Close Encounters of the Third Kind Air Traffic Control Scene with airport deleted scene included.

[@russellthorstenberg4135]

IIRC, the air traffic radar was at Los Angeles Center and the controller was a real ATC controller. I’m a pilot, and that scene is as good as it gets.

[@jgrab1]

@@russellthorstenberg4135 That would be interesting because originally IMDB claimed the black ATC was none other than Carl Weathers!!! I had to correct them on that! You should submit that info to them and see what they do. Thanks.

[@jgrab1]

@@russellthorstenberg4135 I have to wonder though, if they were real ATC guys, why they got a lot of things wrong. They wouldn't call the 45th Recall Wing, for example; it's in the wrong geography. Also one of the controllers asks if they have any tests going on in Restricted area 2508. That sector is in California and Nevada. It would be controlled out of Los Angeles Center, not Indianapolis. Any controller would know this; it's part of "basic training."

[@jgrab1]

@@russellthorstenberg4135 Could be the reason (they refer to the location with the California/Nevada numbers). I love the way they shot into the radar scope for the reactions/reflections, although as a little kid (aged 9) in the theater that shot confused me for a little bit. (Actually, when you see that movie at nine years old, a lot of things can confuse you.)

[@Rocket_scientist_88]

@@jgrab1 No - the ATC scene was shot in the control room of the Palmdale Regional Airport, and was shot before any other scene in the film. David Anderson was indeed a real life ATC at LAX.

[@fredfungalspore]

When you retire please come forward and tell us what you saw while flying ... please don't tell us nothing....

[@ShortyLongstrokin]

"I wouldn't know what kind of report to file, Center." That line is so perfect because it says so much about what the Air East captain wants to say, but knows he can't say if he wants to continue flying.

[@mnfrench7603]

Chinese Weather Balloon

[@benjaminperez7328]

@@mnfrench7603 Swamp gas reflecting off of Venus.

[@Lonette]

Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock traveling back in time to meet Edith Keeler.

[@pashvonderc381]

@@derpderp-np3tr “see what ?” 😊

[@phvisser13]

And said in such a perfectly weary tone, so well done!

[@firefightergoggie]

That little clip was genius. As the viewer, you don't see anything. No special effects, no dramatic musical score. Just dialogue and they pull off one of the creepiest, spooky scenes in movie history.

[@gaguy1967]

agreed 100%.

[@ShmuckOnWheels]

You got that right. It's too bad that the studio was being run by at least one confirmed coke-head at the time. Spielberg has said that due to the studio's financial situation and their insistence that it be released for Christmas 77 instead of Summer 78 like he wanted, he had to rush post-production, hence those cheesy-looking aliens at the ending. One looks cool but all the others are lame.

[@gooberclese]

I totally agree. I have often thought any "next movie" should start in much the same way. A star watcher with a scanner hearing the air trafic controllers and pilots and then maby seeing those same lights in the sky from a distance.

[@jergran69]

Agreed. I was 7 when I first saw the scene and I couldn't even understand what they were saying but it "felt" scary to me.

[@TimeAxisMedia]

It also got a laugh, when he says "I don't want to report one of those either".

[@TiltaWhirl91]

the air traffic controller off screen is my (passed away) grandfather and it warms my heart that I can always hear his voice through this movie/clip

[@SoundTrack78]

Aww! What a cool and precious keepsake! ❤

[@steverakes6182]

That's awesome!

[@Estes705]

That's so cool! Did he ever talk about what the filming was like?

[@FaroPres]

Who is your grandfather? I was there.

[@Useaname]

BS

[@RhapsodyinGlue]

In the earlier part of his career, Steven was keen on using multiple conversations at once in his scenes. It added to the realism and helps put the viewer in the room with them.

[@DC-ih8bv]

Yes yes..very good point. Agree.

[@RhapsodyinGlue]

@@jonleggett2439 great example!

[@mariahewitt1841]

Early Spielberg was hard to beat. His movies in that era were wonderful. I miss that era.

[@haddenindustries2922]

I noticed this too with the Spielberg movies...cool little twist

[@uplatewithdave]

Love the overlapping dialogue. First saw this in Howard Hawks’ The Thing (From Another World). It really heightens the tension when professionals like these start coming over to see what’s going on.

