Original subtitles

Narrator: SCORCHED WRECKAGE IS ALL THAT'S LEFT

OF A SMALL COMMUTER PLANE IN ILLINOIS.

Man: IT WAS REALLY A MOLTEN MESS.

Pilot: COME ON! CLIMB! CLIMB!

Narrator: AN AIRBUS A300 VEERS FATALLY OFF COURSE.

Pilot: NO, NO, NO, NO!

Man: IT WAS THE BIGGEST HUMAN LOSS

IN INDONESIAN HISTORY.

Narrator: TWO JUMBO JETS COLLIDE.

Man: 583 PEOPLE.

Narrator: SOME OF AVIATION'S WORST DISASTERS.

Officer: INDONESIA 152, SAY AGAIN?

Narrator: WERE THEY ALL CAUSED BY A FATAL MISUNDERSTANDING?

Man: YEAH, KING AIR.

Man: WHO THE HELL IS ANSWERING HER?

Narrator: INVESTIGATORS ARE STUNNED BY WHAT THEY UNCOVER.

Man: WHOA. WHOA, WHOA.

THE CONTROLLER ADVISED HIM TO STAY PUT.

Captain: THAT IDIOT'S COMING!

Woman: OH, CHRIST!

Man: WHAT THE HELL?

Man: GET OFF! GET OFF! GET OFF!

Flight attendant: LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,

WE ARE STARTING OUR APPROACH.

Pilot: WE LOST BOTH ENGINES!

Flight attendant: PUT THE MASK OVER YOUR NOSE.

EMERGENCY DESCENT.

Pilot: MAYDAY, MAYDAY!

Flight attendant: BRACE FOR IMPACT!

Controller: I THINK I LOST ONE.

Man: INVESTIGATION STARTING INTO THIS TRAGEDY...

Man: HE'S GONNA CRASH!

*

Narrator: NEARLY 11 MILLION PEOPLE

TAKE TO THE SKIES EVERY DAY.

THEIR LIVES DEPEND ON THE CLEAR COMMUNICATIONS

BETWEEN SKILLED PILOTS AND AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS.

John Nance: CONTROLLERS AND PILOTS WORK TOGETHER

TO CORRECT EACH OTHER'S ERRORS,

ESPECIALLY ERRORS OF MISUNDERSTANDING.

MOST OF THE TIME IT WORKS.

OCCASIONALLY SOMETHING SLIPS THROUGH THE CRACKS.

Narrator: UNITED EXPRESS FLIGHT 5925 IS MINUTES AWAY

FROM ITS FINAL DESTINATION, QUINCY AIRPORT IN ILLINOIS.

Kate Gathje: CHECKS COMPLETE.

Narrator: CAPTAIN KATE GATHJE IS AT THE CONTROLS

OF A BEECHCRAFT 1900C,

A COMMUTER PLANE CARRYING 10 PASSENGERS.

First officer: WHAT'S THE WINDS DOWN THERE?

Narrator: IT'S BEEN A LONG DAY,

BUT THE LANDING AT QUINCY AIRPORT SHOULD BE ROUTINE.

Gathje: WINDS ARE 0-6-0 AT 8, 12 MILES VISIBILITY.

Narrator: QUINCY IS ONE OF THOUSANDS OF AIRPORTS

WITHOUT A CONTROL TOWER.

THAT MEANS THERE ARE NO CONTROLLERS TO DIRECT TRAFFIC.

PILOTS MUST COMMUNICATE DIRECTLY WITH EACH OTHER

DURING TAKEOFF AND LANDING.

Paul Walker: AT AN AIRPORT LIKE QUINCY THAT IS NON-TOWERED,

YOU CANNOT BE TOO VIGILANT WHEN YOU'RE FLYING AN AIRPLANE.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE A SITUATIONAL AWARENESS

TO REALIZE WHAT'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE COMING NEXT

AND WHERE OTHER AIRCRAFT ARE.

Gathje: LOOK AT THAT SUNSET, MAN. THAT'S GORGEOUS.

Narrator: 30 MILES FROM THE AIRPORT,

THE UNITED EXPRESS PILOTS CHECK IN ON THEIR OPEN FREQUENCY

USED BY ALL PILOTS AT THE AIRPORT.

Gathje: ABOUT 30 MILES TO THE NORTH OF THE FIELD,

INBOUND FOR LANDING RUNWAY 13 AT QUINCY.

ANY TRAFFIC IN THE AREA, PLEASE ADVISE.

Narrator: THERE ARE THREE

INTERSECTING RUNWAYS AT QUINCY.

MOST PLANES TAKE OFF AND LAND

ON RUNWAY 13 OR RUNWAY NUMBER 4.

AS FLIGHT 5925 CLOSES IN,

A SMALL TURBOPROP PLANE RADIOS IN ON THE FREQUENCY.

Laura Brooks: KING AIR 1127, DELTA'S TAXIING OUT.

UH, TAKEOFF ON RUNWAY 4.

Narrator: A KING AIR A90 IS TAXIING OUT TOWARDS RUNWAY 4.

JUST 90 SECONDS BEFORE FLIGHT 5925

EXPECTS TO TOUCH DOWN,

THE KING AIR PLANE IS IN POSITION

AT THE START OF THE RUNWAY AND HOLDING.

Brooks: KING AIR 1127 DELTA, HOLDING SHORT OF RUNWAY 4.

BE, UH, TO TAKING THE RUNWAY FOR DEPARTURE.

Walker: POSITION HOLD IS WHEN AN AIRCRAFT

PULLS ONTO THE END OF THE RUNWAY, TURNS,

POINTS DOWN THE RUNWAY PREPARED FOR TAKEOFF,

AND HOLDS ITS POSITION.

Narrator: ON FINAL APPROACH, THE UNITED EXPRESS PILOTS

MAKE ANOTHER RADIO CALL ON THE FREQUENCY.

Gathje: FIVE MILE FINAL FOR RUNWAY 13 QUINCY.

GEAR DOWN.

Narrator: AS THE COMMUTER PLANE DESCENDS...

Automation: 500.

Narrator: ...AN AUTOMATED VOICE IN THE COCKPIT

GIVES THE PILOTS THEIR ALTITUDE.

Gathje: ON SHORT FINAL FOR RUNWAY 13.

Automation: 400.

Narrator: THE CAPTAIN CHECKS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE KING AIR

IS PLANNING TO STAY PUT WHILE SHE LANDS.

Gathje: THE AIRCRAFT GONNA HOLD IN POSITION

ON RUNWAY 4, OR ARE YOU GUYS GONNA TAKE OFF?

Pilot: 7646 JULIET, HOLDING FOR DEPARTURE

ON RUNWAY 4...

Automation: 200.

Pilot: ...UH, KING AIR.

Gathje: OKAY. WE'LL GET THROUGH YOUR INTERSECTION

IN JUST A SECOND, SIR.

WE APPRECIATE THAT.

FINALS ARE COMPLETE.

Narrator: FLIGHT 5925 TOUCHES DOWN AT QUINCY AIRPORT.

Gathje: MAX REVERSE.

OH, CHRIST!

First officer: WHAT THE HELL?

Narrator: BUT THE KING AIR PLANE IS HEADED TOWARDS THEM.

[TIRES SQUEALING]

[EXPLOSION]

Walker: WE HEARD THIS EXPLOSION THAT, THAT RATTLED THE WALLS,

AND THE WINDOWS SHOOK.

