Mayday (2005) - full transcript

Twelve miles above the Pacific Ocean, an errant missile strikes a state of the art passenger jet. The flight crew is crippled or dead. Now, defying both nature and man, a handful of survivors must achieve the impossible: Land the airplane.

Captioning sponsored by
CBS

...well, that being said,
you better clear

next week, too, then.
And ask Raymond

in the design department
to e-mail me

the blueprints of
the factory. Okay?

Can I just have the keys?

When I know I'm
on the flight.

No, no, no.
No, no, I'm gonna make it.

No, I'm just
talking to my kid.

I'm gonna make it.
I'm gonna make it.

Dad, this is bull.
Doug!



Just... Have him forward me
the steel specs then. Okay?

Hi. Can you tell me
what time Flight 52 arrives?

11:15 a.m., Tokyo time.
Any bags to check?

No. Just carry-on. Okay?

They're already boarding.
You'll have to hurry.
Okay.

MAN:
I hope they'll be all right.

GIRL:
Come on, Dad.

You can worry just
as easily on the
plane as in here.

Let's go.

I don't care
whose birthday it is

or how hard it was
to get the tickets.

The SATs are next week,
and you're locked
inside until then.

But it's okay for me
to be your driver?

Don't be a smart ass.



You wanted the car,
so you're dropping me off.

Yeah. Whatever.
It's not "whatever."

We had a deal,
and you have to

live up to your end
of the bargain.

It's not a deal.

You want me to go to
college, and that's that.

Yeah. I want you
to have options.

All right.
I've got to go.
All right.

I'll call you when I land,
see if you need any help.

Yeah, you mean
you'll check up on me.

( chuckles )

Come on. Get on the plane.

If that's the way
you want to look at it.

Hey!

( keys jangling )

Forgetting something?

ANNOUNCER ( over P.A. ):
This is the final boarding call

for Pacific Global's
Flight 52 to Tokyo.

Passengers must proceed
immediately to Gate 24.

Electronics checklist?

Checked and complete.

Hydraulic panel?

Set.

Weather radar?

Operational. Storm front's
brewing 1,500 miles out.

Okay.
( monitor beeps )

( pilot chuckles )

David, call Sharon.
Let's get this show
on the road here.

You bet.

Hey, Sharon.

We all set back there?
Just one more straggler

coming through the gate,
and then we're good to go.

( scoffs )
I know.

It's always in my section.
( giggles )

Excuse me, sir.

May I see your
boarding pass?
Yes.

You're right up
these stairs.

Okay. Thank you.
Okay.

PILOT:
Good morning, folks. This is
Captain Williams speaking.

Welcome aboard
Pacific Global Airlines'

nonstop service to Tokyo.

We'll be getting underway
in just a couple of minutes.

So take your seats, relax,

and we'll have you there
before you know it.

Made it.
Can I take your jacket?

Oh, yes.

Thank you.

Keep you looking fresh
for when we land.

A little late for that.

Well, do you need a drink?

Yes.

But I better have a coffee,

'cause, uh,
I've got work to do.

Okay.

Maybe later.

DAVID:
Okay, Dex?

Daddy has to go now, buddy.

Yeah. That's right.

Time to fly the plane.

Okay.

I love you, too, pal.

Bye-bye.

Sorry.
It's, uh, my son.

Well, that's
okay... Daddy.

( knock on door )

Hey, guys.

Hey. Everything
okay back there?

Yep. Anything else
I should know?

Yeah. We're carrying

a couple of golden retrievers,
uh, down below.

And a Mr. Stein in 7B

has permission to look in
on them mid-flight.

No problem.
Are you done
with this, Dave?

Yeah. Thanks, Sharon.

Okay, guys.
Let's get going here.

Ground control,
Pacific Global 52

ready for pushback
from gate six.

Roger, Pacific Global 52.
You are clear for takeoff.

Yeah, well, he didn't
just leave you, Mom.

He left me, too.

Excuse me.

We're about ready to take off.

You're gonna have to shut
that off, now.

Okay. Mom, I've got to go.

The phone cop says
I have to hang up now.

What's the difference?
It's all the same.

Exactly. So you and
Mom won't mind switching.

Please?

All right.

Sorry, but you're gonna
have to take your seats now.

Okay.

PILOT:
Folks, please turn off

your cellular phones
and electronic devices.

They are no longer permitted
at this time.

Appreciate it.

Okay. That's going off now.

I was looking
at the proofs of the menu.

You know, if there's a problem
with the layout,

we're not going
to have time to...

Can you relax
for one second, please?

It's all under control.
All right?

No. No, it's not. Okay?

We open in three weeks.

And there's always, you know,
the "if" factor.

If we lose our ma?tre d',
if the coolers don't arrive...

If you don't shut up.

Where'd the flight attendant go?

I just want to confirm we have
the conference room.

PILOT:
Flight crew,

please take your seats
and prepare for takeoff.

Are you sure you're from
the same gene pool?

He was swimming
in the shallow end.

What?

Huh?

PILOT:
Tower, this is Pacific Global
52 ready for takeoff.

Roger, Pacific Global 52.
You are clear for takeoff.

Gear up.

Roger.

Gear coming up.

Flaps up.

Flaps up.

Engage yaw damper.

Yaw damper engaged.

Oakland Center,
this is San Francisco tower

handing off Pacific Global
flight 52.

Flight 52, you are
leaving TRACON airspace.

Entering Oakland Center
airspace.

Please make contact with Oakland
Center at 132.05.

Have yourselves a good flight.

Oakland Center, this
is Pacific Global 52

climbing to a flight
level of 65,000 feet.

Estimated cruising speed
nine-three-zero knots.

