The Mount Erebus Plane Disaster & Rescue Mission | Airplane Crash Investigation Documentary

On 28 November 1979, an Air New Zealand jet with 257 passengers went missing during a sightseeing tour over Antarctica. Within hours 11 ordinary police officers were called to duty to face the formidable Mount Erebus. As the police recovered the victims, an investigation team tried to uncover the mystery of how a jet could fly into a mountain in broad daylight.
Did the airline have a secret it wanted to bury? This film tells the story of four New Zealand police officers who went to Antarctica as part of the police operation to recover the victims of the crash. Set in the beautiful yet hostile environment of Antarctica, this is the emotional and compelling true story of an extraordinary police operation.
This documentary was produced by Rogue Productions and directed by Charlotte Purdy & Peter Burger . It was first released in 2013.
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[@kylefromnz]

Great to see this story finally being told and these gentlemen receiving the recognition they deserved. Well done guys, you were instrumental in helping the country heal from such a horrific disaster.

[@JerryEricsson]

I am an old retired cop from the USA, I have got to say, well done men! Reminds me of a job I had in Nam of photographing the results of a rocket hit on a barracks filled with troops of South Vietnam who were in training to be Rangers. It was a mess that I shall never clear from my mind. The VA did give me treatment, and eased the nightmares, but there some things in life, that we must do because it is our responsibility that change us forever. God Bless these men, and those who they recovered.

[@Sternodox]

Thanks for your service.

[@skeletor1422]

i can’t even imagine. i hope you’re able to photograph things that bring you peace and happiness these days. thoughts and prayers my friend ❤️

[@charlotteq8460]

God Bless you too, Sir.

[@genebarnes2679]

Thank you for your service and I hope you have found the tools to help give you some peace after what you had experienced. My grandfather was tasked with documenting and photographing the holocaust/camps. His heart and memories were scarred deeply. The help he needed and deserved wasnt there then.He never found peace....

[@snookieg2409]

​@@genebarnes2679 Your comment broke my heart and really made me angry. The WWII vets went through the unimaginable horror that is the Holocaust. If you feel I am wrong, please, just say so, though war is always hell, I think WWII was uniquely horrific. For the Germans, I think it might have been a bit like the frog failing to jump out of the water slowly cooking him to death. While many of the military leaders were straight up evil, I can believe that many of the rank and file were just trying to stay on the good side of men they have watched torture innocent human beings for laughs. I can even see that with the incremental way Hitler changed things (the boiling frog) many may not have realized the atrocities being committed because they were being conditioned to accept the murder of their neighbors as something vital to their own way of life. I know that I would like to think that I would not have gone along with the Nazis, but it was a different time and it would be unfair, in my opinion, to put the average German citizen in the same column as Hitler's inner circle. It was a time when people had infinitely less access to information and significantly more trust in their government. Still, having said all of that, because of the incremental creep they were, to varying degrees, desensitized to what was happening. Our soldiers had absolutely no idea what they were walking into, can you even imagine just walking into a concentration camp without any foreknowledge that such a place as Auschwitz even existed? It is mind boggling how most of those young men were able to come home and live relatively normal lives. This may be controversial, but the other reason it makes me angry is because they went through hell on earth for the good of their country and their grandchildren and great grandchildren are being taught to hate it. They are being taught to hate the flag and the traditional values that were the bedrock of our once great nation. It was never perfect, it is good to look at history with 20/20 hindsight, but unless a nation holds to what makes it great, it will fall just like all the others. Sadly, I don't believe we have the 1,000 years the Romans did to get it right. I say this in all seriousness, I frequently wonder if the soldiers from WWII had been able to visit 2023 if they would have been so eager to voluntarily join the military and suffer the horrors of the war and then come home and work their butts off to repair the nation and set it on a path to economic success such as the modern world had not seen and catapulting us into the global leader we once were. I don't know, but I suspect seeing all of the hard work, suffering, loss, and sacrifice to do what is right ignored, trivialized, and even, in some ways, VILIFIED would put a significant damper on your zeal to defend your country. It would for me. I am truly sorry for what your grandfather went through, as an heir of his and all of his fellow soldiers bravery, tenacity, and courage, I am profoundly grateful. I know that sort of untreated, and sometimes even when it is treated appropriately, trauma has a ripple effect through the whole family in big and small ways. I sincerely hope that your family is at peace now and that your grandfather found the peace in the next life that was denied him in this one. I truly hope I didn't say anything offensive or hurtful, it was not my intention to do so.