[@prsearls]

As a corporate jet pilot when this movie came out, this was a very realistic depiction of Air Traffic Control procedures and the communications to/from the aircraft. To me, this gave the movie credibility that Hollywood usually misses about aviation. I really enjoyed this movie and have watched it many times. I never saw a UFO during my 31 years of flying but would have liked to. Reporting UFO's by airline crews were frowned upon back then although I'm certain they saw some.

[@JohnS-il1dr]

Supposedly Spielberg used actual air traffic controllers in this scene. It shows through the dialogue.

[@poodtang2104]

That's cool. @@JohnS-il1dr

[@jenniferbeyer6412]

I am sure some pilots saw them. But they didn't want the Men in Black to visit or have to take a unpaid vacation. I never saw one while flying. But I have seen a few way back in mid 1970's with my dad, and a couple of times in the town I live in now. Was very eerie to see. And I always watch the sky.

[@samiam619]

Wasn’t it unusual for 4 guys to be looking at one screen, but only 2 have headsets? The other 2 can’t know what being said…

[@james-faulkner]

I am also certain that very many pilots see things they cannot identify. One thing is certain however what those people saw could not have been extra-terrestrials.

[@brinlowe3446]

The back ground talk, " could be a satellite" ...." how bout an SR71?.....not at that attitude" so unbelievably realistic....pure genius

[@jeshkam]

The research dept. did a great job.

[@snapmalloy5556]

Overlapping dialog is perfect. Too many movies seem to be afraid to do that.

[@mattb574]

I actually encountered this sort of situation once. Flying on a United red-eye flight from Washington DC to LAX around 2010 or 2011. Back then, United allowed passengers to tune into channel 9 on the in-armrest radio to listen to the aircraft's ATC communications. We were somewhere over New Mexico I believe when I heard the pilot of another aircraft reporting seeing what he thought was a laser shining from the sky down to the ground, originating from somewhere around 80,000 ft., much too high for a civilian airliner. It was interesting hearing a couple pilots and the air traffic controller talk and speculate about it. Unfortunately I couldn't see it myself. Really wish I could have gotten a recording. I imagine it was some sort of military testing.

[@dan.j.boydzkreationz]

Turns out, Truman accidentally called an RS71 an SR71, so they changed the name.

[@jeshkam]

@@dan.j.boydzkreationz *LBJ

[@RandomTrinidadian]

One of the best scenes in the movie. No special effects, not dramatic music for tension. Yet it is so effective just how realistic it sounds

[@ConcealedCarrier]

Totally agree - especially on the plausibility front. You can absolutely understand why the pilots don't want to report the sighting while making the audience wonder how frequent incidents like this really are.

[@RandomTrinidadian]

​@@ConcealedCarrier yea.

[@toodle171]

I have no improvements on this statement.

[@20Avalanche06]

What you all witnessed was light from Venus refracted off of swamp gas. Now, if you look riiiiiight here. I'm going to administer an eye exam.

[@warpcrafter]

The lack of music is what created the tension.

[@eulogiorobles5516]

I saw this AND Star Wars in a double program in Puerto Montt, Chile in 1978, I was 14 yro. To this date, it is one of the most memorable days in my youth. What times!

[@HailAnts]

I saw this in the theater as a kid back then. This scene stuck with me ever since. Something that happens in this scene that also happens throughout the film: Characters are talking overtop one another, but quietly enough that you can still understand them.

[@lynnpoint6395]

I've observed that to be a Spielberg Thing. Sometimes he uses it with great effect, but I also think he tends to overuse it. The other touch he also overuses is the Bedlam Effect. For example, the households shown in this movie are in states of casual domestic disarray that I've never really seen in people's homes.

[@HailAnts]

Something else about this scene that reflects the attitude of the whole film. It's all very optimistic. When the pilots all refuse to report it as a UFO (not an alien space ship, literally an unidentified flying object) I never got a sense of them being afraid of the big bad govt men in black. More they saw it as being a blemish on their commercial pilot's record, which it would have been.

[@clays1507]

Just saw this again in the theater in 2024. Really amazing 47 years later

[@KalonReeves]

Wow, thanks so much for that deleted scene. From a filmmaking standpoint I love those little bits of lost nuggets that add context that never had the chance to see the light of day.

[@MrDaddynomates]

Classic Spielberg. He can create scenes that pull you in. I've loved his movies since I was a kid.

