Original subtitles

The following dramatization is based on

official documents, personal interviews,

and published accounts.

Angel Flight 86 Alpha Bravo, you are

clear to taxi via Alpha for runway 26.

All right, tower, 86 Alpha Bravo, ready

for takeoff on 26. Confirm my IFR flight

plan open. Alpha Bravo, you're clear for

takeoff. I have 86 flight plan open.

Alpha Bravo, climbing on runway heading

for 7,000. Good day, sir.

I hope you're all tied down back there.

We got takeoff clearance.

Brad, you can get that later.

I got that. No problem.

I'll get to that later.

I'll send Chuck.

How about you? You need a hand up there?

So,

what are you doing this weekend?

My son, Travis, is learning how to cook.

I'll let him out of the kitchen,

make a fire, curl up with Bob.

Well,

wake me up when we get there.

Okay, hon, one more cough.

>> [laughter]

>> And again.

>> [clears throat]

>> Just to be on the safe side, I'd like to

do an X-ray.

Why? What's wrong?

I'm not sure.

I need a closer look. Let's go.

Hey,

come on, pumpkin. Let's go see what you

look like on the inside, okay?

What's that? Pretty sure it's metal.

Something she swallowed.

There's a non-surgical procedure we can

try to get it out of there.

OR, please.

Okay.

There we go.

Wait.

Yeah, I did.

What's her blood pressure? 140 over 95.

How's her heart rate? 99.

What's her heart rate now?

>> 125, 129, 131, which is 139.

She's talking.

140.

She can't take it.

We did a bronchoscopy, but we were

unable to remove it. We can't operate

here. It's too risky. There's an

infection that could spread to the heart

of the lungs.

We have to fly her immediately to

Children's Hospital in Denver.

I can't overstate this. Her condition is

extremely serious.

My My wife's terrified of flying.

A 7-hour drive is too dangerous.

I'll fly with Sammy. I'll make the

arrangements.

You uh

You You You go with Mom and and [music]

I'll meet you at the hospital in Denver.

I'll get it.

Back to residence.

Okay, I'll be in in 20 minutes.

Who's that? Sorry, honey. I got to go

back to work. Why don't you come with

me? You can ride back with Dad. But you

just got home.

I have to go. We're flying a little girl

to Denver for surgery. Mom, there's a

big storm coming in. I know. We'll get

out before it hits.

Oh, Travis, what's the matter?

I just

wish you weren't flying Angel Flights

anymore. I mean, look at it out there.

Hey, it's my job.

I'll be back in time for your birthday.

Hey, good-looking. I got to fly out to

Denver. A little girl's sick. Oh,

terrific. Listen, take Travis home. He's

worried about me.

He's worried about you, and he's not

worried about me?

He's worried about you flying the

chopper, too, but he won't admit it.

Yeah, we'll talk about this when you get

back. You got to hurry. Love you. Love

you.

You're a tough guy, aren't you, buddy?

Ready to do it, killer? Come on. Daddy,

come with me. I'm scared. You can do it

by yourself. There you go. There you go,

Justin. That's it. Bend your knees.

PIECE OF CAKE. YEAH. OH, YOU OKAY THERE?

HEY, you guys.

What in the world's going on?

You okay?

I'm okay, Daddy.

You okay, sweetie?

He's got to do it by himself. That's the

only way he's going to learn, right?

Honey, um we need to talk. You know, I

think that we should just

put Justin in the church kindergarten.

There's two things wrong with that.

It's at the church,

and it's at the church.

Yeah, I know. Well, all of Justin's

friends go there. I I think that it

would be good for him.

Angie, I got to get the phone. I'm on

call.

Please finish this conversation.

Yeah, we're on here. Brad, Teresa. You

got to come in.

Uh well, do I have time to take a

shower? I've been uh No, the patient's a

2-year-old girl with a fever of 105.

We're flying her to Denver. I'm on my

way.

I got to go.

Great.

Hey, buddy.

Your daddy's got to go and take a plane

to Denver tonight.

Don't go, Daddy. See, there's a little

kid like you who's sick,

and we got to try to save her life.

It's the way that it always is. You know

that?

Angie, this is my job. What do you

expect? I expect you to give Justin and

I equal time.

Brad,

I got to go.

Hey, Maria. Hey, Brad. Have a good one.

See you tomorrow.

You better move out. How's she doing?

Not so good.

We didn't have time for introductions

before. I'm Teresa Backstrom. I'll be

the flight nurse.

>> [music]

>> I'm Jack Bar. Brad Brown.

