The McDonnell Douglas MD-11 is an impressive plane to me exterior-wise. Apparently, it was meant to be a major improvement over the company's previous pride & joy, the DC-10. The DC-10, of course, was the victim of a lot of major accidents, & because of it's bad reputation, I prefer the MD-11. Under normal circumstances, Swissair Flight 111 would have been no different to me.
But when I smoke coming out of the air conditioner...ugh, god...
@zackpoll Later in the documentary, there is mention that they did turn off all power to the cabin, there's one switch that can turn off power from the cockpit wall back. But when this entertainment system was installed, that switch was bypassed -- so for all the pilots knew, it WAS turned off.
Why couldn't they of landed at the closest airport, even if it was some small community airport? This fire was spreading rapidly? They could have taken their chances on a small runway. The fuel dump, what a mistake that was. That was their death sentence.
@cdawson Yes. You're right but pilots have strict protocol to follow. I will never forget this accident as I am a Canadian and a lover of aviation. I'll never forget getting the first report of it 5 hours after it happened. Tragic indeed.
yes. Planes can be much heavier when they take off than when they land. On a transatlantic flight they are expected to have burned most of that fuel by the time they land. If they have an emergency and need to land BEFORE they can burn the fuel then the only way to get the weight down is to dump it. If they landed with all that fuel they would be much too heavy. It would damage the aircraft and even cause a crash.
@mama3183 Like it says on the document, the fuel dump was necessary as the airplane was over the maximum landing weight. As for taking the smoke "seriously", the pilots have procedures they are required to follow. As far as I know, this is what the pilot's did. If anything, the pilot's made a mistake in misjudging their descent.
i remember watching this on the news it was shocking and disturbing seeing rescue officials dragging bodies out of the water, it was so close to home, i mean i could have been there is about an hour give or take....so sad
@Tunguskaja Well in a plane's air conditioning smoke is quite normal. And since the smoke was comming out of the air conditioning vent in the cockpit it was not alarming. They should have been more alarmed when there was a lot of smoke, but when the smoke only started it was not anything out of the ordinary.
Lights out in the cabin gave an indication to passengers that something was wrong, but hardly alarming?? Ah no, if there's an indication that something is wrong, THAT IS ALARMING
The pilots, and consequently ATC controller, made the mistake of just assuming the situation was not as bad as it was and that they had time to spare.
this decision of turning for the dumping fuel can also be discussed further.short after takeoff occurs fire on board,but the crew flies 45 minutes,without knowing the source of the fire...captain makes two wrong decisions in this,ones by fly further,ones by dumping fuel.he estimates his situation falsely too cool.
with my respect to the pilots,if that was me i willdive to the nearest airport or,evn ditch water,god bless them all when ever i hear air disaster my heart splits in to million peases!
The McDonnell Douglas MD-11 is an impressive plane to me exterior-wise. Apparently, it was meant to be a major improvement over the company's previous pride & joy, the DC-10. The DC-10, of course, was the victim of a lot of major accidents, & because of it's bad reputation, I prefer the MD-11. Under normal circumstances, Swissair Flight 111 would have been no different to me.
But when I smoke coming out of the air conditioner...ugh, god...
TheLastScion1 2 weeks ago
i would think they would turn certain systems off. if possible. hit the breakers. entertainment, passenger lighting, etc.
zackpoll 5 months ago
@zackpoll Later in the documentary, there is mention that they did turn off all power to the cabin, there's one switch that can turn off power from the cockpit wall back. But when this entertainment system was installed, that switch was bypassed -- so for all the pilots knew, it WAS turned off.
wolfeh89 3 months ago
@Tunguskaja I totally agree, those pilots are dumb as fuck. They are flying in circles while the bloody plane is on fire. Stupid, stupid, stupid.
miguelwpratt 5 months ago
fuck 20 min check list get that plane to the nearest runway
ryantttt 11 months ago 2
Cockpit full of smoke & its not an emergency?.
