Ground Control (1998) - full transcript
Chicago air traffic controller Jack Harris is a wreck with guilt nightmares after a major airplane crash that killed all 174 aboard. He gives up the job and designs air traffic control games in Phoenix. Five years later, his ex-colleague T.C. Bryant, also transferred to Phoenix, desperately asks him to help out short-term, given desperate staff shortage on New Year's Eve with a bad storm predicted. A power outage hits, and the storm has caused their workload to multiply. Colleagues welcome him in very different states of mind but he quickly proves his capabilities, alas then the fatal memories start creeping up again: will his lack of self-confidence cause another drama?
#ON AN AVERAGE DAY ABOVE THE UNITED
STATES, OVER 200,000 AIRCRAFT CARRY MORE#
#THAN 2,000,000 PEOPLE GUIDED BY
LESS THAN 3000 AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS#
#MY BIGGEST FEAR? WHEN YOU'VE
DONE ALL YOU CAN DO AND STILL#
#HAVE TO LISTEN AS THE IMAGE
DISAPPEARS FROM YOUR SCREEN.#
US Air 34, you have opposite direction
traffic at 12 o'clock expect
higher when ciear.
Chicago, US Air, roger.
- You close escrow yet?
Yeah but...TWA 45 this is
Chicago center you have a good
evening sir...Yeah but Ann
wants to add on...a nursery.
It's about time. We can
always use another controller.
Yankee 20 Chicago center
descend and maintain flight level
two zero-zero Detroit
altimeter two-niner-eight three.
Yankee 20 descending. Chicago
center Transair two-niner-zero.
Transair two ninety,
Chicago center, go ahead.
Centerwe have a situation.
We have flames on engine number two.
Transair 290, this is Chicago
Center. I'm standing by to assist.
You have emergency clearance
for runway niner right.
TWA 292, expedite your decent,
maintain flight level one-five thousand.
Bonanza tango one, turn left
heading one-four-zero Hawker Bravo
Charlie, turn left heading one eight
zero maintain one five thousand.
November 100 Foxtrot imperative
turn left heading three zero-zero.
Jackie you've got American 45. - Got it.
- Transair 290. I'm standing by to assist.
How many? - Transair 290, this is
Chicago center, say how many souls.
Chicago we are counting now.
You are clear to turn and
descend at your own discretion.
Center we are looking for
niner right. Here we go.
Hawker Bravo Charlie, this
is Chicago center come in.
Hawker, Bravo, Charlie
this is Chicago center you
have a traffic alert at
twelve o'clock five miles.
Imperative you turn left
heading one-eight zero.
Two-niner-zero descending. - Boy,
get your hand off your joystick man.
Hawker, Bravo, Charlie
this is Chicago center.
Chicago center Hawker,
Bravo, Charlie with you.
Hawker, Bravo, Charlie this is
Chicago center you have a traffic alert
at 12 o'clock five miles imperative
you turn left heading one-eight-zera.
Chicago center Hawker,
Bravo, Charlie we're turning.
Chicago 290 I have a collision alert.
Transair 290, traffic is clearing
not a factor. - Are you sure Chicago?
Affirmative 290. Hawker, Bravo,
Charlie call your heading.
Hawker, Bravo, Charlie
is at zero-niner-zero.
He flies iike my ex-wife drives.
Chicago center two-niner-zero, we
have that information for you now.
Including crew we have one hundred
seventy four souls on board.
Thank you Transair 290
you are looking good.
Two-niner-zero out of eight
thousand and descending.
Transair two-ninety contact O'Hare
tower at one-two-seven-point-six-five.
You have a good evening sir.
Good night to you. Couldnl have made
it without you, Chicago. Thank you sir.
Transair two-ninety, you have a low altitude
alert, check your altimeter immediately.
Chicago two-niner-zero
roger...levei it...level it.
Transair two nine zero
this is Chicago center.
Chicago we are more, more.
That's it, that's it...
Transair 290, this is Chicago center do
you copy. We've lost positive radar contact.
Tower. Do you have him? - Negative.
Transair two-niner-zero,
this is Chicago, copy?
Transair two-niner-zero
this is Chicago, copy?
Transair two-niner-zero
this is Chicago center, copy?
Do you want me to call it?
Transair two-niner-zero
this is Chicago center do you copy?
I'm gonna call it Jack.
Transair two-niner-zero
this is Chicago center do you copy?
Tower we've lost 290. - This is
tower. There's smoke on the horizon.
To recap what little details we have
at this time, Transair Flight 290
crashed shortly after takeoff from
Chicago's O'Hare airport, with 174
passengers and crew on board.
It appears that there are no survivors.
The National Transportation and
Safety Board's action investigation...
#GROUND CONTROL#
Hey Jack, it's T.C.
I'm coming.
Hey, how you doing. - Hey, good. You oughta
try returning a telephone call now and then.
Sorry about that.
Am I interrupting anything? - No, no.
I'm just getting ready to start work.
No thanks. I can't stay. Just came
by to see how you're doing, see
you want to go to a
Christmas party with me? - And?
Come on man, give me a break. I transferred
down here to Phoenix six months ago.
I've seen you twice. - Yeah, and both
times you couldnt help yourself but
bring it up, so why dont
you just get it over with.
That's the trouble talking
to controllers, you're always
three moves ahead, you're
working me like I'm traffic.
That's what Ann used to say.
Sorry about that.
- Yeah me too.
So how's the software business? - Just a
bunch of ones and zeros, and zeros and ones.
I still find it hard to believe that
you'd rather work on an air traffic control
computer game than call real traffic. - It
pays real good and people seem to like it,
and the kids think I'm really cool.
All right here's the pitch damn it
Jack I want you on my team I'm strapped.
Murphy retired, he's gone.
Robin's out on a pregnancy leave.
McBain transferred to SoCal tracon.
- I dont know what to tell you T. C.
but I do not miss calling traffic.
Hey look I am not asking for a career move
here, just a couple of weeks, that's all.
Help me over the holiday hump.
I cant. OK.
Look I'm happy with what I'm doing.
I really am, I'm happy.
And I'm late so what about
tonight you got plans or what.
I got to work.
I'm going to get you plugged
back in you know that dont you.
It's just a matter of time. Now I
want you to think about it, that's all.
OK.
Hey T. C. - Yeah?
Happy holidays.
- You too hot shot. You too.
United 129 contact Phoenix 120 point
five. - Roger. Happy New Year, Phoenix.
Roger United, happy New
Year to you too sir, good day.
American fifteen, I'll
pass you to Tucson.
Hey Earl.
What about that molorcycle,
didn't you get that thing running?
Cessna one Delta Foxtrot, descend
and maintain seven thousand.
Amanda come on you know I can't order you.
- Look I promised my kids...
Skyways 309, Phoenix center,
turn left for 20 degrees for sequencing
Maddog 45, Phoenix center, roger.
- You still there?
Louie I don't care what the union
memo says. I need bodies here.
Bryant, we got the latest weather! - Amanda
I'll rotate you out first I promise.
