The Impossible Landing - United Airlines Flight 232

[@66lwmorgan]

The captain of that flight Al Haynes died about a week ago, 30 years after this accident. I remember it very well, watched the whole thing unfold once they started broadcasting it on TV. Only 185 survived, can you imagine how many would have died if not for the crew that was flying that day, they were in a good hands. Very well done tfc, another fine detailed video. A always thank you for the time you invest in your video's.

[@cojanrobert17]

UTA flight 772 video please

[@Paellain]

Captain Haynes died? That's so sad to know :( He was my idol in aviation. Rest in peace, hero.

[@66lwmorgan]

@@Paellain Yes, I believe on Aug 27th and indeed he was a hero that day.

[@stivi739]

@@66lwmorgan without a doubt..

[@kemingpeney1444]

Can u make AA191 that old one is not good

[@aaronstoutmusic9736]

Finch had actually trained for this very accident. He saw the total loss of hydraulics that JAL 123 had 4 years prior and wondered if one could control a plane using thrust only. He had practiced it occasionally in a flight simulator. Just an insane coincidence that Finch was one of the few people on the planet who understood that total loss of hydraulic incidents were possible, and trained for it.

[@surimi7283]

Where does this information come from, if you don't mind sharing? I'd like to know so I could watch the video or read the book where the JAL123 sim training is mentioned. The two crew interviews I have seen on KZbin so far don't make a mention of it.

[@chiragn8103]

@@surimi7283 this was mentioned by in mentour pilot channel

[@luminaraunduli2791]

And the DC-10 was type of plane he trained for this in the simulator. Crazy!

[@margeebechyne8642]

@@surimi7283 Linda N posted this info: "Flight 232: A Story of Disaster and Survival" in case you'd like to read about the accident (no, I don't get anything for promoting it).

[@dasparado]

Finch really was key. I wonder what would of happened if he had not been there.

[@debpalka8825]

Though I lost my father..I know without a doubt what a miracle it was that so many people survived..Al Haynes and crew are forever in my heart along with all of the families that will never forget July 19

[@jimgranville5343]

Sorry for your loss Deb.

[@marianneb3035]

So sorry to hear that Deb. After I watched this I said a prayer to all those who unfortunately lost their lives. May they all rest in peace.

[@anirudh9059]

May your dad’s soul rest in peace ❤️❤️

[@Bankable2790]

@@mirandaheat A little personal don’t you think

[@Bankable2790]

RIP to your father

[@alexredshaw2375]

185 survive with no hydraulic control. Those pilots are absolute heroes. May they rest in peace.

[@joshuapatrick682]

You can tell by Haynes voice and disposition what kind of man he is. Laughing in the face of almost certain death, not because he isn’t scared but because he is human. This is hard to watch and makes me tear up but what a feat to have anyone survive.

[@skyhawkpilot172]

That nervous laugh and the CVR sounds are really haunting. I've heard other CVR recordings where the crew cohesion fell apart in the final moments, and these heros worked the problem as far into the crash as they could. I grew hours from Sioux City, Iowa and watched this crash on television dozens of times growing up. This is the first time I've heard the CVR.

[@georgemorley1029]

Absolutely, what an incredibly professional and brave individual. The flight crew and assisting captain were all total models of bravery - and an absolute never say die mentality.

[@seantaggart7382]

"You wanna make it a runway?"

[@innotafanofanyofjlbjlbissd6777]

I teared up too , I don’t for anything usually as the world has made me numb but this struck a cord in me that made me very very sad .

[@LastAvailableAlias]

Sometimes things get so bad that it just looks ridiculous and you start to laugh at the absurdity of it all

[@muffs55mercury61]

Denny Fitch was one of the biggest aviation heroes that ever lived. It was a miracle that 185 survived this crash but the great team work of him, Al Haynes & the crew did it. Denny still blamed himself for the 111 who lost their lives. Also the farmer couple who found the fan disc that failed are heroes too. From what I hear they never kept a dime of the reward money and gave it to charity and worthwhile causes.

[@Spido68_the_spectator]

He studied JAL 123 which helped trumendously

[@allanbenoit8305]

Muffs, they donated 60k and kept the other half. Still valiant in my opinion. Maybe they needed some of it.

[@pokemaster123ism]

@@allanbenoit8305 hey, they earned that money. There was a reward for the disk and they found it. It was their money to do whatever they wanted with it

[@LadyVoldemort]

@@allanbenoit8305 I saw their pic in other video (I forgot which one, maybe Mentour or Smithsonian)...seems like a very nice, kindhearted elderly couple!

[@BigDaddy_MRI]

RIP Captain Haynes, who passed away just 6 days from his 88th birthday this August after a short illness. His expertise and his full engagement in the crew resource management saved 185 lives from this impossible situation. His fellow flight crew officers said he was fully engaged with flying the plane all the way to the ground and wept in the hospital when he was told how many (111) had perished in the crash. Many of the survivors met with him in the hospital and thanked him for everything he did to save the plane. His legacy of expertise will live on in the annals of aviation of a Captain who never gave up, never stopped using all the resources available to him and flew the airplane until the very end. Thank you for the outstanding video. Well done. In memory of those who perished in the flight 232 and Captain Haynes.

[@Aviatial]

Well said

[@ivannovotny4552]

Beautifuly said Harry, and thank you for it.

[@drkatel]

Harry McDow, beautiful tribute. 🙏🏻

[@TheHighwayhoss]

Well said, sir: to the crew of UA232, who made the impossible possible and the nonsurvivable survivable.

[@sharonrose7938]

Thank you for your sincere and eloquent tribute.

