rescue.
740
00:42:55,275 --> 00:42:57,978
The plane was destroyed,
ripped into several pieces.
741
00:42:58,045 --> 00:43:00,781
I saw things
scattered around me,
742
00:43:00,848 --> 00:43:04,084
the tail of the airplane
far away from me...
743
00:43:04,151 --> 00:43:07,788
I never expected
something like could happen.
744
00:43:07,855 --> 00:43:12,759
All I was expecting was
to evacuate the passengers
safely, and myself.
745
00:43:12,826 --> 00:43:15,929
Abate swims
to safety,
746
00:43:15,996 --> 00:43:19,266
but he has no idea
how successful he's been.
747
00:43:19,333 --> 00:43:22,169
He doesn't know whether any
of his passengers have survived,
748
00:43:22,236 --> 00:43:24,972
or what's happened
to the hijackers.
749
00:43:30,377 --> 00:43:32,513
After a four-hour struggle
with hijackers,
750
00:43:32,579 --> 00:43:36,683
Captain Leul Abate crash lands
his passenger jet
in the Indian Ocean
751
00:43:36,750 --> 00:43:39,019
near the Comoros Islands.
752
00:43:39,086 --> 00:43:41,488
Oh, my God!
753
00:43:41,555 --> 00:43:43,690
His plane is shattered.
754
00:43:43,757 --> 00:43:46,660
But his skill may have saved
the lives of many on board.
755
00:43:48,161 --> 00:43:50,564
For those who survive
the crash,
756
00:43:50,631 --> 00:43:53,567
Abate's decision to ditch
the plane near the shore
757
00:43:53,634 --> 00:43:56,236
means that although
the airliner breaks into pieces
758
00:43:56,303 --> 00:43:59,640
it doesn't sink very far.
759
00:43:59,706 --> 00:44:01,608
Fortunately the water
was very shallow.
760
00:44:01,675 --> 00:44:04,211
In some cases
people were able to get out.
761
00:44:06,046 --> 00:44:10,184
Locals and tourists swarm out
to the downed aircraft.
762
00:44:11,285 --> 00:44:15,722
A group of scuba divers,
who narrowly missed being hit
by the aircraft,
763
00:44:15,789 --> 00:44:17,524
help with the rescue effort.
764
00:44:19,660 --> 00:44:21,695
In an amazing stroke
of good luck,
765
00:44:21,762 --> 00:44:24,364
some French doctors are
staying at the resort.
766
00:44:24,431 --> 00:44:27,501
They offer
immediate medical assistance.
767
00:44:29,436 --> 00:44:35,175
In the end, of the 175 people
on board the plane, 50 survive.
768
00:44:35,242 --> 00:44:39,046
Without the actions of Abate,
many more could have died.
769
00:44:40,581 --> 00:44:43,584
Without power and unable
to use his flaps
770
00:44:43,650 --> 00:44:47,721
Captain Abate lands
at 370 kilometers per hour,
771
00:44:47,788 --> 00:44:52,960
over 100 kilometers per hour
above the normal
landing speed of a 767.
772
00:44:53,994 --> 00:44:56,930
Once the captain made the
decision that he had to ditch,
773
00:44:56,997 --> 00:44:58,899
the best thing that he could do
774
00:44:58,966 --> 00:45:01,401
was keep the airplane
as close to land as possible.
775
00:45:02,870 --> 00:45:06,807
Abate also tried
to make the landing
as smooth as possible.
776
00:45:06,874 --> 00:45:10,577
At the last moment
he turned the jet,
777
00:45:10,644 --> 00:45:13,614
hoping to land parallel
to the waves instead
of crashing into them.
778
00:45:15,215 --> 00:45:18,485
As soon as the plane hit
the water, it was ripped out of
Abate's control.
779
00:45:21,221 --> 00:45:23,590
The airplane touched down
left wing low,
780
00:45:23,657 --> 00:45:25,993
so the left wing
actually grabbed the water.
781
00:45:26,059 --> 00:45:29,863
The 767's
massive low-slung engine
782
00:45:29,930 --> 00:45:32,799
dug into the water,
spinning the plane around.
783
00:45:34,434 --> 00:45:38,839
The airplane would have wanted
to turn around that left wing
or cartwheel.
784
00:45:39,706 --> 00:45:42,843
That's a lot of energy
to dissipate very quickly.
785
00:45:42,910 --> 00:45:44,678
That's what caused
the break-up sequence.
786
00:45:44,745 --> 00:45:46,713
The airplane broke up
into four or five pieces,
787
00:45:46,780 --> 00:45:49,216
that's what caused
a lot of the fatalities.
788
00:45:49,283 --> 00:45:52,686
Panic may also
have contributed
to the number of deaths.
789
00:45:56,356 --> 00:45:58,458
Disregarding Abate's
instructions,
790
00:45:58,525 --> 00:46:01,628
many passengers inflated
their life jackets.
791
00:46:02,829 --> 00:46:06,400
The life vest wants to keep
you buoyant or try to drive you
straight up,
792
00:46:06,466 --> 00:46:08,669
and that could hamper
and restrict
793
00:46:08,735 --> 00:46:10,804
your ability
to get out of your seat.
794
00:46:11,839 --> 00:46:14,241
In some cases people were
still strapped in their seat
795
00:46:14,308 --> 00:46:17,444
when the airplane sank and
they unfortunately drowned.
