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Good morning, ladies
and gentlemen, this
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00:00:07,440 --> 00:00:08,475
is your captain.
3
00:00:08,475 --> 00:00:10,076
I hope you had a good--
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00:00:10,076 --> 00:00:12,278
NARRATOR: Captain Stefan
Rasmussen has been in love
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00:00:12,278 --> 00:00:14,180
with flying all of his life.
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00:00:14,180 --> 00:00:17,117
STEFAN RASMUSSEN: I got
my first idea of flying
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00:00:17,117 --> 00:00:19,686
when I was a young boy.
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00:00:19,686 --> 00:00:21,654
NARRATOR: After learning
to fly in the air force,
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00:00:21,654 --> 00:00:24,824
Rasmussen joined
Scandinavian Airlines.
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00:00:24,824 --> 00:00:29,863
He seemed to, like, be the
one who really enjoyed his job.
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00:00:29,863 --> 00:00:33,500
NARRATOR: On December
27, 1991, he's in command
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00:00:33,500 --> 00:00:34,768
of a state of the art DC-9.
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00:00:39,372 --> 00:00:42,876
The flight will take him to
the very edge of his abilities,
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00:00:42,876 --> 00:00:47,213
as his engines fail and his
plane falls out of the sky.
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00:00:47,213 --> 00:00:48,815
I was in a nightmare.
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00:00:48,815 --> 00:00:51,885
Stockholm Scandinavian 751,
we are crashing into the ground
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00:00:51,885 --> 00:00:54,721
now.
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00:00:54,721 --> 00:00:56,823
NARRATOR: What caused the
most baffling accident
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in Sweden's history is
nothing investigators
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could have imagined.
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What they finally
uncovered will strain
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00:01:03,363 --> 00:01:06,433
Rasmussen's lifelong
relationship with airplanes
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00:01:06,433 --> 00:01:08,134
to the breaking point.
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I really felt that I
didn't trust the aircraft.
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PILOT 1: Ladies and gentlemen,
we are starting our approach.
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PILOT 2: We lost both engines.
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FLIGHT ATTENDANT 1: Put
the mask over your nose.
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FLIGHT ATTENDANT 2:
Emergency [inaudible]..
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PILOT 3: Mayday, mayday.
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PILOT 4: Brace for impact!
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[inaudible]
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MAN: He's gonna crash!
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[music playing]
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NARRATOR: It's two
days after Christmas.
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Stockholm Arlanda Airport is a
mess of snow, slush, and ice.
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Passengers boarding a
mid-morning Scandinavian
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Airlines flight to
Copenhagen are finding
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the cabin very uncomfortable.
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INGRID ASTROM: It was
really warm inside the plane
40
00:02:00,753 --> 00:02:02,522
when we entered
because there had been,
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00:02:02,522 --> 00:02:05,892
like, heaters on during night.
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00:02:05,892 --> 00:02:08,394
And I saw when the
passengers embarked,
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they also wanted to take
off, like, jackets and shoes,
44
00:02:10,897 --> 00:02:13,766
and-- because it
was like a sauna.
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00:02:13,766 --> 00:02:15,668
Is it possible to
turn the heat down now?
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Just one moment.
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NARRATOR: 34-year-old
Ulf Cedermark
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has been with the
airline for four years.
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00:02:30,216 --> 00:02:34,821
He's the first officer
on today's flight.
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00:02:34,821 --> 00:02:37,490
It was a light snowfall--
temperature was just below
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freezing-- and light winds.
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00:02:39,325 --> 00:02:42,428
We were going to fly Stockholm
to Copenhagen, and then
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00:02:42,428 --> 00:02:46,866
to Warsaw back to Copenhagen,
and down to Barcelona that day.
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00:02:46,866 --> 00:02:49,736
It would be quite
a long working day.
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00:02:49,736 --> 00:02:51,738
NARRATOR: Stefan Rasmussen
has just finished
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00:02:51,738 --> 00:02:53,940
an exterior check of the plane.
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00:02:53,940 --> 00:02:55,942
The Danish pilot is in
command this morning.
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STEFAN RASMUSSEN: In those over
12,000, almost 13,000 hours,
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00:03:03,616 --> 00:03:06,286
I've been sitting
in an aircraft,
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00:03:06,286 --> 00:03:10,423
I always felt that I put
the aircraft on back of my--
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like a rucksack.
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And when we took lift on the
wings, we melted together.
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NARRATOR: The plane Rasmussen
is strapping on today
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is a nearly new DC-9, easily
identifiable by its two
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rear engines.
66
00:03:27,774 --> 00:03:31,911
By now, everyone should
know that door stays open.
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Right.
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NARRATOR: Even in the days
before terrorist threats,
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flying with the cockpit
door open is unusual.
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I found out that if
we had the door open,
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00:03:42,021 --> 00:03:44,457
and they could see that there
were human being in there,
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00:03:44,457 --> 00:03:46,392
they trust you.
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00:03:46,392 --> 00:03:48,962
NARRATOR: The winter weather
has delayed this flight,
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00:03:48,962 --> 00:03:52,732
but Rasmussen won't compromise
safety for schedule.
75
00:03:52,732 --> 00:03:54,334
Where are we now
with the de-icing?
76
00:03:54,334 --> 00:03:55,735
TECHNICIAN (ON RADIO): The
wings aren't quite done.
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They've done the underside.
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Now they're doing the top.
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Thank you.
80
00:04:01,341 --> 00:04:03,476
NARRATOR: Under Captain
Rasmussen's instructions,
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the ground crew had already
de-iced the plane once.
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00:04:06,746 --> 00:04:08,881
Now they're giving
it another pass.
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00:04:08,881 --> 00:04:10,149
ULF CEDERMARK: And
it took a while.
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00:04:10,149 --> 00:04:13,486
But they had trouble getting rid
of the snow on top of the wing.
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And so we were slightly
late for their push
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back out to our runway.
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00:04:18,424 --> 00:04:20,827
NARRATOR: For Captain Per
Holmberg, this kind of delay
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is routine business.
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He flies DC-9's for the airline.
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00:04:26,065 --> 00:04:28,768
A passenger this morning,
he's scheduled to command
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00:04:28,768 --> 00:04:29,969
another flight later that day.
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Finally, Scandinavian
Airlines Flight 751
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is cleared to proceed.
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There are buildups of snow that
the crew must avoid on the way
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to the runway.
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[scoffs] Would have been
nice of them to clear the snow.
97
00:04:51,024 --> 00:04:52,659
Oh, that would have
made it too easy.
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00:04:55,862 --> 00:05:00,099
Approaching holding
point runway 08.
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AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL:
Roger, Scandinavian 751.
100
00:05:02,068 --> 00:05:04,671
You are cleared for
takeoff from runway 08.
101
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Spoilers.
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00:05:10,877 --> 00:05:12,478
ACTOR AS STEFAN
RASMUSSEN: Armed.
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00:05:12,478 --> 00:05:15,381
Autobrake, take-off unarmed.
104
00:05:15,381 --> 00:05:18,484
Runway update performed.
105
00:05:18,484 --> 00:05:20,453
Checklist completed.
106
00:05:20,453 --> 00:05:21,854
ACTOR AS STEFAN
RASMUSSEN: Set power.
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NARRATOR: Despite the
winter conditions,
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the take-off is routine.
109
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V1, rotate.
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Gear up.
111
00:05:47,613 --> 00:05:50,450
Gear up selected.
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00:05:50,450 --> 00:05:53,686
[rattle]
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00:05:53,686 --> 00:05:56,022
STEFAN RASMUSSEN: When Ulf,
he reached out for the gear,
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I heard some things
which was different.
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00:05:59,025 --> 00:06:01,527
NARRATOR: Just 25
seconds into the flight,
116
00:06:01,527 --> 00:06:04,530
as the plane is climbing,
there is a problem.
117
00:06:04,530 --> 00:06:06,666
When you hear things that
are different from the normal,
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00:06:06,666 --> 00:06:09,168
you get suspicious.
119
00:06:09,168 --> 00:06:12,839
There was a really big
roar in the aircraft,
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00:06:12,839 --> 00:06:15,174
like almost like an explosion--
121
00:06:15,174 --> 00:06:15,708
boom.
122
00:06:15,708 --> 00:06:20,480
[explosions popping]
123
00:06:20,480 --> 00:06:24,016
INGRID ASTROM: There was
another banging noise.
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00:06:24,016 --> 00:06:25,618
But I just thought,
what is that?
125
00:06:25,618 --> 00:06:27,186
I had never heard that before.
126
00:06:27,186 --> 00:06:29,522
NARRATOR: It's obvious
the source of the noise
127
00:06:29,522 --> 00:06:30,456
it's the right engine.
128
00:06:30,456 --> 00:06:32,125
It sounds serious.
129
00:06:32,125 --> 00:06:36,028
I believe it's a
compressor stall.
130
00:06:36,028 --> 00:06:38,798
STEFAN RASMUSSEN: I
took the right throttle
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00:06:38,798 --> 00:06:40,867
and moved a little back.