My wife, Patty, and my mother, Loretta.

What's that?

That's what she calls her bear.

You bear, Val.

Going to take good care of you, too.

Hey.

Hey, everything's going to be all right,

okay?

I love you.

Okay, we're all set. Let's get a move

on.

The plane's being prepped. We'll be

there in no time.

We'll be in Denver soon.

Watch your step going down the stairs.

Careful.

Easy.

Watch that IV.

Got to get the front.

And

Here we go.

All right.

Watch that IV.

Okay, three muscles, boys. I got the

right.

All right.

Keep straight. Head over.

And

1 2 3.

Head down. How's the IV?

>> [music]

>> Head down.

Head down.

Head down. 1 2 3, go.

All right.

Jack, hold.

Let's go.

Yo, Brad. How you doing?

How you doing, Rick?

Jack, this is Rick. He's our pilot.

Rick, this is Jack Bar. He's the

patient's father. Welcome aboard. Jack,

come over and sit over here.

Hey, buddy.

Hey, what'd you do? Break your razor?

I'm going to do this real quick. Gosh,

you're good.

Is that bothering you?

I'll make it more comfy. Is that okay

now?

Mrs. Bagshaw?

Teresa, Jack.

>> Um shouldn't she be in some sort of

infant seat or something? She's strapped

in tight.

IFR flight plan to Denver. I have

information Lima.

Air ambulance 86 alpha bravo, you are

cleared to taxi on an IFR flight plan to

Grand Junction.

Alpha bravo holding short of bravo.

This is an air ambulance. It's equipped

for any kind of medical emergency. We've

got antibiotics, oxygen,

medical instruments, supplies.

Thanks.

Relax, Jack.

We'll be in Denver before you know it.

What's that on the window?

I'd say it's ice.

Can the plane take off with ice on it?

Look, you're going to have to chill out,

okay?

It's no problem.

86 alpha bravo, ready for takeoff on 26.

Confirm IFR flight plan

Alpha bravo, cleared for takeoff on

Alpha bravo, climbing on

runway heading 26 to flight level 110.

Here we go.

Yes, sir.

See?

Smooth as silk, huh?

Nice job, Rick.

I'm just going to check your heart,

okay, honey?

Hey, Rick.

Do me a favor, call ahead to the

hospital, give them our ETA. Sure,

Teresa. I'll have uh Denver Center relay

the info.

Denver Center 86 alpha bravo.

So, what do you do for a living?

I'm the youth minister at my church.

Great.

What's the matter?

You got a problem with God? No, let's

just say that him and I have never been

the best of friends.

Well, I'm sure he won't hold it against

you.

Well, if you don't mind, I'm going to

get a couple minutes of shuteye. Been

skiing all day.

Skiing?

Skiing and a paramedic.

Thrills and spills.

I'm a ski patrol and I save lives, okay?

Here, give me your hand. I'm just going

to check one thing. Do you know what

this is?

This is going to check and see.

What's the matter? What's wrong? The

sound of the engine lulls him to sleep

every time. Don't worry, it's good for

him.

Hey.

It's my kid.

You're right. I'm I was out of line. I'm

sorry, preacher man. Don't call me

preacher man.

Aspen Tower, 86 alpha bravo.

86 alpha bravo, go ahead.

Got a bit of an engine problem here. Uh

Requesting a vector back into Grand

Junction.

Alpha bravo, maintain 13,000 on a

heading of 260.

Hey, what's the matter?

We've got a bit of engine trouble.

Is it serious?

Well, serious enough to go back down and

check it out.

It's pretty bad out there, isn't it?

Bad?

Don't bother him now.

What's going on? We got to go back? We

got engine trouble. We got to go back to

Grand Junction. Go back to Can't go

back. What about Sammy? Put her on

another plane as soon as they can get

one prepped.

No, no, no, no. There's not enough time.

>> Jack, we can't go on with only one

engine. We'll do what we can.

Alpha bravo, climb and maintain 14,000

for minimum IFR altitude on route.

Sir, uh

I don't think we're going to be able to

climb to 14,000 ft.

Can I make it through lower?

Alpha bravo, standby.

11 after

11

November 86 alpha bravo has a situation

developing with his right engine. He's

unable to maintain IFR minimum approach

for Grand Junction. Is he going to Grand

Junction or is he going to Rifle? He's

going to Grand Junction.

Copy that.

I got to get everything tied down just

in case.

Everything? Yes, everything. Right now.

Tell Rick to call ahead and make sure

another aircraft is ready as soon as

we're down.

>> Rick, Rick, we've got Rick!