[@blackbeard63]

I miss these types of films. Well written, superb acting, and out of this world directing.

[@cameronladd1788]

The air-traffic control scene is, unsurprisingly, superbly directed by Spielberg, but I had no knowledge of the deleted scene until I just watched it now. The way the runway scene is filmed - with its wash of heavenly white light - is like a foreshadowing of the shots when the Mothership opens its bay doors so that humans and aliens can congregate and interact.

[@shawntipton7398]

In the novel, This scene takes up chapter 3 and has implication in other chapters, the plane that reports the sighting is flight Aireast 31 and is passing directly over Roy Neary's house when this scene is happening. The book is good as it expands on many of the scenes as well as adds scenes not in the movie, which is a perfect film and my favorite film.

[@ntparks]

All this time I thought the controller was saying, "Aries 31". Now I find out it was "Air East 31".

[@lynnpoint6395]

@@ntparks Ha, ha, ha!!! I just posted this comment a few minutes ago: "All these years I thought it was 'Aries 31.' It wasn't until I watched the deleted clip that I realized it was 'Air East 31.'"

[@maxsothcott4484]

⁠@@lynnpoint6395first time I have seen the tarmac scene and I too have just realised that the call sign is air east 31! First saw the film in London in 1977/8 and was awestruck!

[@encinobalboa]

Runway scene was a good delete IMO. Very cool to see it for the first time.

[@HockeyFan1972]

My father was a ATC from 1967-1998. I used to go into work with him when he worked the "Mid" aka 11pm to 7 am. This is as real as it gets. the scopes, the big buttons, the headset he wore...everything. #PATCO

[@FaroPres]

Where did he work? That "rattler" shift was a killer!! I still have my PATCO T-shirt!

[@HockeyFan1972]

@FaroPres He was at MSP. Sometimes he would go to "center." I remember the PATCO Picnics! It was a blast!

[@FaroPres]

@@HockeyFan1972 Very cool! Yes, they were/still are a wild bunch! Did he survive the strike? I was at ZLA where this scene was filmed.

[@HockeyFan1972]

@@FaroPres Well, no. I remember going to the Strike HQ one day with him, like dau one or 2 of the strike. So, he was fired along with most others, as you well know. However, he sued for wrongful termination and won! So 2 years later he got his old job back, but it was different from then on according to him. Im sure you can understand.

[@edwardpakula7084]

@@HockeyFan1972 ...that bastard reagan broke PATCO's back; the oxymoron is, he was the one of the founders of SAG (Screen Actors Guild); the SOB turned his back on organized labour!

[@jappletonhowe9649]

This 5 minute clip is like a mini movie in it's self!!! The controller sounds SO much like Morgan Freeman!

[@MA-vw1pl]

Totally agreed

[@jeremyuchihasasuke6666]

Aliens: we have your position now

[@jgrab1]

@@Lightmsgr No it's not! Get glasses.

[@utube9000]

@@Lightmsgr No he's not. In fact, he wasn't even a professional actor! Speilburg hired REAL air traffic controllers for this scene and they filmed it in an real air traffic control station after midnight. That's why it seems so realistic.

[@WizardOfWhoopee]

I always thought it sounded like Morgan too. And I'm wearing glasses.

[@erikarabie]

Love the shot of the ATC supervisor’s reflection on the radar scope. Genius cinematography

[@zaphodhead1]

Close Encounters was my favorite movie of all time as a kid. This scene fascinated my 10 year old mind and drove me to be a pilot. I've wanted to see a ufo my whole life my haven't yet. I have never seen this extended scene! And I've watched this movie hundreds of times.

[@jamesfields2916]

The air traffic controller closest to screen is Mr. Hawkins. Lived near us in Lancaster,Ca back in the 70s. His daughter was good friends with my sister. He had a son who played high school football with my brother. His younger son was in my 6th grade class. Very nice family.

[@FtungusAmungus]

The way the text is revealed by the sweep of the radar, lovely.

[@gilbertponder5307]

I have always been blown away by the level of realism in this scene (UFO stuff aside). I was a professional pilot for 20+ years, and everything about the interactions between the Indy Center controller and the pilots is flawless - the phraseology, the tone, the rhythm, not to mention the technology - all exactly right. (Oh, and the effect of the location title being swept on to the screen by the radar sweep is magnificent!) I would love to know what kind of prep work was involved for the writers and actors, because I don't think you could get anywhere close to this level of accuracy without an experienced technical advisor being given absolute control of the scene, and actors spending hours listening to ATC recordings. This remains, even after all these years, the most true-to-life aviation scene I have ever watched. Also, I was not aware that the deleted scene existed. Somewhat interesting, but I think the movie was better without that bit.