Louie what's it gonna be...
Tell him if he can't get it
here in an hour, forget it.
Earl you're on.
Hello. - Who are you?
Look at this. - LA. is getting walloped.
Is this gonna hit us tonight?
- You tell me.
Where's the golden girl? - Up in her
office, kissing Senator Rutherford's butt.
Hi, I'm Julie... -Julie Albrechl.
I'm glad you're here. - Right.
Senator it's such a
pleasure to see you again.
I promise we'll get you
away as soon as we can.
Gotta do better than that. I'm introducing
the President live on all the networks.
Well 5:30. I promise.
It makes me proud that
the system's best young
facility chief is right
here in my home town.
I'm glad your here there's something
here, want to show you.
I've asked Washington
for permission to create
an incentive, a reward
system for the troops.
Say, if a controller goes five
years without a phraseology
error, we'll give him an FAA coffee mug.
What do you think?
- I think they'd love it.
Okay, okay ail aircraft
in my center, listen up,
keep it moving and
everything will be all right.
I'm gonna tuck you in tight like a G-string.
- Bryant, I'm sending you United 450, Hoss.
Come on step up or we're gonna
take you out back and shoot you.
I got it smart guy.
Center, SkyAtlantic 925, we are really
getting bounced around here, can you
give us a descent to two five zero.
Nine two five, negative.
Hold your altitude.
Phoenix, we reaily need to get out of
this now. - Negative traffic beneath you.
Break out the barf bags bro.
I don't see him on TCAS.
I'm not going to risk it.
Check your strips.
Increase minimum separation to 20 miles.
It's probably only a hiccup.
Quinn?
Quinn what's happening?
Tell miss golden girl to back off.
Or she can come down here and get
on her hands and knees her own self.
Right now look. I really
need your cooperation now.
So I'm gonna push your
buttons, and you're gonna start.
OK?
Thank you.
OK all right. Go to B sequence.
United three-three-ihree
contact K. C.
center at one-one
niner point nine five.
United 333, Roger. - We're back on
line. I want you to get plugged in.
Me? - Yeah, we'll find you a quiet sector.
Great! - Alaska twenty-seven-thirty
seven, maintain level three hundred.
Phoenix. I'll assume you mean three zero
zero. - Are you OK? - I'm cool, I'm cool.
Is this job to easy for you?
- It's a big sky, Hoss.
Phoenix nine two five. We have found the
smooth air. Thank you very much sir.
Happy New Year.
- Nine two five, roger.
Dont get cocky.
It's Randy.
Repeat Delta two eight five, say
your present heading and altitude.
Center, I'm still at two eight zero at 350.
- America 415 say your heading and altitude.
415 is at zero nine zero two, roger.
- America 415 descend to thirteen thousand.
Delta 285 maintain present attitude.
- Delta 285 roger.
They flip-flopped.
It's the machine. - Take
a break. - Take a break?
Take 20. I need you back
strong. - I can't work like this.
Center, Delta 285, you haven't asked
my heading in a couple of minutes.
You still there? - Machines!
Delta 285. Excuse us.
A little early Happy
New Year. No problem.
I'm not going to report the
blackout, it was a non-event.
Let's just make sure it
doesnt happen again, OK?
Did you know that the only other tube
like this in the entire world is owned
by some retired NASA pencil jockey
who lives in Huntsville Alabama.
He keeps it above his fireplace.
He calls it Tammy.
I call this Bob. Now, you want
a perfect operation, so do I.
So all I need is some equipment,
if you can find it, a budget.
Bob.
Hey old man.
If you can tell me exactly
how many turns to vector from
here to Dunkin Donuts.
I'll give you the whole box.
I hate donuts.
- Everybody likes donuts.
Vector, south southwest
to Maple street, south.
OK this is where we stand.
On top of our normal rotation,
we're being asked to accept
fifty more plus the entire
Pacific Rim LAX evening cycle.
Los Angeles is out too?
WOKS off, zero visibility.
Zero ceiling.
I'll say it again, a crush
like this would kill us
on a sunny day in July, and if
this storm hits us... Fifty-fifty.
Right now the front has stalled
about a hundred miles west of here.
Good. Well than that's it. - You
gonna take these additional flights?
Why should we let Denver and Salt
Lake have all the fun? Big guy.
Excuse me. I have an important
safety matter to discuss.
Excuse me! I believe Randy
Groves is still calling traffic.
It wasn't his fault. - I'm filing on
him. It was level 2, loss of separation.
Page seven hundred
and forty, appendix A.
Any airspace conflict must
be reported and investigated
and the controller involved
immediately removed.
I'm filing on him.
You wouldn't have one of these
stuck up your ass, would you?
You've reached Jack Harris at the sound
of the tone please leave a message.
Thank you.
- Jack you there, pick up.
Look Jack I need your
help, you won't believe
what this new Chief is
shoving down my throat.
I'm being selfish here,
but I'm, well, I'm strapped.
Come on Jack, just one night.
What do you say hot shot.
Come on, Jack, just one night.
What do you say hot shot.
Randy? There you are.
Are you all right? - Yeah.
- You good to go? - I'm okay.
I'm cool.
So, did you here what the golden
girl's doing to us down there?
Global 56 holding at the alley.
Global 56 taxi to two six right via
Delta to Charlie and hold by alley.
I am so glad to be out of that dungeon.
Tower we hit some road kill on Echo
you might want to notify maintenance.
Negative Captain we'll
just call your catering service.
Virgin 105 flow said it's another forty
minutes of snooze before Chicago release.
Might as well unbuckle. American
twenty-three runway two-six
left clear to land, winds
two-niner-zero at eight knots.
Altimeter two-niner-eight-seven.
- American 23 runway two six left, roger.
On your right.
We're responsible for the airspace
from Gentral Texas to the California
border all the way to within
five miles of the airport.
This is sector 14 high
you will be handling
all IFR traffic above
eighteen thousand feet. - Right.
Now, you have four planes
here that match these strips.
There's their flight plans, squawk
codes, hell you know all this.
Right, just like at the academy. - Yeah,
well, you look to be in good shape.
Keep'em apart, no trouble.
- All right don't worry about me.
All right the backups are
arriving I feel so much better.
Don't you know who that is? - No.
- That's right he left before you came.
Global 56, turn right
heading zero-eight-zero.
56, zero eight zero, roger. - I got a fifty
spot that says he has a deai tonight.
Now wait a minute, wait a minute. Just
any kind of deal or separation lost.
Southwest thirty climb and maintain
flight level two-three-zero.
Thirty's climbing. - It's not a
fair bet. - Why? - It's 290 Harris.
Just think I was going
to call in sick tonight.
Pacific twelve contact L. A. - No, no,
no. - center one-two-four point six-five.
Thank you Phoenix.
- Thank you sir. - Hey, Hey.
Center. American fifteen
with you at one five thousand.
Roger American fifteen maintain one
five thousand, resume normal speed.