132
00:06:40,867 --> 00:06:43,136
But there, it really
became strange
133
00:06:43,136 --> 00:06:47,039
because the engine
performance increased
134
00:06:47,039 --> 00:06:49,242
when I reduced the throttle.
135
00:06:49,242 --> 00:06:51,244
It's like if you're
sitting in your car,
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00:06:51,244 --> 00:06:53,913
and you were turning
your wheel to the left
137
00:06:53,913 --> 00:06:56,516
and the car is
driving to the right.
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00:06:56,516 --> 00:06:57,183
You get confused.
139
00:07:02,922 --> 00:07:03,823
INGRID ASTROM:
We're not supposed
140
00:07:03,823 --> 00:07:05,525
to call into cockpit now.
141
00:07:05,525 --> 00:07:06,893
And then I thought,
this is an emergency.
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00:07:06,893 --> 00:07:10,229
I have to call the captain.
143
00:07:10,229 --> 00:07:14,600
NARRATOR: But Captain Rasmussen
doesn't respond to the call.
144
00:07:14,600 --> 00:07:16,602
He's too busy trying
to figure out what's
145
00:07:16,602 --> 00:07:18,571
going wrong with his plane.
146
00:07:18,571 --> 00:07:20,573
I couldn't see anything
on the instrument.
147
00:07:20,573 --> 00:07:22,108
They were quite stable.
148
00:07:22,108 --> 00:07:25,244
And they're quite normal
range and no problem.
149
00:07:25,244 --> 00:07:30,049
But I could hear those
roaring every second.
150
00:07:30,049 --> 00:07:32,618
NARRATOR: He searches for
telltale signs of attack
151
00:07:32,618 --> 00:07:34,187
or structural failure.
152
00:07:34,187 --> 00:07:36,622
STEFAN RASMUSSEN: And I looked
up at the cabin pressure,
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00:07:36,622 --> 00:07:41,861
because if you have a
bomb or a freight door,
154
00:07:41,861 --> 00:07:49,702
anything which is ripped off,
that'll give a decompression.
155
00:07:49,702 --> 00:07:54,040
NARRATOR: In the cabin,
pressure levels are stable.
156
00:07:54,040 --> 00:07:55,274
Have your seat belts fastened.
157
00:07:55,274 --> 00:07:56,242
It's fine.
158
00:07:56,242 --> 00:08:00,213
NARRATOR: But the crew
has other concerns.
159
00:08:00,213 --> 00:08:01,647
INGRID ASTROM: I saw the smoke.
160
00:08:01,647 --> 00:08:02,081
And it smelt burnt.
161
00:08:05,952 --> 00:08:07,987
What should we do about this?
162
00:08:07,987 --> 00:08:10,623
NARRATOR: Just 3,200
feet above the ground,
163
00:08:10,623 --> 00:08:11,891
the emergency escalates.
164
00:08:11,891 --> 00:08:13,926
The right engine quits.
165
00:08:13,926 --> 00:08:15,228
[engine winds down]
166
00:08:15,228 --> 00:08:18,264
When we have flown a
little over 1 minute,
167
00:08:18,264 --> 00:08:20,900
the right engine just went down.
168
00:08:23,703 --> 00:08:25,638
[beeping]
169
00:08:25,638 --> 00:08:27,773
I had a very, very
short moment of thinking
170
00:08:27,773 --> 00:08:32,945
that I was in a nightmare
and just dreaming.
171
00:08:32,945 --> 00:08:34,080
I was confused.
172
00:08:34,080 --> 00:08:35,948
I was really confused.
173
00:08:35,948 --> 00:08:40,119
NARRATOR: 2 seconds later,
the left engine also quits.
174
00:08:40,119 --> 00:08:42,088
The plane is now powerless.
175
00:08:42,088 --> 00:08:43,689
STEFAN RASMUSSEN: One
engine dropped, and then
176
00:08:43,689 --> 00:08:44,957
another engine dropped.
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00:08:44,957 --> 00:08:46,759
I thought that it wasn't true.
178
00:08:46,759 --> 00:08:47,593
It wasn't true.
179
00:08:47,593 --> 00:08:49,362
It wasn't real.
180
00:08:49,362 --> 00:08:52,031
NARRATOR: Less than a minute
and a half after takeoff,
181
00:08:52,031 --> 00:08:54,267
the DC-9 begins
falling from the sky.
182
00:08:58,638 --> 00:09:00,306
INGRID ASTROM: And after
that, it was complete silence.
183
00:09:06,212 --> 00:09:10,349
And I think that was
the worst moment for me,
184
00:09:10,349 --> 00:09:14,387
just being in there
and it's so quiet.
185
00:09:14,387 --> 00:09:17,023
It was like a bird just
sailing through the sky.
186
00:09:19,725 --> 00:09:21,961
So then I started to get scared.
187
00:09:28,801 --> 00:09:30,703
Engine relay.
188
00:09:30,703 --> 00:09:34,874
NARRATOR: As the pilots try
to restart their engines,
189
00:09:34,874 --> 00:09:37,310
things get even worse.
190
00:09:37,310 --> 00:09:40,079
The left engine
erupts in flames.
191
00:09:40,079 --> 00:09:42,214
ULF CEDERMARK: And I
saw the exhaust gas
192
00:09:42,214 --> 00:09:45,351
temperature was rising rapidly.
193
00:09:45,351 --> 00:09:48,154
The max temperature was
around 680 degrees Celsius,
194
00:09:48,154 --> 00:09:52,358
and I saw it go above 800.
195
00:09:52,358 --> 00:09:54,093
NARRATOR: A fire in
the engine could spread
196
00:09:54,093 --> 00:09:56,395
to the rest of the plane.
197
00:09:56,395 --> 00:09:57,263
Should I pull?
198
00:09:57,263 --> 00:09:59,065
NARRATOR: If Cedermark
pulls the fire
199
00:09:59,065 --> 00:10:01,100
extinguisher in the
left engine, he will
200
00:10:01,100 --> 00:10:02,635
never be able to restart it.
201
00:10:06,038 --> 00:10:07,406
[beeping]
202
00:10:07,406 --> 00:10:09,909
He pulls the handle
to put out the fire.
203
00:10:15,181 --> 00:10:18,050
From his seat, Captain
Per Holmberg can see
204
00:10:18,050 --> 00:10:19,352
that the crew is in trouble.
205
00:10:26,959 --> 00:10:34,767
Flight 751 is now falling at a
rate of 1,200 feet per minute.
206
00:10:34,767 --> 00:10:37,269
But air traffic controllers
at Stockholm Airport
207
00:10:37,269 --> 00:10:41,307
have no idea the
plane is in trouble.
208
00:10:41,307 --> 00:10:46,212
Arlanda, Stockholm
Scandinavian 751.
209
00:10:46,212 --> 00:10:48,147
AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL:
throttle morning, SK 751.
210
00:10:48,147 --> 00:10:49,882
Climb to flight level 180.
211
00:10:49,882 --> 00:10:51,784
ACTOR AS ULF CEDERMARK: We
have problems with our engines,
212
00:10:51,784 --> 00:10:52,952
please.
213
00:10:52,952 --> 00:10:54,754
We need to go back to--
214
00:10:54,754 --> 00:10:58,157
to go back to Arlanda.
215
00:10:58,157 --> 00:10:59,058
AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL: 751, Roger.
216
00:10:59,058 --> 00:11:00,292
Turn right heading to--
217
00:11:00,292 --> 00:11:01,027
[static]
218
00:11:01,027 --> 00:11:02,828
[powers down]
219
00:11:02,828 --> 00:11:06,132
NARRATOR: Suddenly,
the radio goes dead,
220
00:11:06,132 --> 00:11:07,433
a result of the failed engines.
221
00:11:11,303 --> 00:11:13,439
Only the right engine
can provide power,
222
00:11:13,439 --> 00:11:16,842
but it's now spinning too
slowly to generate electricity
223
00:11:16,842 --> 00:11:19,245
for the instruments.
224
00:11:19,245 --> 00:11:20,780
ULF CEDERMARK:
Without the engine,
225
00:11:20,780 --> 00:11:22,848
you don't have any
propulsion, so you will--
226
00:11:22,848 --> 00:11:25,484
the only energy you
have is your height.
227
00:11:25,484 --> 00:11:28,921
NARRATOR: With time running
out, the pilots of Flight 751
228
00:11:28,921 --> 00:11:33,959
must find a way to restart
the right engine or else crash
229
00:11:33,959 --> 00:11:35,261
into the countryside below.
230
00:11:42,978 --> 00:11:45,880
at 20 feet per second.
231
00:11:45,880 --> 00:11:47,482
How can I help?
232
00:11:47,482 --> 00:11:49,017
NARRATOR: Captain
Per Holmberg, who
233
00:11:49,017 --> 00:11:50,352
boarded the flight
as a passenger,
234
00:11:50,352 --> 00:11:52,887
becomes part of the flight crew.
235
00:11:52,887 --> 00:11:55,457
He came out in the cockpit,
and he said, is there
236
00:11:55,457 --> 00:11:57,359
anything I can help you with?