Sit down.

Feel like the whole world's against me

tonight.

I just wish I was with her.

Well,

they should be in Denver by the time we

get to Glenwood Springs.

Jack will call home as soon as he can.

Come on. Come on.

We'll stop and get a cup of coffee. Make

sure he has.

He's going to be okay, sweetheart.

Okay.

>> [music]

[music]

>> What's Rifle got for weather?

Sock in.

They're reporting 10/10 cloud cover as

of 0200 [music]

Zulu. They'll never make it out on the

one engine.

What? You should warn them off. Where

to?

The guy's got zero options.

Sit down, Jack. Jack, sit down. Sit

down, Jack. You're going to have to sit

down. Put your seat down. Hold on.

Oh, man, we're low.

Come on.

Come on.

Aspen Tower, mayday mayday mayday. This

is 86 Alpha Bravo. 86 Alpha Bravo. 86

Alpha Bravo.

Brett, we're going into a stall. Sock it

in.

We're losing it.

WHAT'S HAPPENING?

BRETT, WE'RE LOSING SPEED.

Need more speed, Brett.

Shut up, Brett. We're flying. We're

flying. 86 Alpha Bravo, please state

your position.

86 Alpha Bravo.

Well, folks, it uh looks like I'm going

to have to set this thing down.

Want you to get everything tied down

back there, okay?

Oh my god.

Give me a place. Give me a place.

Hey,

Rebecca Lewis, is she going to be all

right?

No, she's strapped in. She's strapped

in.

Sammy!

Give me a place. Give me a place. Give

me a place.

Give me a

Got it.

Aspen Tower, I am going in for an

emergency landing and I'm clearing due

south of the

We're going TO CRASH. LEAN FORWARD.

YOU'RE ALL SET.

CHILL OUT, JACK. LEAN FORWARD.

86 Alpha Bravo, please state your

position. November 86 Alpha Bravo.

86 Alpha Bravo.

He's gone.

We've lost him.

Advise search and rescue.

Angel flight down.

Teresa.

Teresa.

>> [cough]

>> Teresa.

Teresa.

Teresa.

Teresa.

Teresa.

>> [snorts]

>> What?

Anybody hurt?

Jack!

Brett!

Brett!

Sammy.

Sammy.

Teresa, where's Sammy?

Sammy.

Brett,

you got to help me here.

Brett, help me.

Sammy.

Sammy.

How is she?

Is she all right?

Oh, baby.

Tell me.

Tell me.

She's breathing.

She's got a pulse.

I think she's okay.

Oh, thank [panting] god.

>> [sighs]

>> Oh, thank god.

Oh, baby.

How about you? You hurt?

My head.

I'm uh

I'm uh bleeding

badly.

My head. Put your hand on it. I hurt.

Hard. Okay.

Brett?

>> [panting]

>> My ribs hurt like hell, but

I'm here.

How are you doing?

Teresa.

How about you?

>> [snorts]

>> I'm okay.

Uh

I'm okay.

You want to check on Rick?

VIP.

Rick?

Rick?

Come on, buddy. Talk to me.

I can't hear him.

I can't see him.

There's too much stuff blocking here.

We got a mess.

Do you smell?

We're drenched in aviation fuel.

We got to get outside.

I think there's a fire.

It's jammed.

Rick!

Rick!

Rick!

Rick, talk to me.

Help me out of here.

You okay?

Okay. Hold on there one second.

Oh god.

Oh god.

Brett. Yeah.

Brett?

Check in the radio. See if there's any

power up here.

Damn it!

The radio's dead.

Come on.

Come on.

How you doing?

Okay.

I need your help, okay, buddy? Let me

take you back. All right.

Okay.

Okay.

Okay.

I'm going to call Dad. Go ahead. I'll

get some coffee.

Officer, is the pass clear up ahead?

Yes, ma'am. So far, anyway. Snow's

accumulating up in the pass, so we're

advising anybody that doesn't have to be

on the road to stay home.

Hi, Dad. It's Patty. Uh we're in

Glenwood Springs. Has Jack called?

Are you sure? Have you been home the

whole time?

Okay.

Okay, thanks, Dad.

What's the matter?

Jack hasn't called.

Something's wrong. I can feel it.

Well, maybe he hasn't reached it. Can't.

I hope you're right.

Okay.

Made it. Made it. Made it. Rick, you're

here. Rick, relax. You're here, okay?

Relax.

He's disoriented.

Jack,

can you hold this?

Hang in there, buddy.

How's she doing?

I took the IV out of her to try to keep

the freeze from going in.