Roger, 52. Radar contact.

You are cleared to flight
level six-five-zero

via flight-planned
route to Tokyo.

You've kept a
tight lid on this?

The men in this room
and the pilots in the air.

That's it, Admiral.

Commander...

the pilots are standing by.

Awaiting the commencement
of the missile test.

Very well.

Is this the
projected range

of the missile?

500 miles, sir.

If the Phoenix
missile is successful,

it will double the range

of any air-to-air
missile in production.

That's an awfully wide berth.

Yes sir, but we're
gonna need it.

When the target drone drops

from the C-130, it'll climb
to an elevation of 65,000 feet

and establish
a circular pattern.

The F-18 will be moving
at Mach One when it
targets the drone.

The missile will be
moving and accelerating

at better than
one mile per second

by the time it hits
the target drone.

There's a lot of
elements at play, sir.

Now, with a lack
of a warhead,

will it affect
the missile's accuracy?

No, sir. We've
replaced the warhead

with a titanium
replication.

Targeting will
remain exact.

Commander, the C-130

is reporting rough weather
moving in.

We've had a storm
hovering out there all day.

Should we consider postponing?

It's just another variable
for the missile, Admiral.

Storm's been upgraded
to tropical.

We're gonna be
up above the weather,

but it's gonna kick
up a head wind

that's gonna slow us down.

Change course?

Well, you want to sit
over here

one of these days.
What would you do?

90 minutes out of SFO
and ahead of schedule--

it won't affect
our arrival time.

That's it?

And, uh, it would save on fuel

and make for a much smoother
ride for the passengers.

I'd do it.

Well, geez.
Maybe I can retire.

Leave this flying
computer to you two.

Hang out with the grandkids.
Play a little golf.

Yeah, well,
let's just hope

you don't play golf
with the grandkids,

'cause the world can't afford
to have that slice

of yours passed on.
Very funny.

Very amusing.
I'm serious.

This is a funny guy here. Huh?

Oakland, Pacific Global 52
requests permission

to deviate for weather.

Roger, Pacific Global 52.
Deviate as needed.

That'll take us close to
intersection Hawws.

Yeah, that's a military
operations zone.

Want me to plot
an alternate course?

Naw, they'll stay on
their side of the line,

and we'll stay on ours.

Okay, commencing turn.

More coffee?

Oh, yes, please.
Thank you.

Good timing.

Well, that
looks like fun.

What?

Oh... ( laughs )

Yeah. Just trying
to keep up.

( wry laugh )

I know the feeling.

( sighs )

CAPTAIN ( over P.A. ):
We've reached our
cruising altitude

of 65,000 feet, and a speed
just below the sound barrier.

At this time, you're free
to move about the cabin.

We hope you relax
and enjoy the ride.

We were thinking
about changing

the name of
the restaurant.

Oh, yeah? So was I.

So how about
"Mickey's Mind"?

Our menu changes
by the minute?

Hmm. Very funny.

Change the menu?!

So we're not
actually...?

You know what?
Never mind.

Elements in position,
Commander.

Contact the C-130.
Launch target.

Navy 559, this
is Home Plate.

Roger, Home Plate.
This is Navy 559 in position.

Launch target.

Home Plate, target drone
has been launched.

( over phone ):
It's Doug.

Leave a message at the beep.

( beep )

Listen, I'm sorry
I snapped at you.

When I get home,
we'll sit down,

we'll talk man-to-man about
the whole college thing, okay?

All right?

All right, I love you.

Where are you?

Study.

Bye.

Okay, the oysters
will be harvested

in Massachusetts
at 6:00 a.m.,

and then touch down
in Tokyo

in time
for dinner.
Beautiful.

That's if they
make their connection

and if we can maintain
a supply, and if

nothing
slows us down.

Rachel, some cocktails?

Yeah. Tell them
to leave he cart.

What? What? What did I say?

Amazing.

Whew!

The drone is transmitting
and is accelerating

to Mach 2.

Contact Navy 347 and confirm.

Navy 347,
this is Home Plate.

Do you have
target acquisition?

Affirmative, Home Plate.

347 has preliminary
target acquisition.

Mr. Stein?

Excuse me. Are you
the head stewardess?

Flight attendant, Dad.

I've been called worse.

( laughs )

I've been instructed
to take you below.

That sounds ominous.

( both laughing )

Maybe you should

take a couple of
those; chill out.

I'm chilled.
Just enough.

CARLA:
Mmm. ( chuckles )

At least Carter and Kennedy
will be happy to see me.

Ooh, we should get moving.

It says here every two hours
and it's been almost three.

They're fine. They've got each
other to keep them company.

You're right.
They're fine.

I know they're fine.

Oh, this way.

Oh, sorry.

He'll be fine, once we land.

I'll take care of him.

Oh... Is there
another restroom?

There's one in the back
of this section.

Right in here.
Thanks.

Carl, hand me
my binoculars.

What is that?

Probably some military jock

doing some high altitude
maneuvers or something.

We did deviate pretty far south.

CARL:
We're close
to the military zone,

but we're still
outside its perimeter.

I lost visual.

What do you think?

Well, it's pretty far
off our starboard.

Carl, make your way
back to the galley window.

See if you can spot it.

Go easy back there.

We don't want to
alarm anybody.

If it comes any
closer, we'll turn.

I'm gonna get the folks
back in their seats.

Ladies and gentlemen, this
is the captain speaking.

We may encounter
a little turbulence,

uh, so I'm gonna put
the seat belt sign back on

and ask that you return
to your seats and buckle up.

Thanks.

Why would anybody
wear that?

And you know
who she's dating.

Ugh! I know.

Excuse me.

Navy 347, confirm
good target resolution.