How you doing T. C. - Hey good. I knew
you were still alive in there somewhere.
Roger UPS 19 heavy.
Happy New Year to you too, sir.
I'm ready and I'm here
where do you want me?
Right, well, you're not
going to need that actually,
I want you assisting on the printers.
You want me running flight strips?
- Sure man I'm there.
You know I'm gonna help you
get plugged back in, but...
Sampson 750, Phoenix control descend
and maintain one-one-thousand.
Sampson, one one thousand. - Roger.
- Look what we're dealing with.
I understand, it's alt right.
Yeah, I'll check with you later. I
know let's get a drink or something.
I don't drink. - A cup of tea,
whatever. - I got it T. C. thanks.
Cactus 68 advise when
you get the numbers.
Delta clear to roll winds
two-five-five at eight.
See you next time. - Hello,
hello... - Virgin one oh five...
Can anyone give me directions
to the festival of lights in Tempe.
What the hell was that?
Bonanza niner echo. Traffic
on a final two miles.
Expedite your cross runway two-six right.
- 2-6 right. Roger. - Skywest 4-7-8.
Hello! - Did you hear
that? - Hear what?
Skywest four-seven-eighi captain we're
still waiting for word from flow on D. C.
and Baltimore, will advise.
Hello! Phoenix tower. This is
Dr. Shamaal Makurgee, M. D.,
I am a licensed pilot, FAA.
Are you there?
Because I'm here.
Tower?
Tower repeat. This is Dr. Shamaal
Makurgee M. D. licensed pilot.
To the unidentified pilot on
frequency one two six point seven.
Contact Phoenix tower at one
two zero point seven immediately.
Air Mexico 183 Phoenix
maintain two-seven-zero knots.
Sequence for a buck?
- How much time do I get?
American 87, Phoenix turn left
ten degrees direct Santa Fe VOR'.
I'll give you five seconds.
- Shoot. - A 15, R30, C60.
T105. Next two.
E150. - Wrong, E 165.
You're slipping man.
I'm worried about my controllers.
- Your controllers will be fine.
They're among the most highly trained
people working for the federal government.
I got wind at eighty knots below
three thousand feet and zero visibility
headed straight for us.
- Wrong. The storm stalled.
Even so I already have to fly forty-eight
planes through a crack of
smooth air tighter than your budget. We
cannot handle the additional flights.
If Denver can do it. We can do it.
Damn it Susan this is
about the committee review.
This is about you and your facility rating.
Well this is not Chicago approach Susan.
This is not New York.
Now I know why you
stepped down from Chicago.
You couldnt handle it, could yeah?
Hey, where's my damn strips?
I put them in order of altitude.
Phoenix, Southwest five five six.
Did you say three five zero?
Hey, hey, rookie, rookie?
What? - Hi, hi, sorry to bother you.
What are these jets doing
in my sector? - I dont know.
Get them out of my air now, NOW!
- Phoenix, TWA 44, how about two four zero?
TWA 44,1, I can't approve
that right now.
Can you hold on a minute?
God I know how to do this.
All right, all right, all
right, all right. Okay.
United I mean TWA. - TWA 44,
Phoenix fly to two-niner-zero.
TWA 44, heading two-niner-zero,
roger.
Southwest 556, expedite climb
maintain flight level two-seven-zero.
Reduce to two-five zero-knots.
- Southwest 556, climbing to
two-seven-zero at
two-five-zero knots.
Why so slow? Southwest 556,
we got to untie a knot here,
but we will get you back to speed, and I
promise a smooth tailwind across Kansas.
Is there a tailwind? - I don't
know, but pilots love to hear it.
I'm sorry I should have
introduced myself sooner.
I'm Julie Albrecht. - Jack Harris.
Can I give you a tip? - Please.
Pilots are kind of like
dogs, you can tell what you
want them to do, but if
they hear fear in your voice.
They're gonna start to take
things into their own hands.
So no matter how crazy it gets on
there, you keep your voice strong.
Right, right, right. I'm
sorry i just got distracted.
If you want to get a pilot to do
something, the magic word is expedite.
Expedite your climb immediately.
- Expedite.
Now take a deep breath.
Your major concern is right here.
You can lose separation
in a couple minutes.
All you got to do is turn him, slow him
down and tuck this one in right behind him.
Left? - No, turn him first.
One-eight-zero, and you better
slow him down to three hundred.
American 101, turn right heading 1-8-0,
reduce to two-five-zero knots.
American 101, 2-5-0. - See one of the
hardest things to grasp is that your dealing
with a two dimensional image, but your
actually dealing with three dimensions.
Altitude, direction, and speed.
Which means time.
Plus you have to stay a couple steps
ahead of these guys. Look right here.
Your gonna have a terrible tangle here in
about 5 minutes, but once you realize that.
That's 95 percent of the battle. - Where?
Now, who over's working sector 25 high
kind of screw's yeah, by sending this
parade in all messed up like this,
but we'll get them lined up in no time.
I see it. - Altitude, direction and speed.
So, we'll turn United first?
No, he's the closest but
he's coming In the slowest.
All right. Southwest 60 turn
left heading zero-niner-five.
Break. Continental 923, turn right
heading two-seven zero. Break.
PhoenixAir 394, reduce
two-five-zero knots for
traffic overtaking your 12 o'clock, seven
miles. - Everything all right over here?
Yeah, we just untied a knot.
- Take your break.
Thank you.
Well? - She ran into a jam.
You want to slay with this sector?
I think I can swing it. - Center.
Vanguard 939 with you at xray.
- Roger Vanguard, 939.
I'll plug in right now if you
want to go back to the strips.
No, I'd like to stay.
- I thought you might.
Thanks.
Vanguard 939 welcome to my airspace.
We'll try to give you some smooth
air tonight. - Good evening Phoenix.
It's good to be with you.
- Good evening to you sir.
Get me Mister... - If this is
about Randy, I told you...
Do I need to get my eyes checked,
or does Julie Albreckt need a shave?
Who is that on fourteen high?
Do you ever go home? It's Jack
Harris. - Flight two ninety Harris?
Where's his paperwork? - I know,
Murray, it's my fault, you'll get it.
I won't sign them. This man could
be a threat to airspace safety.
That is my single concern, item one...
I was there the night of the crash.
- No one is questioning his quote,
heroism, unquote. I'm referring when
he transferred to Phoenix
and tried to return to work...
Murray, do you understand
what we're dealing with here tonight?
March 1994. Subject
arrived intoxicated at work.
He complete alcohol rehab program.
- July 1995.
Subject verbally abused
co-workers, had to be restrained.
And the complaint was dropped.
Look, I know how it may look on paper,
but I've known Jack Harris for ten years,
he's the best controller I've ever seen.
November 1996. After a level two
loss of separation, subject physically
assaulted facility chief.
And got a standing ovation.
I need him. He's stayin'.
I'm taking this up with the
regional inspector general.
You know what that could mean for you.
I've seen your file too, Murray. Did you
know, that in the entire history of the F.A.
you're only one of three controllers
ever to volunteer for that job?