I RAN FOR THE DOOR, AND AS I CAME OUTSIDE,

WHAT I SAW LOOKED LIKE A MUSHROOM CLOUD.

[EXPLOSION]

Narrator: PAUL WALKER RUSHES TOWARDS BURNING WRECKAGE

ON THE RUNWAY.

Gathje: OPEN THE DOOR!

Narrator: BUT THE FIRST OFFICER

IS STRUGGLING TO GET THE DOOR OPEN.

Gathje: PLEASE! SOMEONE HELP!

OPEN THE DOOR!

Narrator: THERE ARE NO FIREFIGHTERS AT THE TINY AIRPORT

TO HELP WITH THE RESCUE.

Walker: HEY, I HEAR PEOPLE IN THERE.

WE HAVE TO GET INSIDE THAT PLANE!

I WAS LITERALLY THEIR LAST HOPE.

[COUGHING]

[GRUNTING]

I GRABBED THE HANDLE AND ATTEMPTED TO OPEN THE DOOR.

[SCREAMING]

[GRUNTING]

WHEN I WIGGLED THE HANDLE A LITTLE BIT,

SOMEBODY ON THE INSIDE WIGGLED IT THE OTHER WAY.

[GRUNTS]

First officer: I CAN'T GET IT OPEN!

Gathje: HELP!

Narrator: AS HE HEARS DESPERATE CRIES FROM INSIDE,

WALKER SUDDENLY REALIZES...

Walker: OH, GOD! IT'S YOU. HANG IN THERE, KATE.

Narrator: HE KNOWS THE FLIGHT'S CAPTAIN.

Gathje: PLEASE, HELP!

Walker: THE FACT THAT YOU ACTUALLY KNOW SOMEBODY

IN THAT SITUATION AT THAT TIME JUST ADDED MORE TO IT.

THERE WAS NO DOUBT IN MY MIND I WAS GONNA GET THAT DOOR OPEN.

Narrator: BUT THE DOOR REMAINS JAMMED.

Walker: OH, GOD! I'M SORRY, KATE.

I'M GONNA GET HELP.

LEAVING THE AIRPLANE WAS ONE OF THE MORE DIFFICULT THINGS

I'VE EVER DONE IN MY LIFE.

Narrator: THERE'S NO ESCAPE FROM THE BURNING WRECKAGE

OF FLIGHT 5925.

Gathje: PLEASE!

[EXPLOSION]

[SIRENS]

Narrator: FOUR PILOTS AND TEN PASSENGERS ARE KILLED

IN ONE OF WORST RUNWAY COLLISIONS

IN NORTH AMERICAN HISTORY.

[SIREN]

BY MORNING, A TEAM OF INVESTIGATORS

FROM THE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD

IS ON SITE AT QUINCY AIRPORT.

Tom Haueter: HOW DID THIS HAPPEN?

WHERE DID THE FAULTS COME INTO PLAY THAT CAUSED THESE AIRPLANES

TO COLLIDE AT THE INTERSECTION OF TWO RUNWAYS?

Narrator: ANALYSIS OF THE CONVERSATIONS

BETWEEN THE PILOTS OF THE TWO FLIGHTS

IS A KEY FACTOR IN THE INVESTIGATION.

Haueter: WHAT WAS THE CREW SAYING?

WHAT WERE THEY THINKING?

Narrator: THE SMALLER TWIN TURBOPROP AIRCRAFT,

THE KING AIR,

DOESN'T HAVE A COCKPIT VOICE RECORDER, OR CVR.

BUT THE RECORDER OF COMMUTER FLIGHT UNITED EXPRESS 5925

IS RECOVERED FROM THE CRASH SITE.

Gathje: ABOUT 30 MILES TO THE NORTH OF THE FIELD,

INBOUND FOR LANDING RUNWAY 13 AT QUINCY.

Haueter: SO FAR, SO GOOD.

Narrator: INVESTIGATORS STUDY THE CONVERSATIONS BETWEEN PILOTS

AT QUINCY AIRPORT MOMENTS BEFORE THE CRASH.

Gathje: INBOUND FOR LANDING RUNWAY 13 AT QUINCY.

ANY TRAFFIC IN THE AREA, PLEASE ADVISE.

Haueter: AS THE BEECH 1900 APPROACHED QUINCY,

IT MADE ALL THE REQUIRED RADIO CALLS.

Narrator: THE PILOTS OF UNITED EXPRESS

GIVE OTHER PILOTS AT QUINCY AIRPORT

THE CHANCE TO ADVISE IF THEY'RE GOING TO USE THE RUNWAY,

BUT THE CVR RECORDING FROM UNITED EXPRESS REVEALS

THAT THE RADIO CALLS FROM THE KING AIR A90

ARE MORE PROBLEMATIC.

THE PILOT IS SLOW TO REPLY TO CAPTAIN GATHJE.

Brooks: KING AIR 1127, DELTA'S TAXIING OUT,

UH, TAKEOFF ON RUNWAY 4.

Gathje: THEY'RE USING 4.

Narrator: BUT ALTHOUGH THE REPLY FROM THE FLIGHT IS DELAYED,

IT CONFIRMS FOR INVESTIGATORS

THAT THE PILOTS OF UNITED EXPRESS

WERE AWARE OF THE KING AIR.

Brooks: KING AIR 1127, HOLDING SHORT OF RUNWAY 4.

BE, UH, TAKING THE RUNWAY FOR DEPARTURE.

Narrator: LESS THAN TWO MINUTES BEFORE THE ACCIDENT,

THE KING AIR PILOT REPORTS

THAT THEY'RE HOLDING SHORT OF THE RUNWAY.

IT'S A RADIO CALL THAT UNITED EXPRESS

TAKES CARE TO DOUBLE-CHECK.

Gathje: THE AIRCRAFT GONNA HOLD IN POSITION ON RUNWAY 4,

OR ARE YOU GUYS GONNA TAKE OFF?

Narrator: BUT INVESTIGATORS ARE STUNNED

WHEN THEY LISTEN TO THE RESPONSE.

Pilot: 7646 JULIET, HOLDING FOR DEPARTURE

ON RUNWAY 4 BEHIND THE...

Haueter: WHO THE HELL'S ANSWERING HER?

THAT'S NOT THE KING AIR.

Gathje: ANY OTHER TRAFFIC, PLEASE ADVISE.

Narrator: INVESTIGATORS MAKE A STUNNING DISCOVERY

LISTENING TO THE COCKPIT VOICE RECORDER

OF UNITED EXPRESS 5925.

THEY HEAR A RADIO CALL

FROM A THIRD PLANE ON THE RUNWAY, A CHEROKEE.

Haueter: THERE WAS NO REASON FOR THE PILOT OF THE CHEROKEE,

WHO'S NOT ON THE ACTIVE RUNWAY, WHO'S NOT GONNA TAKE OFF,

TO HAVE MADE THAT CALL.

Narrator: THE MISUNDERSTANDING IS FURTHER COMPLICATED

BY THE PILOT OF THE CHEROKEE.

David Ivey: HE DID NOT USE HIS TYPE OF AIRPLANE.

IF HE'D SAID CHEROKEE,

THAT WOULD HAVE SERVED AS A CLARIFYING POINT.

Pilot: ...JULIET HOLDING FOR DEPARTURE ON RUNWAY 4

BEHIND ON THE, UH, KING AIR.

Narrator: BUT PROPER IDENTIFICATION

ISN'T THE ONLY PROBLEM WITH THE RADIO TRANSMISSION.

