The Impossible That Happened To British Airways 009 | Falling From The Sky | Mayday: Air Disaster

Summary

Key Points

• All four of the plane's engines progressively flamed out, leaving the aircraft gliding without power at 37,000 feet. 10:48
• The crew declared a Mayday and repeatedly attempted the engine restart drill while the plane rapidly descended, facing issues with autopilot and airspeed indicators. 14:25
• Cabin pressure dropped, oxygen masks deployed, and the captain made the difficult decision to increase the descent rate to reach breathable air more quickly. 22:42
• Captain Eric Moody informed the passengers of the "small problem" of all four engines stopping, leading to widespread fear and acceptance of their fate. 27:13
• Despite engine two surging and being shut down, a damaged windshield, and an unserviceable glide path, Captain Moody skillfully performed a manual landing at Halim airport in Jakarta. 34:35
• Facing the choice between crashing into mountains or ditching in the sea, the crew miraculously managed to restart engine four, followed by the other three, as the plane descended out of the ash cloud. 38:37
• British Airways Flight 9, a 747, encountered a dense volcanic ash cloud over Indonesia, causing St. Elmo's Fire on the windshield and smoke in the cabin. 41:38
• Investigations revealed that volcanic ash from the erupting Mount Galunggung had melted in the engines, choking them, but then solidified and broke off as they cooled, allowing the restart. 45:45
• The incident led to significant changes in pilot training, teaching them to recognize volcanic ash clouds, which are invisible to standard weather radar, and improved communication between volcanologists and airlines. 46:33