[@Brutaga]

Each and everyone of these Guys should have been honoured, the moment that they returned home. Just watching their bravery, made me proud to be a New Zealander, but at the same time ashamed that this Country did not reciprocate their selfless duty, until twenty years later.

[@hectorkeezy1633]

Good on you Kiwi. 👍🏻

[@Gary-i9f]

And that Trevor Mallard got one ! What a crock of shit the honors have become .

[@sherriefeickert-carty4611]

I concur I’m an ex Longhaul FA. My cousin in law is a Forensic dentist and he worked on the remains back in NZ. Very sad indeed. 🥰🥰🥰🥰

[@drofnats1962]

Some stories stay with you forever, this is one of them. Thanks very much.

[@genebarnes2679]

The Andes plane crash is really crazy, talk about the will to survive.

[@carrie4558]

Fantastic reproduction of events. Well acted docu drama. Brilliant. Brave men. Well done 👍👍👍🇬🇧

[@davidbarnes4772]

As a Kiwi, I am hugely proud of our men in 1979. Great men. We are highly indebted to you and we can not even imagine what you went through. An enormous thank you 😢🎉

[@guiba3228]

Wow words can never truly thank the people involved in this recovery. To all involved God bless you.

[@johnmorris7815]

While I knew the technical aspects of this aviation disaster and the whitewash of the official findings and the public enquiry that discovered that the senior management at ANZ should have gone to jail, I had no knowledge of this very personal story, thanks for shining a light on this.

[@JustAThought155]

What a well done documentary. Powerful how they cut the real accident site footage in with the reenactment. Also, I deeply appreciate how honest and candid these professionals are as they share their very real feelings. Hero’s are those who can admit they are scared and deeply saddened when dealing with death and the destruction of life, in my opinion.💜

[@hidalgohouse3815]

Wow one of the best documentaries I've seen. Great attention to detail and excellent production values.

[@FallenAngel53]

3:16 I’m this far in and am throughly into it 👍

[@SendPeaches]

I know right! I am thoroughly impressed with how similar the actors look as well as how well they decorated scenes such has the house and costumes so 70s

[@SendPeaches]

Not only 70s but very kiwi 70s

[@robabbott7973]

I remember this day , my father worked for air New Zealand, he was on standby for this flight. We his children had paid for the flight and he was waiting for a spare seat to become free. Dad came home that day and said there is a flight that has gone to Antartica and hasn’t been heard of for a number of hours. Dad said it didn’t look good . I feel for all the families that lost there family on this flight. I look back and think how lucky my dad was to not be on it. R.I.P. all the passengers and crew.

[@SandraAsh1]

So sad. One of my cousins, Lady Helen Robb, lost her life on that very flight.

[@ANKITKUMAR-qm7km]

Hats off mens effort with emotions. Indian salute .

[@shaneroberts6391]

Wow,brought back a lot off memories, my father went down too the crash site ,on behalf off the civil aviation minster with the Air safety inspector ! Not a nice time for all involved ,my heart and best wishes to all the families who lost loved ones on the horrible day ! My father ,was the senior private secretary for the minster off Transport and Civil aviation !!

[@deirdrawilson-anderson6571]

Imagine how ultra grateful each victims families were to have something back to bury. Imagine having to live with the fact that say your child or husband were left forever in that cold distant place. And of course it was all down to this crew of amazing guys.

[@SendPeaches]

My dad was a cop for years and was mates with these guys during this. I remember him mentioning how much it disturbed them when i was younger

[@SendPeaches]

My dad was also the cop who informed the parents of the kiwi who died in United Flight 811

[@FallenAngel53]

Wow Thanks for this So often we see the NTSB turn up , do their thing and back to office. This was heartbreakingly honestly shown. Amazing works guys for what you did on the mountain. ❤❤❤

[@Noofsmissus]

I was going around our cemetary a few of years ago here in Hawera and came across a headstone for a victim of Erebus. I was shocked to find that here. I believe she was an air hostess on that flight. I cannot remember her name off the top of my head. Ill have to find and visit the dear lady again and pay her my respects. My thoughts go out to the families and those involved in the recovery. What a massive loss to overcome 😔

[@denisegore1884]

Many towns and cities in New Zealand will have victims. in Napier's Wharerangi cemetery is Pilot Gregory Cassin and passengers Margaret McKenzie, Betty Robinson and Jean Copas.