>> [sighs]

>> Let me see her head.

It's bad, isn't it?

It's just as bad.

Guys,

>> [sighs]

>> my shoulder hurts.

Let me see. She's cold.

Sammy's cold.

Sorry. Sorry.

I think you may have a shoulder

fracture. You should try to keep it

immobile as much as possible. Maybe Brad

can make a sling for you later.

Um can you hold on to Sammy a little

while longer?

I can hold her no matter what. How's she

doing?

Rick.

Rick. She's cold.

Can you hear me?

I'm so sick.

My stomach, I just

threw up.

It's all right.

I just got sick.

How's that ear?

>> [sighs and gasps]

>> Okay.

So, what do you think?

Not too good.

He's showing all the signs of a serious

head injury.

And there's not much we can do about it.

If we don't get out of here quick,

he's not going to make it.

And neither is she.

>> [cough]

>> Jack,

keep Sammy near you. I'm going to check

to see what she's doing.

>> [sighs]

>> It's all right, Rick.

I got you.

You good?

>> [sighs]

>> God, I'm hot.

What's the matter with him? He's

delirious. He doesn't know what he's

doing. Rick, take it easy.

Sit down. Watch yourself.

Relax, buddy. Okay. Relax. Rick. Relax.

Rick.

It's all right. It's all right.

All right.

How serious is it?

Hypothermia.

If we don't get him out of here, he's

going to freeze.

Freeze?

We all going to freeze to death?

>> No, we're not.

But he said that he was

on his way to freezing to death.

>> If we work to stay warm, we'll be fine.

What about Sammy?

She'd be the first one to She's not

going to die.

We're not going to let her die. I mean

it.

She's

She's everything to me. She's Jack, I

have a child.

And so does Brad. He has a little boy.

Kids are [music] everything. We're not

going to let her die.

We can make a bed.

Use each other's body heat to keep warm.

They know we're down.

There'll be a search plane looking for

us.

>> And how long will that take?

We had a 120 mph collision with the side

of a mountain. We're still here.

I won't let her die.

I promise.

Okay, let's get moving. ATC just cleared

us for night flight. Why isn't my

chopper warming up?

Come on, guys. Seconds are ticking by.

Why isn't anybody up there?

Bob, there's no emergency locator signal

coming from the wreck.

The transmitter is either

inoperable or destroyed.

Without a radio beacon,

the only thing we can do

is a visual [music] search first light.

And it doesn't look very good.

I'm sorry, Bob.

At least we'll have something between us

and the cold floor.

Here, Rick.

I'm okay.

There you go.

Come on. There you

Jack.

Easy.

Ow.

I'm sorry.

Okay.

Come on.

Put her here.

Attagirl.

Attagirl.

There.

Try to keep her warm.

Is she shivering?

But she feels so hot.

The chills from the fever.

>> [panting]

>> Oh, Sammy.

Oh, Sammy.

Oh, Sammy.

Bad news for the skiers.

>> [panting]

>> What?

Snow.

Damn storm front's caught up to us.

>> [panting]

>> How are they going to find us in that?

I don't know.

I checked Glenwood Springs Airport and

Eagle.

I mean, maybe he turned back in the

mountains.

He was on a heading of 26 back into the

prevailing wind.

The only logical course after that

is an instrument landing in Aspen.

I put him between Rifle and Aspen.

I'll meet you at the chopper. I'll call

Civil Air Patrol.

And file a flight plan.

I can feel snow coming in.

>> [panting]

>> We're getting buried alive.

They'll never see us.

The fastest way to the cockpit. I can

feel the cold air coming in from the

front window.

How are we going to get out of here?

Maybe we could dig our way out when it

quits.

Wait a minute. What?

Wait a minute.

Rick.

Wake up, Rick. Wake up, buddy.

Rick, wake up.

Come on. Where is the ELT?

Good Brad, the ELT.

Where is the ELT? Try to remember. Come

on, wake up, Rick. Where is the ELT?

What's an ELT? An emergency locator

transmitter goes off when there's a

crash. Search planes home in on its

transmission. Come on.

Think.

Rick.

Rick. What?

Try to remember. The ELT.

>> [panting]

>> Come on. The ELT. We got to make sure it

works. Where is the ELT, Rick? Wake up.

Damn it, Rick. Wake up.

It's no use. His brain's a mess.

Look, uh

visibility's just about minimal. We

can't keep flying like this.

Could be clear up on the mesa.

No way.

There's a chance. Yeah, there's a

chance, but if we keep going up, we're

going to take on too much ice to fly.