[@karenkramer3760]

What a positive person that Pilot is. When ATC says "You're clear to land on any runway." And Captain Hayes laughs and says, "You want to be particular and make it a runway ha?" That's one man I would've like to have met.

[@cellgrrl]

I did get to meet him. He told the story of this day. He is even more heroic than we imagine he was.

[@larrydavid6852]

Balls of steel.

[@kenworcester4387]

They discussed landing the plane on I-29. I used to live on that interstate about an hour south. It had potential. That corridor is very flat, being in the Missouri River bottoms. Ground issues would have been obstructions and getting to a place on the road with enough distance between overpass bridges. I remember that captain dismissed the idea, but I cannot recall what he said. I imagine it had something to do with the difficulty turning the plane and not having enough altitude to make the attempt.

[@kytran1153]

Haynes: Help me! Sioux ATC: No

[@johnanderson3173]

Sometimes humor is all you left . I am like most said , they were in good hands

[@zebop917]

I think of it like this. When that fan disk disintegrated, the plane had 296 dead people on board. 185 of them were brought back to,life by a superlative feat of airmanship.

[@deeanna8448]

That is the best explanation I've ever read. Definitely better than calling it a "miracle."

[@cynthiaholland13]

So well said

[@46monkeyes]

zebop917 -EXACTLY CORRECT

[@bellavia5]

That is a beautifull way of describing the situation. GOD Bless.

[@alvaroakatico9188]

zebop917 You have a way with words that really puts the entire situation into perspective. Well done!

[@hostrauer]

Possibly the most amazing feat of airmanship in history. If you've ever heard (or read) Captain Haynes retelling of the event, it is absolutely unbelievable how much good luck they had after a catastrophic piece of bad luck. Among the things Haynes listed as critical to the survival of 185 people: (1) it happened during the day over Iowa, not over the Rockies or an ocean. Lots of flat farmland, so the crew had hope that even if they couldn't make an airport a crash landing could be survivable. (2) The weather was clear and calm, no storms or turbulence; that's definitely not a given thing over the great plains in the Summer. (3) The director of operations at Sioux Gateway Airport had required the staff to run a "what if" drill once a year for possibility of a crash of a 737 at the airport. The DC-10 is a much bigger plane, but the airport staff already had processes, guidelines, and contacts in place for a disaster. (4) It was the one day of the month the Iowa Air National Guard was training at the airport. 285 National Guard members were already on-site and ready to assist with rescue operations. (5) There was enough time between the engine failure and the crash landing to notify all medical personnel in the surrounding area. First shift workers were held over, and second shift workers were summoned in early, so every hospital was double-staffed with doctors and nurses. All elective surgeries were cancelled to free up operating rooms. Ambulances were sent from all surrounding counties so that there would be enough personnel on-site to transport survivors to the hospital. One final addendum: the NTSB ran several reconstructions of the accident in simulators during their investigation. None of the simulations (using live or computerized pilots) resulted in any survivors, with one pilot who observed the studies saying, "Most of the simulations never even made it close to the ground." The NTSB concluded that this was not a survivable accident, and stated in the final report: "under the circumstances the UAL (United Airlines) flight crew performance was highly commendable and greatly exceeded reasonable expectations."

[@davehoward2791]

Fantastic post outlining all of the behind the scenes actions taken by the unsung heroes in the background to save as many lives as possible. Very well done, thank you! 👍👍

[@robertcraven1771]

Incredible

[@kpod9665]

Unreal

[@0324chloe]

Only 185 survived? The fact that anyone survived is a miracle. Capt. Alfred Haynes...I Hope every flight I’m ever on has your expertise and calm in the cockpit. RIP. What a hero!

[@bettmanthemoron3403]

Right? This is considered one of the most amazing feats of airmanship in history. There is no way ANYONE should have survived, yet the majority did. It would have ben much better if the video stated "only 111 perished"....

[@Riflerer]

Unfortunately he passed away in 2019 :(

[@michaeljcurry]

Yeah, that was insulting.

[@macleunin]

The fact that they managed to get that close to the runway under those conditions is incredible.

[@jonlaroche5239]

If they didn't crash at the airport you can be sure the # of survivors would have been drastically lower if any at all. They were extremely lucky they had those 4 men piloting. To have 2 thirds of the people survive is amazing. Still unbelievable after all these years.

[@Platypi007]

According to a video I just watched (Nickolas Means recounting this crash story at a Lead Developer conference), this was the first time anyone survived a crash of an airliner with complete loss of flight controls. The NTSB ran simulators with the flight conditions Flight 232 experienced and no other crew was able to get anywhere near as close to the airport as they did.

[@Nieosl]

@Ricardo cute Cockatiel

[@macleunin]

NielsGames25 🙂

[@AcogR4C]

It's like a car zooming full speed on a highway, then suddenly losing control of the wheel and brakes. Now it's a plane that lost control high up and they managed to save 180 lives. They are literal gods. R.I.P Al Haynes, captain of 232.

[@kravdraa7]

Possibly the finest piece of aviation ever performed. To not panic and lose total control with just the slightest misjudged action, in the face of a horrifying situation, deserves the greatest respect and admiration.

[@johnleonard6099]

Excuse me me but what happened to the children? there is no mention of them. How many of them died?. Can you imagine how terrifying it must have been for them, even more so than the adults. Also did the pilots receive any kind of award?. Surely no one ever deserved it more. RIP to those who died.

[@johnleonard6099]

Another excellent video though, very well made, and with due respect for the dead (which not all others have, sad to say.).