Phoenix Approach at one two seven point
five five Point five five, good evening.
Have a good evening loo, sir.
- Just like riding a bicycle?
Okay, are you ready for your field
certification test? - Sure. Why not.
All right. What's our control
airspace? - Fifty mile radius,
hand off to tower at five miles, all
V. F. R and l. F. R. at 2000 feet.
And our runway configuration?
- Roger tower.
Delta thirty nine, we need you to slow
down your approach due to ground traffic.
Reduce to one four zero knots. Runway
configuration? - Delta thirty nine, roger.
Twin east west, both seven thousand
feet, rated level one, all weather.
Standard localizer and glide slope secondary
north and south at sixty two hundred feet.
Field elevation? - Two niner
eight seven above sea level.
And our handoffs outbound? - West, Los
Angeles sector thirty nine at frequency
one five eight point seven,
east El Paso one three five
point five, and north Kansas
City one two niner point eight.
Right-O.
I should've thrown this away
a long time ago, but I didnt.
Jezus christ.
- Welcome back, hot shot.
Thanks.
Mercury four seven seven, we need you
to turn right, heading one zero zero.
Mercury four seven seven, we're
turning, good evening to you Phoenix.
You have a good evening too, sir.
The guy's not here, he's got one foot at the
console, and he's got one foot in the sky.
I've heard enough on this guy. - Shut
up! I'm telling you, the guy's a spook.
Who you calling a spook? - Your buddy,
two ninety Harris. - At least he's a body.
We need all the help we can get.
- That's right.
But this is not the place and tonight's
not the night to rehabilitate a career.
We've studied the crash of two ninety.
I mean, you've heard the tapes.
There's nothing you, me or anyone else could
have done. - Yeah, yeah...
It wasn't Harris's fault! - You're entirely
missing the point. Forget the crash.
Look in his eyes. Where is he?
A good controller never thinks
that those are people up there.
He never minks that lives are at stake.
- Yeah, right, you're so full of shit,
of course it's about people... - You want to
end up like Harris? You wanna be a drunk?
Or like, what's the... - The white
guy, Wilkins, from Miami...
You're such a racist. - This guy
hangs himself with his own belt...
Should've called in sick.
- Let me tell you something.
You know where I'm going? To Chicago.
And I'm going to pull in the big money.
You wanna know how? Okay.
You've got a sky full of jets.
You get bad weather... - A night
like tonight. - And you handle it.
Period. If you think that those jets are
full of people, you're going to choke.
They're not. They're time
space and speed problems.
They're blips to be processed,
controlled and ordered.
That's it.
Human lives have nothing tb do with it.
- Amanda? How long you been off?
I know! - Why dont you do something?
Dont you work here? - Bite me.
So have you checked out the twin
turbos on the new Cessna by any chance?
Yeah. She's kinda sexy.
Flight sixty nine, you are
now cleared for takeoff.
Excuse me. - Make sure your tray
tables are in the upright position.
How you doing? I'm Cruise by the way.
I just wanted to...
I'm sorry about before,
I should you gotta keep
your ducks in a row.
A little light reading. Right.
Hey, if you've any questions
about this stuff, if you've any...
if you need, need help at
all, you can come to me, okay?
Thanks. I'll keep that
in mind. - Okay. You know.
Because it's tricky... you know...
there's some... night takeoffs, you know.
Horizontal separations...
The crank in the A. C.
in here is just amazing.
So. yeah. CM. eighty flight
manual. This is great.
Have you checked out the chapter
on deicing, by any chance? - Yeah.
It comes right after the chapter
on failed approaches. I think.
Yeah. That went surprising well.
You know, like in a first
date kind of way, I think.
Yeah.
Pacific four seven seven, contact Kansas
City center at two niner point eight.
You have a good evening loo, sir.
Twin Cessna four two five go. Clear
to Santa Barbara, V. A. after Blythe.
Direct maintain flight
level two zero zero. - Takeout?
Appetizers are great, they're only
five bucks. - Thanks. - Let me know.
Center, United three eight three,
climbing to three zero zero.
United three eight three, expect
continuous light chop, climb through
flight level two eight zero, then
occasional light chop after that.
Navy seven twenty four, contact Los
Angeles at one three three point two.
You, you want me to, keep
an eye on his sector?
Who's sector?
Do your job.
United twenty three, Phoenix.
Expect rough air ahead.
But you'll miss it if you climb
to flight level three five zero.
Phoenix. United twenty three. Roger.
Including crew, we have one
hundred seventy four souis on board.
Chicago, we are counting now.
Phoenix, Republic one
eighty six with you.
Republic one eight six, turn
left heading zero niner zero.
Intercept the Scottsdale two
three four radial inbound.
Roger Phoenix. - Break.
Thanks.
Cessna four romeo gulf, you are
two miles inside active military
airspace, suggested you fly
heading zero niner zero immediately.
Randy Groves, right?
You picked a hell of a
night to come back, Harris.
You know, ya... you're
were going to be my hero.
How's that? - Well.
You were out. You had it made.
Life after controlling.
Look at me. A total mess.
You had a deal
tonight, didn't yeah.
It wasn't my fault. Systems error.
I used to really love this.
I was really good, too.
So easy.
But now, I'm on the boards, and I drift,
I think about my wife and my kid.
I lost it. The screen is a mess.
The snitch is going off.
I have another deal.
Onestepclosertotheax.
Yeah.
United forty four, contact
ground, have a good day.
Sky Atlantic sixty two, Phoenix tower.
Captain, you need to do a
three sixty. - Damn it. Tower.
You know it costs this airline two
grand in fuel every time we circle?
Sky Atlantic sixty two, give
me four thousand dollars worth.
Pacific ten, turn left next
taxiway, ground point niner.
Hold at ground point niner. - Hello?
Who can read me now?
- Whoever is calling, Phoenix say call sign.
Phoenix tower, this is
Doctor Shamaal Mukurgee, M. D.
I'm a licenced pilot, F. A.
You have this guy?
- Negative on him.
Say your heading and altitude.
The direction in which I am
currently flying my plane is...
forward.
Dont worry, it happens ail the time.
Commander sierra romeo niner, cross
durango and maintain eight thousand.
Roger, center. Durango
at eight thousand.
Center, Southwest three twenty
eight, can we turn to two five zero?
Southwest three two eight,
deviations left of course
approved, when able fly heading
two five zero and advise.
Traffic at your three O'clock, eight miles,
same direction, flight level two two zero.
A seven thirty seven.
- Thank you, Phoenix.
Cessna thirty one victor, traffic alert
two O'clock, seven miles southbound,
mode C, indicates seven thousand one
hundred, appears to be descending.
American fifteen,
negative, maintain heading,
traffic two miles at your one O'clock.
Phoenix, T. W. A. forty
four, leaving eight thousand.
Roger that T. W. A forty
four, we're handing you
off to tower, frequency one
three four point six two.
Good day, Phoenix.