237
00:11:57,359 --> 00:11:58,460
I don't think I even said yes.
238
00:11:58,460 --> 00:12:01,563
I said, just start the APU.
239
00:12:01,563 --> 00:12:04,399
NARRATOR: If the auxiliary
power unit can be launched,
240
00:12:04,399 --> 00:12:07,102
it will bring back the
radio and instruments.
241
00:12:07,102 --> 00:12:09,571
ULF CEDERMARK: So I just handed
him the emergency checklist
242
00:12:09,571 --> 00:12:13,942
and started to focus on
controlling the flight to see
243
00:12:13,942 --> 00:12:16,444
that we were maintaining the
speed and had the altitude
244
00:12:16,444 --> 00:12:18,046
and that we were wings level.
245
00:12:24,252 --> 00:12:27,255
He managed to start the
auxiliary power unit.
246
00:12:27,255 --> 00:12:31,059
So my flight instruments
were supplied from that.
247
00:12:31,059 --> 00:12:33,928
NARRATOR: But for some reason,
Captain Rasmussen's instruments
248
00:12:33,928 --> 00:12:35,597
don't come back online.
249
00:12:35,597 --> 00:12:38,366
He managed to fly the
plane basically by feel.
250
00:12:41,569 --> 00:12:44,272
NARRATOR: Power is also
restored to the cabin.
251
00:12:44,272 --> 00:12:47,108
But it's small comfort
to passengers, who now
252
00:12:47,108 --> 00:12:49,978
know they're in extreme danger.
253
00:12:49,978 --> 00:12:52,380
Stockholm air traffic
control instructs the pilots
254
00:12:52,380 --> 00:12:54,382
to return to the airport.
255
00:12:54,382 --> 00:12:55,850
AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL:
Scandinavian 751,
256
00:12:55,850 --> 00:12:57,352
are you able to
turn right heading
257
00:12:57,352 --> 00:13:00,221
0-9-0, radar vectoring for 0-1.
258
00:13:03,224 --> 00:13:04,225
NARRATOR: But the
plane is now just
259
00:13:04,225 --> 00:13:07,062
1,600 feet from the ground.
260
00:13:07,062 --> 00:13:10,098
And First Officer Cedermark's
attempts to resuscitate it
261
00:13:10,098 --> 00:13:10,532
aren't working.
262
00:13:12,934 --> 00:13:14,436
Roger.
263
00:13:14,436 --> 00:13:16,104
We are maintaining our
heading, but we are
264
00:13:16,104 --> 00:13:17,906
trying to restart our engines.
265
00:13:17,906 --> 00:13:21,176
NARRATOR: Making a 180-degree
turn back to Stockholm
266
00:13:21,176 --> 00:13:23,578
could be catastrophic.
267
00:13:23,578 --> 00:13:25,914
I really had the
feeling that if I
268
00:13:25,914 --> 00:13:28,149
turned the aircraft at that
time, we would have stalled.
269
00:13:28,149 --> 00:13:30,618
When you're turning back,
you are losing a lot of energy.
270
00:13:30,618 --> 00:13:34,155
So the most safe thing to do is
actually just to gold streets
271
00:13:34,155 --> 00:13:35,657
and keep your wings level.
272
00:13:35,657 --> 00:13:39,394
That means that you will use
less energy of your altitude
273
00:13:39,394 --> 00:13:41,396
so you can maintain your speed.
274
00:13:41,396 --> 00:13:44,499
AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL: You
can maintain 2,000 feet.
275
00:13:44,499 --> 00:13:46,301
We are not able to
maintain 2,000 feet.
276
00:13:46,301 --> 00:13:47,469
We are descending.
277
00:13:47,469 --> 00:13:51,573
We are at 1,600
feet and descending.
278
00:13:51,573 --> 00:13:52,640
NARRATOR: Holmberg
wants Rasmussen
279
00:13:52,640 --> 00:13:56,144
to focus his attention on
finding a landing spot.
280
00:13:56,144 --> 00:13:57,445
Look straight ahead.
281
00:14:06,154 --> 00:14:07,655
Look straight ahead.
282
00:14:07,655 --> 00:14:11,292
He was screaming at Stefan
just to look straight ahead
283
00:14:11,292 --> 00:14:13,361
and watch the flight path.
284
00:14:13,361 --> 00:14:15,396
Prepare for
on-ground emergency.
285
00:14:15,396 --> 00:14:18,933
On-ground emergency.
286
00:14:18,933 --> 00:14:20,268
Bend down.
287
00:14:20,268 --> 00:14:22,137
Bend down.
288
00:14:22,137 --> 00:14:23,671
Bend down.
289
00:14:23,671 --> 00:14:25,507
So we shouted "bend down"
I don't know how many times--
290
00:14:25,507 --> 00:14:27,475
bend down, bend down, bend down.
291
00:14:27,475 --> 00:14:28,510
Keep your seat belts fastened.
292
00:14:31,446 --> 00:14:33,481
NARRATOR: While
passengers brace,
293
00:14:33,481 --> 00:14:36,951
Rasmussen considers
where to land his plane.
294
00:14:36,951 --> 00:14:37,585
Look straight ahead.
295
00:14:42,390 --> 00:14:44,192
STEFAN RASMUSSEN: And
I had an idea that
296
00:14:44,192 --> 00:14:49,397
on the northern direction could
bring us out to the Baltic Sea,
297
00:14:49,397 --> 00:14:51,366
which was at that time frozen.
298
00:14:51,366 --> 00:14:53,201
And that's an excellent runway.
299
00:14:57,205 --> 00:15:00,375
NARRATOR: But instead, he finds
himself gliding powerlessly
300
00:15:00,375 --> 00:15:01,442
over a dense forest.
301
00:15:04,045 --> 00:15:06,014
STEFAN RASMUSSEN: I
saw that green area.
302
00:15:06,014 --> 00:15:10,618
And I saw that little light spot
in the middle of the forest.
303
00:15:10,618 --> 00:15:15,056
But that really looked short.
304
00:15:15,056 --> 00:15:15,723
Steer right.
305
00:15:15,723 --> 00:15:16,558
Steer right.
306
00:15:19,727 --> 00:15:22,197
NARRATOR: Just 500
feet above the ground,
307
00:15:22,197 --> 00:15:25,733
Captain Rasmussen lifts the
plane's nose to slow it down,
308
00:15:25,733 --> 00:15:27,702
hoping to soften
the crash landing.
309
00:15:30,505 --> 00:15:32,273
STEFAN RASMUSSEN: Pine
trees, from the top
310
00:15:32,273 --> 00:15:35,176
they look very soft.
311
00:15:35,176 --> 00:15:39,714
I could use the trees
as almost like a pillow.
312
00:15:39,714 --> 00:15:41,416
Should I lower
the landing gear?
313
00:15:41,416 --> 00:15:42,250
STEFAN RASMUSSEN: Yes.
314
00:15:42,250 --> 00:15:43,351
Gear down.
315
00:15:46,187 --> 00:15:48,156
Bend down and hold your knees.
316
00:15:48,156 --> 00:15:51,059
INGRID ASTROM: I prepared
myself for a hard impact.
317
00:15:51,059 --> 00:15:53,695
If it's an emergency
landing, we have no engines,
318
00:15:53,695 --> 00:15:56,598
I just thought, this is
going to be a hard landing.
319
00:15:56,598 --> 00:15:58,600
Stockholm Scandinavian 751.
320
00:15:58,600 --> 00:16:00,602
We are crashing
into the ground now.
321
00:16:04,639 --> 00:16:06,708
ULF CEDERMARK: I
wasn't afraid until we
322
00:16:06,708 --> 00:16:08,776
were flying into the trees.
323
00:16:08,776 --> 00:16:12,146
Then I was scared, and I knew
we were not going to make it.
324
00:16:12,146 --> 00:16:14,048
STEFAN RASMUSSEN: I didn't
thought I should die.
325
00:16:14,048 --> 00:16:15,617
I knew I should die.
326
00:16:15,617 --> 00:16:17,619
I-- I made my prayer to god.
327
00:16:20,555 --> 00:16:22,123
[metallic screech]
328
00:16:22,123 --> 00:16:24,692
[crunch]
329
00:16:24,692 --> 00:16:26,060
[impact]
330
00:16:32,567 --> 00:16:39,107
And then a moment
after, we were--
331
00:16:39,107 --> 00:16:43,344
we were-- we were
in a strange world.
332
00:16:43,344 --> 00:16:46,648
[wind whooshing]
333
00:16:50,218 --> 00:16:52,320
INGRID ASTROM: After we have
come to a complete stop,
334
00:16:52,320 --> 00:16:57,125
I feel the smell
of airplane fuel.
335
00:16:57,125 --> 00:17:00,828
I thought, OK, we're
going to explode.
336
00:17:00,828 --> 00:17:03,698
And I look around, and I see
the snow because there was
337
00:17:03,698 --> 00:17:07,635
a big crack in the
airplane fuselage
338
00:17:07,635 --> 00:17:10,271
just in front of the aft galley.
339
00:17:10,271 --> 00:17:12,607
And you could just walk
down on the ground.