[@susangreene9662]

I would have like to have seen it. This is my first time and it gave me the creeps!

[@videosuperhighway7655]

They used actual ATC staff for the scene. Its crazy the extent they went to make this scene.

[@rvnmedic1968]

I beg to differ. It would have contributed immensely to the movie. And the fact that it was as real as it gets is a bonus.

[@corbysimpson9146]

This was filmed in Los Angeles ARTCC, in Palmdale, California. The African-American man was a supervisor. Yes, he was a real-life air traffic controller at LA Center. (ZLA) I was an air traffic controller at Seattle Center at that time. (ZSE)

[@EngineerTom]

I'm glad they left that part out. Just seemed to separate the radar scene from any official involvement, while the airplane scene appears to redirect focus to government agencies unnecessarily.

[@edwardobrien7074]

ATC scene is filmmaking perfection. The framing, dialogue, acting (lovely crosstalk) and overall intensity draws me in every time. The deleted scene was cut for a reason. The fed telling the passengers to relinquish their film is one step away from the bad guy in the top hat who gleefully twirls his mustache as a train bears down on the damsel he's just tied to the train tracks.

[@ksol1460tv]

I dunno, in my experience there really are federal authorities who act like that. He's not too much off.

[@johnsmithson5376]

M.I.B. You know who….Men in Black.

[@bizjetfixr8352]

I was waiting for the guy who was talking to the passengers to whip out a Neuralyzer. LOL

[@ltd500]

What ARTCC did he work at?

[@BuckyNugget]

"Negative, we d'wanna report one of those either." I love his delivery of this. He sounds absolutely stupefied.

[@mikedenmark]

For anyone besides me watching this clip today ~ quite eerie how pertinent it is for what reality we’re experiencing at the moment in the skies all around the globe!!

[@Vejur9000]

This sequence is pure tension and brilliance. No effects, just Steven Spielberg. Epic movie history, one of the most visually stunning movies ever made, is Close Encounters of the Third Kind. “If everything’s ready on the dark side of the moon... play the five tones...”

[@subbtopp]

I always loved the flight controller when I was a kid and even now all theses years later. Brilliant actor , the way he seems to incrementally ratchet up the tension of the situation and his lazer focused attention and doesn't flinch when there's a voice in each ear.

[@MuzixMaker]

He was a real controller.

[@markbraendle4371]

Morgan Freeman

[@gr3yh4wk1]

He was a real ATC controller. Like the organ player at the end - he was the guy that installed it, he wasn't an actor.

[@TonyStark-uu9us]

One of my favourite scenes from my favourite movie ever. I move to the edge of my seat every time it rolls

[@tivodvr7276]

Still gives me chills. Great movie.

[@SuperLuminalElf]

MeeeTu

[@1tonyboat]

Must have watched it 100`s of times ,,,still brilliant ...

[@Bo_Nidle]

I wish we still had this quality of movie being made today.

[@paulboger7377]

I’m think we all do 👍🇦🇺

[@Bo_Nidle]

@@f000ghk “Boomer”? I assume that is meant as an insult. Fair enough. But it does give me the benefit of actual experience. I too have an expression for the generation that uses insults like that: “Silly c**ts”. If you think that the conveyor belt of crap to mediocre garbage that today’s Hollywood churns out is better than the actual creativity that went on in Hollywood between 1967 and 1979 then I feel sorry for you. You are spoon fed movies that are as insulting to the intelligence as they are bland and unoriginal. But if you have no frame of reference I suppose it’s understandable. There’s a reason today’s Hollywood is facing its worst financial recession since the 1950’s: It’s product sucks. It is creatively bereft. Read a list of films coming out today and it sounds like footballs score results: “Iron man 3” “Saw 2”; “Guardians of the Galaxy 3” “Fast and Furious105”. Etc. It’s sad. The sooner Hollywood collapses financially the better. Then maybe it will discard the corporate mindset and woke garbage that has throttled out all the creativity and brought it to its knees and start again. But for now you just enjoy the bland gruel they feed you and , above all, accept “The Message”.