- Good day to you, sir.
Bravo delta niner, contact Kansas
City center at one two six four seven.
Good evening sir. - One two
six four seven, good evening.
Sunair seven hundred, descend and
maintain flight level six zero zero zero.
Sunair seven hundred,
Roger. Six thousand.
How's the ride ahead. - We've got some
chop, but we will get you through.
Center, we have a situation.
Center, we have a situation.
Chicago, we are counting now.
We have that information for you now.
Including crew, we have one hundred
and seventy four souls on board.
Hey. Are you going to call that?
Hey! Phoenix, Alaska two seventy
five... - Are you going to call it?
we have a proximity alert.
- Call it, Ace.
United fifteen, traffic alert,
turn left immediately at two
seven zero descend to flight
level two two zero, break.
Alaskan two seven one, traffic
alert, turn right immediately
at zero niner zero and descend
to flight level two eigrit zero.
Alaskan wo seven one descending.
- Sorry.
What happened? - Your friend
almost screwed the pooch.
Clear out his sector, I cover yours.
Northwest twenty nine, El
Paso altimeter two niner seven four.
Thank you, Phoenix.
- Center, what's ahead of me?
Alpha seven niner, you are ten
miles in trail behind a seven fifty seven.
We studied your case at the Academy.
You used to be a hell of a controller.
Good luck to you.
Shit!
Hey. Hey, what's up?
I can't do this. This was a mistake.
- Come on, you're doing fine.
I'm not doing fine. Look,
you just dont understand...
I do understand! I understand that I've
got too many planes to land with a skeleton
crew and a storm that's about to
roll over us like a freight train.
I need you, man, A side,
passing out strips, I don't
care if you get coffee
orgo clean the bathroom.
T. C, I can't see it. I can't
hear it. I can't do it!
Bullshit. You're giving
up. - I'm not giving up.
Look. I don't know what
else to say. I'm sorry.
Look. It's my fault. I shouid've
Jeft you on the strips. Nobody comes
back after a long break and
calls a busy sector by himself.
Now, god damn it, get your ass
back in there! Get in there.
Front's moving in. We just got
issued a flash flood warning.
Air Peru thirty five, i can
not understand you, please repeat.
Hello, control central, we're on
our way to the airport, requesting
permission and clearance to
descend to one two one five zero.
Negative Air Peru. That's a negative.
You have traffic beneath you.
Hold altitude. Do you
understand. Air Peru?
Phoenix control central, I am
Pedro requesting permission and
clearance to descend, do you copy me.
Mister Phoenix. Copy and
over. - Air Peru thirty five.
Does anyone in your cockpit speak
English? Prudential. English, Air Peru.
Listen. I may have been a little
too ambitious in our capabilities to
accept the final fifty aircraft,
the, uh, weather conditions
have severely deteriorated
and I don't think... Right.
No, I understand, we'll do our best.
I want to thank you again.
- No problem.
Can I bum a cigarette?
- Sure, yes.
Can I ask you a couple questions?
- Sure.
Tonight's so intense for me, I, feel like
I barely know what I'm doing, you know?
I wasn't scheduled to plug
in for another couple of weeks.
You must have quit? - Yeah.
I got a pretty nice opportunity with a
computer software firm, so 1 moved aver...
I meant quit smoking.
Yeah. I quit a few months ago.
I dont think I'm going
to quit anytime soon.
I just had no idea how,
how different calling
traffic would be compared
to the simulators.
It's just... You can't
really fail this test.
Yeah, but the pilots, they talk so fast, and
the radio cuts off calls, and the screens
constantly moving, and just walking into
that room it's just such a rush, you know.
Probably not for you, though,
it's just... routine, right?
So, how, how long have you been
controlling? - About eight years.
An instructor at, at Oklahoma
City, he would compare
controllers to athletes,
like baseball players.
He would say, don't think about hitting
the ball, just hit the ball, you know.
And then he just go on... Are you okay?
I'm sorry, I just, you
don't look too good.
I'm fine. - I'm not.
I'm wired, I'm sorry, I'm
talking a mile a minute, and...
Is, is it still exciting for
you, is, is it still a challenge?
You know, I remember the
first night I plugged in.
First night on the boards.
You're right. It's a great job.
There's no other job like it on earth.
It's kinda like your instructor said.
The one thing you got
to remember about sports,
the hardest thing to
do is hit a fastball.
True.
But you still love it, though, right?
Yeah. I still love it.
You're doing great tonight. - Thanks.
Contact Phoenix approach at
one two six point four seven.
Good day, sir.
- I really appreciate you staying.
Never again. You owe me for this.
Phoenix center, these
holding delays are bullshit.
Who said that? - Attention ail flights
in this sector, who said that?
Who said that word? - American four
eighty four, negative on the bullshit.
T. W. A, nine thirty three,
negative on the bullshit.
Continental sixty four,
negative on the bullshit.
Delta two eighty two,
negative on the bullshit.
Texas seventy seven,
negative on the bullshit,
I want you to set up for both
approach sectors. - You got it, Hoss.
East west approach channels, nice
and clean, hand them off to Randy.
You got it. - I'm serious. We've
got a snarly bitch bear coming.
Cake.
Southwest four twelve, contact Kansas
City, one three five point six five.
Roger, Phoenix. Happy new year.
- Roger Southwest, same to you.
Northwest twenty nine, El Paso
altimeter two niner zero four.
I'll do anything I can to help.
- Except clean the restrooms.
Strips. You got it. - Thanks.
Repeat Northwest twenty nine, El
Paso altimeter two niner zero four.
God damn it.
- Where's Phoenix?
Listen up Phoenix, you there?
All right people. Sit tight.
Wait for the emergency lights.
Can I take my break now?
- I have no idea.
I think the power company
lost a terminal somewhere.
Curtis. - Not so close. Listen.
Reboot the system, okay? No,
come back here. All right, listen.
Once you get the juice,
you come back here and
tell me why those batteries
gave out again, okay?
Quinn! - As soon as I know the rules,
you're going to love this game.
Okay, come on, watch your step.
Phoenix, we're just going to fly right
on in as fast as we want, do you read?
Phoenix?
That's it. - Quinn! You
are killing us up here!
You okay? - Yeah.
This. Kennedy is sending troops
to someplace called South Vietnam.
Are you holding your breath?
Well. We're partially back.
What do you mean? - It means
that we don't have enough juice,
so either it's your computers
or the cooling system.
You can't have a cool center and have
your computers work at the same time.
How long can we run without A. C.
I'd say, as soon as it reaches a hundred and
5 down here, the computers will crash.
Susie? Don't use all your lights.
To all flights holding for Phoenix
arrival, listen up and pay attention,
ladies and gentlemen, or something's
going to happen none of us wants to see.
We're sending you into twin lanes
for slam dunks as fast as we can.
Phoenix has suspended departures,
so ground traffic will be minimal.
You flights on the northeast ring, pass
out more peanuts, you're the cabooses.
Center, Silver Air four nine four,
you're gonna ruin our on-time record.