340
00:17:18,212 --> 00:17:19,514
STEFAN RASMUSSEN:
Everything was quiet.
341
00:17:19,514 --> 00:17:23,651
And I woke up.
342
00:17:23,651 --> 00:17:28,189
It might only have been
a split second or so.
343
00:17:28,189 --> 00:17:30,158
ULF CEDERMARK: I was
afraid that my spine
344
00:17:30,158 --> 00:17:31,359
was broken, that I was--
345
00:17:31,359 --> 00:17:32,727
wouldn't be able to walk again.
346
00:17:32,727 --> 00:17:33,628
So I remember I
was sitting there,
347
00:17:33,628 --> 00:17:35,830
and I was moving my
toes and my feet,
348
00:17:35,830 --> 00:17:38,299
just to see if I could
have control over them.
349
00:17:38,299 --> 00:17:41,703
I had a pain in my hand because
I had broken a bone in my hand.
350
00:17:41,703 --> 00:17:43,871
And I was bleeding
heavily from my forehead
351
00:17:43,871 --> 00:17:46,341
so I was trying to get
clear of all the blood that
352
00:17:46,341 --> 00:17:48,276
was coming down in my eyes.
353
00:17:48,276 --> 00:17:50,712
And Stefan told me that we had
to get out of the aircraft.
354
00:17:55,583 --> 00:17:59,354
NARRATOR: After plowing through
over 400 feet of pine forest,
355
00:17:59,354 --> 00:18:02,156
the pilot's fear is now
that the broken aircraft
356
00:18:02,156 --> 00:18:04,892
could catch fire.
357
00:18:04,892 --> 00:18:05,927
[coughing]
358
00:18:05,927 --> 00:18:08,229
Dozens of passengers
escaped through the breaks
359
00:18:08,229 --> 00:18:11,599
in the fuselage walls.
360
00:18:11,599 --> 00:18:13,568
But Captain Per Holmberg
has been knocked
361
00:18:13,568 --> 00:18:14,736
unconscious by the crash.
362
00:18:17,872 --> 00:18:20,274
INGRID ASTROM: It all went so
fast that, like, no one could
363
00:18:20,274 --> 00:18:22,410
take in, like, what happened.
364
00:18:22,410 --> 00:18:26,314
So I tried to stay with a group
of passengers I had there.
365
00:18:26,314 --> 00:18:29,517
But I just knew the feeling also
that we had to wait a long time
366
00:18:29,517 --> 00:18:32,286
for the rescue teams.
367
00:18:32,286 --> 00:18:34,188
Help will be here soon.
368
00:18:34,188 --> 00:18:37,291
NARRATOR: Fortunately,
no fire materializes.
369
00:18:37,291 --> 00:18:39,627
But because they removed
their winter clothing
370
00:18:39,627 --> 00:18:41,796
while boarding the
sweltering plane,
371
00:18:41,796 --> 00:18:44,966
many passengers are
starting to freeze.
372
00:18:44,966 --> 00:18:49,303
Most people were just standing
in their shirts, t-shirts,
373
00:18:49,303 --> 00:18:50,772
very, very little clothes.
374
00:18:50,772 --> 00:18:54,275
Few didn't even have shoes on.
375
00:18:54,275 --> 00:18:57,712
NARRATOR: They are now
at risk of hypothermia.
376
00:18:57,712 --> 00:19:01,949
INGRID ASTROM: So I
focused on being caring.
377
00:19:01,949 --> 00:19:03,451
Maybe I did it for
my own sake also.
378
00:19:03,451 --> 00:19:05,319
I needed a hug also.
379
00:19:05,319 --> 00:19:10,425
It was comforting to,
like, comfort someone else.
380
00:19:10,425 --> 00:19:13,594
[shaky breathing]
381
00:19:15,329 --> 00:19:17,765
NARRATOR: The wreckage of
Scandinavian Airlines Flight
382
00:19:17,765 --> 00:19:21,436
751 lies just over
9 miles northeast
383
00:19:21,436 --> 00:19:23,938
of Stockholm Arlanda Airport.
384
00:19:23,938 --> 00:19:28,443
The fuselage is broken
into three pieces.
385
00:19:28,443 --> 00:19:31,579
In the chaos of the moment,
nobody knows how many people
386
00:19:31,579 --> 00:19:32,814
have been killed in the crash.
387
00:19:38,319 --> 00:19:40,721
Rescuers arrive within
minutes and attend
388
00:19:40,721 --> 00:19:43,524
the freezing survivors.
389
00:19:43,524 --> 00:19:48,763
They pull Captain Per Holmberg
from the cabin unconscious.
390
00:19:48,763 --> 00:19:52,533
ULF CEDERMARK: He landed
on the wall at impact,
391
00:19:52,533 --> 00:19:57,538
and he skidded down on the
wall to the floor at impact.
392
00:19:57,538 --> 00:20:00,541
So he was quite badly damaged.
393
00:20:00,541 --> 00:20:03,978
He cut his eyelid,
and he also got
394
00:20:03,978 --> 00:20:06,848
his collarbone that
was broken off,
395
00:20:06,848 --> 00:20:10,985
so his shoulder was
in front of him.
396
00:20:10,985 --> 00:20:14,555
NARRATOR: 92 of the passengers
have sustained injuries.
397
00:20:14,555 --> 00:20:15,990
Only eight are
considered serious.
398
00:20:19,660 --> 00:20:22,029
But when the crew
conducts a headcount,
399
00:20:22,029 --> 00:20:25,299
they're stunned to learn
that out of the 129 people
400
00:20:25,299 --> 00:20:28,636
who boarded Flight
751, not a single one
401
00:20:28,636 --> 00:20:31,873
was killed in the crash.
402
00:20:31,873 --> 00:20:33,674
INGRID ASTROM:
Everyone survived.
403
00:20:33,674 --> 00:20:37,044
It was like a shock
just to take in.
404
00:20:37,044 --> 00:20:40,581
So I was the happiest
captain in the world.
405
00:20:40,581 --> 00:20:43,317
We were all alive.
406
00:20:43,317 --> 00:20:44,018
That was a great moment.
407
00:20:50,517 --> 00:20:53,820
as the Swedish Accident
Investigation Board, or SAIB,
408
00:20:53,820 --> 00:20:55,021
takes charge of the case.
409
00:20:58,458 --> 00:21:01,895
Scandinavian Airlines alerts
its own Investigators,
410
00:21:01,895 --> 00:21:03,964
dispatching Tore Hultgren
to head up its team.
411
00:21:07,500 --> 00:21:10,503
TORE HULTGREN: It's most
unusual that the plane
412
00:21:10,503 --> 00:21:15,542
crashes in a wooded area
and everybody survives.
413
00:21:15,542 --> 00:21:18,111
I've never heard of it before.
414
00:21:18,111 --> 00:21:23,016
The police kept everybody
off the site itself.
415
00:21:23,016 --> 00:21:25,885
There was a cordon around the
aircraft about 100 meters.
416
00:21:28,788 --> 00:21:30,757
We had the complete aircraft.
417
00:21:30,757 --> 00:21:32,692
Nothing had burned.
418
00:21:32,692 --> 00:21:35,795
And we had lots of good data.
419
00:21:35,795 --> 00:21:37,764
NARRATOR: Henrik
Elinder from the SAIB
420
00:21:37,764 --> 00:21:40,700
gets to work on the evidence.
421
00:21:40,700 --> 00:21:42,469
HENRIK ELINDER:
And we all started
422
00:21:42,469 --> 00:21:45,972
to plan the documentation of
the accident site, which means
423
00:21:45,972 --> 00:21:50,577
photographing all the final
approach through the woods,
424
00:21:50,577 --> 00:21:54,914
you know, and to take
photos of all the parts that
425
00:21:54,914 --> 00:21:57,984
were spread all over the place.
426
00:21:57,984 --> 00:21:59,386
NARRATOR: The two
black boxes which
427
00:21:59,386 --> 00:22:01,921
record cockpit conversations
and store flight
428
00:22:01,921 --> 00:22:04,024
data are recovered immediately.
429
00:22:09,429 --> 00:22:11,731
Investigators
speak to survivors.
430
00:22:11,731 --> 00:22:13,400
Everyone tells a similar story.
431
00:22:16,002 --> 00:22:19,672
Would you mind telling
me what you saw and heard?
432
00:22:19,672 --> 00:22:22,442
NARRATOR: Loud booming sounds
from the engines moments
433
00:22:22,442 --> 00:22:25,545
after the flight began,
smoke in the cabin,
434
00:22:25,545 --> 00:22:30,083
and finally, the entire loss
of power and an engine on fire.
435
00:22:30,083 --> 00:22:32,052
You have a
twin-engine aircraft,
436
00:22:32,052 --> 00:22:34,954
and you are really
not supposed to lose
437
00:22:34,954 --> 00:22:37,524
both engines at the same time.
438
00:22:37,524 --> 00:22:39,826
NARRATOR: The Pratt &
Whitney turbofan engines
439
00:22:39,826 --> 00:22:41,961
are sent to a Scandinavian
Airlines repair
440
00:22:41,961 --> 00:22:45,131
shop for a closer examination.