[@Adriana-eu6ty]

Yes, that is true. Amazing people were on that plane, 🙌🏻 I just watched the air france rio to paris video and that was frustrating. That accident was so avoidable, but the bad training and lack of communication has consequences. 😔

[@nathanhosea489]

@@johnleonard6099 11....out of 52. Pure insanity what the pilots did.

[@cellgrrl]

It was around 1999. Because I was a ham radio operator I was invited to attend a speech given by Capt. Haynes for emergency service providers in my small Texas town. Needless to say the event was awe-inspiring. I heard the entire story straight from his mouth. The most memorable part was the details he told of how Sioux City citizens came together to rescue the survivors and provide immediate medical care. He credited others for any success he had that day. After he was done I waited until he was freed up for one thing only: to tell him I wanted to shake the hand of a hero. I did.

[@bellavia5]

GOD Bless.

[@TigerDriver66]

It’s very interesting how all the survivors give credit to Sioux City. The response must have been something special and we certainly don’t give them enough credit. Great comment.

[@cellgrrl]

@@TigerDriver66 Just one example, before the plane crashed, the citizens of Sioux City were lined up outside ready to give blood. So many other factors as well.

[@shivwesker4171]

Not sure why I found this comment as emotional as I did. Thank you for sharing ♥️

[@joehintz7255]

It was a good while before 99. Early 90's.

[@cinkidaz]

When that disk let go all of the people on that plane were lost. It was only through sheer skill and teamwork that the pilots were able to save 185 souls. A finer act of heroism cannot be found in my opinion.

[@TheBorathon]

"Of the 296 passengers and crew on board, only 185 survived" "Only"?? That's over 60%. Having anyone survive using only torque to steer is impressive, let alone over half of them. Definitely wouldn't have said "only", more like "amazingly".

[@MoodyWeatherASD]

They were mostly children flying alone. Yeah it's an "only." :\

[@Tommy-5684]

@@MoodyWeatherASD when experience of the past 50 years had total fetalites in simamer situations 184 survivors is something of a myrical if your inclined to that way of thinking

[@TheBorathon]

@@MoodyWeatherASD I wouldn't place value over anyone's life more than another. Over 60% survived, by definition, that is improper use of "only". "Only 30 survived" is a much more appropriate statement. However, due to the numbers in this case: "Amazingly 185 survived this incident."

[@MoodyWeatherASD]

I'm so glad you have your opinion. Now let me have mine.

[@AcerJones21]

I was expecting total fatalities given the circumstances and the debris. I did a double take at "only" as well. "Only more than half survived, including the four pilots?" Wow. As an aside, I'm sure that Fitch knew something was badly wrong but can you imagine being called up and being told "yeah, we've lost basically everything, how do we land this thing?"

[@stealthmog5734]

When asked what he would've done differently, Haynes said, with a chuckle, "I would've called in sick"

[@sharonrose7938]

He was not only an incredible pilot, but also a good & humble man. RIP Captain Haynes.

[@Kodos2024]

9:08 lol

[@Eisenbison]

Well it's good that he didn't. I have a feeling that most other pilots would have crashed the plane trying to land it under those conditions.

[@MoneyOverFame]

Much respect to him.

[@yerdude]

Haha!

[@2snowgirl520]

I read that in simulators, nobody has ever been able to duplicate this landing. What a miracle, what great pilots. Great job on this video.

[@donnix768]

Pancake 52 This is true, no one ever even came close to making an airport in the simulator.

[@edwardkann978]

America is finished I hate to say

[@cinkidaz]

There is no substitute for air under your butt.

[@lukasbfilms]

can confirm, tried it today on a simulator. impossible to even navigate let alone land

[@TigerDriver66]

One day I’ll land this fucker. But I haven’t yet. Probably close to 100 tries. I get disoriented and I can’t even fly straight. Haynes is a hero.

[@Intrepid175a]

I attended a flight proficiency seminar a couple of years after this incident. Their guest speaker was the captain of this flight. He brought a slide show and the audio recordings of all their communications with ATC during this emergency. The professionalism of both the flight crew and ATC controllers was amazing. When he finished, there wasn't a dry eye in the place. It was amazing and also amazing that anyone survived at all. The cockpit of the aircraft ended up separating from the rest of the structure and just looked like a wadded up piece of steel. All those in the cockpit were trapped inside but none of rescuers realized it because it didn't look like anything a body would still be alive in. That is, until a worker was walking by when one of the men groaned and was heard. He had pictures of the cockpit and it's unbelievable that anyone was in there, let alone several people.

[@Mike12522]

In 1990, the 4 flight officers on United 232 were jointly awarded the Polaris award. This is the world's highest, and most rarely awarded Civil Aviation award in existance. It is not even awarded, on average, once per year. They were the *ONLY* worldwide flight crew which won that award in that year. It is only awarded for exhibiting the ' highest and most difficult airmanship skills under the most difficult and dangerous of flying conditions. ' Very richly deserved.

[@geraldo209]

RIP captain haynes. Hope you and denny Fitch are watching over us from the skies

[@AsIseeitPattiDail]

Denny Fitch is his name? Thank you! He needs to be recognized as well for his skillmanship!

[@restyourheadsoothingrelaxa2729]

No pun intended.

[@thelefthandedshooter5760]

“I have serious doubts about making the airport” then asking for a safe place to ditch the plane so that no one on the ground would be injured. These pilots were amazing and to listen to Haynes tell the story and feel the loss of the lives he didn’t save is heartbreaking. This incident actually lifts my spirit to know that human ingenuity and the guts to never give up can be a powerful resource in the face of certain tragedy.