Home Plate, Navy 347
has target in good resolution.

Distance is 480 miles.
Over.

Foxtrot-Alpha-Whiskey--
fire at will.

Navy 347, this
is Home Plate.

Foxtrot-Alpha-Whiskey--
fire at will.

Repeat: Navy 347,
Foxtrot-Alpha-Whiskey.

Roger, Home Plate.

Fire one.

There they are.

( laughing )
Watch your head.

Thanks.

Hello, guys.
Hello there, huh?

Did you miss me?

Hey, did you miss me?

Do you travel with them often?

Nope.

This is the first time.

It was all part of a deal
I made with the girls:

if I took the transfer,

then the entire family

would move to Tokyo
for the year.

Right, guys? Huh?

Huh? Where we goin'?
( intercom rings )

Where we goin', huh?

Sharon here.

CARL:
Hey. We're getting people
back to their seats now.

We'll be right up.

Home Plate, this is Navy 347.

Confirm that only one
target drone was dropped.

Navy 347, this
is Home Plate.

Confirm: only one
target drone dropped.

Home Plate, I read two targets.

Turbulence shouldn't
last long.

Then we'll open up
the room again.

Okay, just, uh, just
need one more minute.

Is it a fighter?

No.

No, that's a military
target drone.

( passengers screaming )

Holy...!

We're losing pressure!

( grunting with effort )

My God!

CARL:
Captain!

Captain!

Captain!

( screaming )

Help! Mom! Help!

Mom!
( screaming )

(screaming)

( screaming )

( screaming )

( screaming )

( screaming )

( screaming )

This is Pacific Global 52.
Come in!

Oakland Center, come in, please!

I'm going
to release
the autopilot.

Try to take this thing
down manually.

Deploy
the spoilers.

Spoilers deployed.

All right.

(screaming)

Reprogram the autopilot

to pull us out
at 11,000 feet.

(screams)

( screams )

(air hissing)

Current altitude?

Flight level 570.

Descending at 12,000 feet
per minute.

Make sure the air packs
are on full everywhere.

Air packs on.

(air hissing)

( screaming )

Autopilot ready to level out
at 11,000 feet.

In three minutes.

Drop us faster!

We'll be out of oxygen by then.

I can't.

If I drop,
the flaps will shear off.

Keep your finger
on the autopilot.

Lock it in

before you pass out.

Captain!

Captain!

(air hissing)

( inhaling deeply )

(banging on door)

Sir, something
is strange here.

The drone target signal
is still active,

but the Phoenix
is no longer transmitting.

Navy 347, this is Home Plate.

We are receiving
conflicting signals.

Our monitors
verify missile impact.

However, target drone is still
transmitting. Do you copy?

MAN:
Confirm missile impact.

Tracking target drone
in vertical fall since impact.

It is descending at a rate of...

12,000 feet per minute.

The missile may have
just grazed the drone.

Without a warhead,

it would take a full-face
hit to destroy it.

12,000 feet per
minute is too slow.

Well, the impact may have
distorted the drone's shape,

increasing the drag,
slowing its descent.

Home Plate, this is Navy 347.

Vertical scan indicates

the target's descent rate
has decreased.

12,000 feet per minute.

8,000 feet per minute.

6,000.

Target leveling out
at 11,000 feet.

347, proceed
toward target immediately.

Roger, Home Plate.

I'm 460 miles out.

ETA is 16 minutes.

There is only
one explanation

for a recovery from
a rapid descent like that.

I'm aware
of that, Admiral.

( inhaling deeply )

We got air.
We got air!

We got air.

We're stuck.

(crying)

Oh, no.
Oh, no. Oh, no.

Home Plate,
Navy 347 has visual contact.

We hit a commercial airliner.

Confirm last transmission.

Confirm contact with
a commercial transport.

There's a three-foot hole
on its starboard side.

and a six-foot one
in the port fuselage.

Are we operating
outside our hot zone?

I don-/////!t know, sir.
It-/////!s close.

Is it possible
the missile locked on

to something outside the zone?

It-/////!s possible, sir, if
they were close enough to the
perimeter,

and had a big enough
heat signature.

What would be flying that high?

347,
can you identify aircraft?

Home Plate,
it-/////!s a Pacific Global
Straton.

It-/////!s a new SST.

They-/////!re running out
of San Francisco.

Why weren't we told about this?

We were, sir.

They must be flying
outside their normal corridor.

347, are there any signs
of life onboard?

No apparent movement
in the cabin or the cockpit.

I'm less than 30 feet away.

347, drop back
to a safe distance

and monitor from there.

That aircraft is unstable. Copy.

Roger, Home Plate.

Go.

Hello!

Hello!

Hey!

Hey!

Oh, my God.

Oh, no.

Oh, God.

Hello!

Oh, my God.

Hello!

Help!

( banging on door )

Help!

Help!

Hello!

I can hear you!

Help!

( banging on door )

( banging on door )

Hello!

Help!

I'm coming!

I can't
open the door!

Make sure it's unlocked!

It is!

Hang on.

What?

No! Don't
go away, please.

Please don't go away! Please!

Wait a second.
I won't leave you.

Please!

Okay! Hang on. Hang on.

Okay. Okay.

Can you push it out?

Yes.

Are you okay?

Uh-huh.

Good.

Oh, my God. Oh, my God.

Are they all dead?

No.

Yes, they are. You're lying.

They're not moving.
Listen to me.

They're
unconscious. Okay?

From the
decompression.
All right?

They're all
unconscious.

Now, let me try
and get us some help.

I'm going to need
to find a crew member.

Wait. Wait.
I think I saw

a crew member go in a elevator.

Where?

There. There.

Okay. Okay. Come with me.