It's Teresa Roberts.

Look, I know.

But we GOT TO GO BACK. We can't keep

flying like this. Now, you are no good

to a dead Bob.

What are you doing?

Keeping her hydrated.

It'll help her fever.

Sammy.

Come on, honey.

Can you wake up?

Sammy.

Hey.

Pumpkin.

Come on, wake up.

Come on, wake up.

Sammy.

Hey.

Wake up.

Sammy.

Something's happened. I know it.

I know it.

Sammy's probably in surgery right now.

She's going to be fine, dear.

Everything's going to be fine.

Everything's going to be just fine.

Hey, Sammy, wake up.

Sammy.

Hi, Sammy.

Hi, Daddy.

Hi.

Here. Open up, sweetie.

Want a lollipop?

Attagirl.

Open up.

Good girl.

Hey.

Look what I found.

I found your bow.

Huh?

I'll put him right in here.

So he can keep you company. Okay.

There you go.

I want to say something.

I believe in God.

And I believe he will protect us in this

time

if we pray to him.

Hey.

You can pray all you want, all right?

But leave me out of this.

I don't need you to preach to me. Brad.

I wasn't going to preach.

I

I just wanted to say what I

believed.

I thought it might help.

>> [sighs]

>> My faith has always

gotten me through.

I'm glad you told us, Jack.

I'm glad you have that to hold onto.

The plane went down.

In

in the mountains?

Yeah.

>> [sighs and gasps]

>> I've been out looking, but

the weather closed in.

We'll blanket the area at dawn.

Oh God, we had this fight right before

he left.

Justin.

You're crying about your dad?

Hey.

Hey, you should be sleeping.

You should should be under the covers,

snug as a bug.

But you know it's snowing out?

I want my daddy. I want my daddy.

What?

He can't be here right now.

I'm sorry.

How about

How about I take you up to bed, huh?

Okay?

All right.

Come on, there, buddy.

Yeah.

Hey, Tommy.

Have you ever really seen a cow jump

over the moon?

No.

You okay?

Yeah.

You sure?

Mhm.

This cold is like a knife.

You know, I was thinking about Angie and

when I was on air rescue in Alaska for

the Air Force.

I used to describe the crashes to her.

I guess I needed her to think that I was

some kind of hero or something.

Now she probably thinks I'm one on the

gory details.

I have done so many things that are

wrong.

And if we ever get out of here, I swear

I'm

I swear I'm going to do things

different.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah, we're flying out on our own at

first light. How soon can they be here?

Thanks.

I got two more search planes coming in

from Denver. How you doing, Robert? I

got planes coming in from Aspen, Utah,

whole area.

Talked to Brad's wife yet? Yeah.

It was hard on her.

Yeah, well, she knows the odds.

>> [sighs and gasps]

>> Geez, I'm sorry, Bob. It's okay.

I know the odds, too.

Think I'll go home.

Brad.

Catch a couple hours.

Still got to tell his kid.

Huh.

>> [snorts]

>> What's the matter, Dad?

Your mother's plane

ran into a little trouble.

Trouble?

What what what kind of trouble?

Look.

It went down in the mountains. There's a

chance that she's still alive.

A chance?

Traps.

This is winter in the Rockies.

>> Traps, listen to me.

If there's even the slightest chance,

you can bet your mother's never going to

quit fighting.

Huh?

Neither are we.

>> [music]

>> Teresa.

Teresa.

>> [cough]

>> It's better. There.

It's in the back.

>> [cough]

>> In the compartment in the back.

In the back.

In there. Rick, what are you talking

about?

>> [cough]

>> In the compartment.

In the

the back in there.

The ELT.

In that compartment?

I got it.

I got it.

You know what we're getting? You kidding

me?

It's going to bring a search party right

on top of this.

What's the matter?

What's wrong? It's dead.

What?

The antenna's busted.

Teresa's

This was our last chance.

Fixed-wing aircraft will be in the

vicinity of what we believe to be the

crash site at first light. We'll follow

in the choppers at daybreak.

Any questions?

>> Yeah, yeah. Can I say something? Sure.

Who are you? I used to work for mountain

rescue over in Denver. I came down to

warn you.

>> Yeah, well, we know what we're doing.

>> You don't even have an ELT signal. And

without an ELT signal, this search is

like trying to find an icicle in a

blizzard. Now, if there was a 5% chance,

I'd say go for it.

But there is no chance.

And if you go out there today, some of

you are very likely not to come back.

Maybe we should put this to a vote.

I don't want anyone to

risk themselves too much on my account.