Pilot: ...HOLDING FOR DEPARTURE ON RUNWAY 4...

Narrator: WHEN INVESTIGATORS LISTEN

MORE CLOSELY TO THE TAPES,

THEY DISCOVER THAT THE ALTITUDE COUNTDOWN

OBSCURES THE RADIO TRANSMISSION COMING FROM THE PILOT.

Pilot: HOLDING FOR DEPARTURE ON RUNWAY 4...

Automation: 200.

Pilot: ...UH, KING AIR.

Ivey: THERE WAS A MECHANICAL DEVICE IN THAT BEECH 1900

THAT, AT THE APPOINTED TIME, SAID "200."

Pilot: DEPARTURE ON RUNWAY 4...

Automation: 200.

Pilot: ...UH, KING AIR.

Ivey: AND THAT MASKED THE WORD "BEHIND" THE KING AIR.

Narrator: THE PILOTS OF UNITED EXPRESS

THINK IT'S THE KING AIR

TELLING THEM THEY'RE HOLDING AT THE RUNWAY.

Gathje: OKAY, WE'LL GET THROUGH YOUR INTERSECTION

IN JUST A SECOND, SIR.

WE APPRECIATE THAT.

Narrator: BUT KING AIR ISN'T HOLDING.

IT'S MOVED OUT ONTO THE RUNWAY

AS THE UNITED EXPRESS FLIGHT MAKES ITS FINAL APPROACH.

Haueter: UNFORTUNATELY FOR THE COMMUTER AIRCRAFT CREW,

THEY BELIEVED THEY WERE NOW SAFE TO LAND

BECAUSE THE KING AIR WOULD HOLD FOR THEM.

Gathje: OH, CHRIST!

First officer: WHAT THE HELL?

[CRASH]

Narrator: BUT INVESTIGATORS WONDER WHY WEREN'T THE PILOTS

OF KING AIR AWARE OF THE IMPENDING DANGER

WHEN THE UNITED EXPRESS PILOTS HAD BEEN PERFECTLY CLEAR?

WHEN INVESTIGATORS LOOK AT WHO WAS IN THE KING AIR COCKPIT,

THEIR SUSPICIONS GROW.

IT'S A TRAINING FLIGHT.

ONE PILOT IS A STUDENT.

THE TEACHER, NEAL REINWALD, IS EXPERIENCED.

Ivey: HE HAD BEEN AN AIR FORCE RESERVE PILOT.

HE HAD BEEN A PILOT FOR TRANS WORLD AIRLINES.

HIS RESUME LOOKED TREMENDOUS.

Narrator: BUT A CLOSER LOOK AT REINWALD'S RECORDS

REVEALS PROBLEMS IN HIS FLIGHT HISTORY.

Ivey: WE FOUND OUT THAT HE FAILED A CHECK RIDE.

HE WAS GIVEN ANOTHER CHECK, AND HE FAILED THAT,

AND THEY REMOVED HIM FROM A PILOT POSITION

TO FLIGHT ENGINEER, WHICH IS A NON-FLYING PILOT.

Investigator: THIS GUY'S SKILLS WERE SLIPPING.

Narrator: AND ON THE DAY OF THE FATAL CRASH,

WITNESSES SAY HE SEEMED TO BE IN A HURRY TO GET HOME.

Neal Reinwald: OKAY, LAURA, LET'S GO HOME.

Narrator: DID A PILOT IN A RUSH COST THE LIVES OF 14 PEOPLE?

Ivey: I THINK IMPATIENCE WAS PART OF THE PROBLEM.

GET-THERE-ITIS, THAT'S A TERM WE USE A LOT.

Narrator: STUDENT PILOT LAURA BROOKS

WAS HANDLING RADIO CALLS FROM THE KING AIR.

Brooks: KING AIR 1127, DELTA'S TAXIING OUT,

UH, TAKEOFF ON RUNWAY 4.

Narrator: HER INSTRUCTOR MAY HAVE BEEN PREOCCUPIED

WITH HIS FLIGHT LESSON,

UNAWARE OF THE COMMUTER PLANE APPROACHING FROM HIS LEFT.

Haueter: WHETHER THEY WERE ENGAGED IN CONVERSATION

ABOUT THE AIRCRAFT, WE DON'T KNOW,

BUT THERE WAS NO ANNOUNCEMENT OF TAKEOFF, WHICH IS UNUSUAL.

Narrator: WHAT EXACTLY WAS HAPPENING

IN THE COCKPIT OF THE KING AIR

IN THE SECONDS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT

REMAINS A MYSTERY.

Gathje: FINALS ARE COMPLETE.

Narrator: INVESTIGATORS CONCLUDE THAT IMPATIENCE

OR A MOMENTARY DISTRACTION

LED THE PILOTS TO HEAD OUT ONTO THE RUNWAY.

Pilot: HOLDING FOR DEPARTURE ON RUNWAY 4...

Automation: 200.

Narrator: WHEN CAPTAIN GATHJE FATALLY MISUNDERSTANDS

THE RADIO CALL OF A THIRD AIRPLANE,

IT CAUSES A HORRIFIC TRAGEDY.

Gathje: OH, CHRIST!

First officer: WHAT THE HELL?

Haueter: THE COLLISION WAS CERTAINLY AVOIDABLE.

IT WAS PREVENTABLE SEVERAL TIMES,

BUT AS THE AIRPLANES GOT CLOSER AND CLOSER TOGETHER,

TIMING RAN OUT.

[CRASH]

*

Narrator: THE NTSB RULES THAT THE CREW OF UNITED EXPRESS 5925

ACTED APPROPRIATELY DURING THEIR APPROACH AND LANDING.

THEY DETERMINED THAT THE IMPACT

MOST LIKELY CAUSED THE DOORFRAME TO JAM, PREVENTING ESCAPE.

IN THE WAKE OF THE ACCIDENT, TRAINING HAS IMPROVED

TO EMPHASIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF CLEAR COMMUNICATION,

ESPECIALLY AT AIRPORTS WITH NO TOWER.

Haueter: THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF BASIC CHANGES

SINCE THE QUINCY ACCIDENT. I THINK THEY'VE WORKED.

WE HAVEN'T HAD AN ACCIDENT LIKE THIS SINCE.

HOWEVER, WE CAN'T REST ON OUR LAURELS.

Narrator: SAFETY IS PARAMOUNT IN ALL COMMUNICATIONS

ON THE GROUND AND IN THE AIR.

MISUNDERSTANDINGS BETWEEN PILOTS

AND AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS ARE RARE.

Phil Derner: THE SECOND THAT PEOPLE

ARE NOT UNDERSTANDING A LANGUAGE

OR HAVING ANY KIND OF MISCOMMUNICATION,

EVERYTHING ELSE KIND OF GOES OUT THE WINDOW.

Rachmo Wiyogo: WHAT?

Narrator: IS THAT WHAT HAPPENED TO A COMMERCIAL PLANE

THAT CRASHED IN AN INDONESIAN JUNGLE?

Wiyogo: NO, NO, NO, NO!

Narrator: GARUDA FLIGHT 152 IS HEADING

TOWARDS THE CITY OF MEDAN

WITH 234 PEOPLE ON BOARD.

Wiyogo: LET'S STAY ON AUTOPILOT AS LONG AS WE CAN.

First officer: YES, SIR.