[@robinfautley8698]

These guys and in fact all of the investigators as well must have been affected for the rest of their lives. PTSD was not recognised in the way it is now. The US helicopter pilots were equally stressed out. Apache Joe Madrid, Eggers et al were included with the Erebus medals but Air NZ did not provide air fares for them to collect their medals. That was 20 years after the crash. Greg Gilpin has only recently passed away (? Dec 2021). Stu Leighton and Greg Gilpin treated the finding of the Collins Ring binder correctly. Peter Rhodes was asked by Chippendale to pass a number of documents and records found on the site to Ian Gemmell who was leaving the site early with the CVR and FDR. Gemmell “forgot” or could not remember the Blue Envelopes of papers. The Mahon report para 348 gives the clue as to what happened. Davis reported on 5th Dec 1979 to the directors that the crash site was considerably left of track I.E. middle of McMurdo Sound WAS THE TRACK, not over Erebus since the November 1977 flight of Vette. Erebus was erupting at that time and it was stupid in the extreme to fly over at ANY height a volcano whilst erupting. The ALPA pilots, every one of them in 1978 and 1979 were briefed that the track was down the middle of McMurdo Sound. As was Collins on 9th November 1979. The directors minutes on 9th December totally contradicted the evidence of their employees - the RCU briefing officers Wilson and Johnson. As the flight paths were never over Erebus in 1978 and 1979, then the MSAs of 16,000 and 6,000 feet was a figment of the litany of lies of Davis and Dalgety in the attempt to save Air NZ the massive legal claims that would have bankrupted their company and in turn the New Zealand economy. The MSAs just did not apply - as simple as that. The AINS was 100% reliable and Collins was briefed that the AINS would deliver him to the middle of McMurdo Sound with the coordinate 164.48 from the RCU of 9th Nov 1979 which coordinates were chinagraph pencilled on his topographical charts and atlas. All Air NZ pilots relied on the AINS and according to the records, no pilot reported a problem with the system. In the circumstances, it was remarkable that Collins, Cassin and BROOKS recognised that the AINS may be letting them down for the very first time in 10 years and were about to fly up and away. Just a few seconds too late. RIP.

[@wekiwisdofly85]

That moment when they’re looking out the window of the Hercules and there in the distance was a slight smudge on the side of the mountain. That had to be some moving moment for the boys to witness that

[@bazza945]

I was one of those on watch at Awaruaradio/ZLB that fateful day and was monitoring the HF air radio frequencies for a signal from the DC10. I only heard the search aircraft reporting the moment they sighted that long black smudge on the white snow of My Erebus. That moment remains in my memory these many years later.

[@debbiedutton6892]

Excellent documentary about an extraordinary group of men.

[@santidonato473]

No one should be getting close to something called EREBUS ever whether it's a Ship or a Vulcano

[@doc2kiwidig663]

I was 14 at the time and it was my fathers birthday, we were riveted to the radio and the tv, we will never forget that horrible feeling in the pit of our stomachs as we listened for news 😔

[@billdunne5266]

a very very powerful drama and such a terrible job for all those young constables,my respect now to them all.Bill in Ireland

[@cjs3283]

I am so sorry that each and every one of you were not honored when you should have been, and that you did not receive whatever help was needed upon your return. I am also so sorry for the profound effect this horrific tragedy has had throughout your lives that have followed. Thank you for all that you did (and I know I cannot begin to imagine what that entailed) for each individual. It is truly remarkable that you were able to restore so many to their loved ones. All of you are the best.

[@joepullen-tu5wi]

Well done to all of you reuniting families with there loved ones , you are all hero’s in my book ❤

[@georgittesingbiel219]

First time watching this channel. Good 👍 reviews!

[@sandraturner7376]

I am so glad I saw this video and know these men of integrity and faith of God. Thank you boys♥️

[@vikz5786]

Man, I was a kid in NZ when that happened. I remember my primary school principal announcing it to us. NZ's a tiny country with a small population but back then the population was even smaller. If you didn't know each other you knew someone who knew someone else and so on.

[@hunnybSue]

I was in standard 3, and I remember it in the newspapers, and the radio broadcast.