441
00:22:45,131 --> 00:22:47,534
Investigators are eager
to speak with Captain
442
00:22:47,534 --> 00:22:50,103
Rasmussen about the incident.
443
00:22:50,103 --> 00:22:52,906
But to their dismay,
Scandinavian Airlines
444
00:22:52,906 --> 00:22:55,542
takes him to the mead first.
445
00:22:55,542 --> 00:22:57,744
The first question, what did
you think when both engines
446
00:22:57,744 --> 00:23:00,547
refused to function?
447
00:23:00,547 --> 00:23:04,717
It'll take me an awful long
time to tell you all that.
448
00:23:04,717 --> 00:23:08,021
HENRIK ELINDER: The normal
case is that the key witnesses,
449
00:23:08,021 --> 00:23:11,224
like the crew and
so on, should be
450
00:23:11,224 --> 00:23:16,663
kept in quarantine until they
meet the investigation board.
451
00:23:16,663 --> 00:23:19,199
NARRATOR: European media
celebrate Captain Stefan
452
00:23:19,199 --> 00:23:24,170
Rasmussen as a hero for landing
the DC-9 without engine power.
453
00:23:24,170 --> 00:23:26,539
But Investigators
consider the possibility
454
00:23:26,539 --> 00:23:29,909
that he or his copilot had
made errors that caused
455
00:23:29,909 --> 00:23:32,145
the crisis in the first place.
456
00:23:32,145 --> 00:23:36,049
The honor and the glory
always rests with the captain,
457
00:23:36,049 --> 00:23:38,785
but so does also the mishaps.
458
00:23:41,521 --> 00:23:44,924
STEFAN RASMUSSEN: I knew
that being a person where--
459
00:23:44,924 --> 00:23:46,893
in the spotlight
of the press would
460
00:23:46,893 --> 00:23:49,596
be a quite different situation.
461
00:23:49,596 --> 00:23:53,032
And I said to myself, the
only thing you can do now
462
00:23:53,032 --> 00:23:59,606
is to give them all
the story and then pray
463
00:23:59,606 --> 00:24:01,207
that they will find the reason.
464
00:24:08,615 --> 00:24:10,617
Lift.
465
00:24:10,617 --> 00:24:13,186
NARRATOR: Lars Lindberg is an
investigative representative
466
00:24:13,186 --> 00:24:16,789
for the Swedish Airlines
Pilot Association.
467
00:24:16,789 --> 00:24:18,558
He examines the
wreckage for signs
468
00:24:18,558 --> 00:24:22,962
of mechanical or
structural failure.
469
00:24:22,962 --> 00:24:26,733
We knew both engines had
failed for some reason.
470
00:24:26,733 --> 00:24:29,936
So we was concerned what was
the background for something
471
00:24:29,936 --> 00:24:32,305
like that to happen.
472
00:24:32,305 --> 00:24:35,942
The first time I saw the
engines in the workshop,
473
00:24:35,942 --> 00:24:37,944
I was surprised.
474
00:24:40,647 --> 00:24:42,582
Is this all they found?
475
00:24:42,582 --> 00:24:47,587
There was a number of parts
that were completely missing.
476
00:24:47,587 --> 00:24:52,292
And this was something we hadn't
seen before to this extent.
477
00:24:52,292 --> 00:24:54,227
NARRATOR: To find
out what happened,
478
00:24:54,227 --> 00:24:57,997
investigators must find
the missing pieces,
479
00:24:57,997 --> 00:25:00,833
which now lie somewhere
in snow-covered fields
480
00:25:00,833 --> 00:25:01,267
and forests.
481
00:25:04,704 --> 00:25:09,008
A close study of Scandinavian
Airlines Flight 751'S engines
482
00:25:09,008 --> 00:25:11,110
reveals exactly which
pieces are missing.
483
00:25:11,110 --> 00:25:12,312
LARS LINDBERG: Parts
of this aircraft
484
00:25:12,312 --> 00:25:14,247
was shedding parts
from both engines.
485
00:25:14,247 --> 00:25:16,349
And then what you do
is you go further in,
486
00:25:16,349 --> 00:25:19,152
and you document everything, and
you try to find the root cause,
487
00:25:19,152 --> 00:25:22,155
and see how it all
comes together.
488
00:25:22,155 --> 00:25:24,123
NARRATOR: The missing
pieces could hold the key
489
00:25:24,123 --> 00:25:26,926
to discovering why both
of the plane's engines
490
00:25:26,926 --> 00:25:29,796
quit within seconds
of each other.
491
00:25:29,796 --> 00:25:33,066
But they could be anywhere
along the 9-mile route the plane
492
00:25:33,066 --> 00:25:34,567
covered during its short flight.
493
00:25:36,970 --> 00:25:38,137
They must be found.
494
00:25:42,275 --> 00:25:44,777
Investigators use the
flight data recorder
495
00:25:44,777 --> 00:25:47,313
to map the plane's journey
and determine where
496
00:25:47,313 --> 00:25:49,148
engine parts may have fallen.
497
00:25:54,687 --> 00:25:59,359
After scouring the snow-covered
fields along the plane's path,
498
00:25:59,359 --> 00:26:05,031
the recovery team finds
500 fragments, just
499
00:26:05,031 --> 00:26:06,132
a fraction of what's missing.
500
00:26:09,035 --> 00:26:11,170
Many are very badly damaged.
501
00:26:11,170 --> 00:26:13,873
Some of the titanium
blades actually
502
00:26:13,873 --> 00:26:15,341
seem to have been on fire.
503
00:26:15,341 --> 00:26:17,343
LARS LINDBERG: You
have this titanium
504
00:26:17,343 --> 00:26:21,247
fire inside both engines, both
the right and the left engine.
505
00:26:21,247 --> 00:26:25,385
And this titanium fire is
a very unique occurrence.
506
00:26:25,385 --> 00:26:27,420
It's requiring very,
very high pressure
507
00:26:27,420 --> 00:26:32,325
and very high temperature for
a titanium blade to catch fire.
508
00:26:32,325 --> 00:26:34,827
NARRATOR: Investigators
dig deeper into the cause
509
00:26:34,827 --> 00:26:37,263
of the engine trouble.
510
00:26:37,263 --> 00:26:39,832
The left engine's fuel
line is badly dented.
511
00:26:39,832 --> 00:26:42,235
It was obviously hit
by a fast-moving piece
512
00:26:42,235 --> 00:26:44,237
of metal inside the engine.
513
00:26:44,237 --> 00:26:46,339
The impact caused it to rupture.
514
00:26:46,339 --> 00:26:48,074
When this part
got dislodged, it
515
00:26:48,074 --> 00:26:50,376
went out and hit the fuel line.
516
00:26:50,376 --> 00:26:53,046
And that fuel line
cracked, sprayed
517
00:26:53,046 --> 00:26:56,382
fuel onto the hot engine.
518
00:26:56,382 --> 00:26:59,919
NARRATOR: The engine was clearly
coming apart during the flight.
519
00:26:59,919 --> 00:27:03,022
It sounds serious.
520
00:27:03,022 --> 00:27:06,125
NARRATOR: The discovery explains
the fire into left engine,
521
00:27:06,125 --> 00:27:08,127
and why so many pieces
of it were found
522
00:27:08,127 --> 00:27:09,329
so far from the crash site.
523
00:27:12,765 --> 00:27:15,268
But Investigators are left
wondering why the engines
524
00:27:15,268 --> 00:27:18,805
broke up in the first place.
525
00:27:18,805 --> 00:27:22,275
A major clue comes from
passenger and crew testimonies,
526
00:27:22,275 --> 00:27:24,444
which told of repeated
booming noises
527
00:27:24,444 --> 00:27:26,412
before the left
engine caught fire.
528
00:27:29,215 --> 00:27:33,119
The cockpit voice recorder
picked up these sounds.
529
00:27:33,119 --> 00:27:34,921
So you can hear that.
530
00:27:34,921 --> 00:27:37,724
Then we could correlate that
with when the damage occurred.
531
00:27:37,724 --> 00:27:39,959
You can see that on the
flight data recorder.
532
00:27:39,959 --> 00:27:42,128
NARRATOR: The sounds are
familiar to investigators
533
00:27:42,128 --> 00:27:43,830
and leave no doubt.
534
00:27:43,830 --> 00:27:48,935
The DC-9's engines began
surging shortly after takeoff.
535
00:27:48,935 --> 00:27:53,005
Jet engines rely on a steady
stream of air for combustion.
536
00:27:53,005 --> 00:27:56,409
A series of fans move incoming
air through various stages
537
00:27:56,409 --> 00:27:57,677
of compression.
538
00:27:57,677 --> 00:28:01,514
But when that flow is disrupted,
fuel at the rear of the engines
539
00:28:01,514 --> 00:28:04,817
ignites violently
and shoots forward.
540
00:28:04,817 --> 00:28:07,053
That's the surge.
541
00:28:07,053 --> 00:28:09,889
You can have a small surge,
and you can have a large surge.
