1 00:00:02,103 --> 00:00:05,000 Narrator: On a challenging descent in the Himalayas... 2 00:00:05,034 --> 00:00:07,206 Pilot: Landing on runway zero-two. 3 00:00:07,241 --> 00:00:08,275 Questions or concerns? 4 00:00:08,310 --> 00:00:10,896 Co-Pilot: No questions, no concerns, commander. 5 00:00:10,931 --> 00:00:12,689 Narrator: A passenger jet collides 6 00:00:12,724 --> 00:00:14,793 with the side of a mountain. 7 00:00:14,827 --> 00:00:16,793 Pilot: What's happened! Co-Pilot: No, no, no, no, no! 8 00:00:19,448 --> 00:00:22,758 Man: It really was a shocking moment. 9 00:00:22,793 --> 00:00:25,034 Narrator: But when their most vital piece of evidence 10 00:00:25,068 --> 00:00:26,482 doesn't deliver... 11 00:00:26,517 --> 00:00:29,137 [Tape Hiss] 12 00:00:29,172 --> 00:00:30,931 Man: This is it? 13 00:00:34,034 --> 00:00:37,655 Narrator: Investigators scramble for answers. 14 00:00:37,689 --> 00:00:38,724 Man: Could be weather? 15 00:00:38,758 --> 00:00:40,241 Man: Loss of thrust? 16 00:00:40,275 --> 00:00:41,551 Man: Intruder in the cockpit? 17 00:00:41,586 --> 00:00:44,586 Narrator: But the accidental discovery of a valuable clue... 18 00:00:44,620 --> 00:00:46,068 Man: Could it be? 19 00:00:46,103 --> 00:00:48,931 Narrator: Points to the origins of what went wrong. 20 00:00:48,965 --> 00:00:50,448 Pilot: Come on, come on, come on! 21 00:00:50,482 --> 00:00:54,517 Man: That was the eureka moment in this investigation. 22 00:00:54,551 --> 00:00:55,551 Flight Attendant: Ladies and gentlemen, 23 00:00:55,586 --> 00:00:56,758 we are starting our approach. 24 00:00:56,793 --> 00:00:58,103 Pilot: We lost both engines! 25 00:00:58,137 --> 00:00:59,379 Flight Attendant: Put the mask over your nose. 26 00:00:59,413 --> 00:01:00,379 Emergency descent. 27 00:01:00,413 --> 00:01:01,448 Pilot: Mayday, mayday! 28 00:01:01,482 --> 00:01:02,931 Flight Attendant: Brace for impact! 29 00:01:02,965 --> 00:01:04,172 Controller: I think I lost one. 30 00:01:04,206 --> 00:01:07,413 Man:...investigation starting into this tragedy... 31 00:01:07,448 --> 00:01:08,827 Man: He's gonna crash! 32 00:01:23,310 --> 00:01:26,931 Narrator: Pakistan International Airlines Flight 268 33 00:01:26,965 --> 00:01:32,862 is en route to Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal. 34 00:01:32,896 --> 00:01:35,241 The 2 1/2-hour flight from Karachi 35 00:01:35,275 --> 00:01:38,172 is one of the few that flies to the Nepali capital, 36 00:01:38,206 --> 00:01:43,586 situated 4,600 feet above sea level. 37 00:01:43,620 --> 00:01:46,068 Landlocked between China and India, 38 00:01:46,103 --> 00:01:50,068 Nepal is home to eight of the world's ten tallest peaks, 39 00:01:50,103 --> 00:01:53,068 including the mighty Everest. 40 00:01:53,103 --> 00:01:55,413 Kathmandu is a favorite destination 41 00:01:55,448 --> 00:01:57,758 For travelers to the Himalayas, 42 00:01:57,793 --> 00:02:00,034 many of whom are making their way to Nepal 43 00:02:00,068 --> 00:02:03,586 for the start of the popular trekking season. 44 00:02:03,620 --> 00:02:06,068 Mick Hardwick: Could I have a tea, please? 45 00:02:06,103 --> 00:02:07,827 Narrator: Among them are Mick Hardwick 46 00:02:07,862 --> 00:02:09,965 and his friend Dave Harries, 47 00:02:10,000 --> 00:02:13,206 both mountaineering instructors back home in Britain. 48 00:02:13,241 --> 00:02:14,413 Hardwick: Thank you. 49 00:02:14,448 --> 00:02:16,655 Malcolm Creasy: I climbed with them through the Alps. 50 00:02:16,689 --> 00:02:19,172 They were certainly very, very good climbers 51 00:02:19,206 --> 00:02:22,517 in a variety of different disciplines in alpine work... 52 00:02:22,551 --> 00:02:25,310 really top of the tree. 53 00:02:25,344 --> 00:02:28,310 Narrator: They're on their way to climb Annapurna, 54 00:02:28,344 --> 00:02:31,965 the 10th highest mountain in the world. 55 00:02:32,000 --> 00:02:34,586 Creasy: Annapurna is certainly an ambitious program, 56 00:02:34,620 --> 00:02:36,137 but it wasn't foolhardy. 57 00:02:36,172 --> 00:02:38,000 It was well thought out and well planned. 58 00:02:38,034 --> 00:02:41,000 It would have been a huge moment for them. 59 00:02:41,034 --> 00:02:44,793 It would have been a trip of a lifetime. 60 00:02:44,827 --> 00:02:46,034 Narrator: In the distance, 61 00:02:46,068 --> 00:02:49,206 They get their first look at the Himalayas. 62 00:02:49,241 --> 00:02:52,862 Hardwick: Hey, have a look at that. 63 00:02:52,896 --> 00:02:55,206 Wow, finally! 64 00:02:59,620 --> 00:03:00,689 Narrator: On the flight deck, 65 00:03:00,724 --> 00:03:04,413 Captain Iftikhar Janjua is in command. 66 00:03:04,448 --> 00:03:07,103 He's a former officer in the Pakistani Air Force 67 00:03:07,137 --> 00:03:11,896 who's now a senior pilot instructor with the airline. 68 00:03:11,931 --> 00:03:14,448 Captain Mohammad Hosain flew around the world 69 00:03:14,482 --> 00:03:17,448 with Captain Janjua on many different flights. 70 00:03:17,482 --> 00:03:21,000 Mohammad Hosain: I knew him for a period of about five years. 71 00:03:21,034 --> 00:03:22,551 He had no airs about him, you know? 72 00:03:22,586 --> 00:03:24,862 He was quite a simple person. 73 00:03:24,896 --> 00:03:26,482 He was a family man. 74 00:03:26,517 --> 00:03:28,827 He never smoked, he didn't drink. 75 00:03:28,862 --> 00:03:31,137 In that way he was a straight guy. 76 00:03:34,103 --> 00:03:36,413 Iftikhar Janjua: I don't like the look of the clouds ahead. 77 00:03:36,448 --> 00:03:39,137 Narrator: The first officer is Hassan Akhtar, 78 00:03:39,172 --> 00:03:40,931 a junior pilot with the airline, 79 00:03:40,965 --> 00:03:46,000 with almost 1,500 hours flying the Airbus A300. 80 00:03:46,034 --> 00:03:48,103 Janjua: How about we divert around them? 81 00:03:48,137 --> 00:03:50,517 Hassan Akhtar: Yes, commander, agreed. 82 00:03:50,551 --> 00:03:53,034 Narrator: It's nearing the end of monsoon season. 83 00:03:53,068 --> 00:03:56,482 Large storms are still frequent along the route. 84 00:03:56,517 --> 00:03:58,793 Janjua: Kathmandu, Pakistan 268. 85 00:03:58,827 --> 00:04:01,068 We are 10 to 15 miles right of the track 86 00:04:01,103 --> 00:04:03,482 to avoid a build up en route. 87 00:04:03,517 --> 00:04:04,655 Narrator: To avoid the storm, 88 00:04:04,689 --> 00:04:08,172 Captain Janjua notifies Kathmandu air traffic control 89 00:04:08,206 --> 00:04:11,517 of his change to flight 268's approach. 90 00:04:11,551 --> 00:04:17,793 Controller: Roger, 10 to 15 miles right of track, copied. 91 00:04:17,827 --> 00:04:18,965 Janjua: It could get bumpy. 92 00:04:19,000 --> 00:04:20,379 Let's keep them seated. 93 00:04:20,413 --> 00:04:23,689 Akhtar: Agreed, commander. 94 00:04:23,724 --> 00:04:25,379 Fasten seat belt sign is on. 95 00:04:25,413 --> 00:04:26,620 [Chime] 96 00:04:26,655 --> 00:04:28,758 Janjua: We're about to begin our descent into Kathmandu. 97 00:04:28,793 --> 00:04:30,206 We are entering an area of turbulence, 98 00:04:30,241 --> 00:04:33,379 and I request all of you to remain seated. 99 00:04:33,413 --> 00:04:35,137 Creasy: The descent is always quite scary 100 00:04:35,172 --> 00:04:38,344 because the plane seems to be descending forever. 101 00:04:38,379 --> 00:04:41,310 You sort of lose track of where you actually are. 102 00:04:41,344 --> 00:04:44,000 Janjua: We're expecting it to be a little choppy. 103 00:04:44,034 --> 00:04:47,034 Hardwick: Well, here comes the mountains. 104 00:04:47,068 --> 00:04:49,862 Creasy: Then you're on the runway and it's always, 105 00:04:49,896 --> 00:04:53,551 uh, always a relief when the plane comes to a halt. 106 00:04:57,310 --> 00:04:59,068 Janjua: I'll take over from here, Akhtar. 107 00:04:59,103 --> 00:05:01,586 Akhtar: Yes, commander. 108 00:05:01,620 --> 00:05:02,655 Janjua: I have control. 109 00:05:02,689 --> 00:05:04,827 Akhtar: You have control. 110 00:05:04,862 --> 00:05:06,758 Narrator: The first officer hands over control 111 00:05:06,793 --> 00:05:09,103 of the aircraft to the captain. 112 00:05:11,931 --> 00:05:14,931 Flight 268 leaves its cruising altitude 113 00:05:14,965 --> 00:05:18,206 as it begins the approach into Kathmandu. 