Okay.

Get low.

Get low, okay? Go!

Hello?

We're here!

The power's out.

You'll have
too open it manually.

Okay. Are you okay?

Yes.

( grunting )

You okay, sir?

Yeah. I'm okay.

Are you okay?
Yeah.

Okay.

What happened?

I don't know exactly.

I felt something
slam into the plane, and...

and then we went
into a free fall.

There are holes
in the side of the plane.

Oh, my God!
Sir!

No! Don't!
Wait!

Stop! Wait!

Be careful!

( crying )

I have to get to the cockpit.

Wait.

The captain's dead.

We're on autopilot.

We have to radio for help.

Sir!

Are you okay?

Strap yourself in.

( pounding )
Hello!

( pounding )
Hello!

( indistinct conversations )

There's been no Mayday on either
international emergency channel.

Maybe their
radio's down.

Anyone who survived the impact
would have been subjected

to complete decompression, sir.

There's less than one percent
oxygen in subspace

and no one is surviving on that.

How do you account for
the plane's leveling off?

Maybe in the chaos
someone had the sense

to re-engage the auto-pilot.

Matos reported them
slumped over the consoles, sir.

So you're assuming
everyone is dead?

It's an unfortunate probability,
sir, but yes.

I believe they're all dead.

David! David!

David!

Can you hear me,
David?

What's our flight number?

Fifty-two.

Okay, David.

Mayday, Mayday, Mayday.

This is Pacific Global
Flight 52. Do you copy?

Are you a pilot?

Twin engines.
Nothing like this.

Mayday, Mayday, Mayday.

This is Pacific Global
Flight 52. Do you copy?

( beeping )

Carson?

Yeah, Jack.

You got 52 to Tokyo?

Uh, hang on.

Yep.

They're overdue
with their position report.

Yeah, you're right.
No update since Haaws.

You want me to send a request?

Give 'em until 14:30.

JOHN:
Mayday, Mayday, Mayday.

This is Pacific Global
Flight 52.

Do you read me?

( static hissing )

Mayday, Mayday, Mayday.

This is Pacific Global
Flight 52.

Do you read me?

( static hissing )

Mayday, Mayday,
Mayday.

This is Pacific Global
Flight 52.

Does anyone copy?

Sharon!

Sharon, I need
your help in here.

What about me?

You stay with
the copilot.

If he wakes up

and starts talking at all,

come and get
one of us.

Mayday, Mayday,
Mayday...

I-I can't do that.

I'm not...I'm not even
supposed to be here.

I mean, my dad
was supposed to visit me

and then my mom said
that I had to go and Japan

to see him,
and... I...

It's all just
this big mistake.

You're right.
You're right.

But we can't change that.

Right now we have
to look after each other.

Okay, you can do this.

What if he dies?

He won't die.

You just
stay with him.

Keep him company.
His name is David.

I'll be back to check
on you in a bit.

You'll be fine.

Anything yet?

Does anyone copy?
Nothing.

If we were transmitting,

someone would have
responded by now.

Do you know this cockpit?

Anything look
familiar in here?

You're the pilot.

My Skymaster is all
dials and gauges.

This is a glass
cockpit.

All the instrumentation
is here.

I just don't know where.

Now, we need to make contact
with someone who does.

That's our
first priority.

Okay.

Mayday, Mayday, Mayday.

This is Pacific Global
Flight 52.

Anyone copy?

There's been nothing broadcast
on any frequency.

Keep on it.
Yes, sir.

Nothing, sir.

It won't be long
before Oakland Center

realizes that they've lost
contact with the Straton.

We have containment
for now.

I'm proposing we
classify the aircraft

as a derelict ship and
act upon it accordingly.

Scuttling an abandoned trawler

is a long way from downing
a commercial airliner.

Perhaps, sir, but these
are the facts

as we know them right now.

There is no
physiological way that anybody

would have survived
explosive decompression.

That aircraft is on
autopilot and it will,

if left unabated,
eventually fly back over land,

run out of fuel and then
drop to the ground.

We've already made
one mistake today.

I would caution
against acting too hastily.

I believe not acting would be
our second mistake, sir.

If the hull of that
aircraft were ever found,

the facts would make
themselves known.

Ballantine.

Get me the oceanic
depth charts for the area.

Yes, sir.

Won't it work?

No power.

Oh...

( beep )

Mine works.

We're 1500 miles from
the closest cell tower.

We've got to be just off
the coast to get any reception.

What about the radio?

It's not transmitting.

We probably lost connection
with the antenna.

So... we're alone up here?

For now.

( pounding )

Hello!

Help! We're in here!

Help! Is anybody out there?

( breathing heavily )

( pounding )

Hello!

There's nobody
out there.

No.

Hey.
Sis, listen to me.

If there was anybody out there,
they would have heard us by now.

I'm the pessimist
in the family, right?

And I know we are
going to be okay.

Hey. Listen.
Listen.

You hear?

We're still flying.

Okay.

That's because
they're all dead, Mickey.

And so are we.

( distant sirens wailing )

Pacific Global,
this is Oakland Center.

Flight 52's
position report is overdue.

Are you in contact
with them?

We'll look into it.

Jack.

Oakland Center lost
contact with 52.

Try the data link.

Find out what's
going on up there.

( beeping )

Hey, Sharon?

Do you have any idea
what that is?

It's the data link!

Why didn't I think of that?

The what?

"Flight 52,
what is your status?"

It's-It's Pacific Global.

In San Francisco?

No, no, there's a terminal
in the dispatch office.

We can text message
back and forth.

Woo!

Are you kidding me?

Tell them what's
going on.

Tell them what's going on.

Emergency. Mayday.

Aircraft
damaged.