[@ganzyjam2602]

amazing documentary

[@HPG747]

Already at the beginning we can conceptualize the probable cause of this controlled flight into terrain. At 2:24 we hear the ominous remarks: "Peter Mulgrew speaking again folks. I still can't see very much at the moment. Keep you informed; soon as I see something that gives me a clue as to where we are." And that was 5 seconds before the jet had belly flopped unto the rising slope of Mt. Everest. The crew had no clue where they were while barreling along at 1,500 feet at 260 KTS (300 mph) in the haze and glare of snow-covered Erebus.

[@CoffinSupply]

Can't forget such events

[@barbararice6650]

Erebus, that's one of Franklin's ships isn't it 😑

[@marilynwainwright7578]

So sad to think there is still bodies not recovered💓

[@rjlchristie]

This event affected NZ profoundly. Luke Hurley, a NZ musician, composer of "Two Degrees" expressed the suspicions that many NZers still share. Cont...

[@rjlchristie]

... it can be found on this platform by simple search.

[@adrianbellamy5060]

Never even heard of this crash site job well done by all involved

[@robertwilliams2762]

I can’t believe on their return. No debriefing, no media coverage, bo support of any kind. Could not the families of lost ones speak up for them.

[@oldstrawhat4193]

Wow!! Fantastic video! Well done! Thank you

[@BonnieRichley]

God sends His fiercest soldiers into battle, these exceptional men are they. May God bless them and all the beautiful souls departed that day. ❤

[@belladogga1]

Devastating incident

[@ReklessRagnar]

I still remember this quite clearly. I was 10 years old at the time and we in New Zealand had never experienced an aircraft disaster on this scale before. We all sat around the TV waiting for the latest update hoping they had just ditched in the ocean, even though the waters would be freezing there was still a chance someone had survived. It truly did affect every kiwi at the time and the subsequent investigation that showed the true cover up of evidence by Air New Zealand shocked everyone. I still believe some at Air New Zealand should have been charged with manslaughter. It was quite disgusting the way they treated some of the pilots who gave evidence. A very tragic time.

[@marilynwainwright7578]

I would have been shedding tears all the time.😭

[@georgiegirlization]

Very, very sad, the sadness in their eyes. Its 2024 i remember this, i was a kid at the time. Blessings to all invokved and the families of all those lost to this event 😢

[@nunyabiz326]

God bless the men who had such a horrible, but necessary job to do. And prayers for the families of th victims, as well as prayers of healing to the men that were tasked.

[@charlesferdinand422]

Why the fuck did they have to blur the bodies?

[@youdontseeanoldmanhavinatw4904]

Australia. Not like it's real bodies anyway.

[@jeffreyheslop9]

Why is it blurred out?

[@youdontseeanoldmanhavinatw4904]

Who made the documentary?

[@katesmith9291]

How in heck did you decide to use a pix of an aircraft that is NOT a DC-10 ??? Hope you change it pronto!

[@jeffsimon9594]

Well this is liberally peppered with adverts I must say.

[@charlesferdinand422]

I gotta admit, the girl that appears @41:53 is INSANELY HOT 🔥❤ (I see her in every documentary about this crash)

[@FallenAngel53]

3:36 spooky that, they had a disaster training exercise at Sandy Hook, Britanis 7/11 , 9/11, Britains police stabbing. Ideal timing ? All same day as the tragedies happened.!What a coincidence!!

[@Noofsmissus]

I noted that too. Yes, spooky!

[@baysideharpy8350]

Who went to the crash site first to set up the camp, put up the green/red flags, etc?

[@tteokbokkibxtch]

The personnel from McMurdo station, I imagine.

[@RickL_was_here]

Blurring out a dramatization... Lol

[@jackalcrackle]

what happened to the bodies was not dramatized, gore is gore regardless. Not to mention some real footage from the crash site was included in this documentary.

[@RickL_was_here]

Some of what was blurred out, was DEFINITELY part of the dramatization. I'm not stupid, obviously they need to blur out certain images for KZbin.

[@johnhammond9962]

Couldn't find a D-C 10 for the thumbnail?

[@nwadoug]

Excessive advertisements render this nearly unviewable!

[@RickL_was_here]

Brave... Haven't seen an ad in years.

[@Agur.A]

Use brave on PC/Laptops or KZbin Vanced on mobile devices. ReVanced by now, because google closed old one down.

[@karenwaddell4724]

😢❤🙏🏻❤️

[@AwesomeAngryBiker]

i am amazed why commenters have to say their past jobs etc eg 1 person has to tell the world hes a retired police man 🙄🙄 WHY??????

[@doc2kiwidig663]

🤦‍♀️

[@ucopdin3703]

First