114 00:05:22,724 --> 00:05:25,275 In 1992, Kathmandu airport 115 00:05:25,310 --> 00:05:28,931 doesn't use radar to track its planes. 116 00:05:28,965 --> 00:05:31,241 Every movement, planned or otherwise, 117 00:05:31,275 --> 00:05:35,448 must be accurately reported by the flight crew. 118 00:05:35,482 --> 00:05:37,034 David Mcnair: In the absence of radar, 119 00:05:37,068 --> 00:05:38,310 it requires good communication 120 00:05:38,344 --> 00:05:40,241 between the aircraft and the air traffic controller. 121 00:05:40,275 --> 00:05:43,379 They have to communicate very carefully. 122 00:05:43,413 --> 00:05:45,896 Akhtar: Pakistan 268 approaching overhead, 123 00:05:45,931 --> 00:05:48,413 uh, Simra 1-5-0. 124 00:05:48,448 --> 00:05:51,586 Controller: Pakistan 268, descend to 11,500, 125 00:05:51,620 --> 00:05:53,896 no delay expected. 126 00:05:53,931 --> 00:05:54,965 Akhtar: Roger, sir. 127 00:05:55,000 --> 00:05:57,068 Down to 11,500. 128 00:05:57,103 --> 00:05:58,827 Andrew Robinson: The problem with Kathmandu 129 00:05:58,862 --> 00:06:00,896 is that you have a range of mountains 130 00:06:00,931 --> 00:06:03,413 to the south that you have to get over, 131 00:06:03,448 --> 00:06:06,448 and then you have to drop down quite steeply 132 00:06:06,482 --> 00:06:10,827 in order to be able to land at the threshold of the runway. 133 00:06:10,862 --> 00:06:14,034 There is a danger of arriving at the threshold too fast 134 00:06:14,068 --> 00:06:16,310 or even a little bit high. 135 00:06:16,344 --> 00:06:18,310 Narrator: The mountains surrounding Kathmandu 136 00:06:18,344 --> 00:06:22,310 require pilots to make what's known as a stepped approach. 137 00:06:22,344 --> 00:06:25,379 Pilots must descend to a series of lower altitudes, 138 00:06:25,413 --> 00:06:28,310 at certain distances from the airport. 139 00:06:31,551 --> 00:06:34,689 Janjua: We can expect descent clearance by 16 miles. 140 00:06:34,724 --> 00:06:35,586 Descent angle is steep, 141 00:06:35,620 --> 00:06:39,137 So we need to be at flaps 15 by 16 miles. 142 00:06:39,172 --> 00:06:41,241 Landing on runway zero-two, 143 00:06:41,275 --> 00:06:43,137 watch for stray animal and birds. 144 00:06:43,172 --> 00:06:44,310 Questions or concerns? 145 00:06:44,344 --> 00:06:47,034 Akhtar: No questions, no concerns, commander. 146 00:06:47,068 --> 00:06:49,413 Controller: Pakistan 268, report 1-6 miles. 147 00:06:49,448 --> 00:06:53,000 Wind 1-8-0, expect sierra approach. 148 00:06:53,034 --> 00:06:54,586 Akhtar: Roger, call you at 1-6 miles. 149 00:06:54,620 --> 00:06:56,103 Expecting sierra approach. 150 00:06:56,137 --> 00:07:00,586 Sierra approach, commander. 151 00:07:00,620 --> 00:07:02,000 Janjua: Here it is. 152 00:07:02,034 --> 00:07:03,310 Watch my levels. 153 00:07:03,344 --> 00:07:05,206 Narrator: The details of the stepped approach 154 00:07:05,241 --> 00:07:07,862 are laid out on a chart for the pilots. 155 00:07:07,896 --> 00:07:09,827 Mcnair: The approach chart is designed 156 00:07:09,862 --> 00:07:11,275 to keep you clear of terrain. 157 00:07:11,310 --> 00:07:13,586 So you had to follow the approach chart. 158 00:07:16,517 --> 00:07:19,172 Narrator: As flight 268 begins its final approach 159 00:07:19,206 --> 00:07:21,482 towards Kathmandu, 160 00:07:21,517 --> 00:07:24,655 passengers and crew prepare for landing. 161 00:07:24,689 --> 00:07:27,275 Hardwick: Well, sun and blue skies would be nice. 162 00:07:29,758 --> 00:07:34,689 Controller: Alpha Charlie Hotel, surface wind 2-0-0, 0-5. 163 00:07:34,724 --> 00:07:40,000 Akhtar: Pakistan 268 is at 1-6 miles, 11,500. 164 00:07:40,034 --> 00:07:42,068 Narrator: 16 miles from the airport, 165 00:07:42,103 --> 00:07:46,896 the pilots report their altitude as 11,500 feet. 166 00:07:46,931 --> 00:07:48,758 Controller: Roger, Pakistan 268. 167 00:07:48,793 --> 00:07:50,206 Report 1-0 miles. 168 00:07:50,241 --> 00:07:54,275 Akhtar: Roger, call you at 1-0 miles, Pakistan 268. 169 00:07:54,310 --> 00:07:56,310 Narrator: The crew works its way through the steps 170 00:07:56,344 --> 00:08:00,206 towards Kathmandu, approaching from the south. 171 00:08:04,241 --> 00:08:07,517 They should be touching down in about 6 minutes. 172 00:08:09,965 --> 00:08:13,517 Controller: Alpha Charlie Hotel, continue to taxiway number two. 173 00:08:16,275 --> 00:08:19,724 Akhtar: Pakistan 268 is at ten miles. 174 00:08:19,758 --> 00:08:21,862 Controller: Report your level. 175 00:08:25,413 --> 00:08:30,000 Akhtar: We crossed out of 8,500... 200 now. 176 00:08:30,034 --> 00:08:31,827 Controller: Roger, clear for final. 177 00:08:31,862 --> 00:08:35,137 Report 4 miles, runway zero-two. 178 00:08:35,172 --> 00:08:36,586 Akhtar: Will call you at 4 miles. 179 00:08:36,620 --> 00:08:37,931 Pakistan 268. 180 00:08:37,965 --> 00:08:39,931 Cleared for final, runway zero-two. 181 00:08:39,965 --> 00:08:42,241 Janjua: Runway zero-two. 182 00:08:42,275 --> 00:08:47,103 Narrator: Flight 268 is now less than ten miles from the runway. 183 00:08:56,137 --> 00:08:57,517 Air traffic control waits 184 00:08:57,551 --> 00:09:01,275 for the flight crew's next position report. 185 00:09:01,310 --> 00:09:09,586 ♪ 186 00:09:09,620 --> 00:09:11,482 Three minutes go by. 187 00:09:11,517 --> 00:09:19,965 ♪ 188 00:09:20,000 --> 00:09:22,310 Flight 268 should have reported 189 00:09:22,344 --> 00:09:27,689 that they've reached the next step by now. 190 00:09:27,724 --> 00:09:32,068 Controller: Pakistan 268, report your position. 191 00:09:32,103 --> 00:09:34,482 Pakistan 268, report position. 192 00:09:37,965 --> 00:09:40,172 Pakistan 268, tower. 193 00:09:42,000 --> 00:09:45,103 Pakistan 268, this is tower. 194 00:09:45,137 --> 00:09:47,724 Narrator: As the minutes tick by... 195 00:09:49,482 --> 00:09:53,655 Air traffic controllers come to a horrifying realization... 196 00:09:56,620 --> 00:10:01,482 Flight 268 is missing somewhere in the Himalayas. 197 00:10:05,172 --> 00:10:06,379 It doesn't take much time 198 00:10:06,413 --> 00:10:10,862 for Kathmandu air traffic controllers to get word 199 00:10:10,896 --> 00:10:15,758 that PIA flight 268 has crashed somewhere in the Himalayas. 200 00:10:18,344 --> 00:10:22,413 Within hours, the plane's wreckage is found 201 00:10:22,448 --> 00:10:24,655 On the side of a mountain. 202 00:10:26,586 --> 00:10:32,241 The flight was carrying more than 20 tons of fuel, 203 00:10:32,275 --> 00:10:37,379 and the plane is completely consumed by fire. 204 00:10:37,413 --> 00:10:41,482 All 167 people on board have died. 205 00:10:43,379 --> 00:10:45,586 Reporter: Tonight investigators refuse to speculate 206 00:10:45,620 --> 00:10:48,000 on possible causes of the crash. 207 00:10:48,034 --> 00:10:49,482 So dangerous are the conditions... 208 00:10:49,517 --> 00:10:51,551 Creasy: We were all back in North Wales, 209 00:10:51,586 --> 00:10:53,655 and news filtered through into the office. 210 00:10:53,689 --> 00:10:57,689 We just sort of stared in disbelief, really. 211 00:10:57,724 --> 00:10:58,551 We couldn't believe it. 212 00:10:58,586 --> 00:10:59,965 You hear of these things happening, 213 00:11:00,000 --> 00:11:03,034 but when it happens to people you've been in contact with 214 00:11:03,068 --> 00:11:05,103 on a daily basis year in year out 215 00:11:05,137 --> 00:11:11,482 and worked with on the cliffs and the crags, just disbelief. 216 00:11:11,517 --> 00:11:13,275 Narrator: As the flames die down, 217 00:11:13,310 --> 00:11:16,310 Nepal faces a chilling reality: 218 00:11:16,344 --> 00:11:19,724 A passenger jet has crashed near the Kathmandu runway 219 00:11:19,758 --> 00:11:22,586 for the second time in two months. 220 00:11:25,000 --> 00:11:30,931 The first was a Thai Airways Airbus with 113 people on board. 221 00:11:36,137 --> 00:11:40,413 Canadian accident investigator Dave McNair is already in Nepal 222 00:11:40,448 --> 00:11:43,344 leading the Thai Airways investigation. 223 00:11:43,379 --> 00:11:45,000 Mcnair: There hadn't been an accident in Kathmandu 224 00:11:45,034 --> 00:11:46,206 for many, many years. 