Radio dead.

Mid-Pacific.

Need help.

"Flight 52...

Woo!

"...Mayday call received.

Standby on this channel."

( printing )

"Flight 52,
explain nature of emergency.

"Nature of assistance.
Amount of fuel.

Present position."

Okay, tell them pilot dead.

Copilot unconscious.

Navigator lost.

Tell them I am, uh,

a weekend pilot.

"Two holes in cabin.

"Suspect bomb.

"Complete decompression.

"Three passengers, one flight
attendant survived.

Others dead or comatose.
Need help."

That's an understatement.

Got Mr. Johnson
on the phone for you.

Mr. Johnson.

Yeah, we got a plane
in distress.

Flight 52 to Tokyo.

It's a Straton.
How bad is it?

Explosive decompression.
Flight crew dead.

We've made contact with a flight
attendant and a weekend pilot.

They and two others

were in positive pressure areas
during decompression.

Was it a bomb?

Could well be.

We're gathering as much
information as we can.

Can this, uh, pilot
handle a Straton?

I don't know.

I'm gonna try taking
him through a turn.

Well, if you think he
can handle it, then do it.

I'll be there
in 20 minutes.

Okay, people, listen up.

I need detailed charts of
Flight 52's last known position,

fuel estimates
and contingency plans.

On the double.
( forcefully claps )

Let's go.

Nichols, what
is there current position.

They're about to fly over
the Nelson Abyssal.

It's over two miles deep.

It's been 55 minutes

since the Phoenix
struck the Straton.

There's been no change
in course or speed.

Our course of action

seems very clear.

If she remains aloft,
we risk further loss of life.

Not to mention the damage

that this incident
could inflict upon the Navy

and upon our country.

Washington authorized
this test

because we don't want
to fight even.

We want to fight ahead.

And as unfortunate
as this situation may be,

if it surfaces, it could
cost us that advantage, sir.

I may not agree with your
assessment of the situation,

but this is your command.

Given what we know,
I won't stand in your way.

Understood, sir.

Get me Navy 347.

Navy 347, standby.

Home Plate, this is Navy 347,

standing by.

Navy 347,
this is Home Plate.

You are to render the autopilot
on the Straton inoperable.

Confirm.

Confirm, Navy 347.

Roger, Home Plate.

Navy 347 proceeding
with mission profile.

Commencing approach.

Jack!

Based on their current location

and fuel report,

if you're gonna
turn them back

you have to do it
right now.

Let's see what our
weekend pilot can do.

"Can you identify and use
auto-pilot heading knob?"

Tell them yes.

"Can you recover if you lose
control or autopilot fails?"

I doubt it.

But tell them to give me
the coordinates and...

let's try this.

Request new coordinates.

Ready to attempt turn.

( beeping )

Magnetic heading?
80 degrees.

Okay. Ready?
Uh-huh.

Hold on.

( beeping )

Home Plate,
I have missile lock.

( beeping )

Home Plate,
the Straton is turning.

Repeat,
the Straton is turning.

Heading north.

Still turning...

Airspeed and altitude

unchanged.

New course is 80 degrees.

( laughter )
Oh...

You did it!

Okay.

We're headed home.

Okay.

All right.

We've still got to land
this beast.

"Very nice work.

"Everyone here is working hard
to bring you home.

Standby."

Oh, my God.

HEMMINGS:
He's heading back
to California.

347, break off and stay
in trail formation.

Home Plate, do you require
visual of the cockpit?

Negative, 347.

Stay in trail.

Aircraft is still
considered unstable.

Roger, I read.

Stay in trail.

Nothing has changed.

No. Everything
has changed.

He made the turn?

Without a hitch.

All right, be ready to brief me
in five minutes.

( dialing phone )

Metz here.

It's Wayne Johnson.

We have a situation.

It's a Straton.

Let's find some water.

No, Sharon, I need you to stay
with me.

Could you get it by yourself?

Oh, yeah.

SHARON:
It's in the galley
on the left side.

Oh, okay.

Tough kid.

Yeah.

They're all tougher
than you think.

You have any?

Me?

Oh, no.

I haven't found the right guy.

Or the time.

( chuckles )

Oh, there's never enough time
for them.

You just try to do the best
you can

and not screw them up
in the process.

Are you close with your boy?

Yeah... yeah.

Yeah.

His mother died when he was four
so it's just been us.

Then one day, uh, you know,
you wake up and...

( laughing )

They've got minds of their own,
yeah.

Yeah, you got that right.

I just, uh, I've got to learn
to back off a little.

I'm sure you do just fine.

Aw, come on.

Talk to us,
talk to us.

( wind blowing )

You should come upstairs.

It's a lot safer.

Amy and Erica...

wanted to be closer
to the movie screen.

My wife and I
changed seats

with them.

All the planning
for the future...

worrying when... the girls
would come home late...

My whole life was right here.

Look, um, we're on our way back
to San Francisco...

and there are people
on the ground

that are helping us.

W-we're gonna make it.

So you should...
you should come upstairs.

How many planes
do we have in the air?

Eighteen.

Let's make sure
they're all right.

Listen, folks, if you're
not directly involved

in getting 52 back,
please return to your desks.

We need to keep this quiet until
we have a clear plan of action.

All right?
Thank you.

Oakland Center's on line six.

I'll take that.

This is Wayne Johnson.

Mr. Johnson,
this is Marlene Cobb,
Oakland Center.

What is the status
of Pacific Global 52?

We're in contact.

There's a radio problem

and communication
is currently limited
to the datalink.

They're headed back.

I'll call back with specifics
once we have them.

All right, sir.

We'll continue monitoring
and await your call.

Thank you, sir.