[@Bo_Nidle]

@@f000ghk I'm very calm. I am fully capable of being abrasive and calm. You seem to know an awful lot about my cinematic tastes and viewing history. Quite remarkable.I never suggested you were "knocking the movie" just that you are putting forwards the ridiculous notion that todays cinema is in anyway comparable to that of the late 60's and 70's. When I use the term "Hollywood" I do so as a metaphor for the film industry generally. If, as you say, there are great films being made today, then why is the industry in its biggest state of financial and creative decline since the 1950's? Some diamonds drop onto the conveyor belt of shite that cinema has degraded into, but I call them "diamonds because they are rare in the extreme. When an industry predicates a nomination for an Oscar with a tick the box diversity hire sheet then artistic talent is clearly irrelevant and says all you need to know regarding the cause of the problem. However I withdraw my epithet of "Silly c**t" as, from the tone and content of your comments, you actually appear to be an "arrogant silly c**t."

[@Rick-or2kq]

During the winter months I monitor commercial aircraft communications has a hobby, years ago I heard a similar conversation between a pilots and ATC out of Logan Intenational in Boston, with the pilots giving the same response when asked if they wanted to report it.

[@andreasu.3546]

I guess these conversations occur a lot. Just most of the time it's a general aviation aircraft with the transponder not turned on.

[@cronic8644]

All these years of adoring this movie i've NEVER seen the additional footage in the airport!! Thankyou!!

[@asmodeus0454]

That's a very realistic scene. Whoever directed this did a bang-up job.

[@Thecrazyvaclav]

A director called Steven Spielberg directed it, he’s a had a couple of good movies out he’s directed as well, I’d keep an eye out for him, he could become legendary

[@BoydsofParadise]

​@Thecrazyvaclav yeah... I hear he's an "up and coming talent".

[@DenG611]

Heard he was 'ok'

[@colwilliamnoydb4134]

Amazing clip. Have never seen this deleted source before. My Brother and I were both pilots. He was sent out from Key West when a target was coming into US territory. He was lead with 2 other F-14's. The object whet down from 30k feet to 10k in like 2 seconds, then back up to 50k and was gone. To many G's pulled to be human.

[@rjo33040]

That is a fascinating recollection. What time frame did this occur?

[@rgraz4929]

From what I've read, supposedly Gs are not felt in ant gravity craft because they're in their own gravitational field. They feel no motion or centrifugal force. Amazing story. I read something in the Cometa Report where a pilot in the air saw something that resembled a green flair firing from the ground but within seconds, it was up to his level.

[@TitusFFM]

Just out of curiosity what do you think how much G's would that be.

[@mattwiser8406]

@@TitusFFM Too many for a human to handle.

[@chasecreamer727]

Sounds a lot like what the Navy Pilot, Cmdr. David Fravor saw when he encountered the Tic Tac UFO during the Nimitz Encounters.

[@astraluna6is9]

I was 12 when I saw this in the theater back in 77’ at the University Towne Center in San Diego. And now, I’m seeing this cut clip 46 years later for the first time. Made me kinda light headed. Thanks guys.

[@R3dp055um]

Good to see a comment from a fellow San Diegan o/

[@peteranninos2506]

Back then, a neighbor was a United pilot (one of the first 747 captains) and he said that if you reported "one of those" it could end your career. And he said they saw some really odd stuff a few times. FWIW, he flew with me a few times giving me instrument (ILS) and other tips. Long gone but a great guy.

[@GordiansKnotHere]

One of my favorite movie scenes ever. Filmed, scripted and acted perfectly...

[@cessnaflyer]

A magnificent movie that was a wakeup call to many.

[@ModernClassic]

I maintain that this is Spielberg's best film and the ATC scene shows why. So much tension and we're just sitting there watching a few guys looking at a screen. Also, it's probably the most realistic ATC scene I've ever seen in any movie, and I'm a pilot. It's better than most scenes even in aviation-specific films. All the phraseology is correct and the procedures, even 40 years later, are close to what we still use. That said, I do understand why they cut the airport scene out; it kind of makes for an anticlimax after the ATC scene.