542
00:28:09,889 --> 00:28:12,091
And you can have the complete
surge on the whole engine.
543
00:28:12,091 --> 00:28:14,060
It sounds serious.
544
00:28:14,060 --> 00:28:16,863
[high-pitched whir]
545
00:28:16,863 --> 00:28:19,499
LARS LINDBERG: This surge
process was very violent.
546
00:28:19,499 --> 00:28:22,869
So after a very short
time, we had an aircraft
547
00:28:22,869 --> 00:28:26,973
with two engines that could
not be restarted that didn't
548
00:28:26,973 --> 00:28:28,374
generate any thrust.
549
00:28:28,374 --> 00:28:32,478
Basically, you had a giant
glider at that point.
550
00:28:39,227 --> 00:28:40,962
blades from the
front of the engines
551
00:28:40,962 --> 00:28:43,231
explains why they were surging.
552
00:28:43,231 --> 00:28:44,299
They're badly dented.
553
00:28:48,136 --> 00:28:51,206
The damage would have prevented
them from effectively directing
554
00:28:51,206 --> 00:28:53,875
air to the rear of the engines.
555
00:28:53,875 --> 00:28:57,379
This damage that twisted the
fan blade started this process.
556
00:28:57,379 --> 00:29:00,081
You got this disturbed
air in the fan.
557
00:29:00,081 --> 00:29:03,852
You got this rotating fan
stall that then triggered
558
00:29:03,852 --> 00:29:06,388
this whole breakdown--
the compressor surge,
559
00:29:06,388 --> 00:29:08,256
and then the whole
process that led
560
00:29:08,256 --> 00:29:10,525
up to the dual engine failures.
561
00:29:10,525 --> 00:29:13,128
NARRATOR: But what exactly
mangled the blades?
562
00:29:13,128 --> 00:29:15,930
There are ways to tell.
563
00:29:15,930 --> 00:29:19,267
If it comes from a stone,
rubber, ice, and so on,
564
00:29:19,267 --> 00:29:21,569
you can see it on the
shape of the damage.
565
00:29:21,569 --> 00:29:25,006
The ice causes very
specific damages.
566
00:29:25,006 --> 00:29:27,542
It's sort of like a soft dent.
567
00:29:27,542 --> 00:29:30,011
NARRATOR: Analysis of dent
patterns on the fan blades
568
00:29:30,011 --> 00:29:31,279
is conclusive.
569
00:29:31,279 --> 00:29:32,814
They were struck by ice.
570
00:29:38,620 --> 00:29:41,256
snow Investigators
want to find out where
571
00:29:41,256 --> 00:29:42,991
the ice could have come from.
572
00:29:42,991 --> 00:29:47,629
We have the data for the 24
hours leading up to the crash.
573
00:29:47,629 --> 00:29:50,532
NARRATOR: They know Stockholm
had been hit with rain and snow
574
00:29:50,532 --> 00:29:53,935
in the hours before
Flight 751 took off.
575
00:29:53,935 --> 00:29:58,206
HENRIK ELINDER: It was a
situation with a temperature
576
00:29:58,206 --> 00:29:59,607
around 0 degrees.
577
00:29:59,607 --> 00:30:02,977
It was a drizzle snow
rain in the morning.
578
00:30:02,977 --> 00:30:05,280
NARRATOR: They learned
that the DC-9 arrived
579
00:30:05,280 --> 00:30:07,348
from Zurich the night
before with the fuel
580
00:30:07,348 --> 00:30:09,651
tanks more than half full.
581
00:30:09,651 --> 00:30:12,554
TORE HULTGREN: They had quite
a large amount of reserve fuel,
582
00:30:12,554 --> 00:30:15,090
diversion fuel, in their wings.
583
00:30:15,090 --> 00:30:20,095
The fuel in the wing tanks
were close to minus 20 degrees
584
00:30:20,095 --> 00:30:21,496
Celsius.
585
00:30:21,496 --> 00:30:22,731
NARRATOR: The
conditions that night
586
00:30:22,731 --> 00:30:27,202
were ideal for the formation of
clear ice on the wing surface.
587
00:30:27,202 --> 00:30:32,941
And here you had very, very
cold fuel on the top wing skin.
588
00:30:32,941 --> 00:30:35,310
And as the temperature
dropped during the night,
589
00:30:35,310 --> 00:30:39,447
it went to snow, and
rain, and finally snow.
590
00:30:39,447 --> 00:30:41,549
So there was a layer cake--
591
00:30:41,549 --> 00:30:46,621
ice at the bottom,
slush, and snow on top.
592
00:30:46,621 --> 00:30:51,192
But 10 inches total on top
of the wings in the morning.
593
00:30:51,192 --> 00:30:54,262
NARRATOR: Responsibility for
de-icing the plane ultimately
594
00:30:54,262 --> 00:30:56,030
falls on the captain.
595
00:30:56,030 --> 00:31:00,335
Rasmussen insists he was aware
of the overnight buildup.
596
00:31:00,335 --> 00:31:02,370
Investigators
wonder if the pilot
597
00:31:02,370 --> 00:31:04,339
did all he could
to ensure his plane
598
00:31:04,339 --> 00:31:05,640
was completely free of ice.
599
00:31:08,676 --> 00:31:11,513
Rasmussen claims he
instructed technicians
600
00:31:11,513 --> 00:31:13,581
to de-ice the plane thoroughly.
601
00:31:13,581 --> 00:31:16,017
I did a walk around
with the aircraft.
602
00:31:16,017 --> 00:31:17,152
It was cold.
603
00:31:17,152 --> 00:31:19,187
It was frosty.
604
00:31:19,187 --> 00:31:21,723
NARRATOR: Noticing that there
was still frost on the wings,
605
00:31:21,723 --> 00:31:26,528
the head technician ordered
a second round of de-icing.
606
00:31:26,528 --> 00:31:30,131
I was really convinced
that the aircraft was clean.
607
00:31:30,131 --> 00:31:30,999
And so was he.
608
00:31:30,999 --> 00:31:31,900
So was he.
609
00:31:31,900 --> 00:31:33,468
STEFAN RASMUSSEN (ON
RECORDING): Where
610
00:31:33,468 --> 00:31:35,136
are we now with the de-icing?
611
00:31:35,136 --> 00:31:37,205
TECHNICIAN (ON RECORDING):
The wings aren't quite done.
612
00:31:37,205 --> 00:31:38,373
They've done the underside.
613
00:31:38,373 --> 00:31:39,374
NARRATOR: The cockpit
voice recorder
614
00:31:39,374 --> 00:31:40,975
backs up Rasmussen's testimony.
615
00:31:40,975 --> 00:31:42,410
STEFAN RASMUSSEN (ON
RECORDING): They've got it
616
00:31:42,410 --> 00:31:43,678
good and clean under the wings?
617
00:31:43,678 --> 00:31:44,879
TECHNICIAN (ON
RECORDING): Yes, yes.
618
00:31:44,879 --> 00:31:47,415
TORE HULTGREN: De-iced the
aircraft once, and looked at it
619
00:31:47,415 --> 00:31:49,217
and then said, once more.
620
00:31:49,217 --> 00:31:51,719
And they de-iced a second time.
621
00:31:51,719 --> 00:31:55,256
NARRATOR: In fact,
225 gallons of fluid
622
00:31:55,256 --> 00:31:57,725
were sprayed on the aircraft.
623
00:31:57,725 --> 00:31:59,761
But the fluid may
have been faulty--
624
00:31:59,761 --> 00:32:02,063
not potent enough to
melt the thick layer
625
00:32:02,063 --> 00:32:04,666
of ice that had accumulated
on the wings overnight.
626
00:32:08,670 --> 00:32:10,505
Technicians test
samples of the fluid
627
00:32:10,505 --> 00:32:14,776
used to de-ice Flight 751.
628
00:32:14,776 --> 00:32:17,045
TORE HULTGREN: They
found no discrepancies.
629
00:32:17,045 --> 00:32:21,316
There was nothing wrong
with any of the fluids used.
630
00:32:21,316 --> 00:32:23,751
NARRATOR: But when investigators
interview the maintenance crew
631
00:32:23,751 --> 00:32:26,054
that worked on the
plane, they begin
632
00:32:26,054 --> 00:32:28,356
wondering if the de-icing
team was thorough enough
633
00:32:28,356 --> 00:32:28,990
in their efforts.
634
00:32:32,093 --> 00:32:34,762
The ground crew insists that
after they sprayed the wing,
635
00:32:34,762 --> 00:32:40,568
it appeared to be clean, but
that appearance was deceptive.
636
00:32:40,568 --> 00:32:43,204
It looked perfect
because the clear
637
00:32:43,204 --> 00:32:50,178
ice on top of the fuel tanks,
you cannot see the clear ice.
638
00:32:50,178 --> 00:32:52,313
NARRATOR: A technician
inspected the front of the wing
639
00:32:52,313 --> 00:32:54,182
and found no ice.
640
00:32:54,182 --> 00:32:57,218
He couldn't have known that
there was ice further back out
641
00:32:57,218 --> 00:32:58,653
of his reach.