225 00:11:46,241 --> 00:11:49,034 There was the one accident that happened back in July, 226 00:11:49,068 --> 00:11:50,448 and then a second accident, 227 00:11:50,482 --> 00:11:52,034 a major aircraft in the same place, 228 00:11:52,068 --> 00:11:55,068 and it really was a shocking moment. 229 00:11:55,103 --> 00:11:56,896 Investigator: Yeah. OK. 230 00:11:56,931 --> 00:11:58,965 Narrator: Within hours, the Nepalese government 231 00:11:59,000 --> 00:12:03,482 launches an investigation into the crash of Flight 268. 232 00:12:03,517 --> 00:12:04,517 Investigator: We need to get there 233 00:12:04,551 --> 00:12:05,896 as soon as the weather clears. 234 00:12:05,931 --> 00:12:07,034 Narrator: Already stretched thin 235 00:12:07,068 --> 00:12:09,344 by the Thai Airways investigation, 236 00:12:09,379 --> 00:12:13,241 the Nepalese ask British investigators for help. 237 00:12:13,275 --> 00:12:14,827 Investigator: Thanks for coming, Andrew. 238 00:12:14,862 --> 00:12:15,965 Narrator: Andrew Robinson 239 00:12:16,000 --> 00:12:18,862 from Britain's Air Accidents Investigation Branch 240 00:12:18,896 --> 00:12:22,000 is one of the investigators assigned to the case. 241 00:12:22,034 --> 00:12:24,000 Robinson: Let's see what we're dealing with here. 242 00:12:24,034 --> 00:12:26,482 My role in the investigation was to look at the... 243 00:12:26,517 --> 00:12:29,689 the engineering aspects of the accident, 244 00:12:29,724 --> 00:12:31,965 so I would be looking at the site, 245 00:12:32,000 --> 00:12:35,034 the wreckage distribution, the wreckage itself, 246 00:12:35,068 --> 00:12:36,620 the components within it, 247 00:12:36,655 --> 00:12:39,793 and trying to work out what the impact attitude was, 248 00:12:39,827 --> 00:12:42,931 whether all the aircraft was present at the impact site, 249 00:12:42,965 --> 00:12:44,896 that sort of thing. 250 00:12:44,931 --> 00:12:47,379 Narrator: Kathmandu airport is the main hub 251 00:12:47,413 --> 00:12:50,965 of Nepal's tourist industry. 252 00:12:51,000 --> 00:12:53,310 The pressure is on the team to figure out 253 00:12:53,344 --> 00:12:58,275 what caused this accident as quickly as possible. 254 00:12:58,310 --> 00:12:59,620 Robinson: We wanted to find out obviously 255 00:12:59,655 --> 00:13:02,103 if there was something wrong with Kathmandu airport 256 00:13:02,137 --> 00:13:06,724 or procedures involved in approaching or landing at it. 257 00:13:06,758 --> 00:13:09,344 So, yes, there was a huge concern 258 00:13:09,379 --> 00:13:13,517 within the aviating community. 259 00:13:13,551 --> 00:13:15,896 Narrator: The Nepalese government deploys the military 260 00:13:15,931 --> 00:13:19,379 to help investigators get to the remote crash site, 261 00:13:19,413 --> 00:13:23,379 Which is more than 7,000 feet above sea level. 262 00:13:23,413 --> 00:13:24,586 Mcnair: I was part of the team to go up there 263 00:13:24,620 --> 00:13:27,724 to look at the initial, uh, wreckage survey. 264 00:13:27,758 --> 00:13:32,034 It was quite of a perilous drive to get there. 265 00:13:32,068 --> 00:13:34,000 We got to the base camp, 266 00:13:34,034 --> 00:13:36,379 and then we had to walk about 2 kilometers up a path 267 00:13:36,413 --> 00:13:38,000 to get to the site. 268 00:13:38,034 --> 00:13:41,793 It was an emotional walk because as we were walking up, 269 00:13:41,827 --> 00:13:44,103 people are bringing the remains down. 270 00:13:47,344 --> 00:13:51,517 When we first encountered the wreckage site... 271 00:13:51,551 --> 00:13:54,896 You couldn't even recognize an airplane except for the tail. 272 00:13:54,931 --> 00:13:58,103 And of course you could see some of the souvenirs people had 273 00:13:58,137 --> 00:13:59,620 were lying on the ground... 274 00:13:59,655 --> 00:14:02,379 A little child's sock was there, so, you know that related you 275 00:14:02,413 --> 00:14:04,344 to people that were on the airplane. 276 00:14:04,379 --> 00:14:05,965 But, uh, in this case, uh, 277 00:14:06,000 --> 00:14:07,965 it was just the aircraft was just totally destroyed. 278 00:14:08,000 --> 00:14:12,000 It was just a complete obliteration of the aircraft. 279 00:14:12,034 --> 00:14:16,034 Narrator: The team begins examining the wreckage. 280 00:14:16,068 --> 00:14:18,517 But conditions are treacherous. 281 00:14:18,551 --> 00:14:19,931 Robinson: The aircraft had crashed 282 00:14:19,965 --> 00:14:24,034 into the side of a mountain about 150 feet from the top, 283 00:14:24,068 --> 00:14:26,724 and getting about on the site to inspect it 284 00:14:26,758 --> 00:14:28,000 was actually quite difficult 285 00:14:28,034 --> 00:14:31,034 because the average slope was about 45 degrees. 286 00:14:31,068 --> 00:14:32,965 Narrator: Investigators quickly conclude 287 00:14:33,000 --> 00:14:36,724 that it's too dangerous to examine the wreckage on site. 288 00:14:36,758 --> 00:14:38,655 Mcnair: The actual workers were Nepalese 289 00:14:38,689 --> 00:14:40,931 who had to deal with some steep slopes 290 00:14:40,965 --> 00:14:42,689 and had to work very, very carefully 291 00:14:42,724 --> 00:14:47,068 to make sure that nobody was injured on the site. 292 00:14:47,103 --> 00:14:49,655 Narrator: As the investigation gets underway, 293 00:14:49,689 --> 00:14:53,965 one thing is obvious: Flight 268's final altitude. 294 00:14:54,000 --> 00:14:56,724 Investigator: This is the location of the crash site, 295 00:14:56,758 --> 00:14:59,655 9 miles south of the airport. 296 00:14:59,689 --> 00:15:04,068 The aircraft collided with the mountain 297 00:15:04,103 --> 00:15:09,586 at an elevation of 7,280 feet. 298 00:15:09,620 --> 00:15:12,379 Narrator: Investigators plot the location and altitude 299 00:15:12,413 --> 00:15:14,965 of the crash site. 300 00:15:15,000 --> 00:15:16,758 Investigator: Just below the summit. 301 00:15:16,793 --> 00:15:18,137 Robinson: Where should they have been? 302 00:15:18,172 --> 00:15:20,344 Investigator: Can you pass me that approach chart, please? 303 00:15:20,379 --> 00:15:22,206 Thank you. 304 00:15:22,241 --> 00:15:29,206 At 10 miles out, he should have been at 8,200 feet. 305 00:15:32,689 --> 00:15:33,689 Robinson: How do you hit a mountain 306 00:15:33,724 --> 00:15:36,620 you're supposed to clear by 1,000 feet? 307 00:15:36,655 --> 00:15:38,034 Mcnair: You know it hit the mountain. 308 00:15:38,068 --> 00:15:39,068 There's no doubt about that. 309 00:15:39,103 --> 00:15:41,206 But you don't know why it was as low as it was 310 00:15:41,241 --> 00:15:43,724 when it hit the mountain. 311 00:15:43,758 --> 00:15:47,896 Narrator: As yet more mystery swirls around flight 268, 312 00:15:47,931 --> 00:15:51,896 a makeshift morgue is set up outside the airport. 313 00:15:51,931 --> 00:15:54,758 The people of Kathmandu must come to terms 314 00:15:54,793 --> 00:15:57,965 with a second tragedy in as many months, 315 00:15:58,000 --> 00:16:02,000 and pressure builds to find out why that happened. 316 00:16:04,931 --> 00:16:08,620 Nepalese soldiers have retrieved the aircraft's black boxes 317 00:16:08,655 --> 00:16:11,379 from the wreckage of PIA flight 268. 318 00:16:11,413 --> 00:16:12,931 Investigator: Put that over there, please. 319 00:16:12,965 --> 00:16:16,275 Narrator: The digital flight data recorder, or DFDR, 320 00:16:16,310 --> 00:16:17,620 contains information 321 00:16:17,655 --> 00:16:21,896 About critical aircraft operations and performance. 322 00:16:21,931 --> 00:16:23,758 Investigator: They look pretty banged up. 323 00:16:23,793 --> 00:16:25,413 Narrator: The cockpit voice recorder 324 00:16:25,448 --> 00:16:28,827 records conversations between the pilots. 325 00:16:28,862 --> 00:16:30,689 They'll both be sent to France 326 00:16:30,724 --> 00:16:34,034 where the data will be downloaded and analyzed. 327 00:16:34,068 --> 00:16:36,000 Mcnair: Flight recorders are extremely vital 328 00:16:36,034 --> 00:16:37,896 to investigations. 329 00:16:37,931 --> 00:16:40,586 The most important part is it really brings you closer 330 00:16:40,620 --> 00:16:45,758 to understanding the entire reason for the accident. 