[@kevincostello3856]

Couldn't agree more, well said, thank you

[@davidsmith5523]

Spielberg's unique skill here is subtle. Reality is established by everyday lighting and to me very significantly. People talking over each other. Which happens in life. So when the pauses come, they are as loud as a bellow. Very skillfully done by actors and crew. When I saw this sequence in the cinema. It drew me into the story.

[@gregdark5203]

The camerawork, sound, editing and dialogue make this scene. It's actually m favorite scene in this movie. Minus the deleted scene.

[@0TransAtlantic0]

I watched Close Encounters over dozen times when it was first released in theaters, and have watched it numerous times every year to this day. Until I saw the deleted scene in this post, I always thought the aircraft Identifier, that the UFO flies past, was "Aries 31". I never realized the actual identifier is "Air East 31" until I saw the airline logo on the fuselage as the plane rolls to a stop. It's a shame this scene was deleted.

[@KenVic02]

Same here. In fact, even with the plane rolling in with Air East on it, I didn't connect it with what I thought the controller said. Good catch!

[@skiena]

The whole scene wasn't cut -- only everything outside of the air traffic controller room was. I think it doesn't really fit the rest of the film. It kind of tilts the hand of the government too quickly.

[@thewedgev2]

Yep - saw the movie when it came out (at 15) and until about a year ago, I thought it was Aries 31. I'm Canadian, so I don't know - was Air East ever a real airline? And of course now I look at the radar screen where the ident says AE31, which at least gave a hint.

[@bloodstone2k]

Honestly, I think they made the right choice by not using the scene with the government officials aboard the airliner.

[@starlight122012]

@@bloodstone2k Why? I think it should had been left in, or was this too close to the truth when airliners go missing and never found again because of an encounter with something they should not have seen? Malaysian Airlines I am thinking here

[@gerry0543]

This AT controller spoke as a true professional. I can't take my ears off of his diction and subtle inuendoes of facts given. This is the best 5:37 minutes in the whole movie. I am spell bound and have been reviewing this scene multiple times. This ATC meant business in the movie.

[@ProjectSun91]

Reminds me of that UFO incident with JAL Japan Air Lines Cargo Flight 1628 which lasted for more than 50 minutes. One of the most compelling piece of UFO evidence, to say the least.

[@steverakes6182]

Absolutely, now that was the real deal.

[@peterp2153]

Not really. The pilot was a bit of a kook, having reported UFOs multiple times and in very specific terms (references to seeing ‘the mothership’). He was probably grounded out of concerns about his mental stability. I’m sure the airline didn’t want this guy suddenly deciding to chase after the mothership in their 200,000 lb cargo jet and wind up crashing into something.

[@davidhabert]

There is also another sighting you may want to look into. That is the 2007 Alderney UFO sighting, the pilot of that encounter saw two, one mile sized UFOs and so did his passengers. Also another plane flying over to England reported seeing the same objects, These objects also appeared on radar. But unlike the captain of JAL1628, the captain in that incident was encouraged to report his sighting to the media, without any repercussions to his career.

[@marellamofo]

Oh my God, I had no idea this scene existed. It was really good.

[@nelsonc6173]

This was Spielberg at the height of his powers!!!! Such a well directed scene! Just brilliant!

[@glenhoff1443]

Need to see this film again. Was only a boy with real hair on my head when it came out. Now I know so much more. So much more. They are my family.

[@TileGuyJesse]

When he says, "He's heading right for my windshield." I could feel my hair stand on end. What a great scene!

[@dibzzz70]

Totally gripping and utterly believable. The atmosphere created here is genius. Spielberg at his finest.

[@joefran619]

Saw this at the theater with my girl friend. I loved it.

[@RobertAWolf]

One of my favorite scenes in the movie, so intense and no effects or music needed, you are just thoroughly riveted! As far a the deleted scene, I can see why they didn't use it, just didn't flow with the mystic of the pacing.

[@robvegart]

When I watched this in the movies this scene scared the witt out of everyone watching. There is nothing like the theater experience and the dynamic duo of Hollywood, both Spielberg and Lucas....

[@hawlikd]

This is one of the best scenes in the film.

[@AltRockLover]

I can't believe this was never included in any of the re-releases! It's pure Spielbergian genius, especially the reactions of the passengers. Priceless!

[@WL59628]

Ahhh the nostalgia of hearing TWA L 1011.