Narrator: CAPTAIN RACHMO WIYOGO COMMANDS THE AIRBUS A300.

HE'S BEEN FLYING IN INDONESIA FOR NEARLY 20 YEARS.

HE'S EXTREMELY FAMILIAR WITH THE FLIGHT PATH.

TODAY THE APPROACH TO MEDAN IS MORE CHALLENGING THAN USUAL.

FOREST FIRES IN SUMATRA

HAVE BLANKETED SOUTHEAST ASIA WITH SMOKE.

IT'S WREAKING HAVOC ON AIR TRAFFIC.

David Learmount: SMOKE IS LIMITING VISIBILITY

TO A DEGREE THAT WOULD MAKE THE DESCENT AND THE APPROACH

REALLY QUITE DIFFICULT.

Narrator: AS FLIGHT 152 DESCENDS TO 10,000 FEET,

IT PLOWS THROUGH THE THICK SMOKE.

Wiyogo: IT'S SMOKY HERE BELOW 10,000.

Learmount: THE PILOT WOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN ABLE

TO GET ANY EXTERNAL VISUAL CUES.

HE WOULD HAVE BEEN FLYING ENTIRELY ON INSTRUMENTS.

Narrator: THE REDUCED VISIBILITY ALSO PUTS ADDED PRESSURE

ON THE CONTROLLERS.

Learmount: IF THERE IS SMOKE ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE GROUND,

THE CONTROLLER KNOWS THE PILOT IS GOING TO ENCOUNTER PROBLEMS.

THEY'RE GONNA NEED ALL THE HELP THEY CAN GET,

AND THE CONTROLLING SHOULD BE VERY ACCURATE.

Narrator: THE CAPTAIN ADJUSTS THE POWER TO HIS ENGINES.

Controller: MERPATI 152, TURN LEFT HEADING 2-4-0

TO INTERCEPT RUNWAY 05...

Wiyogo: NUMBER ONE ALWAYS LAGS BEHIND A BIT,

SO KEEP AN EYE ON IT FOR ME.

First officer: OKAY.

Controller: INDONESIA 152, DO YOU READ?

First officer: INDONESIA 152. SAY AGAIN?

Controller: OKAY. UH, TURN LEFT HEADING 2-4-0,

2-3-5 NOW TO INTERCEPT RUNWAY 05.

First officer: ROGER, LEFT HEADING 2-3-5, INDONESIA 152.

Narrator: THE PILOTS FOLLOW THE CONTROLLER'S INSTRUCTIONS

TO TURN LEFT.

THEY'RE ONE TURN FROM LINING UP WITH THE RUNWAY.

Controller: INDONESIA 152, TURN RIGHT HEADING 0-4-6.

First officer: TURN RIGHT HEADING 0-4-6, INDONESIA 152.

Narrator: FLIGHT 152 IS ON FINAL APPROACH.

THE RUNWAY SHOULD BE IN SIGHT NOW.

BUT WHEN THE PLANE NEARS THE GROUND,

IT'S NOWHERE NEAR THE AIRPORT.

Wiyogo: WHAT?

[ENGINES SURGING]

CLIMB! CLIMB!

[SCREAMING]

NO!

NO! NO! NO! NO! NO!

[CRASH]

Narrator: EVERYONE ON BOARD IS DEAD.

IT'S THE WORST AVIATION ACCIDENT IN INDONESIA'S HISTORY.

AIR CRASH INVESTIGATORS ARE UNDER PRESSURE

TO EXPLAIN THE DISASTER.

ROB CARTER OF THE UK'S AIR ACCIDENT INVESTIGATIONS BRANCH

ASSISTS AT THE SCENE.

Rob Carter: ONE OF THE THINGS THAT SEEMED SO STRANGE

WAS WHERE THE IMPACT POINT WAS.

IT WAS NOWHERE NEAR WHERE WE WOULD EXPECT THE AIRCRAFT TO BE

FOR THE PROPER SORT OF APPROACH INTO THE AIRPORT.

Narrator: THE DEBRIS FIELD TELLS INVESTIGATORS

THAT THE PLANE WAS FLYING AWAY FROM THE AIRPORT,

THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN FLYING.

INDONESIAN AUTHORITIES LOOK TO AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL

AT MEDAN AIRPORT FOR ANSWERS.

Controller: THEY APPROACHED FROM THE SOUTHEAST.

I WAS TRYING TO BRING THEM IN THIS WAY,

A LEFT TURN AND A RIGHT TURN THAT GETS THEM INTO RUNWAY 05.

Narrator: WHEN THEY INTERVIEW THE CONTROLLER

THAT HANDLED THE FLIGHT, HE TELLS INVESTIGATORS

HE SUSPECTS THE CAPTAIN SOMEHOW MISINTERPRETED HIS INSTRUCTIONS.

Controller: HE DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHICH WAY TO TURN.

HE MADE A LEFT TURN HERE INSTEAD.

Narrator: INVESTIGATORS ARE BAFFLED.

WHY DID THE PILOTS OF THE FLIGHT MAKE A WRONG TURN

ON FINAL APPROACH TO AN AIRPORT THEY KNEW EXTREMELY WELL?

Santoso Sayogo: THE ATC GAVE INSTRUCTION--

INDONESIA 152, TURN RIGHT ONTO HEADING 0-4-6,

BUT THE AIRCRAFT TURNED TO THE LEFT.

AT THAT STAGE, WE DO NOT HAVE ANY CLUE AT ALL.

Narrator: INVESTIGATORS MUST FIGURE OUT WHY GARUDA FLIGHT 152

VEERED OFF COURSE AND CRASHED INTO THE JUNGLE.

THEY LOOK TO RECORDINGS OF COMMUNICATIONS

BETWEEN AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS AND THE PILOTS FOR ANSWERS.

AT FIRST, THEY SEEM COMPLETELY NORMAL.

Controller: INDONESIA 152, DESCEND TO 3,000 FEET

FOR RUNWAY 05.

Narrator: BUT THEN THEY HEAR SOMETHING PROBLEMATIC.

Controller: MERPATI 152, TURN LEFT HEADING 2-4-0

TO INTERCEPT RUNWAY 05 FROM THE RIGHT SIDE.

Narrator: THE CONTROLLER USES THE WRONG CALL SIGN.

Sayogo: YOU HAVE MERPATI 152, AND NOW HE'S GOT GARUDA 152.

Learmount: INSTEAD OF GARUDA 152, HE SAID MERPATI 152.

Narrator: BUT THE CONTROLLER QUICKLY CORRECTS HIS MISTAKE.

Controller: INDONESIA 152, DO YOU READ?

First officer: INDONESIA 152. SAY AGAIN?

Narrator: IT APPEARS AS IF THE MISUNDERSTANDING IS CLEARED UP.

Controller: OKAY, UH, TURN LEFT HEADING 2-4-0,

2-3-5 NOW TO INTERCEPT RUNWAY 05.

Wiyogo: LEFT HEADING 2-3-5.

First officer: ROGER, LEFT HEADING 2-3-5, INDONESIA 152.

Narrator: AFTER A BRIEF MOMENT OF CONFUSION,

THE FLIGHT IS EXACTLY WHERE IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE.

Sayogo: THAT PUTS THEM ABOUT HERE, RIGHT ON COURSE.

ONE MORE RIGHT TURN, AND HE'S LINED UP WITH THE RUNWAY.

Controller: INDONESIA 152, TURN RIGHT HEADING 0-4-6.