331 00:16:45,793 --> 00:16:47,931 Narrator: But until they get the data, 332 00:16:47,965 --> 00:16:51,068 investigators must look elsewhere for clues. 333 00:16:51,103 --> 00:16:53,310 They hope the air traffic controller 334 00:16:53,344 --> 00:16:55,103 can provide some insight. 335 00:16:55,137 --> 00:16:56,586 Controller: I've been running through 336 00:16:56,620 --> 00:16:58,931 every conversation we had and studying my notes. 337 00:16:58,965 --> 00:17:01,379 Investigator: Does anything stand out? 338 00:17:01,413 --> 00:17:04,965 Controller: They had to deviate around some bad weather. 339 00:17:05,000 --> 00:17:07,206 [Coughing] 340 00:17:07,241 --> 00:17:09,517 Janjua: Kathmandu, Pakistan 268. 341 00:17:09,551 --> 00:17:11,827 We are 10 to 15 miles right of the track 342 00:17:11,862 --> 00:17:13,758 to avoid a build-up en route. 343 00:17:13,793 --> 00:17:15,793 Narrator: The controller tells investigators 344 00:17:15,827 --> 00:17:18,172 that the crew reported some storm clouds 345 00:17:18,206 --> 00:17:20,275 on the way to Kathmandu. 346 00:17:20,310 --> 00:17:23,034 Robinson: It's usually very hazy in the Kathmandu valley. 347 00:17:23,068 --> 00:17:24,724 In most conditions where you've got mountains 348 00:17:24,758 --> 00:17:26,551 you invariably have clouds. 349 00:17:26,586 --> 00:17:28,931 Controller: That's common this time of year. 350 00:17:28,965 --> 00:17:30,655 Investigator: anything else after that? 351 00:17:30,689 --> 00:17:34,896 Controller: Standard position reports, by the book. 352 00:17:34,931 --> 00:17:37,241 Akhtar: Pakistan 268 is at ten miles. 353 00:17:37,275 --> 00:17:38,620 Controller: Report your level. 354 00:17:38,655 --> 00:17:42,034 Akhtar: We crossed out of 8,500... 200 now. 355 00:17:42,068 --> 00:17:43,551 Controller: Roger, clear for final. 356 00:17:43,586 --> 00:17:46,344 Report 4 miles, runway zero-two. 357 00:17:46,379 --> 00:17:50,034 Akhtar: We'll call you at 4 miles, Pakistan 268. 358 00:17:50,068 --> 00:17:53,034 Controller: He said he'd contact me when he got 4 miles out, 359 00:17:53,068 --> 00:17:56,241 but I never heard from them after that. 360 00:18:00,758 --> 00:18:03,689 Robinson: Ok, let's see what the wreckage can tell us. 361 00:18:03,724 --> 00:18:05,758 Mcnair: When an aircraft is destroyed, 362 00:18:05,793 --> 00:18:08,655 there are still things you can get from the accident site. 363 00:18:08,689 --> 00:18:11,000 Narrator: Investigators consider the possibility 364 00:18:11,034 --> 00:18:14,551 the jet was flying out of control when it crashed. 365 00:18:14,586 --> 00:18:17,413 They scrutinize the crash site for clues. 366 00:18:17,448 --> 00:18:19,586 Robinson: Look at this. 367 00:18:19,620 --> 00:18:23,724 The right wing impacts up here. 368 00:18:23,758 --> 00:18:25,517 Narrator: A large scar shows Robinson 369 00:18:25,551 --> 00:18:32,137 precisely where the wings hit the side of the mountain. 370 00:18:32,172 --> 00:18:36,758 He also notices that just over 4 feet below the impact scar, 371 00:18:36,793 --> 00:18:40,000 the top of a tree has been cut cleanly. 372 00:18:40,034 --> 00:18:44,034 Robinson: The wing couldn't have cut that tree, so what did? 373 00:18:44,068 --> 00:18:46,172 Mcnair: The aircraft cut some tree branches, 374 00:18:46,206 --> 00:18:49,379 so you can actually use that to measure angles of impact. 375 00:18:49,413 --> 00:18:50,586 Then you use other evidence 376 00:18:50,620 --> 00:18:52,965 to find out what happened to the airplane. 377 00:18:56,413 --> 00:18:58,241 Robinson: What about... 378 00:19:01,448 --> 00:19:03,068 the flaps? 379 00:19:05,620 --> 00:19:06,931 Investigator: Fully extended, 380 00:19:06,965 --> 00:19:11,655 exactly 1.3 meters below the wing. 381 00:19:11,689 --> 00:19:15,551 Narrator: For the team, it's a critical clue. 382 00:19:15,586 --> 00:19:18,793 As the Airbus A300 slows for landing, 383 00:19:18,827 --> 00:19:22,793 its wing flaps extend by as much as 25 degrees. 384 00:19:22,827 --> 00:19:25,586 Hanging below the wings, the extended flaps 385 00:19:25,620 --> 00:19:30,103 would shave the top of the tree as it slams into the mountain. 386 00:19:34,896 --> 00:19:39,275 Robinson: Wings level, no pitch down, flaps extended. 387 00:19:39,310 --> 00:19:42,965 In other words, the exact landing configuration. 388 00:19:43,000 --> 00:19:47,586 And this plane was absolutely not out of control. 389 00:19:47,620 --> 00:19:49,172 Janjua: Flaps 10. 390 00:19:49,862 --> 00:19:51,413 Akhtar: Flaps 10. 391 00:19:51,448 --> 00:19:53,620 Mcnair: This is an indication that in fact the crew 392 00:19:53,655 --> 00:19:55,758 was deliberately flying it there. 393 00:19:55,793 --> 00:19:57,034 But what was abnormal 394 00:19:57,068 --> 00:19:59,724 was the fact the airplane was being flown too low. 395 00:19:59,758 --> 00:20:01,896 The question is: Why was that? 396 00:20:03,965 --> 00:20:05,379 Narrator: To answer that question, 397 00:20:05,413 --> 00:20:09,241 the team creates a list of every conceivable scenario, 398 00:20:09,275 --> 00:20:12,931 based on the evidence they've collected so far. 399 00:20:12,965 --> 00:20:14,517 Investigator: Any thoughts? 400 00:20:15,620 --> 00:20:17,517 Investigator: Loss of thrust? 401 00:20:21,068 --> 00:20:23,241 Akhtar: Cleared for final, runway zero-two. 402 00:20:23,275 --> 00:20:26,310 Janjua: Runway zero-two. 403 00:20:26,344 --> 00:20:27,172 [Alarm Beeping] 404 00:20:27,206 --> 00:20:28,517 Akhtar: Loss of engine number one. 405 00:20:28,551 --> 00:20:29,551 [Beeping] 406 00:20:29,586 --> 00:20:31,103 We're losing number two as well. 407 00:20:31,137 --> 00:20:33,758 Narrator: Investigators consider a loss of thrust 408 00:20:33,793 --> 00:20:35,586 in both engines. 409 00:20:35,620 --> 00:20:37,241 Janjua: Ok, watch my altitude. 410 00:20:37,275 --> 00:20:38,793 Janjua: Come on, come on, come on! 411 00:20:38,827 --> 00:20:39,896 Akhtar: 7,800. 412 00:20:39,931 --> 00:20:41,379 Janjua: Initiate restart, either engine. 413 00:20:41,413 --> 00:20:43,206 Narrator: And a rapid loss of altitude... 414 00:20:43,241 --> 00:20:45,137 Akhtar: 7,500. We're not gonna make it! 415 00:20:45,172 --> 00:20:47,862 Narrator: Leading to the collision with the mountain. 416 00:20:54,241 --> 00:20:58,379 Robinson studies what's left of the plane's engines. 417 00:20:58,413 --> 00:21:07,448 ♪ 418 00:21:07,482 --> 00:21:09,862 Robinson: Only one way this got in so deep. 419 00:21:09,896 --> 00:21:13,000 Narrator: The damage and debris inside tell Robinson 420 00:21:13,034 --> 00:21:17,000 the fan blades were spinning when they hit the ground. 421 00:21:19,620 --> 00:21:23,517 And further examination of the device that controls fuel flow 422 00:21:23,551 --> 00:21:29,000 shows they were at the lowest thrust setting... flight idle. 423 00:21:29,034 --> 00:21:30,896 That's precisely where they should be 424 00:21:30,931 --> 00:21:35,862 for an A300 descending towards the runway. 425 00:21:35,896 --> 00:21:37,931 Robinson: The thrust from the engines 426 00:21:37,965 --> 00:21:40,310 was symmetrical and at low power. 427 00:21:40,344 --> 00:21:43,034 There was no indication of loss of control, 428 00:21:43,068 --> 00:21:46,896 so that was dismissed. 429 00:21:46,931 --> 00:21:50,206 So we then had to sit down and think of reasons 430 00:21:50,241 --> 00:21:53,827 why the pilot might have been too low. 431 00:21:53,862 --> 00:21:56,034 Narrator: With mechanical failure ruled out... 432 00:21:56,068 --> 00:21:58,172 Investigator: OK, not the engines. 433 00:21:58,206 --> 00:22:00,931 Narrator: And the black box data still in Paris... 434 00:22:00,965 --> 00:22:02,034 Investigator: What else? 435 00:22:02,068 --> 00:22:03,896 Narrator: Investigators turn their attention 436 00:22:03,931 --> 00:22:08,275 to what was happening in the cockpit. 437 00:22:08,310 --> 00:22:11,034 Robert Bor is an aviation psychologist 438 00:22:11,068 --> 00:22:14,724 who has studied the course of this investigation. 