[@darthmom1019]

This video clip is amazing. Thanks for posting it. 👍👽😁

[@sammywestenberger9303]

You’re welcome 😇

[@Joey-JoJo-Jr.64]

I wish I could explain to my young preteen nieces and nephews what a phenomenal movie this is.

[@deletebilderberg]

What a fantastic scene.

[@BradM73]

One of the best scenes in movie history.

[@charliehovey4534]

great clip now i have a little more for the story. thank you for finding us this gem of a feature.

[@bigdmac33]

One of my favourite scenes. That ATC controller actor absolutely nailed it. And since writing that comment, I've just noticed Russell Thorstenburg's comment that the guy WAS an ATC controller. If so, no wonder he nailed it!

[@castlearghhh6023]

The whole transition from the opening in the Sonoran Desert was just genius. This scene though is still my favorite in what was a great movie.

[@wilson2455]

one of the greatest movies ever made ! Spielberg genius !!

[@davidlisowski5245]

The deleted scene was included in the novelization. I never realized that they actually filmed it!

[@jgrab1]

They filmed many of the scenes in the book...they were early scenes that were bumped from the final cut as Spielberg added scenes later. Here's another not in the final movie but in the book: kzbin.info/www/bejne/paLWdayQnd1_gqM

[@AdAstraCan]

Ah, thanks - I read the book as a teenager and that's why the deleted scene seemed familiar.

[@Hey_MikeZeroEcho22P]

I T IS...... One of MY Favorite scenes!!! As a Former 'Operations Specialist' in the USN for 20+ years, sitting in front of the 'Screen', I ALWAYS "act" out this scene .... with foot pedals to speak, tracking targets, switching back/forth of different freq screens. BUT NOW....that added footage of the movie, is quite remarkable....I even saw a Navy sailor ( looks like a CPO, but with two [2] 'hash marks' {??}...couldn't tell His rate/job ).

[@ussling]

Salute!

[@Hey_MikeZeroEcho22P]

@@ussling Thanks!! Seriously, EVERY TIME.... that scene comes up... I pretend I'm in That Chair, sending out alerts to all a-c within that area!! Though, it has been ~20 years since I retired from the USN, I can Almost see that console and those switches I would click-over to change the screen's picture.

[@beanhavok2287]

This is real movie making. Excellent acting, tense without being outlandish. Just average joes doing work in extraordinary circumstances.

[@DannyEastVillage]

When the lead controller says, "me neither," just brilliant.

[@stevecooksley]

Loved seeing that deleted scene, it's a great insight into how much work gets done in post with tight editing and colour correction.

[@Geezer1955]

One of the best movie scenes that didn’t show anything but the drama of control center and let the viewer fill in the blanks.

[@crruan1142]

This scene sets the suspense for all of the subsequent sequences. It provides a feel and look of high realism using what's likely a composite from expériences of RATC with excellent scripting. The expressions, clinical approach and intense concentration of the personel in front and around the scope is truly gripping right down to the long pause before pilots state nothing to report to ATC.

[@stripervince1]

Wow never saw the second part before! Wtf do they delete great scenes like that. This was released in the movies as a major motion picture so 2 more minutes really isn’t a issue. When that air traffic controller sees the conflict alert and starts barking out orders, its just amazing. Super realistic. And yes he sounds exactly like morgan freeman

[@aliensporebomb]

I also have never seen that despite seeing different versions of the film over the years. Amazing.

[@bloodstone2k]

Scenes are sometimes left out of the final cut for pacing reasons. The editors may have felt that the scene with the government agents on the airplane slowed the story down.

[@Carlschwamberger1]

Saw this when it first released and this was one of the most unforgettable cinema scenes of my life.

[@paulfurr7557]

This scene grabbed me from even when I was a kid. Spielberg knew how to use real people using real terms that they use in a technical setting. The one small part of that scene is the man with his hand on the controllers shoulder. It's saying, we all are here and seeing the same thing and we support you all the way.

[@MontecristotoValjean]

so effective, no special effects, dramatic score etc.. just pure realism

[@TralfazConstruction]

Fantastic. After nearly 46 years I'm just seeing this now. It does flesh-out the scene and heightens the mystery. Guessing this was struck for how it affected the pacing.

[@markloveless1001]

"Do you want a file a report?" Are you kiddin'?

[@Nhamp2000]

I love the moment of silence after he asks that. You can easily imagine the pilots looking at each other in the cockpit, contemplating the end of their careers if they do.