Sayogo: THERE IT IS, CLEAR AS DAY.

First officer: TURN RIGHT HEADING 0-4-6, INDONESIA 152.

Narrator: HOW THE FLIGHT MADE A WRONG TURN

IN THE FINAL FEW MOMENTS STILL CAN'T BE EXPLAINED.

Sayogo: IT'S IN THE EXACT OPPOSITE DIRECTION

THEY WERE TOLD.

WHY?

Narrator: INVESTIGATORS WONDER IF THE PILOT THOUGHT

HE WAS HEADING TOWARDS THE AIRPORT.

THEY TURN THEIR ATTENTION TO THE AIRPORT'S APPROACH CHARTS

TO LEARN MORE.

Learmount: THE CHARTS LAY OUT WHAT THE NORMAL APPROACH IS,

AND THE PILOTS NORMALLY EXPECT TO FLY THAT.

Narrator: INVESTIGATORS DISCOVER THAT GARUDA 152

WASN'T ON THE STANDARD APPROACH.

THE STANDARD APPROACH TO MEDAN IS FROM THE LEFT SIDE,

WHICH INVOLVES MAKING A FINAL LEFT TURN

TO LINE UP WITH THE RUNWAY.

BUT THE GARUDA CAPTAIN HAD BEEN INSTRUCTED TO APPROACH

FROM THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY.

IT REQUIRED SOMETHING HE WASN'T USED TO,

A RIGHT TURN BEFORE LANDING.

Learmount: THE CONTROLLER TOOK THEM IN A DIRECTION

WHICH WAS NOT WHAT THEY WOULD HAVE EXPECTED,

ACCORDING TO THE APPROACH CHARTS.

BUT THERE SHOULDN'T REALLY HAVE BEEN A PROBLEM WITH THAT.

Narrator: CONTROLLERS ARE SUPPOSED TO CONFIRM

THE APPROACH PATH WITH PILOTS AS THEY HEAD TOWARD THE AIRPORT.

Sayogo: HOW COULD HE NOT HAVE KNOWN

WHICH APPROACH HE WAS FLYING?

Narrator: THEN, INVESTIGATORS GET THEIR FIRST BIG BREAK.

AFTER SEARCHING FOR MORE THAN THREE WEEKS,

THE PLANE'S VOICE AND DATA RECORDERS ARE RECOVERED

FROM THE DENSE INDONESIAN FOREST.

Sayogo: LET'S START WITH TURN NUMBER ONE.

HERE.

Narrator: THEY LISTEN TO THE RECORDINGS TO SEE IF THE PILOTS

HAD ALL THE INFORMATION THEY NEEDED FOR THE CORRECT APPROACH.

Controller: MERPATI 152, TURN LEFT HEADING 2-4-0

TO INTERCEPT RUNWAY 05 FROM THE RIGHT SIDE.

Wiyogo: NUMBER ONE ALWAYS LAGS BEHIND A BIT,

SO KEEP AN EYE ON IT FOR ME.

First officer: OKAY.

Narrator: WHEN INVESTIGATORS LISTEN

TO THE COCKPIT VOICE RECORDER,

THEY REALIZE WHAT THEY THOUGHT WAS A HARMLESS CALL SIGN MIX-UP

ACTUALLY HAD MASSIVE CONSEQUENCES

BECAUSE THE CONTROLLER USED THE WRONG CALL SIGN.

Controller: MERPATI 152, TURN LEFT HEADING 2-4-0

TO INTERCEPT RUNWAY 05 ON THE RIGHT SIDE.

Wiyogo: NUMBER ONE ALWAYS LAGS BEHIND A BIT,

SO KEEP AN EYE ON IT FOR ME.

Narrator: THE PILOTS IGNORED THE TRANSMISSION

AND MISSED THE DIRECTION

TO APPROACH THE RUNWAY FROM THE RIGHT SIDE.

Controller: INDONESIA 152, DO YOU READ?

First officer: INDONESIA 152, SAY AGAIN?

Narrator: WHEN THE CONTROLLER

REPEATS THE APPROACH INSTRUCTIONS,

HE LEAVES OUT A CRITICAL DETAIL.

Controller: TURN LEFT HEADING 2-4-0,

2-3-5 NOW TO INTERCEPT RUNWAY 05.

Sayogo: HE DIDN'T REPEAT WHICH SIDE THEY WERE APPROACHING FROM.

Narrator: THE MIX-UP MEANS THE CREW OF FLIGHT 152

NEVER HEARS A CRITICAL INSTRUCTION

TO APPROACH THE RUNWAY FROM THE RIGHT SIDE

INSTEAD OF FROM THE USUAL LEFT.

Learmount: CONTROLLERS DIDN'T MAKE IT CLEAR ENOUGH

TO THE PILOTS

THAT THIS WAS NOT GOING TO BE THE STANDARD PATTERN.

HE SHOULD HAVE MADE IT CLEAR.

YOU'RE NOT GOING TO COME IN

FROM THE LEFT-HAND SIDE OF THE RUNWAY.

YOU'RE GOING TO COME IN FROM THE RIGHT-HAND SIDE.

Narrator: THE CAPTAIN, UNABLE TO SEE THE GROUND

THROUGH THE SMOKE FROM THE FOREST FIRES,

DIALS IN A LEFT TURN OUT OF HABIT,

TURNING AWAY FROM THE AIRPORT, TOWARDS MOUNTAINS.

IN THE CONFUSION OVER THE TURN, NO ONE NOTICES THAT THE AIRBUS

IS DROPPING DANGEROUSLY CLOSE TO THE GROUND.

Wiyogo: WHAT?

[ENGINES SURGING]

COME ON, CLIMB!

CLIMB!

First officer: PULL UP! PULL UP!

Wiyogo: NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO!

[CRASH]

Narrator: INVESTIGATORS CONCLUDE THAT A MISUNDERSTANDING

BETWEEN THE PILOTS OF GARUDA 152 AND CONTROLLERS

LED TO THE TRAGEDY.

David Miller: WE MUST UNDERSTAND THAT AVIATION INVOLVES PEOPLE.

PEOPLE ARE FALLIBLE.

Narrator: PILOTS AND AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS ARE TRAINED

TO USE VERY SPECIFIC LANGUAGE

WHEN COMMUNICATING WITH EACH OTHER,

WHETHER IT'S A REGULAR DAY OR A BUSY ONE.

Derner: EVERYONE HAS AN INTEREST IN SAFETY,

SO EVERYONE THAT IS INVOLVED WANTS TO MAKE SURE

THAT THEY ARE ON THE SAME PAGE WITH THEIR PILOTS.

NO AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER WANTS TO BE THE PERSON

THAT SAID SOMETHING WRONG OR DID SOMETHING WRONG

OR CONTRIBUTED TO AN UNSAFE SITUATION.

Pilot: LOOK AT HIM. THAT IDIOT'S COMING!

Narrator: IS THAT WHAT HAPPENED WHEN TWO AIRPLANES COLLIDE

ON THE HOLIDAY ISLAND OF TENERIFE?

THE SPANISH ISLAND OF TENERIFE,

IT'S A TRANQUIL GETAWAY OFF THE AFRICAN COAST.

Controller: SUN JET 282, PROCEED DIRECTLY TO RUNWAY,

BACKTRACK AND HOLD.

Narrator: BUT TODAY, LOS RODEOS AIRPORT IS BUSIER

THAN IT'S EVER BEEN.