Would you give us a minute,
please?

We've got about an hour

until the world starts
breathing down our necks.

I want these men
thinking about that aircraft,

not fielding calls
from the press

or being badgered
by some outside agency.

So, what's next?

Can this guy
bring it home?

Well, he's
a weekend pilot,

but with some luck
he's got a chance.

He says he's got
passengers alive

but in some sort
of coma.

Is that even possible?

It's not only possible,
it's unavoidable.

Oxygen deprivation
at 65,000 feet.

They had no chance.

Who are you?

This is Anne Metz from
Beneficial Insurance.

Would you
excuse us, please?

Sure.

This is what
we're dealing with.

We're staying here.

Home Plate,
this is Navy 347.

Navy 347,
go for Home Plate.

Home Plate, we have passengers
and debris

falling from the plane.

347, keep your distance.

Roger, Home Plate.

Falling back.

I'm not leaving
my wife.

JOHNSON:
Instructions on landing:

I have to talk him down
over a damn typewriter.

How is it that this works
and not the radio?

Datalink runs off a satellite,
not an exposed radio antennae.

So no one else can monitor
your communications?

No.

No, it dead ends on both sides.

So many will die.

We have a chance here.

It will get worse,
not better.

And it'll be left
on your doorstep.

Passenger manifest.

Should we have P.R.
contact relatives

of the passengers?

We can start booking them
on flights to San Francisco.

No, not just yet.

I still owe
Oakland Center a call

and, uh, I want
to make sure

we're not missing
anything before
we go public.

All right.

What's on your mind?

There is a finite amount
of water in the well.

What?

Follow me on this.

You have an amateur pilot

flying the most sophisticated
aircraft in the world.

There are three scenarios here:

One, your weekend pilot
crashes into the ocean

and everyone on board
is killed.

102 death payouts
is a figure
I can calculate.

I'm sure you can.

I deal in actuarial tables
and loss of life
does, in fact,

have a fixed price
attached to it.

Go on.

Scenario number two,
Mr. Berry

slams that plane
directly

into the heart
of downtown San Francisco.

Thousands will be killed.

And that doesn't
concern you much?

If he destroys ten city blocks,

Federal disaster relief
will probably kick in.

And you'd be
off the hook.

Possibly.

And outcome number three,

if he successfully
lands that plane

we are all
in an unenviable position.

Death payout
is one thing,

but that man is carrying
a plane full of patients

likely requiring
around-the-clock care
for the rest of their

diminished existence.

Billions of dollars
in lawsuits,

victims' families,
pain and suffering.

The bills will be endless.

Beneficial Insurance
will be bankrupted
anth theicms

will go
after your airline.

You guys always figure out
a way to pay.

Not this time.

The numbers are too big.

Pacific Global will fold under
the weight of the Straton.

There is no upside

to landing that plane.

There are people alive up there.

Marginally.

I still think he has a chance.

JOHN:
Our fuel's low.

Well how could
that be possible?

We're supposed to be going
all the way to Tokyo.

The fuel load would
have been calculated

for the thin air
at 60,000 feet.

Down here we're probably burning
at three times that rate.

I don't know if we have
enough fuel

to make it all the way back.

What's going to happen
to them?

Are they going to... are they
going to stay like that?

I don't know, but they're
going to need help

as soon as possible.

METZ:
You could include others
in the decision process,

but that would take time.

You think the board will vote
on something like this?

How many thousand
of families will be ruined

when Pacific Global folds?

I mean think of all
the people on the ground

whose lives will be destroyed
by some insane gamble

to try to land that plane.

I mean you can't even

talk to the guy.

He's over the Pacific
heading towards a storm.

And very soon the decision
will be out of your hands.

It's Oakland Center on six.

They want an update.

This is Wayne Johnson.

We've lost contact
with Flight 52.

Initiating search and rescue.

What?

When did that happen?

Pacific Global is reporting
the loss of Flight 52.

Search and rescue are en route.

We've lost containment.

No, no, no, no, no, no.
The window is just tightening.

All right, if they
find this aircraft,

that's just going
to be the beginning

of a very lengthy
and damaging investigation

that the Navy does not need.

The Nimitz is
the closest carrier.

They're launching search
and rescue now.

75 minutes is
the earliest intercept.

We are ending this right now.

Home Plate, this is Navy 347,
confirm current mission.

Navy 347,
this is Home Plate.

Confirm current mission.

This aircraft is
deemed derelict.

Confirmed.

Home Plate, this is 347.

Requesting permission
to abort current mission.

Negative, 347.

Proceed as ordered.

Confirm, proceed as ordered.

Negative, Home Plate.

Navy 347 cannot follow
that order at this time.

347, you are in violation
of a direct order.

Consider the consequences.

Navy 347 has, sir.

347, that is a derelict ship!

Do you understand?

No, sir.

It's a ship in distress.

He knows he can't be
court-martialed

for refusing an order

you have no authority giving.

That boy isn't killing anybody
else today and neither are we.

347, this is Admiral Hennings.

Report to the Nimitz.

Current mission is aborted.

Repeat, current mission
is aborted.

Roger, Home Plate.

Navy 347 en route to Nimitz.

Good luck.

Admiral, this is my command.

I will put more aircraft
in the air.

No, you won't.

You're going to wait until
Matos lands on the Nimitz

to see if he keeps
his mouth shut.

There's no guarantee
that the Straton

will even make it back
to San Francisco.

Our problems could just
disappear into the ocean.

Maybe.

That's no longer your decision.

Now you can tell whatever
story suits you best.

But my report

to the Pentagon will be
as it happened.

( foghorn blowing )

JOHNSON:
I need two copies
of the datalink printouts.