>> All right, fine. Let's take a vote.

EVERYBODY WHO THINKS WE OUGHT TO GET UP

OFF OUR BUTTS AND GO FIND THESE PEOPLE,

SAY I. I.

CAN I HELP YOU?

HI, I'M PATTY BARR. I'm here to see my

daughter, Samantha. She's here for

surgery. Just a minute.

Someone wants to talk to you.

Mrs. Barr is here.

Mrs. Barr,

I'm the chaplain here.

I'm afraid I have some bad news.

Her fever's rising again. I've given her

a big dose antibiotics, but

we're going to have to ration the rest.

How long will they last?

Uh

maybe 24 hours

if she doesn't get any worse.

Why is this happening?

All right.

We search the grid between Rifle here in

the northwest,

south toward Aspen in the southeast.

We've all got our sectors. Keep a

listening watch on 121.5

for that ELT signal.

Maybe we'll get lucky. All right, guys.

Let's head out. All right. After this

storm blows over, it's worse forecast

for the afternoon.

Let's go get them.

I got an idea.

Tomorrow morning, I'm going to set a

forest on fire.

>> [sighs]

>> No search plane is going to miss a

forest fire.

Hold it.

You could set us on fire, too.

Remember, we're covered in aviation

fuel. It's evaporating, Jack.

>> It's too dangerous.

Okay, fine.

I'll go and get some fuel from the wing

tank.

I'll go 50 yards from the plane, and

I'll torch one tree. What about the

wind? I'll go downwind.

It might work.

What if the wind turns? Then we won't

freeze to death.

Come on, guys. I got to try something.

Okay, give it a try.

>> [snorts]

>> All right.

I need somewhere to carry the fuel.

What about a bedpan? You you can siphon

the fuel out of the wing tank with IV

tubing.

Okay, great.

Any matches?

I don't smoke.

Big surprise.

You know we're all going to die out here

because we're too health-conscious.

Rick.

Rick.

Rick, wake up, buddy.

Are there any matches anywhere? What?

Wake up.

Where are the matches? [music]

Matches. Is there any matches anywhere?

Uh

uh back there in there.

Okay. The ELT's in there.

>> [panting]

>> Wait.

You can use battery-powered

defibrillators.

If you strike them together, they'll

make a spark.

All right.

Try that in the morning.

>> [snorts]

[snorts]

>> Sound in the wind.

Brad.

Brad.

Jack.

Wake up.

Okay.

It's light out.

Sammy.

Sammy.

Sammy, honey, wake up. What's the

matter? Sammy. Teresa.

What's the matter with her? Talk to her,

Jack. What? Let her hear your voice.

Sammy.

Sammy.

Sammy.

Sammy.

Sammy.

Oh, pumpkin.

>> [gasps]

[sighs]

>> I got it. We've got to get out of here.

Come on. Let's go.

You really believe this will work?

You're the one with all the supplies.

>> [panting]

[music]

>> We're in South Canyon.

How do you know?

I hauled enough oil drilling equipment

up this canyon to last a lifetime.

Serving the Lord doesn't always pay that

well.

I guess I've been kind of tough on you

on that whole church thing, haven't I?

I've noticed.

Well, I think a man

shouldn't have to depend on a crutch.

So, what do you depend on?

Myself.

Let's go.

I got to get fuel from the wing tank.

Got it?

Watch it. Watch your step.

>> You need some help? I got it.

Brad!

Brad!

Brad!

Brad!

My ribs.

>> Come on. Come on.

Come on.

Come on.

Come on.

Come on.

Come on, Brad.

>> [groaning and screaming]

[groaning]

>> Brad!

I can't do it. Stop.

Brad. Brad.

>> [panting and sighs]

>> Brad. Brad. Brad. Brad. Brad. Come on,

Brad.

Teresa!

Nothing works.

Nothing.

Snow's way too deep.

We couldn't get anywhere.

They can't hear us. They can't see us.

We're trapped.

It's all right, Brad.

It's all right.

We'll try something else. We'll

We'll find another way. Don't you

understand?

I know I can't make it.

I'm not going to make it.

Come on, Brad.

Come on.

You got to keep moving.

Come on.

I'm tired. Just I just want to sleep.

No, you can't sleep.

Hey.

Look at that little girl.

She's going to wake up by the hour, but

she's fighting for her life every

minute.

Look at her.

>> [panting]

>> Look at that little girl.

Think how you'd feel if that were your

kid.

I just want to sleep.

You're scared.

I'm not scared. Yeah, you're terrified.