[@markloveless1001]

@@Nhamp2000 They didn't rename Project Grudge for nothing...

[@jessebarron5803]

Two scenes in this movie that were so captivating and real. The power plant scene and this clip of the air traffic control room. The cinematography, lighting, and acting were incredible.

[@montylc2001]

This was one of the defining scenes of the movie for me. Being a private pilot and an aircraft mechanic I was impressed with it's realism and accuracy. But I can understand why the deleted scene was deleted. And no, I've never seen a UFO while flying. I have on the ground, but am pretty sure it was a secret military aircraft.

[@Sunspot1225.]

This is my favorite scene in the CE3K movie. A recently released UFO movie reflects a real incident of a UFO hovering over O'Hare Airport a few years ago. It is unlike the usual movies of the genre. It includes real science, and it has very good young actors. The movie's name is UFO, by the way.

[@mortalclown3812]

Wish I was seeing this for the first time again. What a terrific movie. Thank you, Mr. Spielberg. Bravo. ,🌏🍃🦋🐘🔭🛸🌙✨💙

[@simonmcguire4290]

With hindsight, obviously, I think the removal of the scene on the plane was for the best. As it has already been pointed out, the discussion between pilots and air traffic control are brilliantly played and directed and the scene deleted just a little bit of clunky exposition in my opinion - one of my all time favourite films but admit to not giving this scene the praise it deserves.

[@Cinemaphile7783]

Not an ounce of fat in the final cut. This is one of my favorite alien sci fi movies right up there with Alien and The Thing.

[@emcarn8187]

The voice of the actor portraying the ATC was just the right match for the part played. For me, one of the best scenes in this movie.

[@rockettman2025]

Saw this movie in the theater a few times. Excellent cinematography.

[@MostSerius]

This and the desert scene (Flight 19) got me. So very good. Great storytelling.

[@ugadawgs1990]

This scene is similar to something I went through as a pilot on a DL A321 flying from ATL to MIA. We saw three lights moving from 40,000 ft to 5,000 ft in less than ten seconds, then back up to 35,000 just above us. The crafts circled to my port and then shot straight up. We did not file an official report, but our crew was interviewed by five men and two women from the Air Force the next day.

[@MikeJones-ny7yt]

I've always wished I could have heard the actual ATC fellow's lines. Those two guys in the foreground are blabbing way too loud, and I would have thought the ATC guy would have asked them to keep it down.

[@Larkinchance]

This authentic airport tower control scene used in the trailers "sold" this movie!

[@karenlbellmont6560]

Had a conference in Wyoming in 2018 and drove to see Devil's Tower after close of conference. Best experience I ever had taking pictures from all sides and remembering movie; doesn't feel natural.

[@SB111058]

A masterpiece sequence on all levels, performance, sound-mainly, lighting, direction.....But, I can see why the deleted scene was deleted..

[@whatnowwomandamn8055]

Non ballistic motion…..strongest report ever

[@mujahidamin8504]

Inspiration for the Control Tower scene came from Citizen Kane where 12 or so people are huddled around a Trophy and yet they are all in focus.

[@orbitingeyes2540]

AE31 do you want to report a UFO, over? Hell yes, center, that guy should have his license revoked no matter what planet or dimension he's from! 😂

[@RampAgentX]

Incredible storytelling...

[@markplott4820]

this was Shown on the Broadcast edited Version shown on many Networks.

[@argonwheatbelly637]

I remember this in the theater. Awesome work!

[@williamkelly6319]

Spielberg is the best! Great entertainment! And the music score is very melodic. Ty Mr. Spielberg and all who helped create this masterpiece!

[@stevec5671]

Very good start to movie, love it.

[@oh2button]

Mr. Spielberg wrote the story, for this gem, and that gave a glimpse into just how terrific a storyteller and moviemaker he was destined to be.

[@alexcamacho4880]

I love the comment at 1:47. “How about an SR-71.” “Not at that altitude.”

[@georgecouch1762]

This is one of the most intriguing and spooky clips in this fantastic film

[@jarniwoop]

Great tenson in that scene. And the pause after the pilots are asked to report a UFO is eerie .

[@wayne3302264]

Of course the pause is the cockpit crew looking at each other and each in turn shaking their head "NO Way, I am not ruining my career".......