[@LindaStevensBZ]

Imagine driving down the freeway and your steering wheel comes off in your hands. And you can't slow down until you get to your driveway.

[@DOJO-r8w]

Not the same concept but I get it.

[@DOJO-r8w]

@Inda Now Facts! An analogy thats a little far off.

[@BrettonFerguson]

@Inda Now Analogies need to have similarities in order to work. The less things that are similar, the less they work. I do understand the concept. If you had 2 accelerators, one for your right wheels and one for your left, it would be a little closer. Plus no other cars on the road. Plus staying on the pavement isn't important until you try to stop. In a car you would only need to worry about right and left. In a plane you have right and left, plus up and down, plus keeping the wings level.

[@TempoMontages]

You dumb as fuck that's not going 500 mph thousands of feet in the air

[@shanna3148]

@@BrettonFerguson analogies do not have to be literal. You sound like that "well akkkktually" meme but irl. Now go ahead and explain to me how my analogy isn't correct because you aren't *actually* a meme but a human that can't be sent through a computer. 😂🙄

[@pauldames8349]

I remember watching Captain Fitch interviewed a few times. Poor guy suffered from survivors guilt. Still he loved flying and stuck with it.

[@AsIseeitPattiDail]

Yes Captain Fitch deserves a lot of recognition!

[@kamyagupta4030]

yes

[@el34glo59]

He deserved to survive. What a move he pulled to land that thing.

[@Dorpmuller]

That took balls... betchya there's a lot that wouldn't fly again.

[@Xer0280]

him? Seriously, of all people? That is heartbreaking. He saved 185 people when 100% of everyone on board was basically as good as dead. He fought his way all the way to an airport in a plane that had no working control surfaces with just right turns and differential thrust. He does not deserve the amount of emotional pain he experienced, let alone any emotional pain at all.

[@robertescher3082]

Two greatest lines ever spoken by Captains of Flights in danger: "We're gonna be in the Hudson" - Sully, and "You wanna be particular and make it a runway huh?" - Haynes. I have nothing but the utmost respect for both men and their incredible crews who kept their cool under conditions that would have me running to the nearest restroom to change my pants.

[@mikepetitti]

I would add Captain Haynes: "Whatever you do, keep us away from the city." He was in mortal danger and yet had the awareness to make sure no one else would be harmed.

[@seantaggart7382]

@@mikepetitti yeah He was like: we are going down but lets not take anyone else

[@jeannevacca1328]

Bravery

[@dashleigh1plays]

I remember Captain Haynes something kinda funnier: "I don't usually drink beer, but I'm sure as shit I will have one after this".

[@surindersingh724]

Engine failure. No hydraulics. Plane literally falling from the skies. And the sheer calmness in Haynes’ voice. Definitely made of the right stuff.

[@ColinMill1]

"...You want to be particular and make it a runway, huh..." So incredibly cool.

[@kamyagupta4030]

yes

[@M-ps6ve]

make the difficult (yet necessary) decision to wrap up your stay here on Earth

[@benst2594]

R.I.P Captain Haynes, you did what you could to save everyone and you lived as a hero . Much Respect

[@buckybadger02]

I live in the Sioux City area and was a kid when this happened. My mother was a nurse at one of the local hospitals and would work many extra hours helping the victims. The flight crew along with the many first responders in the Siouxland area are the heroes. I can still remember like it was yesterday. Thank you for making this.

[@leebenson4874]

Hi follow Siouxlander!!!! I watched and listened to this from the top of my Peterbilt on my scanner from the parking lot of Southern Hall Mall. I wish I had not for the sight of the firer ball never leaves me. Spc-Lee A Benson 11B U.S. Army (RM)

[@rainbowangel5264]

@@leebenson4874 Ah! An army man! **Salute**

[@benberkson4481]

My dad’s schoolmate died on this flight. She was in 5th grade and her name was Kim and he wrote a song for her and played it for the rest of the school. He just told me this so I had to dig in to see what happened. So unfortunate but amazing job by the flight crew to save many lives that would’ve been lost.

[@AsIseeitPattiDail]

I'm so very sorry to hear that! :(

[@georgec9590]

I saw a documentary on this accident many years ago. It included an interview with Fitch. It seemed, during the interview, that he blamed himself over the many people who died on that flight. As I recall, with Fitch at the throttle controls, (apparently the only controls working), he made a last second decision to stop what he said was a non-survivable vertical drop. Having saved most people on board by stopping this non-survivable descent, the wing fell causing the plane to cartwheel. If it wasn't for Fitch, it's likely all would have perished that day. RIP

[@WayneM1961]

After this crash, the whole thing was set up on a simulator, several pilots tried, and all failed to get within 20 miles of the airport. The loss of life was tragic of course, but even so, it was a modern day miracle not everyone was killed. Well what can be said to praise TFC which hasn't already been said? another superb presentation

[@WayneM1961]

@Zoe Kin You're right it hasn't

[@JetFan-qp6fr]

I like the ATC conversations, they add a nice extra voice instead of a completely silent video.

[@ibis8566]

TFC can't add ATC audio to most of these air incidents considering they're either uncovered, locked from public access, or undefinable. Regarding the text errors, this person does his best and he isn't from an English background, lay easy.

[@JetFan-qp6fr]

@@ibis8566 I know that, I've been watching this channel for a long time. I understood where the text errors came from, but it just seemed not normal compared to the last two, but it didn't stop me from enjoying the video.