439 00:22:14,758 --> 00:22:16,068 Robert Bor: Accident investigators 440 00:22:16,103 --> 00:22:19,000 will typically approach this kind of investigation 441 00:22:19,034 --> 00:22:20,586 As though they were detectives, 442 00:22:20,620 --> 00:22:23,103 and they're gonna raise a wide range of questions, 443 00:22:23,137 --> 00:22:26,206 hypotheses that they will want to test out. 444 00:22:26,241 --> 00:22:32,206 Robinson: OK, uh, what about an intruder in the cockpit? 445 00:22:32,241 --> 00:22:34,896 Mcnair: Unlawful interference is something that's around us. 446 00:22:34,931 --> 00:22:36,655 It's everywhere. 447 00:22:36,689 --> 00:22:38,137 We spend our lives dealing with it 448 00:22:38,172 --> 00:22:40,448 every time we check in to the airport. 449 00:22:40,482 --> 00:22:42,586 So we know it's out there. 450 00:22:42,620 --> 00:22:44,172 Narrator: The team now wonders: 451 00:22:44,206 --> 00:22:48,793 Were the 167 people on board 452 00:22:48,827 --> 00:22:51,551 victims of a terrorist attack? 453 00:22:54,793 --> 00:22:56,413 Investigators are concerned 454 00:22:56,448 --> 00:22:59,827 an act of terrorism may have brought PIA flight 268 455 00:22:59,862 --> 00:23:03,241 to a violent end in the Himalayas. 456 00:23:03,275 --> 00:23:06,586 [Explosion] 457 00:23:09,103 --> 00:23:11,068 Pakistan International Airlines 458 00:23:11,103 --> 00:23:13,517 has been on high alert for over a decade 459 00:23:13,551 --> 00:23:18,724 since one of its planes was hijacked for 13 days in 1981. 460 00:23:18,758 --> 00:23:22,344 As a result, the airline routinely places armed guards 461 00:23:22,379 --> 00:23:24,655 On high-risk routes. 462 00:23:27,413 --> 00:23:29,517 Investigator: There were four air guards on this flight. 463 00:23:29,551 --> 00:23:31,620 Narrator: They turn to the passenger manifest 464 00:23:31,655 --> 00:23:33,896 for more information. 465 00:23:33,931 --> 00:23:40,344 Investigator: Here, here, here and here. 466 00:23:40,379 --> 00:23:42,551 Robinson: As often happened in Pakistan Airways flights, 467 00:23:42,586 --> 00:23:45,275 there were a number of security guards on board, 468 00:23:45,310 --> 00:23:51,793 which would probably tend to suppress unlawful interference. 469 00:23:51,827 --> 00:23:53,172 Narrator: The controller reported 470 00:23:53,206 --> 00:23:55,517 that the first officer's final radio call, 471 00:23:55,551 --> 00:24:00,862 just 32 seconds before impact, was calm and professional. 472 00:24:00,896 --> 00:24:02,068 Akhtar: We'll call you at 4 miles. 473 00:24:02,103 --> 00:24:03,137 Pakistan 268. 474 00:24:03,172 --> 00:24:05,344 Narrator: No hint of a struggle. 475 00:24:05,379 --> 00:24:07,068 Bor: That helps us to understand 476 00:24:07,103 --> 00:24:09,931 that on the flight deck things were pretty normal. 477 00:24:09,965 --> 00:24:11,103 The crew were probably, therefore, 478 00:24:11,137 --> 00:24:15,517 not being interfered with by a hijacker. 479 00:24:15,551 --> 00:24:18,344 Investigator: I think we can rule out an intruder. 480 00:24:18,379 --> 00:24:20,793 Now what? 481 00:24:20,827 --> 00:24:23,310 Robinson: Could be weather? 482 00:24:23,344 --> 00:24:27,068 Mcnair: In Kathmandu there are quite often build-ups of clouds, 483 00:24:27,103 --> 00:24:28,724 and they can develop into thunderstorms 484 00:24:28,758 --> 00:24:30,620 or cumulonimbus types of clouds, 485 00:24:30,655 --> 00:24:31,827 and the suspicion was maybe 486 00:24:31,862 --> 00:24:36,310 there was some sort of cloud like that on the approach. 487 00:24:36,344 --> 00:24:39,448 Investigator: This is everything from the time of the accident. 488 00:24:39,482 --> 00:24:41,862 Narrator: Investigators examine weather conditions 489 00:24:41,896 --> 00:24:44,275 throughout the flight. 490 00:24:44,310 --> 00:24:48,275 The report was cloudy with a potential for storms. 491 00:24:51,344 --> 00:24:55,034 But because the crew had deviated around bad weather... 492 00:24:55,068 --> 00:24:57,034 Janjua: Kathmandu, Pakistan 268. 493 00:24:57,068 --> 00:24:59,068 We are 10 to 15 miles right of track 494 00:24:59,103 --> 00:25:00,620 to avoid a build-up en route. 495 00:25:00,655 --> 00:25:04,448 Narrator: It's unlikely they then flew into a thunderstorm. 496 00:25:07,896 --> 00:25:12,068 By now, the team has ruled out all possible external factors 497 00:25:12,103 --> 00:25:13,793 for this accident. 498 00:25:13,827 --> 00:25:19,034 Investigator: Flaps were out, engines spinning, no intruder, 499 00:25:19,068 --> 00:25:21,241 no serious weather on approach. 500 00:25:21,275 --> 00:25:24,275 Narrator: They're left with only one conclusion. 501 00:25:24,310 --> 00:25:25,379 Investigator: They must not have known 502 00:25:25,413 --> 00:25:29,137 that they were flying too low. 503 00:25:29,172 --> 00:25:31,034 Akhtar: Cleared for finals, runway zero-two. 504 00:25:31,068 --> 00:25:33,034 Janjua: Runway zero-two. 505 00:25:33,068 --> 00:25:36,310 Akhtar: Next altitude is 6,800 at 8 miles. 506 00:25:36,344 --> 00:25:39,448 Now crossing through 7,500. 507 00:25:39,482 --> 00:25:42,620 7,400. 508 00:25:42,655 --> 00:25:44,655 Janjua: What's happened? Akhtar: No, no, no, no! 509 00:25:47,172 --> 00:25:48,758 Bor: It's clear in this situation 510 00:25:48,793 --> 00:25:52,379 that the pilots had built up a picture of the outside world 511 00:25:52,413 --> 00:25:57,172 that is not true and accurate, which leads to the crash. 512 00:25:57,206 --> 00:26:00,689 However, we have to ask questions why that may be. 513 00:26:04,482 --> 00:26:07,034 Narrator: Investigators look into two possibilities 514 00:26:07,068 --> 00:26:11,241 for the flight's dangerously low altitude. 515 00:26:11,275 --> 00:26:12,517 Robinson: Either they ignored their chart 516 00:26:12,551 --> 00:26:14,103 and were doing a visual approach, 517 00:26:14,137 --> 00:26:16,551 or they somehow misread the chart. 518 00:26:16,586 --> 00:26:18,310 Investigator: Nothing else makes sense. 519 00:26:18,344 --> 00:26:21,724 Robinson: We had no way of knowing why it was too low, 520 00:26:21,758 --> 00:26:25,379 so that became a matter of studying the data 521 00:26:25,413 --> 00:26:28,137 And having a general roundtable discussion. 522 00:26:28,172 --> 00:26:31,482 Alright, let's start with the visual approach. 523 00:26:31,517 --> 00:26:34,689 Controller: Roger, Pakistan 268, report 1-0 miles. 524 00:26:34,724 --> 00:26:37,896 Akhtar: Roger, call you at 1-0 miles, Pakistan 268. 525 00:26:40,482 --> 00:26:42,827 Janjua: We can save some time by going visual. 526 00:26:42,862 --> 00:26:44,241 Watch my speed. 527 00:26:44,275 --> 00:26:46,000 We should soon see the runway. 528 00:26:46,034 --> 00:26:47,517 Narrator: On a visual approach, 529 00:26:47,551 --> 00:26:50,862 pilots fly based almost entirely on what they can see... 530 00:26:50,896 --> 00:26:53,482 Akhtar: Yes, commander, visual to runway zero-two. 531 00:26:53,517 --> 00:26:55,965 Narrator:...rather than a pre-determined route. 532 00:26:56,000 --> 00:26:57,482 Janjua: Flaps 10. 533 00:26:58,206 --> 00:26:59,344 Akhtar: Flaps 10. 534 00:27:00,068 --> 00:27:01,827 Janjua: Flaps 15. 535 00:27:01,862 --> 00:27:04,034 Akhtar: Flaps 15. 536 00:27:04,068 --> 00:27:05,448 Narrator: In many instances, 537 00:27:05,482 --> 00:27:08,482 visual landings are easier for pilots... 538 00:27:08,517 --> 00:27:10,344 Janjua: Watch for the runway. 539 00:27:10,379 --> 00:27:13,206 Narrator: But with a greater risk of human error. 540 00:27:13,241 --> 00:27:15,172 Janjua: What's happened? Akhtar: No, no, no, no! 541 00:27:20,068 --> 00:27:21,724 Investigator: Agh... 542 00:27:21,758 --> 00:27:24,862 It's... It's possible, but... 543 00:27:24,896 --> 00:27:28,827 Almost total cloud coverage throughout the entire approach. 544 00:27:28,862 --> 00:27:30,448 Plus, they knew the terrain. 545 00:27:30,482 --> 00:27:33,310 The captain made this approach at least seven times, 546 00:27:33,344 --> 00:27:35,689 the first officer, five. 547 00:27:35,724 --> 00:27:38,655 Narrator: Investigators conclude it's highly unlikely 548 00:27:38,689 --> 00:27:43,344 the flight crew attempted a visual approach in thick clouds. 