One to be forwarded
to air traffic control.

The other for corporate.

I'm assembling all the available
senior West Coast executives.

Well, I can monitor
the datalink

while you brief corporate.

No, no listen, I need you
to make those copies

while I try to make contact.

If there's anyone left
to make contact with.

I-I just don't understand.

There's no way
the satellite failed

or we'd be hearing about it
from our other aircraft.

And if the datalink
was working before,

then it should be working...

Yeah, it should be,
but it's not.

Which is why I initiated
search and rescue.

Or would you feel better if we
kept pinging away in there

and let whatever
survivors drown

while we tried to work out
the bug in our system?

Right.
Right.

ATC is waiting
for those printouts.

Keeping everyone busy?

Keeping their minds
on their work.

And outside this room, while
you create a paper trail.

JOHNSON:
"Working on a solution."

Now that was our last
successful communication

with 52.

Then I scrambled
search and rescue.

It's all by the book.

I'm assuming you have a plan?

Yeah.

What not to do
in the cockpit

of the world's most
advanced plane.

SHARON:
Have you ever flown through
anything like this?

In my little Skymaster?

Ha! We'd be turning around

and looking for the nearest
airport to set down in.

No airports to turn back
to here.

Nope.

We can't fly over it and it
could be hundreds of miles long.

Well what about if you
left it on autopilot?

If the turbulence is too great.

it could disengage
the autopilot.

Then I'd have to take
the controls.

( thunder rumbling )

I'll take that chance.

Yeah.

All right.

Let's, uh, let's see
if they have any advice.

Are you ready?

I don't think anyone is ever
ready for something like this.

"Heavy turbulence expected
as you pass

"through the storm.

"It's very important

" that you alter
the center of gravity

"by transferring fuel

between tanks."

By... what?

Does that sound wrong?

Well, if I knew where
the tanks were.

Yeah, still no luck.

You look like you
could use a break.

Thanks. But I need you
out there making sure

our other planes are
in the air.

What's with the manual?

There's going to be a press
conference later

and I just want to be
on top of all the details.

Listen, speaking of which--

I need a report on everything
that happened today.

A roster of everyone on duty,

step-by-step action
taken by your staff

as well as
your own thought process

behind any
and all actions taken.

Now?

Jack, you were
the senior man
on duty today.

FAA and NTSB will
want to know

what you did and
when you did it.

Now I'm already starting
to compile

my own timeline of events.

I suggest you get to yours while
it's still fresh in your mind.

Timeline. Right.

What's going on?

How much do you like your job?

What do you need me to do?

Why can't you just go
down on your own.

"In the center of the overhead
CRT screen

"are four touch pads

designated 'low-pressure'
fuel valve position."

JOHN:
We got them.

Got it, yeah.

"Switch them
to the off position."

Off?

That's what it says.

All of them?

Well let's just try one
and see what happens.

They want acknowledgment.

Yeah, and I want to make sure
that I don't screw this up.

( thunder rumbling )

Okay.

Is that all?

"Is that all?"

No, it says, "locate

"covered switch

reading 'fuel valve
emergency power.'"

Okay, got it.

"Engage the switch."

Engage the switch?

This doesn't feel right.

Will you...?
Confirm that.

Just turn the damn thing...
Shh!

( softly ):
Turn the damn thing off.

John, they know what
they're doing down there.

Yeah, I just wish I knew
what I was doing up here.

That's all.

John!
( screaming )

( alarms blaring )

SHARON:
Get the fuel switch back to on!

I have. It doesn't seem to make
any difference.

Autopilot is off.
I have to take control.

What does
the altimeter say?

SHARON:
9,632.

Make that 28.

Keep calling it out
every 500 feet.

8,500 feet.

How long before they're down?

They were dead the minute
they switched off the engines.

4,500 feet!

We've got to re-ignite
the engines, somehow.

We're at 4,000 feet!

Dropping 50 feet a second.

Two minutes. We've got to find
the re-ignition switch.

Where?
Somewhere within my reach.

Can you see down here?

Wait! I've got it!

Hit 'em. Turn them on.

Okay, hold on, I got
to get the nose up.

1,500 feet!

Oh, my God!
Hang on! Hang on!

We're stalling out!

Hit the afterburners.
The A.B.'s.

( afterburners roaring )

500 feet.

And climbing.

( laughs ):
You're flying.

Yeah. Yes, we are.

I still can't stabilize
this thing.

What's our altitude?

11,000 feet.

That's where the autopilot
was cruising.

Let's try it.

Okay, come on.

( John sighs )

Back in the comforting
hands of technology.

Whew!

Good flying.

Good copiloting.

Whew!

"Flight 52, do you read?

"Acknowledge.
San Francisco Headquarters.

What's your status?"

What's our status?

We're still alive.

No thanks to you.

Shutting down
the fuel lines.

What am I, an idiot?

They don't want us back.

Why?

I don't know.

Maybe they don't
think I can land
this thing safely.

Maybe somebody screwed up,

and they're just trying
to cover their tracks.

JOHN:
You know what,
I don't really know why,

and I don't really care.

Alls I know is...

we're on our own.

Let 'em think we're gone.

We don't have
a lot of options.

We're 45 minutes
out from SFO

and the autopilot
can get us close,

but sooner or later
we're on our own.

I can put her
down in the bay

and we might make it out,
but what about the rest

of the passengers?

I know the approach pretty well.

Not the technical
end of it,

but if it's clear, I can, uh,
probably get you to the airport.

You can get us to the airport,
visually?

Yeah.

All right.

We better do something
about these passengers first.

( phone auto-dials )

Miller here.
They've left.

Good. Now get me
the last coordinates

and headings
for flight 52.

Right.

Thanks.