Silver Air four nine four, negative
sir, please hold your present speed.
Hey, for the record, you were right.
I called national flow
and tried to get 'em to.
The jets are coming,
we're going to land them.
Who's last in? - Transgulf forty
seven, regular run from Dallas.
Miss? Can I get another
Jack Daniels, please.
Yes sir, you can. - I'm sorry.
America West forty six. Descend
and maintain one four thousand.
One four thousand, roger. - So, is it
true what they say about controllers,
burning out by their mid-thirties?
That's what they say.
So why are you back?
I'm not back. Bryant needed
some help tonight, so I'm here.
I've lost radio.
Compile a iist of flights and fuel
levels. We gotta turn them away.
You're right, thanks. Cruise, alert L. A.
Central, Randy, call Kansas City. - Okay.
Amanda. - Yeah? - See if you can
get a hold of the duty officer
at the Air Force base, see if
their tower can be of any help.
Yes, I need central air operations
for all the major airlines.
All sectors, flight
strips down here a-sap.
Fuel estimates. Julie! - Sir.
Take down these numbers. F. L two nine
seven two, sixty five hundred pounds.
Alpha juliet five six seven
three, seventy nine hundred pounds.
Sector thirteen, I need your
strips now. All inbound aircraft.
Bryant, Palmdale has
radio contact but no radar.
Can they take thern? - Negative. - Well, the
nearest all weather runway is Los Vegas.
How many can make it?
- No! Los Vegas is out.
They got severe winds, heavy
rains and zero visibility.
Denver is nearest.
- Let's see...
These flights have got enough fuel to make
it, maybe Delta 41, but I wouldn't risk it.
All right, Cruise? Get on the
horn to Paimdaie and tell them
to send the following jets to
Denver. U. S. Air eighty eight,
Southwest four thirty eight, United twenty
one, Continental eight thirty eight, T.W.A.
forty four, Texas four ninety
three, Cactus twenty one.
What about the rest?
- Well, I dont know.
There's McClain Municipal, there's
the National Guard strip near Sonoma,
and the Air Force Base. - Well, the
longest runway of the three of them is sbc
thousand feet, Sonoma doesnt
even have emergency crews.
Well if Quinn doesnt get us back
on line, we don't have a choice.
Shit. Come on, clear the desk.
Okay. This is our runway, here are
our thunder storm cells right here.
Okay. Now.
All the gum pieces are our aircraft
above fifteen thousand feet, and
the batteries represent aircraft on
in-bound marker under ten thousand.
Quinn. The radio first.
I know.
Five seconds. Okay.
Northwest three nine
three will be right there.
Man, I hate those air traffic controllers,
I mean, what do they really do,
just sit there. Who needs them?
- What's FAA. stand for?
Fucked again and again.
Damn... Work.
Now. - Nope.
Now. - Not yet.
Come on. - Where are you going?
Isn't funny? This thing was on my
requisition form about six months ago.
I'm going to the hardware store.
You wanna come? - Can you fix it?
I need to make a decision. - Susan,
I'll know in twenty minutes.
Fifteen. - Why do you always say that?
Your attention please. Will passenger
Madison Persell please pick up the
nearest white courtesy telephone.
No. Unacceptable. I'm
going to direct dialog
the Senator and bylink
conference you in two.
Sir, I just learned that Duiles
and National are open, but the
White House wants to replace you
with the Speaker of the House.
They don't think you can make It in time.
It's going to be a P. R. catastrophe.
Christina, here is another reason
why you should've attended West Point.
You've obviously failed to master Command
and Control in a crisis situation.
I'm cool. - Phoenix...
Nort...Three nine... do you copy.
Center. Are you there?
- Yes! We have radio.
Northwest three nine three,
roger, sorry we left you.
Maintain flight level three five zero...
This is not a problem.
It's not a problem, just watch.
We split 'em into odds and evens, right,
these northern flights become the odds, they
descend to seven, evens
descend to six, odds bend back,
fold into one line,
five miles in-trail.
Yeah, but I dont see.
- Just stay with me, hang with me, please.
This can work. The odds
bend like an S, right,
slows them down, back
behind the parade, and in.
The final approach will
be like a slam dunk, but...
Why waste time with
this square dance thing.
We'll just have them hold and circle
and we'll just peal them off one by one.
Because there's not enough fuel.
Phoenix, Northwest
three nine three heavy.
Requesting clearance for
direct to the airport.
Northwest three ninety three,
turn right heading two seven zero.
Intercept two six left localizer, maintain
seven thousand and expect I. L. S. approach.
Roger. - Randy.
Here comes number one.
I'm ready. - What about the backup?
Negative again.
We've lost the i. L. S.
Where did they go?
- All sectors hold all arrivals.
Phoenix, Northwest
three niner three heavy.
We've got a major problem holding.
- Northwest three ninety three.
Remain in holding. We are
aware of your fuel situation.
You will receive vectors to the
Air National Guard base if necessary.
Well, it's all lit up. So
what does that say to you?
It says to me every system is working.
Quinn, we only have eight minutes.
- We only have eight minutes.
That's it Come on, let's go.
Phoenix, we have approximately seven
minutes until we declare a fuel emergency.
Unbelievable.
I hope you can see
this, Stratton, you...
I can read your lips, Quinn.
Sorry, but the golden girl
never climbs the stairs.
Unbelievable.
It's dead. - No kidding.
All right, talk to me.
- We're at the dish.
And we still don't have it.
- They still ain't got it.
Now or Never...
Phoenix, Northwest three
niner three heavy.
Give us the vectors
to the Air Force Base.
He did it!
- Clear the sky!
Northwest three ninety three, you
are cleared out of holding. Descend to
four thousand, expect I. L. S. approach,
runway two six romeo, break. U. S.
Air forty five, turn left... - You need
help? - heading zero five zero, vectors
to the approach course, descend to six
thousand, you are two out of five, break.
United three twenty five, turn
right heading two seven zero,
you will be following traffic
three miles at your nine o'clock.
Where's Stratton. I've
been sitting on a hard
plastic seat drinking bad
coffee for three hours...
Sir, only authorized personnel
are allowed in this area...
I was suppose to be in the air
at five thirty, It is now seven thirty...
Excuse me, sir. Could you please step
outside. - You dont tell me to step outside.
I can have all your asses on a platter.
To whoever can hear my voice, this is Doctor
Shamaal Mukurgee, M. D., Licensed Pilot.
I believe it would be prudent
for me to land the plane now.
However, unfortunately...
I still cannot see the ground.
- If you have a transponder,
turn it on so we can see you on radar.
Do you understand.
- Transponder?
No. - Where the hell did this come from?
That's it... Take it easy,
Randy, That's it! No more
taking it easy! And you just stay away
from me! Everyone just stay away from me.
Now Stratton, I know for a fact that
the Washington airports are open,
so what am I going to tell the President
about what happened here tonight?
Move, move, move,
move it! Aircraft sierra...