549 00:27:43,379 --> 00:27:45,344 Bor: It's a complicated arrival. 550 00:27:45,379 --> 00:27:47,241 It requires a step down 551 00:27:47,275 --> 00:27:50,689 at various points toward the runway threshold, 552 00:27:50,724 --> 00:27:54,379 and perhaps most significantly, the meteorological conditions 553 00:27:54,413 --> 00:27:56,862 were not conducive to a visual approach. 554 00:27:56,896 --> 00:27:58,896 Controller: Pakistan 268, report 1-6 miles. 555 00:27:58,931 --> 00:28:00,379 Narrator: The only theory left 556 00:28:00,413 --> 00:28:02,827 is that the pilots somehow misinterpreted 557 00:28:02,862 --> 00:28:04,172 their approach chart. 558 00:28:04,206 --> 00:28:06,344 Akhtar: Sierra approach, commander. 559 00:28:09,034 --> 00:28:12,068 Janjua: Here it is. Watch my levels. 560 00:28:12,103 --> 00:28:14,103 Bor: Everything was working, technically. 561 00:28:14,137 --> 00:28:15,931 There didn't appear to be any interference 562 00:28:15,965 --> 00:28:18,275 on the flight deck by anyone. 563 00:28:18,310 --> 00:28:20,965 And so the only conclusion that we can take from this 564 00:28:21,000 --> 00:28:22,517 is that for some reason 565 00:28:22,551 --> 00:28:26,413 the pilots had clearly misinterpreted data. 566 00:28:30,310 --> 00:28:33,379 Investigator: Alright. Let's look at this. 567 00:28:33,413 --> 00:28:36,241 Narrator: Investigators hope the flight's black box data, 568 00:28:36,275 --> 00:28:40,275 back from Paris, will help solve the mystery. 569 00:28:40,310 --> 00:28:42,310 They look at the plane's flight path 570 00:28:42,344 --> 00:28:44,413 as the crew prepares for landing. 571 00:28:44,448 --> 00:28:45,655 Investigator: They started their descent. 572 00:28:45,689 --> 00:28:49,413 At 16 miles out they're at 10,500 feet, 573 00:28:49,448 --> 00:28:54,862 then down to 9,500 at 13 miles, 8,200 at 10 miles, 574 00:28:54,896 --> 00:28:59,689 then quickly down to 7,500 until impact at 7,280. 575 00:28:59,724 --> 00:29:02,724 Narrator: The data reveals an astonishing fact. 576 00:29:02,758 --> 00:29:06,310 Robinson: So 1,000 feet too low, right from the get-go. 577 00:29:09,137 --> 00:29:11,034 Narrator: The approach to Kathmandu 578 00:29:11,068 --> 00:29:13,034 is one of last places on earth 579 00:29:13,068 --> 00:29:16,413 a pilot would risk flying too low. 580 00:29:22,551 --> 00:29:24,137 Robinson: Wait a minute. 581 00:29:24,172 --> 00:29:28,689 There you go, perfect match. 582 00:29:28,724 --> 00:29:34,034 They were flying the approach, but one step ahead. 583 00:29:34,068 --> 00:29:36,034 What the aircraft flew 584 00:29:36,068 --> 00:29:38,137 was pretty much what the chart said, 585 00:29:38,172 --> 00:29:42,103 except that the pilot had got one step ahead of himself. 586 00:29:42,137 --> 00:29:46,724 So he's flying the correct altitude for the next position, 587 00:29:46,758 --> 00:29:49,517 which was a sort of eureka moment, I think, 588 00:29:49,551 --> 00:29:52,000 in this investigation. 589 00:29:53,482 --> 00:29:55,034 Investigator: He's adjusting his descent 590 00:29:55,068 --> 00:29:58,034 to hit the lower altitudes. 591 00:29:58,068 --> 00:30:00,655 It's no accident. 592 00:30:00,689 --> 00:30:02,275 Robinson: We obviously started to wonder 593 00:30:02,310 --> 00:30:06,068 why this should be the case. 594 00:30:06,103 --> 00:30:07,517 Narrator: Still working in the shadow 595 00:30:07,551 --> 00:30:10,586 of the Thai Airways crash just two months earlier... 596 00:30:10,620 --> 00:30:12,241 Investigator: Are we ready? 597 00:30:12,275 --> 00:30:13,344 Let's hear it. 598 00:30:13,379 --> 00:30:14,655 Narrator: Investigators now hope 599 00:30:14,689 --> 00:30:17,551 the Pakistan Airways cockpit voice recording 600 00:30:17,586 --> 00:30:19,862 will shed light on what happened in the cockpit 601 00:30:19,896 --> 00:30:22,206 In the lead-up to the fatal collision. 602 00:30:22,241 --> 00:30:25,758 ♪ 603 00:30:25,793 --> 00:30:29,310 But as the team begins listening to the CVR, 604 00:30:29,344 --> 00:30:32,620 they get a gut-wrenching shock. 605 00:30:32,655 --> 00:30:34,655 [Beep] 606 00:30:34,689 --> 00:30:37,034 [Tape Hiss] 607 00:30:37,068 --> 00:30:38,482 Investigator: This is it? 608 00:30:38,517 --> 00:30:47,034 ♪ 609 00:30:47,068 --> 00:30:50,793 Narrator: The cockpit voice recording of PIA Flight 268 610 00:30:50,827 --> 00:30:55,000 is playing the last thing investigators want to hear: 611 00:30:55,034 --> 00:30:57,206 Silence. 612 00:30:57,241 --> 00:30:58,379 But then... 613 00:30:58,413 --> 00:30:59,965 Janjua: We are entering an area of turbulence, 614 00:31:00,000 --> 00:31:03,241 and I request all of you to remain seated. 615 00:31:03,275 --> 00:31:04,413 Narrator: The tape has recorded 616 00:31:04,448 --> 00:31:06,172 the announcements made to the cabin 617 00:31:06,206 --> 00:31:08,827 and conversations with controllers, 618 00:31:08,862 --> 00:31:12,379 but not the conversations between the two pilots. 619 00:31:12,413 --> 00:31:13,413 Investigator: OK. 620 00:31:13,448 --> 00:31:17,310 So nothing from the cockpit mic. 621 00:31:17,344 --> 00:31:21,310 Narrator: It's a major setback. 622 00:31:21,344 --> 00:31:23,000 Investigator: Back to the drawing board. 623 00:31:26,448 --> 00:31:28,896 Narrator: Without the full cockpit voice recording, 624 00:31:28,931 --> 00:31:32,103 investigators need to find other ways of understanding 625 00:31:32,137 --> 00:31:37,137 why the pilots of Flight 268 were flying 1,000 feet too low 626 00:31:37,172 --> 00:31:39,896 at every step of their approach. 627 00:31:39,931 --> 00:31:41,689 Bor: We have to therefore build a picture 628 00:31:41,724 --> 00:31:44,034 of what might have been going on in their minds, 629 00:31:44,068 --> 00:31:46,689 in the relationship between the two pilots, 630 00:31:46,724 --> 00:31:49,827 and in their relationship between themselves, 631 00:31:49,862 --> 00:31:53,655 the physical environment, and air traffic control. 632 00:31:53,689 --> 00:31:54,931 Investigator: What if the problem 633 00:31:54,965 --> 00:31:57,000 is the actual approach chart itself? 634 00:31:57,034 --> 00:32:00,206 Narrator: To avoid the mountains surrounding Kathmandu, 635 00:32:00,241 --> 00:32:02,137 pilots follow an approach chart... 636 00:32:02,172 --> 00:32:04,965 about the size of a large postcard. 637 00:32:05,000 --> 00:32:08,241 It provides the specific altitudes pilots must take 638 00:32:08,275 --> 00:32:11,655 at set distances from the airport. 639 00:32:11,689 --> 00:32:15,655 They study the same chart used by the flight crew. 640 00:32:15,689 --> 00:32:20,172 Robinson: So, is, let's say, 8,200 feet the right altitude 641 00:32:20,206 --> 00:32:24,034 For 10 miles or 8 miles? 642 00:32:24,068 --> 00:32:25,862 It's hard to say. 643 00:32:25,896 --> 00:32:28,862 Investigator: Even harder when it's actual size. 644 00:32:28,896 --> 00:32:30,827 Robinson: The operations team spent a lot of time 645 00:32:30,862 --> 00:32:34,103 looking at the chart that the crew had been using. 646 00:32:34,137 --> 00:32:35,413 They concluded that there was 647 00:32:35,448 --> 00:32:36,724 a large amount of information on it. 648 00:32:36,758 --> 00:32:41,551 It was, um, it was a lot of clutter. 649 00:32:41,586 --> 00:32:43,310 Narrator: Investigators need to know 650 00:32:43,344 --> 00:32:45,551 how the crew would have prepared themselves 651 00:32:45,586 --> 00:32:47,655 for the complicated approach. 652 00:32:47,689 --> 00:32:49,655 They examine the cockpit layout 653 00:32:49,689 --> 00:32:52,448 of an identical Pakistan International Airlines 654 00:32:52,482 --> 00:32:54,862 Airbus A300. 655 00:32:54,896 --> 00:32:58,379 Robinson: There's no place to clip an approach chart here. 656 00:32:58,413 --> 00:33:00,517 Most aircraft have little clips 657 00:33:00,551 --> 00:33:03,896 on the control column to attach the approach plates to. 658 00:33:03,931 --> 00:33:06,172 Now, this particular aircraft didn't. 659 00:33:06,206 --> 00:33:08,551 There is just here. 660 00:33:08,586 --> 00:33:10,413 Now only the captain can see it, 661 00:33:10,448 --> 00:33:12,724 And he'd have to keep turning his head. 662 00:33:12,758 --> 00:33:16,068 Unlikely they used that. 663 00:33:16,103 --> 00:33:18,034 More likely he put it here. 664 00:33:18,068 --> 00:33:21,137 Narrator: The other clip is a full three feet away 665 00:33:21,172 --> 00:33:22,379 from either pilot. 