Kingdoc1976 1 year ago
Why couldn't they of landed at the closest airport, even if it was some small community airport? This fire was spreading rapidly? They could have taken their chances on a small runway. The fuel dump, what a mistake that was. That was their death sentence.
cdawson 1 year ago 2
@cdawson Yes. You're right but pilots have strict protocol to follow. I will never forget this accident as I am a Canadian and a lover of aviation. I'll never forget getting the first report of it 5 hours after it happened. Tragic indeed.
SaelPalani 1 year ago
Did I hear that right? It's standard procedure to dump jet fuel??
lesleyburt 1 year ago
@lesleyburt
yes. Planes can be much heavier when they take off than when they land. On a transatlantic flight they are expected to have burned most of that fuel by the time they land. If they have an emergency and need to land BEFORE they can burn the fuel then the only way to get the weight down is to dump it. If they landed with all that fuel they would be much too heavy. It would damage the aircraft and even cause a crash.
00Mandingo00 1 year ago
@lesleyburt .... not too mention carrying 200 tonnes of fuel that burns in any crash.
wierdwesterner 10 months ago
holy shit..now thats fucker scary!!
fleiva30 1 year ago
@Arishtat Maybe you are right..sigh..
You see.. I only live a few miles from where flight 111 crashed... and I will NEVER forget that night..the plane came down..
I heard it ALL..and felt it all and ever since..I am terrifed of getting on another plane.
Believe me..after witnessing that..you never forget!!
mama3183 1 year ago
Bend the Fucking gear and Land the Airplane, these guys man Some in the cockpit is a Get the plan on the ground now. The airline has to fire my ass.
omegaice8 1 year ago
He wasted precious time by dumping fuel and by not taking the smoke more seriously..
It ''could''of turned out differently.. but I guess..we'll never really know..sadly.
mama3183 1 year ago
@mama3183 Like it says on the document, the fuel dump was necessary as the airplane was over the maximum landing weight. As for taking the smoke "seriously", the pilots have procedures they are required to follow. As far as I know, this is what the pilot's did. If anything, the pilot's made a mistake in misjudging their descent.
Arishtat 1 year ago
i remember watching this on the news it was shocking and disturbing seeing rescue officials dragging bodies out of the water, it was so close to home, i mean i could have been there is about an hour give or take....so sad
MissAlbaNuadh 2 years ago
man i would have been finding out where the smoke is in the plane with a extinguesher!
pianomanmaestro 2 years ago
@Tunguskaja Well in a plane's air conditioning smoke is quite normal. And since the smoke was comming out of the air conditioning vent in the cockpit it was not alarming. They should have been more alarmed when there was a lot of smoke, but when the smoke only started it was not anything out of the ordinary.
oliverman22 2 years ago
Lights out in the cabin gave an indication to passengers that something was wrong, but hardly alarming?? Ah no, if there's an indication that something is wrong, THAT IS ALARMING
testpress 2 years ago
he should not have gone back to dump the fuel,
he should have made an emergency landing right away.
Xiber1 2 years ago
9:35 yummy food and drinks
shinesthrudarain 2 years ago
The pilots, and consequently ATC controller, made the mistake of just assuming the situation was not as bad as it was and that they had time to spare.
ilferrari 3 years ago 11
This has been flagged as spam show
@ilferrari pan pan pan...
PolskaUrban 4 months ago
...actually, what led to their demise was a disastrous policy of investing stakes in risky associate airlines.
These crashes didn't help, but they certainly aren't what drove the airline into insolvency.
ImmortalSynn 3 years ago
this decision of turning for the dumping fuel can also be discussed further.short after takeoff occurs fire on board,but the crew flies 45 minutes,without knowing the source of the fire...captain makes two wrong decisions in this,ones by fly further,ones by dumping fuel.he estimates his situation falsely too cool.
paganviodio 3 years ago 3
with my respect to the pilots,if that was me i willdive to the nearest airport or,evn ditch water,god bless them all when ever i hear air disaster my heart splits in to million peases!
solomonpilot767 4 years ago
damn, i heard that when the plane crashed the people inside were ripped apart
Spitfire995 4 years ago