Sir, we're having a
very difficult evening,
if you'd care to discuss
it, we can step outside...
Not until you tell
me when I will be in the air!
Go to the tower and jump.
I'll clear that flight.
Sir. You are disrupting
a very delicate operation.
I am not leaving until
you answer my question.
I am asking you to
please leave my facility.
When you release my flight.
- I can't hear!
Leave, or I have you arrested
for trespassing.
I thought you were one
of our up and comers, Stratton.
I tried to turn them. - Well, they're
heading straight for each other, try again.
Flight five sixty, turn left
and descend immediately. Break.
Flight thirty four, turn
right and climb immediately.
No response. - Did you try helping
them... - No! Thank you! No! - Easy man!
Just get this guy away from me.
- That's okay. It's okay. - Jezus.
Holy shit, where'd he come from?
Mom, mom! I saw an airplane out there!
Twenty years of calling traffic,
I've never seen anything like that.
Forget about it, pilot error.
You all right?
Yeah, I've got these thunder storm cells
right here, we've just got east west left.
Can you do it? - Hey... it's me.
It's going to be pretty tight.
Is there enough fuel to restage?
Watch and learn, Hoss. I call
this the Mary Lou Retton flip.
I know you're going to pull me.
- You should've been long gone.
No. it wasnt my fault.
And you're not going to report
me... because it was the machine.
You're making it worse.
- Who investigates the machine?
I'm going to add a psych evaluation,
you're looking at 120 days.
No. Who monitors the system?
What are you gonna do with that? - Where
are the tapes? - Give me that thing!
Where are the tapes! No
investigation and no report!
No investigation and no report! No
investigation and no report! No! No!
No, no, no, no. - Calm, Calm.
Forgive me for saying... I told you so.
Murray, go home.
- Let go of the golf club.
Help him out of here. - I'm
okay. - Come on. - I'm okay.
Come on.
Do you smoke? - No. - Neither do I.
Mary Lou Retton. Next time I'll
show you my Michael Jordan slam.
No thanks Hoss.
- No thanks.
I suppose a blow job
is out of the question.
All right people, we're out
of the woods. Terrific job.
Well done.
Well, it was nice
working with you. - Thanks.
Good luck working here.
- You did great tonight.
That was fun. - Yeah. And we get
to do it all over again tomorrow.
Hey sweetie. Mommie's
coming home. All right. Bye.
Hey everybody. Hold up. A toast.
New Years! - Got any big
plans for the new year?
No. Not really.
Join us?
- No alcohol in the facility.
Got yeah!
Here we go. - Hey Sam.
How many you drop today?
Five.
That's low for you.
- I'd like to propose a toast.
To hell with Chicago.
To hell with New York.
You are the best controllers
in the world. - Hear hear.
Beautiful sight.
You guys hungry? You want anything
before I unplug Mr. Gourmet?
No thanks, Connie
Nothing personal, Connie, but, your coffee's
got more octane than the fuel in this plane.
I take that as a no.
Ladies and gentlemen, the captain
has turned on the fasten seatbelt sign.
If you would please make sure your
seatbacks and tray tables are in
the full upright and locked positions
for our descent into Phoenix.
Thank you.
- I still can't believe that game.
The Chiefs as a team has one purpose.
To burn me out.
Think you got problems? The damn
Dodgers haven't won since eighty eight.
Hey, pal, let me suffer here. I mean, they
had homefield advantage in Arrowhead.
Fuses are fried.
Hello. No avionics.
And no radio.
There goes the blood supply.
Switching to backup.
Negative.
- The pump.
Negative. - Once again.
Contact center.
Use your cell phone.
Goodnight, everyone.
- 'Night, 'Mande.
Radar room. - Phoenix.
Transgulf forty seven.
We've lost radio. - I'll patch
you through to your controller.
Cruise. It's for you.
Transgulf forty seven,
go ahead. - Roger Phoenix,
we've totally lost
hydraulics and avionics.
No rudders. No flaps. No way to turn.
We're flying blind. We'd be
hard pressed to make the runway.
Transgulf forty seven. How much
fuel, how many souls on board?
We have sufficient fuel, we'll have
to get back to you on the count.
I understand. - The weather's
deteriorating rapidly.
Roger. Contacting E. T. C. for
advice please stand by.
Roger Phoenix... we're
not going anywhere.
Bryant. We've got a situation.
The E. T. C. has no advice.
They can't believe it's still flying.
Initiate phase one emergency crash
response. Put 'em on the speaker.
Transgulf forty seven. We have
no further advice at this time.
Roger Phoenix, Just
keep us away from the city.
We got about forty seconds to decide
of we want them to ditch in the desert.
Any alternative? - Well, after
that its suburbs then downtown.
Right. So we slow them down right here...
- Without hydraulics, how do they get down.
Gravity. Just reduce
power, glide in and drop.
There's got to be a freeway, or some
roads. - Yeah, there are four access roads
in this five square mile area...
- At night, in no visibility, in a storm?
I know, it's sheer luck,
but its his only chance.
Look. This plane is going down. The
only decision we have to make is where.
The desert. It'll produce
the most survivors.
Forty seven.
Reduce speed as much as practical.
Roger Phoenix we understand.
Wait. There's another
way. By alternating
thrust we can give
them a no-gyro approach.
Susan! We have another option. Tell her.
When I was in the Navy controlling,
we had a Tomcat lose all hydraulics.
We regained directional
control by alternating
the thrust on the left and right sides.
Try it. - But what's the point?
What am I suppose to tell him?
Tell him we can get him to turn
by reducing power in one engine.
You and I, we time the turn,
lets say thirty seconds,
one degree per second, then
we can calculate. - Call it.
Well what's the point. Even if we can
turn him, we're are we going to send him?
He's got no hydraulics, no
glide slope, no localizer.
We'll be his eyes...
- Call it.
Transgulf forty seven, we recommend
turning by alternating thrust.
We'll try to establish
a consistent turn rate
and help you calculate
a no-gyro approach.
We understand.
Three... two... one...
It didn't work. - Come on. There's
a ten second delay on the radar.
He turned. Twenty three
degrees. - All right. Now, where.
Hold on, I think I got something.
South by southeast, towards the border.
Away from those storms. It's
low, it's flat, low population.
What about medical response.
It can't be too isolated.
Transgulf forty seven. We're
trying to figure out our next move.
Do you have any preferences?
- Someplace fiat and hard.
Roger forty seven.
- Okay, there's an Army base here.
They can help with search and
rescue. Straight roads here,
and here, it's worth a shot. - Your call...
What does he need to
do to head two seven zero.
In this plane, at his current speed, I'd
have to do a couple of test turns, but I'm
sure I can get him going
in the right direction.
Fuel? - Twelve minutes at current speed.
Do it. Find out who's in charge at
the base and get him on the line.
Wait a second.
I think we can get him back
to the airport. What? - No.
A series of left hand turns at
a controlled rate of descent...
He burns his fuel, drops under the ceiling,
and heads right to the city... - No.