666 00:33:22,413 --> 00:33:24,344 Robinson: That's not much better. 667 00:33:24,379 --> 00:33:25,655 It's almost impossible to read, 668 00:33:25,689 --> 00:33:28,034 and that handle is blocking the descent profile. 669 00:33:28,068 --> 00:33:30,689 Narrator: They learn that Pakistan International Airlines 670 00:33:30,724 --> 00:33:34,275 has only two places for pilots to clip their charts. 671 00:33:34,310 --> 00:33:35,931 Both positions make it very difficult 672 00:33:35,965 --> 00:33:38,620 to read a 4-inch-wide piece of paper. 673 00:33:38,655 --> 00:33:40,068 Robinson: It's difficult to make a quick reference 674 00:33:40,103 --> 00:33:42,413 if you're having to sort of look to the right or to the left 675 00:33:42,448 --> 00:33:44,275 for a chart. 676 00:33:46,344 --> 00:33:48,724 Could it be? 677 00:33:48,758 --> 00:33:50,862 Narrator: Then, quite by accident, 678 00:33:50,896 --> 00:33:53,206 the investigators discover a key clue 679 00:33:53,241 --> 00:33:57,724 regarding the pilots' misreading of the approach chart. 680 00:33:57,758 --> 00:33:59,241 Robinson: If you pick up the chart 681 00:33:59,275 --> 00:34:03,620 And happen to put your thumb over the 11,500-foot mark 682 00:34:03,655 --> 00:34:07,448 for 16-nautical-mile marker, 683 00:34:07,482 --> 00:34:10,344 in that case it might have guided his eye 684 00:34:10,379 --> 00:34:11,862 to the next height fix, 685 00:34:11,896 --> 00:34:14,551 and he might assumed that that was the correct height 686 00:34:14,586 --> 00:34:19,172 for the 16-mile marker point. 687 00:34:19,206 --> 00:34:22,344 Robinson: This definitely makes it look like 10,500 688 00:34:22,379 --> 00:34:24,827 is the correct altitude at 16 miles. 689 00:34:24,862 --> 00:34:29,103 Narrator: Robinson finally has a theory he can put to the test. 690 00:34:32,103 --> 00:34:35,206 Akhtar: Kathmandu tower, good afternoon, Pakistan 268, 691 00:34:35,241 --> 00:34:38,068 2-5 miles at 11,500. 692 00:34:38,103 --> 00:34:40,413 Narrator: Just a few minutes before impact, 693 00:34:40,448 --> 00:34:44,034 the first officer reports being 25 miles from the airport, 694 00:34:44,068 --> 00:34:48,034 at the correct altitude of 11,500 feet. 695 00:34:48,068 --> 00:34:50,655 Controller: Pakistan 268, report 1-6 miles. 696 00:34:50,689 --> 00:34:54,000 Wind 1-8-0, expect sierra approach. 697 00:34:54,034 --> 00:34:55,689 Akhtar: Roger, call you at 1-6 miles. 698 00:34:55,724 --> 00:34:57,413 Expecting sierra approach. 699 00:34:57,448 --> 00:34:59,241 Sierra approach, commander. 700 00:34:59,275 --> 00:35:02,000 Narrator: But when the captain looks at the approach chart, 701 00:35:02,034 --> 00:35:06,379 His thumb may have obscured the correct next altitude. 702 00:35:06,413 --> 00:35:08,172 Janjua: Here it is. Watch my levels. 703 00:35:08,206 --> 00:35:12,241 Narrator: Now, instead of maintaining 11,500 feet, 704 00:35:12,275 --> 00:35:16,275 Captain Janjua dials in the next altitude on the chart... 705 00:35:16,310 --> 00:35:19,137 Janjua: Descending to 10,500. 706 00:35:19,172 --> 00:35:21,137 Narrator:...oblivious that his plane's approach 707 00:35:21,172 --> 00:35:24,965 is now one step ahead. 708 00:35:25,000 --> 00:35:27,793 The crew has now made a fatal mistake, 709 00:35:27,827 --> 00:35:30,172 unaware the airliner is now descending 710 00:35:30,206 --> 00:35:34,862 towards a violent collision with the side of a mountain. 711 00:35:34,896 --> 00:35:38,310 Robinson: So that was where it all started. 712 00:35:40,827 --> 00:35:43,620 Narrator: Investigators now pursue the new theory, 713 00:35:43,655 --> 00:35:45,827 that the pilots of Flight 268 714 00:35:45,862 --> 00:35:50,241 misread the altitudes on a cluttered approach chart. 715 00:35:50,275 --> 00:35:53,655 Robinson: At 16 miles they should be at 11,500, 716 00:35:53,689 --> 00:35:55,862 but they've descended to 10,500. 717 00:35:55,896 --> 00:35:58,758 Narrator: The team has a surprising realization. 718 00:35:58,793 --> 00:36:02,344 Robinson: But then they report being at 11,500. 719 00:36:06,586 --> 00:36:08,000 Narrator: At the 16-mile mark, 720 00:36:08,034 --> 00:36:11,034 the first officer reports the altitude they should be at... 721 00:36:11,068 --> 00:36:13,206 11,500 feet. 722 00:36:13,241 --> 00:36:18,275 Akhtar: Pakistan 268 is at 1-6 miles, 11,500. 723 00:36:18,310 --> 00:36:20,724 Narrator: Instead of 10,500, 724 00:36:20,758 --> 00:36:23,862 the lower altitude they're actually at. 725 00:36:25,827 --> 00:36:28,448 The investigators have uncovered a new mystery 726 00:36:28,482 --> 00:36:32,931 that goes right to the heart of what went so horribly wrong. 727 00:36:32,965 --> 00:36:35,344 Robinson: Why did they descend to 10,500 728 00:36:35,379 --> 00:36:37,965 and then report being at 11,500? 729 00:36:42,896 --> 00:36:46,137 Narrator: Andrew Robinson's team returned to the flight data, 730 00:36:46,172 --> 00:36:49,137 hoping to understand why the pilots of flight 268 731 00:36:49,172 --> 00:36:52,310 misread and misreported their approach altitudes 732 00:36:52,344 --> 00:36:54,310 before the crash. 733 00:36:54,344 --> 00:36:56,689 Robinson: A slat extension, a frequency change 734 00:36:56,724 --> 00:36:59,034 and then flaps and landing gear. 735 00:36:59,068 --> 00:37:01,586 Investigator: He was a busy guy. 736 00:37:01,620 --> 00:37:03,620 Bor: It's a fast and steep approach, 737 00:37:03,655 --> 00:37:04,827 and unless you're a pilot 738 00:37:04,862 --> 00:37:06,620 with considerable experience flying this route, 739 00:37:06,655 --> 00:37:11,655 maybe several times in a week, it's going to be very testing. 740 00:37:11,689 --> 00:37:13,862 Janjua: Descending to 10,500. 741 00:37:13,896 --> 00:37:15,482 Janjua: Initiating descent. 742 00:37:15,517 --> 00:37:16,965 Narrator: Investigators now believe 743 00:37:17,000 --> 00:37:20,827 that as the distracted flight crew approached 16 miles... 744 00:37:20,862 --> 00:37:22,344 Janjua: throttles to flight idle. 745 00:37:22,379 --> 00:37:23,275 Slats 15. 746 00:37:23,310 --> 00:37:24,965 Narrator: Their attention was consumed 747 00:37:25,000 --> 00:37:27,689 by the demands of the busy descent. 748 00:37:27,724 --> 00:37:29,137 Janjua: Flaps 10. 749 00:37:29,793 --> 00:37:30,862 Akhtar: Flaps 10. 750 00:37:30,896 --> 00:37:34,310 Janjua: Flaps 15. Landing gear down. 751 00:37:34,344 --> 00:37:36,896 Narrator: By now, the captain has already dialed 752 00:37:36,931 --> 00:37:39,724 the flight's descent 1,000 feet too low. 753 00:37:39,758 --> 00:37:41,137 Akhtar: Gear down. Three green. 754 00:37:41,172 --> 00:37:44,517 Janjua: We're at 16. Report our position. 755 00:37:44,551 --> 00:37:47,413 Akhtar: Pakistan 268 is at 1-6 miles. 756 00:37:47,448 --> 00:37:49,551 Narrator: Investigators think the first officer 757 00:37:49,586 --> 00:37:53,482 hastily misreports the altitude on the approach chart... 758 00:37:53,517 --> 00:37:55,482 Akhtar: 11,500. 759 00:37:55,517 --> 00:37:59,172 Narrator:...without double-checking his altimeter. 760 00:37:59,206 --> 00:38:03,275 Then, captain Janjua is too busy to notice the discrepancy 761 00:38:03,310 --> 00:38:07,103 Between the reported and actual altitudes. 762 00:38:07,137 --> 00:38:09,172 Bor: In quite a stressful environment, 763 00:38:09,206 --> 00:38:12,103 such as the arrival at this airport, 764 00:38:12,137 --> 00:38:15,344 the build-up of pressure inside the pilot 765 00:38:15,379 --> 00:38:17,000 must be quite considerable, 766 00:38:17,034 --> 00:38:19,137 and their capacity to assimilate, 767 00:38:19,172 --> 00:38:22,620 take in information, read what's going on around, 768 00:38:22,655 --> 00:38:25,344 is going to be severely taxed. 769 00:38:29,793 --> 00:38:32,103 Investigator: Can we hear his next report, please? 