796
00:46:20,981 --> 00:46:26,186
Mo Amin, who had
tried to rally the passengers
against the hijackers,
797
00:46:26,253 --> 00:46:28,488
was standing up
when the plane crashed.
798
00:46:28,555 --> 00:46:33,327
He was probably thrown against
a bulkhead when the plane
crashed, dying instantly.
799
00:46:36,196 --> 00:46:41,235
Mo had survived everything,
he had more than nine lives
800
00:46:41,301 --> 00:46:45,105
and the idea that he should
just be on an ordinary,
standard flight
801
00:46:45,172 --> 00:46:49,142
when the kind of news story
that he wasn't aware of,
hadn't been assigned to,
802
00:46:49,209 --> 00:46:51,812
caught up with him
and to be killed in this way
803
00:46:51,879 --> 00:46:54,281
has a kind of horrid irony
about it.
804
00:46:56,216 --> 00:46:59,586
The hijackers,
who refused to sit
for the landing,
805
00:46:59,653 --> 00:47:01,321
also died in the crash.
806
00:47:11,164 --> 00:47:13,000
In the days
after the disaster,
807
00:47:13,066 --> 00:47:16,003
other pieces of the puzzle
became clearer.
808
00:47:16,069 --> 00:47:19,473
Despite claims by the hijackers
that there were eleven of them,
809
00:47:19,540 --> 00:47:21,975
in fact, there were only three.
810
00:47:22,042 --> 00:47:26,146
But who were these desperate
men and what were their motives?
811
00:47:26,213 --> 00:47:30,250
They were imprisoned, uh,
thrown in jail,
812
00:47:30,317 --> 00:47:32,986
persecuted and tortured
by the government.
813
00:47:33,053 --> 00:47:35,255
They didn't specify
which government,
814
00:47:35,322 --> 00:47:37,624
at least to the best
of my understanding.
815
00:47:37,691 --> 00:47:39,660
And that they had escaped
from jail
816
00:47:39,726 --> 00:47:41,495
and that they were going
to make history.
817
00:47:41,562 --> 00:47:43,931
They said they had friends
in Australia
818
00:47:43,997 --> 00:47:46,033
and they want to get united
with them.
819
00:47:46,099 --> 00:47:49,169
They wanted to go into a second
country
820
00:47:49,236 --> 00:47:53,440
where they gain refugee status
and have a better living.
821
00:47:55,676 --> 00:47:57,244
Before 9/11,
822
00:47:57,311 --> 00:48:00,247
it was remarkably easy
for hijackers to gain access
to pilots...
823
00:48:00,314 --> 00:48:02,583
If you don't do what we say,
824
00:48:02,649 --> 00:48:04,651
we'll blow this plane
out of the sky.
825
00:48:06,086 --> 00:48:07,454
Despite numerous
hijackings
826
00:48:07,521 --> 00:48:09,423
over the previous two decades,
827
00:48:09,489 --> 00:48:12,626
most airlines made no attempt
to secure the cockpit.
828
00:48:12,693 --> 00:48:14,695
- Do you want to die?
- We're going to die anyway!
829
00:48:14,761 --> 00:48:15,863
So... shall we kill you?
830
00:48:15,929 --> 00:48:17,564
The hijackers
of flight 961
831
00:48:17,631 --> 00:48:19,166
were never linked
832
00:48:19,233 --> 00:48:21,368
to any terrorist group
or political organization.
833
00:48:21,435 --> 00:48:23,270
Whatever their reasons,
834
00:48:23,337 --> 00:48:25,572
their crime demonstrated
the great danger
835
00:48:25,639 --> 00:48:29,710
posed by a hijacker who places
no value on his own life.
836
00:48:29,776 --> 00:48:31,979
We will die together.
837
00:48:32,045 --> 00:48:37,217
For years, there were people
in security saying we have
to strengthen that cockpit door.
838
00:48:37,284 --> 00:48:41,188
We have to be able
to exclude anyone
839
00:48:41,255 --> 00:48:45,359
from coming through that door
and getting control
of that aircraft,
840
00:48:45,425 --> 00:48:48,629
whatever the reason,
whether the airlines didn't want
to spend the money,
841
00:48:48,695 --> 00:48:52,499
they didn't see it as a threat,
uh... it didn't happen.
842
00:48:52,566 --> 00:48:56,336
After 9/11, every aircraft now
843
00:48:56,403 --> 00:48:58,705
has done that,
that carries passengers,
844
00:48:58,772 --> 00:49:01,542
so that has that capability
of being hijacked.
845
00:49:06,246 --> 00:49:10,918
Nothing is inevitable,
nobody is immune to anything.
846
00:49:12,386 --> 00:49:14,688
It could be one in a million
but it can happen.
847
00:49:14,755 --> 00:49:19,927
Both Captain Leul
Abate and his co-pilot
Yonas Mekuria
848
00:49:19,993 --> 00:49:23,430
received many tributes for
their actions on flight 961
849
00:49:23,497 --> 00:49:26,967
including a Flight Safety
Foundation award.
850
00:49:27,034 --> 00:49:30,337
I say
it's good that I'm alive,
851
00:49:30,404 --> 00:49:34,775
and the world has understood
what I had gone through.
852
00:49:36,677 --> 00:49:39,246
Despite their ordeal,
853
00:49:39,313 --> 00:49:41,849
both Captain Abate
and his co-pilot Mekuria
854
00:49:41,915 --> 00:49:44,985
continue to work
for Ethiopian Airlines.
855
00:50:08,976 --> 00:50:11,111
difuze