[@lindanitzschke1315]

FYI: Actually, the finally tally was 112 dead...one person survived longer but eventually died from injuries, making the number of survivers 184...pretty damn amazing. Also, Laurence Gonzales wrote a book about this crash, the cause and aftermath, with a huge amount of detail as to even how the metal used for the fan blades is purified, etc., and it also told in great detail about how all the victims were handled on the field and all that was done to identify them, etc., making sure no mistakes were made...just an amazingly complete record from start to end...I would have never guessed what all went into recording/investigating that event. Really good book..."Flight 232: A Story of Disaster and Survival" in case you'd like to read about the accident (no, I don't get anything for promoting it).

[@chikoopandya]

Let's take a moment to appreciate the sheer skill and calmness and teamwork of these pilots. *Salute to you Sir*.

[@kenworcester4387]

I served as an EMT in Western Iowa not long after this incident. I had triage training by the doctor who coordinated the rescue. I wish this channel would have mentioned the heroic efforts made by the dozens of volunteer fire and rescue departments who worked along side the Sioux City fire department and ambulance service. They were called as soon as the decision was made to attempt to reach Sioux City and were in place before the landing attempt. All of the injured were transported to the hospital within one hour, which dramatically increased the chance of surviving. They used to call it "the golden hour". The doctor shared several lessons were learned in that crash. One was, the passengers who followed the brace instructions tended to survive. Those who did not were among the fatalities. In closing, I think that having 185 survivors in a crash like this is a remarkable thing. This was the result of the combined heroic efforts of the flight crew and those on the ground. We mourn for those who died; but was not "just" 185 survivors. An incredible 185 persons lived through this terrible ordeal. Let's celebrate that.

[@brianmiller1077]

I heard that the accident also happened at a shift change at the local hospital and they send both shifts to the airport. Miracle upon miracle upon miracle.

[@dinalnikolakakis7783]

Ken Worcester god bless you

[@emansnas]

Yours is a perspective I'm guessing not many who came here thought about and it should be recognized and appreciated. The saving of life that day was indeed a *team* effort; each member making their own contribution according to their skills and conscientiousness whether during a "golden hour" or "golden split second".

[@Ken-sc3gx]

Without a doubt! Having all of the emergency people in place and alerted, the airport and local fire departments, each and every unsung and unknown soul who came together to save and incredible number of lives made every bit of difference. ATC and the flight crew made every effort to bring the craft to the ground. Then, it was up to rescuers to carry the day from there on.

[@emansnas]

So true and very well said. Average person probably doesn't know if/when they'll ever be called upon. With people in your profession (also pilots, ATC, et al), entirely different odds... it takes a certain kind of person to accept *that* responsibility. Would be nice for people to appreciate that, not just after the fact but before also. Very good you came here... and for me it's a personal reminder.

[@11_Laurent]

Sad to know that Captain Alfred Clair Haynes (Al Haynes) died about a week ago. He was a hero as he managed to save 185 lives when the chances of survival were nearly 0. And such a legend deserved to live more longer :'( RIP Captain Haynes (1932 - August 25, 2019)

[@cheesestick9100]

F

[@margeebechyne8642]

He was 87 -that's a pretty good long life.

[@jerrystanley7000]

I remember watching this on the news as it was happening. The fact that over half of the passengers lived, tells you that crew wasn't going to give up. The fact that they were able a get flying rock on the ground with 189 souls, that survived is magical in itself. I'm truly sorry for those that didn't make, but no one would have made it with out that crew!

[@brianhettrick7627]

I was 8 years old when my family and I missed this flight and had to take another back to Philadelphia. 32 years later curious to know the details of this flight because my memories were hazy on the details... and oh man, the chills this gives me.

[@giancarlomoscetti215]

Dennis Fitch was a keynote speaker at a supplier symposium that Cessna Aircraft hosted, to which I was invited. He related this story along with some associated audio, video and photos during his speech. I, along with many others, simply shook his hand in silence afterwards, with tears in our eyes. Needless to say, it was an extremely moving and emotional presentation that Dennis did.

[@annetteslife]

It was a miracle that anyone survived.

[@jeschr3462]

Right? Let alone 185 people. I think they crashed at 238 mph.

[@annetteslife]

@@jeschr3462 that is true

[@aeronpuguan6817]

Damn true

[@Maplelust]

yeah it always is.

[@annetteslife]

@@Maplelust exactly and Amen

[@ElveeKaye]

"Oh, you want to be particular and make it a runway, huh?" Amazing that he could crack a joke while knowing that he might die. If it hadn't been for these brave men, I think everyone on board would have died.

[@MichaelGrey11]

Amazing how calm the pilots voices were

[@Proximax9]

the sink rate was so high because of the size of their balls

[@Maplelust]

they always are ridiculously calm.

[@gypsyknight9564]

Those pilots had ...."the right stuff".

[@65sunnyday]

IMHO, this is the most amazing feat of modern times. I've also read that the ATC moved to Sioux City because he found his former job as a NYC ATC "too stressful.."

[@drbettyschueler3235]

I watched this landing in horror and admiration. It did seem to be an impossible landing yet almost 2/3 of the passengers and crew survived. It was a miracle that anyone survived. My heart ached for the lives lost but rejoiced that so many lived thanks to the incredible skill of those in the cockpit.

[@cedricye1767]

Cap Sully: "I landed a plane in the Hudson with no casualty." Cap Haynes: "Hold my empty hydraulics" *Gets plane to runway and makes an overspeed landing without control, and saves more than half of people on board*

[@MsMutiti]

So did the Canadian pilot of the Gimly Glider

[@ahgflyguy]

@@MsMutiti airplanes glide just fine. If you ask me whether I want you to take my engines or my control surfces, you can have the engines. You can even have the rudder.