770 00:38:33,862 --> 00:38:36,517 Akhtar: Pakistan 268 is at ten miles. 771 00:38:36,551 --> 00:38:37,896 Controller: Report your level. 772 00:38:37,931 --> 00:38:42,172 Akhtar: We crossed out of 8,500... 200 now. 773 00:38:42,206 --> 00:38:47,000 Investigator: When he makes this report, he's at 8,100 feet. 774 00:38:49,655 --> 00:38:52,206 Akhtar: We crossed out of 8,500... 775 00:38:54,172 --> 00:38:56,551 200 now. 776 00:38:56,586 --> 00:38:58,034 Controller: Roger, clear for final. 777 00:38:58,068 --> 00:39:00,206 Report 4 miles, runway zero-two. 778 00:39:00,241 --> 00:39:03,137 Narrator: Both pilots seem to have made mistakes. 779 00:39:03,172 --> 00:39:05,724 But air traffic control could have caught them 780 00:39:05,758 --> 00:39:08,206 and sounded the alarm. 781 00:39:08,241 --> 00:39:10,793 Bor: Why did the air traffic controllers not speak up? 782 00:39:10,827 --> 00:39:13,344 Why did they not say anything? 783 00:39:17,034 --> 00:39:19,655 Narrator: Investigators head to Kathmandu airport 784 00:39:19,689 --> 00:39:22,034 to find out why air traffic controllers 785 00:39:22,068 --> 00:39:25,620 didn't warn Flight 268 it was flying too low 786 00:39:25,655 --> 00:39:28,103 before it crashed. 787 00:39:28,137 --> 00:39:30,551 Controller: I did not know his exact position, 788 00:39:30,586 --> 00:39:34,068 so I had no way of knowing what the terrain below him was. 789 00:39:34,103 --> 00:39:35,448 Mcnair: In this case without radar, 790 00:39:35,482 --> 00:39:37,482 it is really the responsibility of the crew 791 00:39:37,517 --> 00:39:40,344 to make sure of where they are flying and their approach. 792 00:39:40,379 --> 00:39:43,827 Narrator: They also learn that pilots flying into Kathmandu 793 00:39:43,862 --> 00:39:45,965 often reported being at altitudes 794 00:39:46,000 --> 00:39:48,206 lower than the ones specified on the chart. 795 00:39:48,241 --> 00:39:49,551 Controller: When the mountaintops 796 00:39:49,586 --> 00:39:50,896 are covered in clouds, 797 00:39:50,931 --> 00:39:52,931 pilots will sometimes dip under them 798 00:39:52,965 --> 00:39:57,482 and fly over this valley instead. 799 00:39:57,517 --> 00:40:01,862 Akhtar: We crossed out of 8,500... 200 now. 800 00:40:01,896 --> 00:40:04,034 Narrator: If the pilots of Flight 268 801 00:40:04,068 --> 00:40:06,068 Had detoured around the mountain, 802 00:40:06,103 --> 00:40:09,689 8,200 feet would be a safe altitude. 803 00:40:09,724 --> 00:40:13,137 Bor: Radar coverage in this area was not well developed, 804 00:40:13,172 --> 00:40:16,620 and therefore it was very much a procedural approach 805 00:40:16,655 --> 00:40:19,034 and not one that relied on inputs 806 00:40:19,068 --> 00:40:21,931 from air traffic controllers themselves. 807 00:40:21,965 --> 00:40:23,896 They were recipients of information 808 00:40:23,931 --> 00:40:27,448 and not really guiding the aircraft in. 809 00:40:27,482 --> 00:40:29,034 Investigator: It all starts with the initial misreading 810 00:40:29,068 --> 00:40:31,724 of the chart and spirals forward from there. 811 00:40:31,758 --> 00:40:34,275 Narrator: Investigators believe they've finally developed 812 00:40:34,310 --> 00:40:38,655 an explanation for how the tragic accident unfolded. 813 00:40:42,344 --> 00:40:43,758 Akhtar: Sierra approach, commander. 814 00:40:43,793 --> 00:40:47,724 Narrator: The first mistake is made before the 16-mile marker, 815 00:40:47,758 --> 00:40:50,827 where the captain likely misreads the approach chart... 816 00:40:50,862 --> 00:40:53,206 Janjua: Here it is. Watch my levels. 817 00:40:53,241 --> 00:40:56,724 Narrator: And enters the altitude for the 13-mile marker, 818 00:40:56,758 --> 00:40:57,965 one step ahead. 819 00:40:58,000 --> 00:41:01,103 Janjua: Descending to 10,500. 820 00:41:01,137 --> 00:41:05,000 Landing gear down. 821 00:41:05,034 --> 00:41:06,827 Akhtar: Gear down. Three green. 822 00:41:06,862 --> 00:41:08,620 Janjua: We're at 16. Report our position. 823 00:41:08,655 --> 00:41:11,965 Narrator: Then, likely distracted by the busy approach, 824 00:41:12,000 --> 00:41:15,034 the first officer misreports their altitude. 825 00:41:15,068 --> 00:41:18,068 Akhtar: Pakistan 268 is at 1-6 miles. 826 00:41:18,103 --> 00:41:20,827 Narrator: He reports where they should have been... 827 00:41:20,862 --> 00:41:22,310 Akhtar: 11,500. 828 00:41:22,344 --> 00:41:25,103 Narrator:...not where they actually are. 829 00:41:25,137 --> 00:41:27,448 Investigators believe that if the captain 830 00:41:27,482 --> 00:41:30,275 had caught and checked that discrepancy, 831 00:41:30,310 --> 00:41:33,517 the flight's outcome might have been completely different. 832 00:41:33,551 --> 00:41:37,137 Robinson: At that point there was scope to correct 833 00:41:37,172 --> 00:41:39,793 and get back on track, 834 00:41:39,827 --> 00:41:42,068 but the profile suggests 835 00:41:42,103 --> 00:41:44,931 that, uh, they thought they were on the correct altitude, 836 00:41:44,965 --> 00:41:48,172 and everything stemmed from there. 837 00:41:48,206 --> 00:41:52,310 So they carried on being that one step ahead. 838 00:41:52,344 --> 00:41:55,448 Narrator: Flight 268 remains 1,000 feet 839 00:41:55,482 --> 00:41:58,034 below the recommended safe altitude 840 00:41:58,068 --> 00:42:02,344 for what's left of its fatal descent. 841 00:42:02,379 --> 00:42:06,379 Akhtar: We crossed out of 8,500... 842 00:42:06,413 --> 00:42:08,862 200 now. 843 00:42:08,896 --> 00:42:12,724 The next altitude is 6,800 at 8 miles. 844 00:42:12,758 --> 00:42:15,655 Now crossing through 7,500. 845 00:42:15,689 --> 00:42:19,448 7,400. 846 00:42:19,482 --> 00:42:21,275 Janjua: What's happened? Akhtar: No, no, no, no! 847 00:42:25,103 --> 00:42:26,241 Investigator: Three minutes after they first 848 00:42:26,275 --> 00:42:30,275 misread the chart, they impact the ground. 849 00:42:30,310 --> 00:42:31,551 Bor: What is quite striking 850 00:42:31,586 --> 00:42:33,862 is that it is a very difficult approach, 851 00:42:33,896 --> 00:42:35,620 and in spite of that, the pilots 852 00:42:35,655 --> 00:42:40,000 are actually operating effectively, but not safely. 853 00:42:40,034 --> 00:42:43,172 This is at the heart of crew resource management, 854 00:42:43,206 --> 00:42:47,793 and that has failed in this accident. 855 00:42:47,827 --> 00:42:49,068 Narrator: In the end, 856 00:42:49,103 --> 00:42:52,275 if the plane had been just a few hundred feet higher, 857 00:42:52,310 --> 00:42:54,034 it would have missed the mountain, 858 00:42:54,068 --> 00:42:58,482 and 167 lives would have been spared. 859 00:42:58,517 --> 00:43:01,724 In the aftermath of the flight 268 tragedy, 860 00:43:01,758 --> 00:43:04,275 investigators make a number of recommendations 861 00:43:04,310 --> 00:43:09,931 To prevent another accident due to a misread approach chart. 862 00:43:09,965 --> 00:43:14,137 Chief among them is simplifying the Sierra approach itself, 863 00:43:14,172 --> 00:43:17,344 to make it less complex and challenging. 864 00:43:17,379 --> 00:43:22,034 They also recommend installing air traffic radar at Kathmandu 865 00:43:22,068 --> 00:43:24,965 and suggest Pakistan International Airlines 866 00:43:25,000 --> 00:43:27,689 install clips on the control columns 867 00:43:27,724 --> 00:43:30,758 of all its A300 airplanes. 868 00:43:30,793 --> 00:43:33,551 Robinson: Minor things like the provision of chart clips, 869 00:43:33,586 --> 00:43:35,034 installation of radar... 870 00:43:35,068 --> 00:43:37,344 It's a gradually improving picture, 871 00:43:37,379 --> 00:43:41,413 and things hopefully still will continue to improve. 872 00:43:41,448 --> 00:43:44,586 Narrator: A memorial to the victims of Flight 268 873 00:43:44,620 --> 00:43:47,862 stands at the foot of the mountain where it crashed. 874 00:43:47,896 --> 00:43:51,172 Creasy: They're still remembered by people of my generation. 875 00:43:51,206 --> 00:43:53,862 They're still remembered as people who did a lot 876 00:43:53,896 --> 00:43:55,206 and would have done a lot more 877 00:43:55,241 --> 00:43:57,517 in the world of mountain training.