642
00:32:58,653 --> 00:33:00,788
TORE HULTGREN: No provisions
for stairs or anything
643
00:33:00,788 --> 00:33:03,157
that he could use to
get up on the wing
644
00:33:03,157 --> 00:33:05,760
at the de-icing platform.
645
00:33:05,760 --> 00:33:11,299
It looked shiny and nice,
couldn't see any ice on it.
646
00:33:11,299 --> 00:33:15,637
But still, there was maybe an
inch of ice on top of the wing
647
00:33:15,637 --> 00:33:17,839
when the aircraft took off.
648
00:33:17,839 --> 00:33:19,641
NARRATOR: As soon as
the plane took flight,
649
00:33:19,641 --> 00:33:22,210
the ice became a problem.
650
00:33:22,210 --> 00:33:24,479
TORE HULTGREN: On this
aircraft, the engines are
651
00:33:24,479 --> 00:33:27,815
positioned behind the wings.
652
00:33:27,815 --> 00:33:31,753
And as the aircraft rotated,
and the wings bent in order
653
00:33:31,753 --> 00:33:34,489
to take the weight
of the aircraft,
654
00:33:34,489 --> 00:33:38,192
this ice in the wing
roots loosened, and it
655
00:33:38,192 --> 00:33:40,461
sucked right into the engine.
656
00:33:40,461 --> 00:33:42,163
NARRATOR: The ice
damaged the fan blades
657
00:33:42,163 --> 00:33:44,499
at the front of the
engines and ultimately
658
00:33:44,499 --> 00:33:45,733
caused them to begin surging.
659
00:33:48,870 --> 00:33:51,773
TORE HULTGREN: Nobody really
expected this would happen
660
00:33:51,773 --> 00:33:53,408
or could happen.
661
00:33:53,408 --> 00:33:55,209
But it did.
662
00:33:55,209 --> 00:33:57,845
NARRATOR: When ice breaks
off the wings during flight,
663
00:33:57,845 --> 00:34:00,782
it doesn't pose a problem
for most aircraft.
664
00:34:00,782 --> 00:34:03,551
But the placement of
the DC-9's engines
665
00:34:03,551 --> 00:34:06,854
leaves them more
susceptible to being struck.
666
00:34:06,854 --> 00:34:10,224
The Pratt & Whitney
engines on Flight 751
667
00:34:10,224 --> 00:34:14,829
were designed to withstand
this type of ice ingestion.
668
00:34:14,829 --> 00:34:19,334
Something else must
explain the disaster.
669
00:34:19,334 --> 00:34:22,637
Investigators know that the
wrong reaction by a pilot
670
00:34:22,637 --> 00:34:24,872
can make surges worse.
671
00:34:24,872 --> 00:34:26,808
They combed through
the flight data
672
00:34:26,808 --> 00:34:30,745
to see what these pilots did
when the emergency struck.
673
00:34:30,745 --> 00:34:32,213
The first thing
you do when you have
674
00:34:32,213 --> 00:34:36,584
a surge, if you recognize
is that a surge,
675
00:34:36,584 --> 00:34:38,419
is that you reduce power.
676
00:34:38,419 --> 00:34:42,724
NARRATOR: Captain Rasmussen
claims he did just that.
677
00:34:42,724 --> 00:34:44,792
Of course, you just
pull the throttle back,
678
00:34:44,792 --> 00:34:46,728
and then you help
with the balance
679
00:34:46,728 --> 00:34:48,696
between the incoming
fuel, incoming air.
680
00:34:48,696 --> 00:34:52,834
And that was exactly what I did.
681
00:34:52,834 --> 00:34:54,435
NARRATOR: But the
flight data recorder
682
00:34:54,435 --> 00:34:55,737
tells a different story.
683
00:34:55,737 --> 00:34:58,439
Why is the engine
power increasing?
684
00:34:58,439 --> 00:35:01,943
NARRATOR: It clearly shows that
in the moments after the surge,
685
00:35:01,943 --> 00:35:05,613
thrust was reduced, but
then seconds later, it was
686
00:35:05,613 --> 00:35:08,416
increased to beyond full power.
687
00:35:08,416 --> 00:35:13,788
Yeah, it didn't add up because
the RPM was increasing to 110%.
688
00:35:13,788 --> 00:35:16,457
And the throttle
position was moving.
689
00:35:16,457 --> 00:35:17,959
It shouldn't be.
690
00:35:17,959 --> 00:35:19,761
The only thing that could
move the throttles [inaudible]
691
00:35:19,761 --> 00:35:22,463
was the pilot's hand.
692
00:35:22,463 --> 00:35:24,766
NARRATOR: But if Rasmussen
didn't push the throttles
693
00:35:24,766 --> 00:35:27,969
forward, something else did.
694
00:35:27,969 --> 00:35:30,438
It would explain the
captain's confusion
695
00:35:30,438 --> 00:35:32,940
as his engines began to surge.
696
00:35:32,940 --> 00:35:35,943
As a pilot, when you've
gone through the training,
697
00:35:35,943 --> 00:35:37,612
you've done all your
emergency training,
698
00:35:37,612 --> 00:35:38,980
you've been through
the simulator,
699
00:35:38,980 --> 00:35:41,916
and now you have a system
that is doing something
700
00:35:41,916 --> 00:35:42,917
that you don't expect,
it's very confusing.
701
00:35:49,274 --> 00:35:52,310
investigators can find
no possible explanation
702
00:35:52,310 --> 00:35:53,878
for the increase in thrust.
703
00:35:53,878 --> 00:35:55,613
LARS LINDBERG: The frustrating
part with the investigation
704
00:35:55,613 --> 00:36:00,652
was that we could not figure out
why the system did what it did.
705
00:36:00,652 --> 00:36:04,589
NARRATOR: Then almost two months
after the accident, the plane's
706
00:36:04,589 --> 00:36:07,425
manufacturer
provides the answer.
707
00:36:07,425 --> 00:36:11,463
The culprit is something called
"automatic thrust restoration."
708
00:36:13,798 --> 00:36:15,500
ACTOR AS LARS LINDBERG:
It's brand new.
709
00:36:15,500 --> 00:36:18,970
It automatically increases
the thrust during the climb.
710
00:36:18,970 --> 00:36:21,806
NARRATOR: Swedish authorities
learn that Automatic Thrust
711
00:36:21,806 --> 00:36:24,576
Restoration, or
ATR, was recently
712
00:36:24,576 --> 00:36:28,346
introduced as a safety feature
on Scandinavian Airlines
713
00:36:28,346 --> 00:36:29,948
planes.
714
00:36:29,948 --> 00:36:33,018
It existed because the FAA had
discovered some pilots were
715
00:36:33,018 --> 00:36:35,487
throttling back
considerably while taking
716
00:36:35,487 --> 00:36:39,958
off and landing to reduce noise
over residential neighborhoods.
717
00:36:39,958 --> 00:36:43,495
The ATR was designed to make it
impossible for them to throttle
718
00:36:43,495 --> 00:36:45,797
back to dangerous levels.
719
00:36:45,797 --> 00:36:50,402
So as soon as he powered
back, the system kicked in.
720
00:36:50,402 --> 00:36:53,371
NARRATOR: Investigators learned
that when Rasmussen reduced
721
00:36:53,371 --> 00:36:56,808
power to clear his engine
surge, the system read this
722
00:36:56,808 --> 00:36:58,943
as a dangerously
low power setting
723
00:36:58,943 --> 00:37:00,578
and pushed the
throttles forward.
724
00:37:03,481 --> 00:37:07,385
The increased thrust made the
surging worse until the engines
725
00:37:07,385 --> 00:37:09,521
destroyed themselves.
726
00:37:09,521 --> 00:37:12,891
The investigation concludes
that the pilots had taken
727
00:37:12,891 --> 00:37:14,859
the right steps
to clear the surge
728
00:37:14,859 --> 00:37:17,429
and prevent the catastrophe,
but the computer
729
00:37:17,429 --> 00:37:22,434
code which governs the ATR
undermined their efforts.
730
00:37:22,434 --> 00:37:29,007
A strip of 0's and 1's
caused the throttles to move
731
00:37:29,007 --> 00:37:33,545
and caused the engines
that were stalling,
732
00:37:33,545 --> 00:37:37,749
because they already got too
much fuel, got even more fuel.
733
00:37:37,749 --> 00:37:42,020
And they went into
self-destruct, both engines.
734
00:37:42,020 --> 00:37:45,690
In a few seconds, they're
both totally destroyed.
735
00:37:45,690 --> 00:37:47,492
[creaking]
736
00:37:47,492 --> 00:37:49,427
[metallic screech]
737
00:37:49,427 --> 00:37:51,429
[crunch]
738
00:37:51,429 --> 00:37:54,799
[impact]
739
00:37:58,536 --> 00:38:01,840
NARRATOR: The system was so
new to Scandinavian Airlines
740
00:38:01,840 --> 00:38:04,075
that nobody there
had even heard of it.