We get him near the airport. We drop
him low, treetop level, bring him in
under the clouds... - And if you're
wrong, he's right over the city.
You're sending a 737
skidding into a storm with
no visuals, no hydraulics
and no glide slope...
I don't have time for this.
Talk to me.
A series of left hand turns in a controlled
rate of descent in a tightening spiral
brings 'em right into our runway.
- With a lot of lives in the equation.
I understand that.
Bryant? - With his fuel
we've got to get it right the first time,
if we're off a degree... - No. We
brought the Tomcat back to the Kitty
Hawk in thirty foot swells, and I got
to tell you our runways is a hell of a lot
bigger than an aircraft carrier.
Look. This might not be
exactly how it happens,
but we can talk him down.
Phoenix, this is Transgulf forty seven.
We, alt, are waiting to hear from you.
- Transgulf forty seven, please stand by.
Cruise, you call it, Harris, you
assist him with the numbers.
Bryant, alert all emergency
ground support.
Its all right.
I'm sorry, this is not going to work.
- No, it's okay, I can hold them.
Ma'am. I can't let you keep both of them.
- No Please we're not going to crash anyway.
Ma'am, you cannot hold both of
them, let me take one... - Ma'am.
Let me help. I can take one. - Thank you.
It's all right. All right. I got him.
All available rescue units, were
shooting for runway two six left.
8. T. A. ten minutes.
Transguif, this is Phoenix control.
Your flight forty seven has lost
hydraulics and avionics. They are
now communicating by cellular phone.
We have a fifteen second right
engine bum in twenty five seconds
Right. - Shit. - It's just a
hiccup, it's just a hiccup.
Come on, come on, Come ON.
- Fifteen second burn, ten seconds.
Wait a minute, that's too far, it'll put
'em at one eight zero. - Fifteen second...
They need to do a twenty three
degree turn... - Five...four...
...if we divert them that
long they'll end up in Mexico
Phoenix. Repeat.
- Shit.
Fix it.
Okay, we can compensate with a fifty
five second bum in thirty seconds.
Look man, you've got to calm down... - All I
want to hear from you is the numbers. Okay?
Try it now
Almost.
Phoenix the ailerons are back.
What's our next move?
Forty seven, we are working
on it, maintain heading.
Come on, come on, come on. - Fifteen
second burn, in ten seconds.
Forty seven, on my mark,
fifty second burn, right thruster...
No, no, fifteen second! No, correction
forty seven... - No, wait, wait, slow...
slow down. Say again?
- Calm down.
Remember, you're
talking to a man up there.
Forty seven. On my mark, fifteen second
burn, right thrust to one four zero.
Now.
And stop. - Level out.
Got it, Phoenix. - What's next?
Maintain heading for seventy five seconds.
- Maintain heading for one minute fifteen.
Good work! - Don't tell me how to talk
to pilots! I've never lost a plane.
I have a perfect record!
- Cruise. Step away.
What? - Harris, you call it.
Bryant? - Take a break. Now.
Knock yourself out.
You ready, Jack?
Let's do it.
Transgulf forty seven, sorry for the delay,
bear with us and we will get you down.
Ten seconds.
Stop the bird in five...
four... three... two... one.
Stop. Transgulf forty seven...
maintain heading for thirty seconds.
Radio's back. - Good work.
There are one hundred and
thirty eight souls on board.
Phoenix, our radios are back...
and including crew we have a hundred
and thirty eight souls on board.
Chicago center, two niner zero. We
got that information for you now.
Including crew, we have one hundred
and seventy four souls on board.
Phoenix. - Do you copy?
One hundred and thirty eight souls.
Center, we have a situation, we
have flames on engine number two.
We've leveled off.
Chicago center, two niner zero, over.
I have a collision alert. I repeat.
We've leveled off.
Phoenix control. This
is Transgulf Forty seven.
No.
Forty seven. We are
calculating your last turn.
It's going to be a long slow
sixty second burn.
Bring you right into runway two six.
It's seven thousand feet
long, open fields beyond.
Even without flaps, you will be smiling.
Ready. On your mark.
Copy.
Five... four... three... two...
one. Burn.
Steve. Steve, Will you handle that!
Transguif forty seven, come in.
Transgulf forty seven, come in.
We've lost positive radar contact.
Tower, do you have him?
Negative. Nothing.
Transgulf forty seven, come in.
I'm going to call it. - No! Don't you
call it. The calculations were right.
His coordinates were correct.
Transgulf forty seven, come in.
Damn it.
Transgulf forty seven, come in.
God damn it, they were
right, god damn it!
County rescue, this is Stratton, Phoenix Air
Traffic Control Center, we've had a crash.
Those of you with tomorrow
off, the NTSB accident
investigators Will be
here, and so will you.
Bryant? You'd better get up
here, Harris just ran by my door.
Jack? - The coordinates were right!
That's right. - My
calculations were correct!
I know they were. - A series of
left hand turns in a tightening
spiral brings them right
into this god damned runway!
Jack. Come on in now. - No!
Jack. Come on in...
Listen.
You did all you can do, now come on in.
- Wait a second, do you hear that?
It's coming from over there!
He's right. - Shit!
I've got positive radar
contact, five miles out,
heading two six zero at
one five five knots.
Phoenix, Transgulf forty seven, we,
had a little electrical problem.
Hope we didn't scare you. - Transgulf
forty seven, no scare here.
You should be approaching
the outer marker. - We got it.
Phoenix, can you confirm our wheels
are down? - Looks good from here.
Transgulf forty
seven, you are too far left.
Transgulf forty seven, you're
going to have to come around again.
Its okay.
No! - Transgulf forty seven, power up.
More power.
Jezus christ! Transgulf
forty seven, you are looking good.
Hey Phoenix.
- What's your name?
Harris. - What's yours?
- David Donnelley.
Let me buy you a cold one.
- David. be buying the cold ones.
You're doing all the work up there...
David? - Yeah Harris.
You see the runway yet?
- No. Not anymore.
Okay. Your last turn is going to be
approximately twenty seconds, on my mark.
Correction, your last turn will be
exactly-twenty two seconds, on my mark.
Three, two...one. Mark.
Right engine thrust.
Too far left.
He's right. Shit. David.
Can you come around again?
I can't do that.
We are committed.
I can do this.
He's moving over to runway one
eight. - Laura. Clear that runway.
You got it, Bryant.
- Come on, hold on.
David, more power.
YEAH!
Outstanding! Outstanding!
David, welcome to Phoenix.
Welcome to Phoenix.
Hey Harris. That Tomcat
missed the canter, didn't it?
Yeah. But we saved the crew.
Hey, Cruise.
You know, my
wife's here to pick me up.
If you ever tell her what
we've just went through...
you'll never fly with me again.
Our secret.
Feels good to hit
a fastball, doesn't it?
Yeah.
#DEDICATED TO TEH THOUSANDS OF AIR TRAFFIC
CONTROLLERS AND PILOTS WHO KEEP US SAFE.#