We'll be home soon, my love.

Ladies, gentlemen...
it's been a hell of a day.

I'll fill you in on everything
that's happened.

Now, most of you are familiar
with Anne Metz from Beneficial.

She's already briefed me
on our liability situation.

It isn't pretty.

The autopilot is gonna get us
to the outer marker, and then

I'm gonna have to
take the controls.

If I was a pro
I would fly

right over San Francisco,
out over Oakland

and circle back,
and then come in

and grab one of those...
runways

by the bay.

Oh, God, this is gonna be hard.

Pilots say SFO is one
of the hardest to land at.

I'm gonna be flying
over millions of people.

I'm going to be fighting
the bay's crosswinds.

I... I don't think I can do it.

Well, what if you tried
the straight-in approach?

This plane needs a lot
of stopping room.

The runways at SFO

are just barely long enough
to accommodate it

even with an
experienced pilot.

If we overshoot, we're gonna go
skidding right into the bay.

And if you come in
the correct way and go long,

we run dead into
the new Bay Center Complex.

All right, all right.

You get us to the airport,

and then we're gonna
drop down towards

the bay runway.

Agreed?

Agreed.

Yeah.

How will they
know we're coming?

We're gonna be showing up
on their radar any minute now.

They'll see us lumbering
overhead.

( chuckles ):
They'll figure it out.

We've located Pacific Global 52.

We're gonna head it off early
and clear some airspace for you.

Roger, Oakland.
We'll take it from here.

It appears that is your plane.

I knew they were alive.

This is Air Traffic Control.
Flight 52 is coming in.

We need you to clear
all the runways

and scramble emergency crews.

What?

In case we end up
in the water.

Oh, good idea.
There you go.

You know, if we
do land this thing,

it's gonna be next
to impossible

to prove someone
tried to kill us.

Check this out.

Now we have a record
of every transmission

sent and received
since preflight.

Are you kidding me?

Fantastic!

Let me see that

flashlight for a second.

Now, there's been no indication
of a bomb.

For all we know,
it's possible that flight 52

went down as a result
of mechanical failure.

Or potentially

a design flaw.

Which would lay
this squarely

at the feet of
the Straton people.

( knocking )

Yeah?

Flight 52 is on approach.

Flight 52 is on approach.

You all know what to do.

Okay?
Yeah.

Here goes.

I see what you mean
about the winds.

No, I don't think
that's the problem.

Well, what is it?

There's a device called
the yaw damper.

It takes the roll
out of the flight.

When the autopilot's on,
it's working.

You must have to manually
engage it when it's off.

Well, w-was it on before?

Maybe when we restarted
the engines,

it reset the system.

Or maybe it shorted out,
I-I'm not sure.

Well, but what happens
if we don't find it?

The roll will just get
worse and worse,

the wings dropping

from side to side.

I can deal with that
up here, but...

when we get into the crosswinds
for the landing,

it's gonna get much worse.

So when we land,

we can hit
the wing first?

Let's find
the yaw damper instead.

I can't find
anything marked

as a yaw damper here.

Maybe it's on one of these
panels that never came back up.

All right, well,
even though they're not lit up,

they may be doing something--
it's too risky to mess with it.

Strap in.
Buckle up.

We'll have to just go in
without it.

Hey, Jack?

That's some weird approach.

Yeah, but not bad
for a weekend flier.

He found an outside marker

and then flew as 'as the crow
flies' line towards us.

Well, if that's the way
they're coming in,

we need to clear
'em some room.

Guys, I think ten
is our best bet.

Knock out the lights
on all the other runways.

Show 'em the way home.

They saw us coming in
and got runway ten prepped.

Well, then, Sharon,
give me the numbers.

3,000 feet.

52's on final approach.

There you are.

2,700 feet.

Okay.

Come on. Straighten out.

Not so lost
after all, huh?

He's coming in too hot.

500 feet.

Brace yourselves.

Okay.

Here we go.

( tires squealing )

( screaming )

( yelling )

( grunting )

Hang on!

Hold on!

( engines winding down )

( beeping )

Everyone all right?

Yeah.

Yeah.

I'm okay.
I'll trigger the chutes.

( sirens wailing )

Let's get 'em out of here.

How the hell
did they make it back?

They didn't give up.

We got a live one up here.

Come on. You've got
to get out of here now.

( passengers coughing )

REPORTER ( on TV ):
Fire and rescue crews
are on scene.

They're in the process
of transporting the survivors

to nearby medical facilities.

Are they going to be okay?

Some better than others.

We'll know more when we get them
to the hospital.

Are you okay?

Yeah.

Thank you.

All right.

John! Hey.

You two okay?
Yeah.

Yes.

How are you?
I'm okay.

Have you seen David?
He's going to be okay.

REPORTER:
Exactly what happened
to the Straton is still unclear,

but its safe return
is nothing short of a miracle.

FAA and NTSB investigators...

We've got more planes
to get home people.

...will undergo a thorough
examination by authorities.

We're getting word
that a press conference...

He's an amateur pilot

who survived a very
traumatic experience.

...will hopefully have
more answers for us...

He's got no proof.

No one will ever
believe him.

Let me show
you something.

Is that the data link?

A complete record.

I bet we're going to ruin
somebody's night.

( laughs )

Big time!

( phone rings )

Let me take it.
Are you sure?

Yes. I'll be with
you in a minute.

Hello?

( sighs )

Well, are you ready to
go make some headlines?

I guess.

Come on.

DOUG:
Nice flight.

What?

Thought you said you'd call
when you landed.

Are you watching this?

It's on every channel, Dad.

Oh...

You have no idea how glad I am
to hear your voice.

Captioning sponsored by
CBS