741
00:38:04,075 --> 00:38:05,743
LARS LINDBERG: And it was
confusing for everyone
742
00:38:05,743 --> 00:38:08,079
because we didn't
know about the system.
743
00:38:08,079 --> 00:38:11,382
We didn't have
information on the system.
744
00:38:11,382 --> 00:38:14,085
SAS didn't know the system
existed on their aircraft.
745
00:38:14,085 --> 00:38:17,956
We hadn't bought
that modification.
746
00:38:17,956 --> 00:38:24,095
And it was sneaked in
via another system.
747
00:38:24,095 --> 00:38:26,464
NARRATOR: Because he
didn't know about the ATR,
748
00:38:26,464 --> 00:38:28,867
Rasmussen was unaware
that he could only save
749
00:38:28,867 --> 00:38:31,803
his plane by switching it off.
750
00:38:31,803 --> 00:38:34,139
News that the automatic
thrust restoration
751
00:38:34,139 --> 00:38:37,876
was responsible for the accident
proved both a blessing and
752
00:38:37,876 --> 00:38:40,979
a curse for Captain Rasmussen.
753
00:38:40,979 --> 00:38:45,483
It eliminated any notion
that he had made a mistake.
754
00:38:45,483 --> 00:38:46,851
STEFAN RASMUSSEN: When
I got that message,
755
00:38:46,851 --> 00:38:48,052
I was really released.
756
00:38:48,052 --> 00:38:50,555
It was like winning
in the lottery.
757
00:38:50,555 --> 00:38:54,792
It was-- because I was so happy.
758
00:38:54,792 --> 00:39:00,098
Because then I could explain
why I was in that total cone
759
00:39:00,098 --> 00:39:02,133
of confusion.
760
00:39:02,133 --> 00:39:04,569
NARRATOR: But the fallout
would ultimately destroy
761
00:39:04,569 --> 00:39:06,104
a love affair and end a career.
762
00:39:09,841 --> 00:39:13,144
On October 20, 1993,
the Swedish Accident
763
00:39:13,144 --> 00:39:15,947
Investigation Board
releases its report
764
00:39:15,947 --> 00:39:19,717
on the crash of Flight 751.
765
00:39:19,717 --> 00:39:23,087
It determines that the actions
of Captain Rasmussen and First
766
00:39:23,087 --> 00:39:25,657
Officer Cedermark contributed
to the safe outcome
767
00:39:25,657 --> 00:39:26,758
of this incident.
768
00:39:30,628 --> 00:39:33,464
And although investigators
question Captain Per Holmberg's
769
00:39:33,464 --> 00:39:36,634
decision to enter the
cockpit in the first place,
770
00:39:36,634 --> 00:39:40,572
they do praise his contribution.
771
00:39:40,572 --> 00:39:43,841
This crew flew until they
stood still on the ground.
772
00:39:43,841 --> 00:39:45,810
They never gave up.
773
00:39:45,810 --> 00:39:47,879
They never gave up.
774
00:39:47,879 --> 00:39:49,514
They didn't give an inch.
775
00:39:49,514 --> 00:39:51,182
NARRATOR: The investigators
put much of the blame
776
00:39:51,182 --> 00:39:54,052
for the accident on
Scandinavian Airlines
777
00:39:54,052 --> 00:39:56,654
because their procedures
for checking for clear ice
778
00:39:56,654 --> 00:39:57,455
were inadequate.
779
00:40:10,802 --> 00:40:14,205
I believe it's a
compressor stall.
780
00:40:14,205 --> 00:40:16,507
NARRATOR: The report
also condemns the fact
781
00:40:16,507 --> 00:40:19,077
that the pilots didn't know
about the automatic thrust
782
00:40:19,077 --> 00:40:23,615
restoration and how it would
act in a surge situation.
783
00:40:23,615 --> 00:40:25,550
LARS LINDBERG: If the ATR
system hadn't been there,
784
00:40:25,550 --> 00:40:28,987
if the throttles
hadn't moved forward,
785
00:40:28,987 --> 00:40:30,555
there wouldn't have
been an accident.
786
00:40:30,555 --> 00:40:33,024
It was a bit strange
that we didn't have
787
00:40:33,024 --> 00:40:35,760
all the documentation
available to us
788
00:40:35,760 --> 00:40:38,896
so we knew what we could
expect if something like this
789
00:40:38,896 --> 00:40:41,165
would happen.
790
00:40:41,165 --> 00:40:42,267
NARRATOR: In the
wake of the crash,
791
00:40:42,267 --> 00:40:45,870
Scandinavian Airlines
started training its pilots
792
00:40:45,870 --> 00:40:48,940
how to use the ATR system.
793
00:40:48,940 --> 00:40:52,877
They also implemented steps to
ensure airplanes don't take off
794
00:40:52,877 --> 00:40:54,612
with clear ice on the wings.
795
00:40:54,612 --> 00:40:56,581
TORE HULTGREN: We changed
all the procedures.
796
00:40:56,581 --> 00:40:59,751
We provided stairs
for the mechanic.
797
00:40:59,751 --> 00:41:02,854
And we made it a requirement
to go up on top of the wing
798
00:41:02,854 --> 00:41:08,259
and touch it with your hand
to verify after de-icing.
799
00:41:08,259 --> 00:41:10,628
NARRATOR: After healing
from his injuries,
800
00:41:10,628 --> 00:41:13,197
First Officer Ulf Cedermark
returned to the cockpit.
801
00:41:17,702 --> 00:41:22,640
ULF CEDERMARK: I didn't feel the
responsibility that I wouldn't
802
00:41:22,640 --> 00:41:24,309
be able to do my job again.
803
00:41:24,309 --> 00:41:26,911
Whatever happens, I
know that I still can
804
00:41:26,911 --> 00:41:28,980
see things for what they are.
805
00:41:28,980 --> 00:41:30,682
And I still love doing my job.
806
00:41:30,682 --> 00:41:33,985
And if something bad
happens, I can deal with it.
807
00:41:33,985 --> 00:41:35,820
NARRATOR: But Stefan
Rasmussen's return
808
00:41:35,820 --> 00:41:38,856
proved far more difficult.
809
00:41:38,856 --> 00:41:40,925
Set power.
810
00:41:40,925 --> 00:41:42,093
STEFAN RASMUSSEN:
After I'd heard
811
00:41:42,093 --> 00:41:44,562
from a high-skilled
psychologist,
812
00:41:44,562 --> 00:41:48,266
we talked about getting
in the air again.
813
00:41:48,266 --> 00:41:53,571
He knew that that would be
a hard decision to take.
814
00:41:53,571 --> 00:41:55,673
Gear up.
815
00:41:55,673 --> 00:41:59,043
[beeping]
816
00:42:01,813 --> 00:42:02,246
Fire drill.
817
00:42:09,987 --> 00:42:11,255
[breathes heavily]
818
00:42:11,255 --> 00:42:12,857
NARRATOR: After time
in the simulator,
819
00:42:12,857 --> 00:42:15,760
Rasmussen couldn't regain
confidence in his plane.
820
00:42:15,760 --> 00:42:17,628
Sorry, guys.
821
00:42:17,628 --> 00:42:23,201
STEFAN RASMUSSEN: In a disaster
situation, in a crisis,
822
00:42:23,201 --> 00:42:29,140
is that you have
optimized the teamwork
823
00:42:29,140 --> 00:42:32,310
between man and machine.
824
00:42:32,310 --> 00:42:38,983
I really felt that I
didn't trust the aircraft.
825
00:42:38,983 --> 00:42:42,120
TORE HULTGREN: The pilot tends
to take the responsibility
826
00:42:42,120 --> 00:42:45,390
for all that went wrong.
827
00:42:45,390 --> 00:42:52,163
Too much of the glory and also
too much of the responsibility.
828
00:42:52,163 --> 00:42:54,365
NARRATOR: With the right
counseling, about 90%
829
00:42:54,365 --> 00:42:56,267
of pilots involved
in an accident
830
00:42:56,267 --> 00:42:58,035
are able to continue flying.
831
00:43:03,741 --> 00:43:06,677
Even though Captain
Rasmussen received treatment,
832
00:43:06,677 --> 00:43:10,281
his career ended with
the crash of Flight 751.
833
00:43:10,281 --> 00:43:13,751
Taking that decision
to leave aviation
834
00:43:13,751 --> 00:43:19,090
as pilot was like having your--
835
00:43:19,090 --> 00:43:25,830
your highest love and
come to the conclusion
836
00:43:25,830 --> 00:43:28,900
that you have to kill her.
837
00:43:31,869 --> 00:43:37,241
I had many hours, many missions
of happiness in an aircraft.
838
00:43:41,712 --> 00:43:46,083
And I loved my passengers,
I loved my aircraft so much.
839
00:43:46,083 --> 00:43:49,353
So I said, that's it.
840
00:43:49,353 --> 00:43:53,691
[music playing]
841
00:43:56,060 --> 00:43:56,928
I never regret it.
842
00:43:56,928 --> 00:43:57,995
Never.
843
00:44:00,798 --> 00:44:01,799
And I think I was right.
66220
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