[@ablurr9089]

What about air Transat 236 and Cathay 780

[@sockshandle]

@@ahgflyguy not those big Jumbo's that the big airlines use their too heavy to glide a long distance

[@ahgflyguy]

@@sockshandle you need to familiarize yourself with the concept of a "glide ratio". It is largely unaffected by the weight of the craft until the best glide speed approaches the trans-sonic regime. They have a glide ration between 15 and 22 generally, so from 1 kilometer up, they can glide 15 to 22 kilometers. So 35,000 feet is 10 km, so their glide range would be somewhere between 150 and 220 km if they lost both engines at that altitude while at speed. Deploying a Ram Air Turbine will reduce this somewhat.

[@bobbyricigliano2799]

I believe Al Haynes and Denny Fitch are up there doing the Lord's work among the clouds now, keeping eternal watch over pilots, crews, and passengers, shepherding them safely along their travels.

[@gwendolyncarter5668]

Thank you so much for this one, always one of my favorite air investigation stories. I can't imagine the overwhelming sense of loss of 111 passengers, but 185 survived is an incredible testimony to the skill level of the crew that day!. As always, great recreation! RIP to an American hero, Capt. Al Haines.

[@roka67tours75]

Si Lson

[@lesliewordsworth6387]

@@roka67tours75 my my.

[@fatimahrabah9201]

Today is the Anniversary of Flight 232 and the passing of my beloved mother. July 19, 1989. I will never forget that day. Had it not been for Captain Alfred Haynes and Denny Finch losing my Mother would have been unbearable. Because of their skill all souls were not lost. Captain Haynes even though we never met, you were my mentor. I love the DC-10 as much as you did. We Virgo's love alike. Captain Alfred Haynes you will forever be in my Heart ❤😢❤

[@fatimahrabah9201]

I love the DC-10 so much, my license Tag reads MY DC 10.

[@aldoraine9949]

Pilot still manages to laugh well knowing he is likely about to die. INCREDIBLE

[@kamyagupta4030]

yes

[@thizzney510]

It's a natural reaction to ease the fear in humans

[@barbarawoodall4835]

Absolutely. All of them, hero’s. They fought that plane until the last second in order to save as many lives as they could in a disastrous situation. Nobody should have survived that, but they did, thanks to that crew with courage and never say die attitude. Went down fighting HARD. Way to go. Utmost respect for them.

[@ilovesteveclark6084]

"Only" 185 survived...looking at how immense and horrific this crash was, I was genuinely surprised that anyone survived. 185 survivors is a miracle! If it weren't for Captain Haynes excellent openess to allow everyone to have input and work together as a team, no one would've survived!

[@clange50]

Literally yelled "what!?" when I saw the survivor count. Incredible.

[@さけ-m3r]

I'm amazed by the captain's apparently calm and casual manner with which he communicates with the controller even in the face of such a horrific and almost hopeless situation. He is a true professional. It's also intriguing, as a Japanese, to learn from Wikipedia that the 1985 crash of JAL 123, caused by a total loss of hydraulics, provided a lesson to the DC-10 flight instructor onboard, who had studied the crash and had practiced using throttle differential under similar conditions on a simulator. That might have contributed to some of the lives saved.

[@eastbow6053]

JAL 123 also lost the tail not only Hydraulics the fact that they managed to fly it for 30 mins was a testament of the pilots will to live

[@bobh5087]

Back in the day, my uncle, who was a captain for Eastern Airlines, told my dad and me that he'd test-flown a DC-10 and called it a "killer (in a BAD way) airplane - the *most dangerously unstable aircraft* he'd ever flown." He was a part of the team that got Eastern to buy the *L-1011* - which he said was, without a doubt, the *best plane* he'd ever flown... *"a dream to fly!"* he said.

[@TitaniumTurbine]

DCs/MDs were some of the worst commercial airplanes ever made - in the US at least, Russia (during the soviet era) also had some real winners too. Anyways, they were cheaper than other commercial aircraft at the time and that led to companies buying them and using them on less popular routes. Certainly by the mid to late 80s, many were aware of the DCs/MDs body count. Thankfully, they merged with Boeing and that put a stop to the manufacturing of those flying death traps.

[@JessycaLunawoona]

@@TitaniumTurbineBut now we have the 737 max, are things really that much better?

[@SassePhoto]

The simulation work you did including real voice recording is absolutely outstanding and a great tribute to an incredible captain and crew

[@standepain]

I was 14 when this happened and up until a Instagram post I thought I saw the other day I thought all aboard had been killed especially after seeing that crash. The fact that they landed this was just incredible and the fact that anyone survived let alone 184 is just a miracle.

[@THELIFEOFPRICE]

Wow what An event. rest in peace to all of the ones that perished

[@yusribija1511]

Yap

[@ItsMOMOBitches]

Not only did they survive, but 184 passengers also survived. So, clearly not everyone perished.

[@TheHorrorDevotee]

.... What do you mean by 'rest in peace' to all of them? Did you... watch the video?

[@abdullayusuf1898]

@@TheHorrorDevotee I don’t think so 😂

[@joemann5378]

I can't even believe how much calm and poise those guys had, especially Haynes. He was able to crack jokes right before it was likely he was going to perish. God bless these men.

[@adamgropper2072]

United 232, may those who perished, be at peace.

[@Blogengezer]

"Life is pleasant, death is peaceful. It is the transition that is troublesome".. Azimov

[@1tommymulligan]

I heard they recreated this scenario in the simulator during the accident investigation and nobody was able to make the airport and land. Fantastic skills by these airmen, and even the humor during the radio transmission with ATC. I studied this accident among many others as a Fire Officer in Dublin Airport and gave many lectures on it including actual crash and post crash footage.