>> [panting]

>> You're afraid everyone will know you're

scared.

I said I'm not scared. Oh, yeah.

Your whole life's based on proving how

brave you are. You'd rather die than let

anyone know you're weak.

>> Shut up. Prove me wrong, huh? Prove me

wrong. I'll survive cuz I'm not a

quitter like you.

>> [panting]

>> Is that why you're up?

Go check on Rick for me, will you?

We're low enough.

Nothing.

There's nothing.

It's too thick. I'm going back up.

Okay.

That's better.

Come on, Rick.

Hey, Jack.

Hand Sammy to Brad for me. He can help

me here. Okay.

Hey, Sammy.

I got a little kid just like you.

Hey.

And I want to see him again.

I want to hold him in my arms And

tell him I love him more than anything

in this world.

Don't cry.

What?

Nothing.

>> [sighs]

>> I know how you feel.

Want to hold her for a while?

Yeah.

Here you go.

There you go.

>> [music]

>> YOU GUYS GET ANYTHING?

There's no ELT.

It's all socked in in the mountains up

there. There is no visibility at all.

Could you guys try again?

With a storm coming in this afternoon,

we'll barely have a 2-hour window to

find them.

When that front hits, it could shut the

area down for a week.

Sure.

We'll go back up as soon as we're

refueled.

Thanks.

I mean it. Thanks, guys.

Let's go get them, Brad.

Let's go get them.

Let's get these choppers up.

>> [music]

[music]

>> You getting anywhere?

Except for the antenna, I can't see

anything else wrong with this.

You know, one time in Alaska, we had

this ELT signal in a crash.

And this guy kept turning it on and off.

He was trying to tell us that he was

still alive, so we'd go after him.

How did it end up?

We saved his life.

Maybe we're not in the area.

Maybe we're not even close.

There.

Brad, did you hear it?

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Could be. That's it.

It's weak, but it's That's it.

See if we can lock it on. Mark. Damn it.

Damn it. Where did it go?

Maybe we could No, you're right. We'll

clear the fuselage, so maybe they can

see us.

Okay.

>> [cough]

>> Frozen solid.

Trapped.

What happened to it?

NOT WHAT YOU ARE RESERVED TANKS, BOB. We

got to go back for fuel. And we'll be

back inside the hour.

All right.

It's not that bad.

I think I can get through over there.

Grab it.

>> No.

Hold on. You did it for enough.

I'll go over.

You got it? Yeah.

Jack. You all right? Yeah.

I'm out.

I'm okay.

You're hurt, Teresa.

No, I'm fine.

We need to deal with it.

There's no time for that.

This is the last of the antibiotics.

And she's getting worse.

It's white.

The plane's white.

The fuselage is white.

Try the wing, Jack.

Jack, be careful.

I'm on the nose.

I got an orange stripe on the nose.

I can't

I can't GET TO IT.

THERE, I GOT IT.

HE FALLS.

WE WON'T BE ABLE TO get him in time.

I'm coming in.

Hold on.

I got it, Jack.

Come on. Come on.

I got it cleared.

I'm going to go outside for a signal.

The wing's kind of small.

I don't know if they're going to be able

to see us.

I can't feel my feet.

I can't feel my feet.

My legs.

My legs. My legs are

>> [panting]

>> Oh, it's happening so fast. I can't feel

my legs.

I got her, Amy and Jack. Keep the

blankets on.

God.

Oh, God, please.

I can't feel my legs.

>> [panting]

>> WE'RE DYING OUT HERE.

>> [snorts]

>> COME ON, JACK.

>> [panting]

>> I'M NOT GOING outside anymore.

It's too cold.

You did a good job.

They can see us now.

Up steady stream of search aircraft are

coming and going from this base in

search of the Angel flight that went

down somewhere between here and Aspen

last night. And a new storm front is

expected to hit this area within a few

hours. The pilots in this desperate

search say they must find the victims of

the crash soon before the new storm

makes it virtually impossible. The Civil

Air Patrol is working at full force.

This is Martin Singer reporting live

from Grand Junction, Colorado.

Please watch over my family.

There's nothing like a sleeping child.

So innocent. So peaceful.

Funny the things you think about when

you get in a fix like this.

I remember when my son, Travis,

>> [snorts]

>> was around 2 or

took him to a new playground and I told

him to stay off the slide. So,

naturally, he had to sneak over there

try it himself.

>> [snorts]

>> He nearly fell off.

He was hanging there upside down.

I could tell he hated having to be

rescued.

He was glad I was there.

I was actually thinking about

making this my last flight.