Controller: BA-7-8-3, HOLD SHORT OF THE RUNWAY

AND STAND BY FOR TAXI CLEARANCE.

Narrator: DOZENS OF FLIGHTS HAVE BEEN DIVERTED HERE

AFTER A TERRORIST BOMBING IN NEARBY LAS PALMAS.

Jim Krieger: IT'S A SINGLE RUNWAY AIRPORT

WITH A SINGLE PARALLEL TAXIWAY,

AND, UH, BECAUSE OF THE TERRORIST EVENT IN THE REGION,

UM, THEY HAD MUCH MORE TRAFFIC

THAN I'M CERTAIN THAT THEY WOULD NORMALLY SEE.

Controller: STERLING.

Narrator: AIRLINERS ARE LOG-JAMMED AT THE AIRPORT.

CONTROLLERS ARE UNDER PRESSURE.

Controller: YOU ARE CLEARED FOR TAKEOFF.

Krieger: THEY WERE DEALING WITH AIRCRAFT

THAT HAD BEEN DELAYED FOR A GOOD PART OF THE DAY,

AND NOW THERE WAS A SENSE OF URGENCY

TO GET THEM OUT AND SAFELY ON THEIR WAY.

Controller: NEXT IN LINE, SIERRA ALPHA.

Narrator: TENERIFE IS KNOWN FOR ITS CONSTANTLY CHANGING WEATHER.

Controller: I CAN'T SEE ANYTHING OUT THERE.

Narrator: AND NOW A THICK FOG IS ROLLING IN.

Krieger: VISIBILITY WENT DOWN TO ALMOST ZERO.

Controller: CLIPPER 1736, YOU ARE CLEARED TO START.

Narrator: CONTROLLERS DIRECT PAN AM FLIGHT 1736

WITH 378 PASSENGERS

TO TAXI ONTO THE RUNWAY BEHIND KLM 4805.

Controller: CLIPPER 1736, CLEARED TAXI INTO THE RUNWAY

FOLLOWING THE 747 FROM KLM.

Robert Bragg: CLIPPER 1736.

Krieger: TO EXPEDITE THE DEPARTURES

OF BOTH KLM AND PAN AM,

THEY TAXIED BOTH ON THE RUNWAY AT THE SAME TIME

TO PUT THEM IN A POSITION

WHERE THEY WOULD BE READY FOR, UH, A DEPARTURE.

Narrator: THE PAN AM JET IS INSTRUCTED TO FOLLOW KLM 4805

ALONG THE SINGLE RUNWAY,

THEN MAKE AN EXIT OFF THE TAXIWAY

SO IT CAN GET IN BEHIND THE KLM PLANE.

ROBERT BRAGG IS THE FIRST OFFICER OF THE PAN AM JUMBO JET.

Bragg: FOLLOW KLM DOWN THE RUNWAY, BACKTRACK,

MAKE AN EXIT TO GET AROUND BACK OF KLM.

SO, THAT'S WHAT WE WERE DOING.

Controller: AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY,

MAKE 180 AND REPORT, UH, READY FOR...

Narrator: THE PAN AM PILOTS LISTEN TO THE TOWER CONTROLLER

TELL THE KLM CREW AHEAD OF THEM WHAT TO DO AFTER DEPARTURE.

Controller: YOU ARE CLEARED TO THE PAPA BEACON.

CLIMB TO AND MAINTAIN FLIGHT LEVEL NINER-ZERO.

RIGHT TURN AFTER TAKEOFF.

First officer: ROGER. CLEARED TO THE PAPA BEACON.

FLIGHT LEVEL 9-0. RIGHT TURN AT...

WE ARE NOW AT TAKEOFF.

Controller: OKAY. UH, STAND BY FOR TAKEOFF.

I WILL CALL YOU.

Bragg: AND WE'RE STILL TAXIING DOWN THE RUNWAY,

CLIPPER 1736.

Controller: PAPA ALPHA 1736, REPORT RUNWAY CLEAR.

Bragg: OKAY. WE'LL REPORT WHEN WE'RE CLEAR.

Controller: THANK YOU.

Narrator: THEN, JUST A FEW YARDS FROM THEIR TURNOFF,

FIRST OFFICER BRAGG SEES SOMETHING DISTURBING.

Bragg: I THINK HE'S MOVING.

AND I LOOKED UP, AND THERE HE WAS,

COMING DOWN THE RUNWAY.

Pilot: LOOK AT HIM.

THAT IDIOT'S COMING!

Bragg: GET OFF. GET OFF!

HE HAD LIFTED OFF THE RUNWAY.

I COULD SEE HIS ROTATING BEACON UNDERNEATH.

GET OFF. GET OFF. GET OFF.

GET OFF. GET OFF. GET OFF!

AND THEN I DUCKED AND SAID A REAL QUICK PRAYER.

GOD, I HOPE HE MISSES US.

[SCREAMING]

I OPENED MY EYES,

AND IT LOOKED LIKE SOMEBODY HAD TAKEN A BIG KNIFE

AND JUST CUT THE WHOLE TOP OF THE AIRPLANE OFF.

[SIREN]

Narrator: FIRST OFFICER ROBERT BRAGG IS ONE OF 61 PEOPLE

WHO SURVIVE THE COLLISION.

THE RUNWAY AT TENERIFE IS THE SITE

OF THE DEADLIEST AVIATION ACCIDENT OF ALL TIME.

Nance: 583 PEOPLE, WITH ONLY A FEW GETTING OUT ON PAN AM.

THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT WE REALLY HAD NOT CONTEMPLATED

WHEN WE STARTED BUILDING BIGGER AIRPLANES.

NOBODY EVER THOUGHT, WHAT IF WE LOST TWO OF THEM

IN A COLLISION ON THE GROUND?

THIS WAS A NIGHTMARE BEYOND ALL EXPECTATION.

Narrator: THE NEXT MORNING, AIR CRASH INVESTIGATORS

FROM SPAIN, THE NETHERLANDS, AND THE UNITED STATES

ARE ON THE SCENE.

THEY FACE A HUGE TASK UNTANGLING THE CHAIN OF EVENTS

THAT LED TO THIS CATASTROPHIC RUNWAY COLLISION.

Dennis Grossi: VOICE RECORDERS IN THIS CASE WERE VITAL.

YOU HAD TWO AIRWORTHY AIRCRAFT COMING TOGETHER ON THE RUNWAY,

SO THE EVENTS LEADING UP TO THAT, YOU KNOW, WERE, WERE KEY.

Narrator: WITH THE FLIGHT'S BLACK BOXES

ON THE WAY TO THE LAB FOR ANALYSIS,

INVESTIGATORS TURN THEIR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION

TO AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL.

THEY ANALYZE RECORDINGS OF THE CONTROLLER'S DIRECTIONS

TO THE PILOTS.

Grossi: WHERE WERE THE AIRCRAFT ON THE RUNWAYS,

AND WHAT WAS BEING SAID ALONG THEIR PATH DOWN THE RUNWAY?

Bragg: GET OFF. GET OFF. GET OFF!

[CRASH]

Investigator: 502.

Narrator: WHEN INVESTIGATORS PLAY THE TAPES...

Controller: CLIPPER 1736, LEAVE THE RUNWAY, UH,

3-1, UH, TO YOUR LEFT.

Narrator: ...THEY NOTICE THE CONTROLLER IS STRUGGLING

TO MAKE HIMSELF CLEAR TO THE PAN AM PILOTS.