[@joshuapatrick682]

The fact that anyone survived is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the flight crew. They saved lives that day.

[@luminositywealth]

In the voice recording, the same captain is also heard saying something along the lines "if we survive this landing I will buy you all a beer"

[@keelsmac01]

These older pilots, a lot of them flew before all the automation. So when there was an issue they could fly manually. This is a dying breed. Now a lot of pilots lose control if automation fails. Nothing against younger pilots, the world 🌎 and technology are advancing.

[@razorfett147]

Well said, and very true...sadly

[@lo3769]

Cough* AF 447 * cough

[@NateTrucker92]

The fact that Captain was able to joke in this situation either says he's a madman or such a calm and cool pilot that even facing almost certain death he was able to maintain his composure. As a student pilot, I would have been screaming for help haha much respect to these guys.....they saved many lives.

[@ilovetotri23]

Alfred Haynes is my aviation hero!!!! He did what no other pilot could have done. I remember it being sad that the FFA forced his retirement because of his age, and at the same time it was his age/experience that saved so many lives that day. RIP Alfred Haynes!

[@Bonazest9169]

I respect your opinion but what about Eric Gennotte he landed an A300F when he lost all his hydraulic

[@sabre697]

Upon introducing eachother Fitch asked Hayes that "when this was all over how about a drink." To which, Hayes told danny "i don't drink but i'll sure as shit will have one."

[@scottwoodcock3542]

Captain Alfred Claire Haynes was also a Navy pilot for four years prior to his civilian service. Phenomenal human, tremendously talented pilot with an enduring sense of humour. Some people have said in some of these comment boards that pilots who successfully navigate a disaster are not heroes because their own lives are also on the line. I think this man puts the lie to that statement ; good pilots are so very conscious of the lives of their passengers, this man cried inconsolably after the accident when he realized the number of deaths. He was incredibly humble, always refusing to take the credit for his actions.

[@offshack]

I was sitting in the lounge at Stapleton airport waiting for a connection to Los Angeles on a flight from the east to west coast when this crash occured. I remember they had CNN on the TV's in the lounge and the breaking news came on about an incident in Sioux City - they had actual video footage of the incident that was captured - you can see it here preserved from a KIRO7 clip - kzbin.info/www/bejne/mnS3o6ZvorCgnsU --- everyone in the airport became instantly transfixed on the news as it came out that the flight had just left Denver earlier in the day.

[@gypsyknight9564]

Standing in that airport, and watching that horrific crash....how in God's name could anybody there not walk back to the ticket counter, and say...."Cancel my flight"?

[@nl.515]

TheFlightChannel, KZbin's#1 virtual aviator, and aviation accident storyteller about to bless our feeds once again with the UA232 remake. On the topic, if you're reading this, your next regular flight video should be the American Airlines Super 80 final flight.

[@prjerrybruck]

The Nickster [NL.515] in a

[@NakulDalakoti]

I also fly in flight simulator. And its beyond my understanding how Captain Haynes is keeping his calm. Whenever I hear any alarm or warning in Cockpit I freak out. But this guy kept his calm kept flying and saved people's lives. Its very hard to keep yourself in control when you know your death is near now. My respects to him. May his soul rests in peace.

[@Also_Ran]

This is some of the most consistently high quality content anywhere. Tragedies like these can become “just statistics” if we let them, but your channel reminds us that these were real people, real heroes trying to save lives, in the face of unimaginably terrifying circumstances. Hopefully we can all learn something from them.

[@marybarry2230]

It breaks my heart every time I see this video! The pilots tried so hard! That they and so many passengers and crew survived that crash is truly a miracle!

[@esczerozeronine]

Even though 185 people survived, it's still the greatest emergency landing in history

[@RepoManInIndy]

I study plane crashes as a hobby and this is the absolute most interesting one. The video Denny Fitch did that's on KZbin is so interesting to hear it from his perspective. All 3 pilots where good at what they do. RIP Capt Hayes and RIP TCA Denny Fitch.

[@JESCO58]

The preparation the pilot and co-pilot did give themselves for just such an accident is the only reason all lives were not lost on this flight. It is with my greatest respect I note that these two men were prepared when disaster struck, did not panic, and made a difference in people's lives. Well done, gentlemen.

[@rext8949]

This sort of thing can be classified as a real miracle. It's like landing with your hands tied back.

[@FadedAir]

a remake from one of your first, im ready for it to be good

[@latifsamour8763]

First officer with 20000 hours, AND HE IS NOT A CAPTAIN????!

[@epicgamer9295]

@@latifsamour8763 well it's the pilot who decides when to be a captain...(dats wat I heard)

[@FadedAir]

Thank you for the likes XD

[@jujuguy2323]

It’s a miracle anyone survived this. Awesome capt. and crew. May he Rest In Peace

[@trob0914]

Met him at 2 separate lectures, Captain Alfred "Al" Haynes was an incredible human being as well as an excellent pilot, likewise for Captain Dennis "Denny" Fitch, whom I had the pleasure of also meeting! RIP to All not with us from "UAL 232"!!

[@Flokipops]

You re-edited it with CVR on it. I live this. Hands down my most favorite video on KZbin. Real definition of hero : Someone that against all odds still make the impossible happen. RIP to Al. May him and all of these 4 heroes be in peace.

[@3jake5mee]

Wow. RIP to all those who died. What incredible pilots, they took a seemingly doomed situation and did what they could. They saved a lot of lives.