Maybe taking some

nice, safe work on the ground for a

while.

When I left yesterday,

I promised him I'd be back for his

birthday.

I'd hate it if the last thing I ever did

was lie to my son.

That's a

>> [cough]

>> It's the plane. It's the plane.

Hey, let's split up. I'll fly with

Frank. Come on, Chester.

I got to get you back up there, Frank.

All right.

Unidentified aircraft. Unidentified

aircraft, we are west of you. I repeat,

we are west of you.

The damn plane can't see us.

Sammy. Come on, wake up.

I can't wake her up.

I'm losing her.

She's dying.

Sammy.

Give it to

Sammy, wake up.

Sammy. I'm getting

Come on, Sammy.

She's unconscious.

Come on, Sammy.

Our father

who art in

Hallowed be thy

I can't God

I don't know if this is happening.

This is happening.

Sammy.

Come on, Sammy.

You're dead.

>> Mom.

The people searching Rifle say that

>> [music]

>> a signal's been heard from the emergency

transmitter.

Now, I'm not sure what that means.

Um

It's a good thing though, isn't it, Mom?

Well, I hope so, honey.

I hope so.

We're running out of time.

He's got to be here somewhere.

Come on.

Where are you?

Go get Teddy.

>> [music]

>> She's a [music] fighter. She just won't

quit.

They're right on top of us.

OVER HERE!

OVER HERE!

COME ON, GET THE GET THE FIRE!

THEY CAN'T SEE IN the blanket.

Here.

Brad?

Here. Try this as a reflector.

Come on.

Where is it?

Sorry.

There's no sun.

Come on, come here.

Engine and fuel. We'll light it on fire.

Okay.

>> [panting]

[gasps and sighs]

>> Get the

cigarette lighters.

There's a machine there. This? Yeah, the

whole thing. Pick it up. I got it.

I got it.

Come on.

I'm going to set it on fire.

>> Okay.

When you throw it, as far as you can.

There you go.

I can't see them.

Yeah!

>> [music]

[music]

[music]

>> We made it.

>> [music]

[music]

[music]

>> Come on, Sammy sweetie. Come hang in

there.

Out of time, Mom.

We got to get her off this mountain.

>> [music]

>> Come on.

Civil Air Patrol has a plane waiting to

rush you to Denver. We got to get Rick

out of here, too. He's got head

injuries.

>> We'll fit him in my machine. Let's get

him on board.

We're going home.

Easy.

Got him? Yeah.

Listen, Rick. There's about one place on

this whole mountain side you could have

set this plane down in one piece.

You did one hell of a job of piloting.

I'd fly with you any day.

We did it.

We did it.

You know all that stuff that you said

about me?

I'm

I don't know. I didn't mean that.

I was just

>> You're right.

I do put on a big show.

Me, too.

You.

Shaking in my boots the whole time.

Come on, buddy.

Let's go home.

>> [music]

[music]

>> I got to tell you something.

>> No, I have to tell you

that I'm so sorry. Sorry.

>> [sighs]

>> I realized something up there.

I almost lost him out there, Angie.

No, no, you didn't because you're here.

But if I'd been alone, I

I wouldn't have made it.

Maybe.

You're not alone.

Okay?

I love you.

I love you. I love you.

Daddy, Daddy.

I hope you when we get home, there's

lots of No, now.

Jack.

Jack, you should be in bed.

Have you heard anything yet?

Not yet.

You're a

a hero.

I don't know how you did it.

It's funny.

The hardest part was thinking about what

you and Travis were going through.

Oh, it was an ordeal, all right. The

kids' cooking's pretty awful. Oh,

Travis. Hey, buddy.

Hey. Hey.

You know that uh birthday we promised to

have together?

You bought that.

I got something for you.

I'm so I'm so happy.

That you like it. Okay.

I told you I'd make it back.

Happy birthday, kid.

People don't walk away from mountain

crashes like ours.

Maybe Jack was right.

Maybe it was a miracle.

Today, Jack continues to inspire his

congregation.

Brad's still a paramedic. And Rick, our

pilot, fully recovered from his

injuries. [music]

He was exonerated of any pilot error. It

was determined that a mechanical failure

[music] caused the crash. Rick resumed

his air charter business.

And me,

I'm still flying [music] the Angel

Flights.

Though sometimes I ask myself why.

But you know, the little girl Sammy

we put it on the line for,

Sammy's doing [music] just fine.

Here it was the one. Here it was from

the beginning.

Here it goes. Five.

Yes.

>> [music]

[music]

[music]