Bragg: I'M SORRY. SAY AGAIN, PLEASE.

Controller: LEAVE THE RUNWAY, THE THIRD ONE TO YOUR LEFT.

Bragg: OKAY. UH, TAXI DOWN THE RUNWAY

AND LEAVE THE RUNWAY AT THE FIRST INTERSECTION ON THE LEFT.

IS THAT CORRECT?

Controller: NEGATIVE.

THE THIRD ONE, SIR.

ONE, TWO, THREE.

THE THIRD ONE, THIRD!

Krieger: THERE SEEMED TO BE SOME CONFUSION

AS TO WHICH EXIT THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO TAKE.

Nance: WE HAVE KIND OF A LINGUISTIC PROBLEM HERE

BECAUSE THESE WERE SPANIARDS

WHO SPEAK SPANISH AS THEIR NATIVE LANGUAGE

ATTEMPTING TO SPEAK IN AVIATION ENGLISH

TO AN AMERICAN CREW AND TO A KLM DUTCH CREW.

Narrator: INVESTIGATORS DISCOVER THAT ALTHOUGH THE CONTROLLER

WAS GIVING CLEAR INSTRUCTIONS,

LINGUISTIC DIFFERENCES WERE COMPLICATING COMMUNICATIONS

WITH THE PAN AM PILOTS.

BUT IT'S NOT ENOUGH TO EXPLAIN THE CRASH.

THEY NOW TURN TO COMMUNICATIONS

BETWEEN THE KLM FLIGHT AND CONTROLLERS.

Controller: YOU ARE CLEARED TO THE PAPA BEACON.

CLIMB TO AND MAINTAIN FLIGHT LEVEL NINER-ZERO.

RIGHT TURN AFTER TAKEOFF.

Investigator: IT SOUNDS FINE.

First officer: ROGER. CLEARED TO PAPA BEACON.

FLIGHT LEVEL 9-0. RIGHT TURN OUT.

WE ARE NOW AT TAKEOFF.

Controller: OKAY.

STAND BY FOR TAKEOFF. I WILL CALL YOU.

Narrator: THEY DON'T FIND ANYTHING.

Investigator: HE'S TELLING THE TOWER HE'S IN TAKEOFF POSITION,

BUT HE'S BEEN TOLD TO WAIT FOR TAKEOFF CLEARANCE,

SO WHY DOES HE START HIS TAKEOFF ROLL?

Narrator: THE PILOTS TOOK OFF BEFORE THEY WERE CLEARED.

INVESTIGATORS ARE MYSTIFIED.

First officer: FLIGHT LEVEL 9-0 RIGHT TURN OUT.

WE ARE NOW AT TAKEOFF.

Narrator: THEY HOPE CLUES LEFT

ON THE COCKPIT VOICE RECORDERS OF THE KLM FLIGHT

ARE ENOUGH TO FINALLY SOLVE THE MYSTERY

OF THE WORST AIR DISASTER THE WORLD HAS EVER SEEN.

Grossi: THE BIG QUESTION THEN WAS HOW COULD THIS HAPPEN?

Narrator: AN AVIATION DISASTER WITHOUT PRECEDENT

HAS INVESTIGATORS STUMPED.

WHAT LED THE CAPTAIN OF A JUMBO JET

TO BELIEVE THAT HE HAD PERMISSION TO TAKE OFF?

Grossi: IT JUST SEEMS SO ALIEN

FOR THE CREW TO MAKE THAT MISTAKE.

THESE ARE THE, THE BEST IN THE BUSINESS.

Narrator: INVESTIGATORS TURN TO THE KLM COCKPIT VOICE RECORDING

FOR ANSWERS.

PERHAPS SOMETHING SAID BETWEEN CAPTAIN VAN ZANTEN

AND THE OTHER PILOTS

CAN EXPLAIN HIS DECISION TO START DOWN THE RUNWAY.

Officer: WE LANDED HERE AT 1:38.

Van Zanten: YES, I KNOW THAT, BUT WE HAVE TO START FROM 7:00.

THAT'S WHEN WE CHECKED IN.

THE TIME LIMIT IS TEN HOURS OF FLYING

WITH AN AMPLITUDE OF 13 HOURS.

THAT'S WITH ONE STOPOVER.

Narrator: THE RECORDING REVEALS THAT THE CAPTAIN SEEMS STRESSED

ABOUT WORK HOURS.

IF THE CREW EXCEEDS THEIR DUTY TIME,

THEY'LL BE FORCED TO CANCEL THE FLIGHT.

Nance: NOW, THAT MEANS PROBABLY $30,000, $40,000

OF HOTEL ROOMS FOR THE OUTBOUND PASSENGERS

WHO THEY'RE NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO CARRY BACK THAT NIGHT.

Narrator: FLIGHT DELAYS LEFT THE PILOTS ONLY TWO HOURS

TO GET THEIR PASSENGERS TO LAS PALMAS,

PICK UP ANOTHER LOAD OF PASSENGERS,

AND GET BACK IN THE AIR HEADING TOWARDS AMSTERDAM.

Van Zanten: IF I MESS THIS UP,

I COULD ACTUALLY LOSE MY LICENSE.

Officer: WE CERTAINLY WOULDN'T WANT THAT.

Narrator: A DISTURBING QUESTION CONFRONTS INVESTIGATORS.

DID THE KLM PILOTS RUSH TO GET OFF THE GROUND?

Grossi: HALF HOUR TO TAXI. HALF HOUR TO GET THERE.

AN HOUR TO SWAP PASSENGERS AND GET BACK IN THE AIR?

IT'S TIGHT.

WELL, IT WAS OBVIOUS THAT TIME WAS AN IMPORTANT FACTOR

IN THE KLM CAPTAIN'S DECISION-MAKING.

HE WASN'T GONNA WASTE ANY TIME

ONCE HE GOT TO THE END OF THE RUNWAY.

First officer: KLM IS READY FOR TAKEOFF,

WAITING FOR ATC CLEARANCE.

Grossi: SO, HE REQUESTS ATC CLEARANCE.

WE'RE ABOUT A MINUTE FROM THE COLLISION.

Nance: WHEN THE FIRST OFFICER ASKED FOR THE CLEARANCE,

HE WAS ASKING FOR THE AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL CLEARANCE,

COMPLETELY SEPARATE FROM THE CLEARANCE TO ACTUALLY ROLL

THIS 500-, 600,000-POUND MONSTER DOWN THE RUNWAY.

Controller: YOU ARE CLEARED TO THE PAPA BEACON,

CLIMB TO AND MAINTAIN FLIGHT LEVEL NINER-ZERO.

RIGHT TURN AFTER TAKEOFF.

Narrator: WHAT INVESTIGATORS HEAR NEXT

ANSWERS MANY OF THE QUESTIONS PLAGUING THIS INVESTIGATION.

Van Zanten: YES!

First officer: ROGER. CLEAR TO THE PAPA BEACON.

Van Zanten: LET'S GO! CHECK THRUST.

First officer: FLIGHT LEVEL 9-0, RIGHT TURN OUT.

WE ARE NOW AT TAKEOFF.

Controller: OKAY.

Grossi: WHOA. WHOA, WHOA. WHAT JUST HAPPENED THERE?

PLAY THAT AGAIN, PLEASE.

Narrator: INVESTIGATORS DISCOVER A MISUNDERSTANDING

THAT MAY EXPLAIN WHY THE PILOTS

THOUGHT THEY WERE CLEAR TO TAKE OFF.