[@emilybrookestone1857]

Wow. Just, wow. It's so sad that so many children were on this flight, but also so amazing that so many people survived. The pilots were so amazing. That they managed to even get close to the airport is amazing and they should've been given some sort of award. Also how on earth did he manage to chuckle?! . RIP Al Haynes, you're a hero ❤❤❤

[@htos1av]

RIP to all and Captain Haynes. You now have the best seat in the universe. This is such a great homage, TFC! Proud to be an original sub!

[@drumline17]

"You want to be particular and make it a runway, huh?" This guy knows full well there's a good chance he's about to die and he's laughing and making jokes while sounding like it's a normal day. Absolutely incredible

[@jonesyokc]

The fact that anyone survived is a miracle. I was fortunate enough to meet a survivor of the crash about a year ago. I think this might be one of the most incredible landings in aviation history.

[@OnlyHeisei]

This is the best emergency landing. Imagine you have no hydraulics, no full control on the aircraft.

[@udin737]

Medal of honor to the flight crew that have made it possible to reach near the airport. My heart feels grateful for their action, at the same time feels sorrow for the others that perished after landing. May their souls rest in peace.

[@gizmophoto3577]

Heard Dennis Fitch describe his experiences coming up from the cabin on this flight. Truly heartbreaking and awe-inspiring.

[@jeremieragois5514]

Omg what a thrilling episode!! The best I've seen to date, I know there were 111 casualties however this captain and its crew are heroes for saving the rest on this impossible landing with barely any control! Also the title didn't give any spoilers made the episode extra good! :) Thanks TFC! This was a masterpiece!!! ❤️👌🏼✈️

[@tdmaywr2089]

Jeremie Ragois they are heros, yes. They managed to turn a total lose and save 111 people. Amazing. The new updates will not allow this type of accident again, and sadly it took an accident like this one to prevent another

[@theflightchannel]

I’m glad you appreciated this episode! Thanks. 😊

[@taggerdoxyll]

Todd N actually 111 ppl died, 185 lived (just to point it out)

[@deepthinker999]

@@tdmaywr2089 Not exactly. There have been multiple engine failures caused by cracked fan blades that grew over time undetected by aircraft maintenance. The problem is that the explosion can damage exposed surfaces of the plane. The DC10/MD11 do not and have not been used in passenger service in the USA for some time. A few may remain for cargo service.

[@margeebechyne8642]

It's actually astonishing anyone survived. That flight crew did an incredible job. So very sad about the 111 who died, but for them to save 185 is truly something. When I saw the first photo of the crash site I didn't think anyone could have survived. Adding that this is another really great presentation. Thank you.

[@josephconnor2310]

Totally agree. I thought this nonsurvivable for anyone, watching the footage.

[@Brenelael]

I was on United flight 232 from Denver to Chicago in May 1989... 3 months before this happened. I'm not sure if it was the same pilots but if the plane was the same that crack was there when I flew on it. When this accident happened I was stunned and shocked when I heard the flight number. Even more so when the results of the investigation came out. This flight crew did an amazing job getting this plane to the runway let alone landing in a way that saved so many lives. Total loss of Hydraulics would have been a death sentence to everyone on board in 99.9% of cases. This was that .1% and the flight crew deserves all of the credit for the 185 people who survived. I can't praise these guys enough.

[@philivey1333]

The flight and landing were remarkable! No doubt about it. The survivors were lucky to have that flight crew that day! My heart still broke for those 11 children that died. I read that most were alone without their parents. They must had been so frightened.

[@waynejohnson1304]

I remember this so well. No one will ever forget Haynes and, especially Fitch, for their heroic efforts to keep and out-of-control aircraft from crashing and killing all aboard. Both men were distant cousins of mine. May all of those who died rest in peace...

[@ilovesteveclark6084]

❤God Bless Captain Haynes, a real pilot...that man KNEW HOW TO FLY A PLANE WITH HIS OWN HANDS! And because of his knowledge, 185 people lived!

[@izzyfitzgerald9539]

my dad and I had the opportunity to run little league tournaments with Mr. Al Haynes for about 5 years and let me tell you he was one of the best people I have ever met. He is so incredibly humble about his whole experience with flight 232 and I remember him telling me "I didn't care if I died in the process I was just trying to save as many people as I could" . He would go places and speak about this incident every year but he would always refuse to take any money you offered for his time.. And to add to him being a great pilot, he's also a great human. He's great with the kids and was always smiling and talking to me whenever I saw him. I truly enjoyed being around him. I miss him greatly and wish everyone got to know him like I did.

[@arthurdduda63]

Valiant effort and remained calm the whole time, RIP to all who lost their lives, and prayers for the families they left behind.

[@Aviatial]

Is this uploaded as a tribute to Captain Haynes? Also, this is a fantastic video, you’ve done a great job, I’m sure Captain Haynes would love this. Thank you so much for your efforts sir!

[@SawdEndymon]

*RIP* Al Haynes😥 #truehero

[@QueenofPoppies]

I was honored and awestruck to have met Capt Al Haynes about 20 years ago when he was a guest at an Air Traffic club I belonged to. I will never forget him

[@lenfirewood4089]

"Of the 296 passengers and crew onboard "ONLY" 185 survived"

[@TheDealMaster]

It is absolutely incredible that 185 people survived this. There's no other way to look at this. When I saw that there were survivors, my mouth dropped. That could have ended the lives of every person on that plane, coming in at that speed and altitude. Kudos to the entire flight crew and everyone at Air Traffic Control. And as always, a true thank you to TheFlightChannel. Well done once again, my friend.