THE CONTROLLER PROVIDES THE PILOTS WITH THE INSTRUCTIONS

ON WHAT TO DO AFTER TAKEOFF.

Controller: YOU ARE CLEARED TO THE PAPA BEACON.

CLIMB TO AND MAINTAIN FLIGHT LEVEL NINER-ZERO.

RIGHT TURN AFTER TAKEOFF.

Narrator: BUT THE CAPTAIN REACTS

AS IF HE'S ACTUALLY BEEN CLEARED FOR DEPARTURE.

Van Zanten: YES!

Krieger: THEY GET A CLEARANCE FROM AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL

THAT CONTAINS THE WORD TAKEOFF, AND, AND THAT CONFIRMS FOR THEM

THAT EVERYTHING IS THE WAY IT SHOULD BE,

WHEN, IN FACT, EVERYTHING WAS NOT.

Van Zanten: LET'S GO. CHECK THRUST.

Narrator: THE KLM PILOTS THROTTLE UP

AND START DOWN THE RUNWAY.

IT'S A DEADLY DECISION CAUSED

BY A SIMPLE MISUNDERSTANDING IN COMMUNICATIONS.

First officer: FLIGHT LEVEL 9-0. RIGHT TURN OUT.

WE ARE NOW AT TAKEOFF.

Narrator: INVESTIGATORS NOW KNOW

WHAT THE DUTCH FIRST OFFICER MEANT BY "AT TAKEOFF."

Grossi: HE'S REPORTING THAT HE'S ACTUALLY TAKING OFF,

NOT THAT HE'S READY TO TAKE OFF.

Krieger: UNFORTUNATELY, IN THIS CASE,

IT MEANT THEY WERE TAKING OFF FROM THE KLM PERSPECTIVE,

AND FOR THE AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL PERSPECTIVE,

THEY WERE HEARING, WE ARE AT TAKEOFF POSITION.

Narrator: BUT FOR INVESTIGATORS,

THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT THE RADIO EXCHANGE

THAT STILL DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.

Grossi: ACCORDING TO THE TOWER TRANSCRIPTS,

THE CONTROLLER ADVISED HIM TO STAY PUT.

Controller: OKAY. UH, STAND BY FOR TAKEOFF.

I WILL CALL YOU.

Grossi: WHY WOULD HE IGNORE THEM?

Narrator: WHY DIDN'T THE KLM CREW

FOLLOW THAT CLEAR INSTRUCTION TO STAND BY?

THEN THEY HEAR ANOTHER CRITICAL MOMENT ON THE KLM TAPE.

First officer: WE ARE NOW AT TAKEOFF.

Controller: OKAY.

[STATIC]

Grossi: THAT'S WHAT HE HEARD?

Narrator: IT'S A STUNNING DISCOVERY.

First officer: FLIGHT LEVEL 9-0. RIGHT TURN OUT.

WE ARE NOW AT TAKEOFF.

Controller: OKAY.

[STATIC]

Narrator: TWO SEPARATE WARNINGS TO STAY PUT

WERE NEVER HEARD IN THE KLM COCKPIT.

THE TOWER AND THE PAN AM FLIGHT BOTH MADE THEIR CRITICAL CALLS

AT THE EXACT SAME MOMENT.

Controller: OKAY.

Bragg: AND WE'RE STILL TAXIING DOWN THE RUNWAY.

Controller: STAND BY FOR TAKEOFF. I WILL CALL YOU.

Bragg: CLIPPER 1736.

Narrator: THE SIMULTANEOUS TRANSMISSIONS

PRODUCED A FOUR-SECOND SQUEAL IN THE KLM COCKPIT.

First officer: WE ARE NOW AT TAKEOFF.

Controller: OKAY.

[STATIC]

Narrator: THE CREW ONLY HEARD ONE WORD--OKAY.

Krieger: UNFORTUNATELY, THIS HAPPENED DURING THAT PAUSE

AFTER THE CONTROLLER SAYS OKAY.

FOR KLM, THEY HAD NO OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR THE CONTROLLER

SAYING STAND BY FOR TAKEOFF,

NOR WERE THEY ABLE TO HEAR THE PAN AM CREW

REPORTING THAT THEY WERE STILL ON THE RUNWAY.

Narrator: AFTER A SERIES OF MISCOMMUNICATIONS,

THE WORLD'S DEADLIEST AIRLINE ACCIDENT

IS NOW ALL BUT INEVITABLE.

Bragg: I THINK HE'S MOVING.

Pilot: LOOK AT HIM.

THAT IDIOT'S COMING!

Van Zanten: OH, DAMN IT!

Bragg: GET OFF. GET OFF. GET OFF!

GET OFF. GET OFF. GET OFF!

Grossi: VAN ZANTEN SHOULD NOT HAVE MOVED

WITHOUT EXPLICIT CLEARANCE.

Bragg: YOU LEARN THAT IN PROBABLY

THE FIRST OR SECOND LESSON IN AVIATION.

DO NOT TAKE OFF UNLESS YOU GET A CLEARANCE.

Narrator: THE ACCIDENT IN TENERIFE LEADS TO CHANGES

IN THE WAY CONTROLLERS USE LANGUAGE AROUND THE WORLD.

Krieger: CONTROLLERS DON'T USE THE WORD TAKEOFF

UNLESS THEY ACTUALLY MEAN AND INTEND FOR THE AIRCRAFT

TO BE DOING JUST THAT, TAKING OFF.

INSTEAD, THEY WILL SUBSTITUTE THE WORD AFTER "DEPARTURE"

TURN RIGHT HEADING 0-4-0 OR SOMETHING TO THAT EFFECT.

Controller: CLIMB TO AND MAINTAIN

FLIGHT LEVEL NINER-ZERO, RIGHT TURN AFTER TAKEOFF.

Nance: WE HUMANS THINK THAT WE CAN COMMUNICATE

WITH GREAT PRECISION, AND WE ARE ABSOLUTELY WRONG.

IF YOU DEVIATE FROM STANDARD PHRASEOLOGY,

YOU END UP WITH A SITUATION LIKE TENERIFE.

Narrator: AIR SAFETY INVESTIGATORS

ARE EXPANDING THEIR EFFORTS

TO PREVENT TINY HUMAN MISUNDERSTANDINGS

FROM TRIGGERING AIR DISASTERS.

First officer: INDONESIA 152, SAY AGAIN?

Controller: UH, TURN LEFT...

Nance: OUR NEXT JUMP

IS IN PROPERLY UTILIZING THE ELECTRONICS,

WHERE WE'RE PASSING INSTRUCTIONS AND CLEARANCES

WITH A MUCH, MUCH HIGHER DEGREE OF FIDELITY

THAN WE CAN POSSIBLY DO BY VOICE.

Pilot: HOLDING FOR DEPARTURE AT RUNWAY 4...

Automation: 200.

Pilot: ...UH, KING AIR.

Nance: WHEN YOU LOOK BACK 40 OR 50 YEARS,

WE DIDN'T EVEN UNDERSTAND WHY WE WERE HAVING THESE ACCIDENTS.

WE DIDN'T REALIZE ABOUT COMMUNICATIONS,

AND ALL OF THESE THINGS HAS TAKEN US NOW

TO THE POINT WHERE WE'RE ALMOST AT ZERO.

WE'RE SO CLOSE, WE CAN TASTE IT.