What Happened to Helios Flight 522? - DISASTER BREAKDOWN

[@DisasterBreakdown]

If you found this video to be interesting be sure to drop a like and subscribe! This video went out to my Patrons, two days before it went out publicly here on KZbin. Consider joining at: www.patreon.com/DisasterBreakdown Twitter: twitter.com/Chloe_HowieCB

[@sailaab]

Chloe bhai🙇🏻‍♂️, lota and lots of prayers and good wishes for you to see this procedure through AND have a timely, *COMPLETE* recovery to good health.. soon after. Much appreciate your grit, determination, passion to stick with us via these documentary productions and yes.. you are indeed the kind of enthusiast who can liven up stories fro. The weirdly risky 'checkered board' approach at Kai Tak and associated stories from back then.. to the (often) never made it in the public domain.. of travels into difficult airports like Paro International Airport, Tenzing-Hilary Airport, Lukla , Madeira Airport, Congonhas Airport and so on. So yes indeed, would be great to have to connect with some those who have flown in and out of those.. to get some chilling and thrilling stories. . Once again, much appreciate the personal engagement you have in trying to soaking in the stories you narrate and ve one with them. Please do keep us updated on your health regimen, recovery.. from time to time.. if okay. . Affectionate love and blessings from Poona (near Bombay).

[@RalphEllis]

The problem was the B.oeing 737. You CANNOT have a warning that has two meanings. And you cannot have something this urgent, that does not trigger the master warning. The problem is that when you are in the simulator (twice a year), this warning is ALWAYS the take-off config warning. Every other aircraft would have given clear warnings, that this was a pressurisation fault. But not the 737. R

[@rudybriskar5267]

Welcome back! Subscribed for at least a year. I've scrolled back and watched the older videos after I watched all of the videos from 2022 and 2023.

[@skeetrix5577]

This tragedy is what got me interested in air disasters. Glad you covered it

[@jtjames79]

What's with all the beeping and buzzing like it's some sort of McDonald's kitchen? Audio warnings should just say what the error is. What century are airliners even in?

[@ZombieSazza]

God it kills me that Andreas managed to get to the cockpit and was controlling the aircraft, but nobody heard his Mayday calls. He’s a hero, instead of the craft crashing into the city he got her away from any populated area, he saved more lives than he’ll ever know in his last selfless act

[@dfuher968]

I have always wondered, why the F-16s or ATC or such didnt try to tune a radio into the frequency for Cypruss, once they saw some1 in the cockpit, yet were unable to get an answer on the Athens frequency.

[@somethingsomething404]

@@dfuher968aren’t all aircraft supposed to monitor GUARD (the international emergency frequency)

[@somethingsomething404]

@@dfuher968I suspect they didn’t want the plane to land at that point. Hundreds of brain dead people… that’s almost worse than everyone dying. Not to mention what do you do with that aircraft after, if it’s just a switch in the wrong spot, you’d keep flying it right? Horrifying thought to be on a plane that killed hundreds

[@N1clasBerg]

he’s NOT a hero. he sat there using the oxygen supplies for 2 hours before it occured to him to enter the cockpit. really?

[@user-xu2pi6vx7o]

​@@N1clasBergYou have no right to say this, since you have no idea what happened on board. Maybe he didn't actually know the cabin code and spent all that time looking for it in whatever paperwork they had.. His fiancé was onboard, he most definitely spent time trying to save her. Maybe he got in earlier and, recognizing that he can't land the plane, tried to wake up one of the pilots. You don't know, so it's asinine for you to blame him.

[@lindsayschmidt2177]

For some reason this accident haunts me in a way that most other airline accidents do not. The idea of a ghost plane is absolutely terrifying.

[@MrGeirPaulsen]

Indeed!

[@kamelenka]

this one and the air france AF447 disaster

[@marksmith402]

This is one of the saddest accidents/ scenarios I've ever heard....All of those people.... This is the first ive heard of it, only the Payne Stewart incident before.

[@hectornecromancer5308]

To make this crash even more disturbing. The exact circumstances happened on this flight had already happened 6 years earlier on Learjet 55 that killed Payne Stewart

[@terdsie]

Hey, if you're gonna go, I can't think of an easier way than simply falling into a hypoxic sleep.

[@lostvictims9769]

In remembrance: Captain Hans-Jürgen Merten, 58 First Officer Πάμπος Χαραλάμπους, 51 Flight Attendant Λουΐζα Βουτέρη, 32 Flight Attendant Μερόπη Σοφοκλέους Flight Attendant Ανδρέας Προδρόμου Flight Attendant Χάρις Χαραλάμπους Παρασκευάς Δημητρίου, 30 Μαρία Ρίκκου, 27 Αδάμος Ευριπίδου, 61 Νίκη Ευριπίδου, 52 Ανδρούλα Καρκανιά, 46 Παναγιώτης Καρκανιά, 48 Γεώργιος Ιακώβου, 54 Μαργαρίτα Ιακώβου, 46 Αναστάσιος Αγαθαγγέλου, 32 Κυριάκος Αλιούρης, 31 Ανδρέας Χριστοδούλου, 44 Καλυψώ Χριστοδούλου, 42 Ελένη Κωνσταντίνου, 39 Θεοφάνης Κωνσταντίνου, 42 Δένα Καρακώστα, 43 Νίκος Καρακώστα, 53 Νίκος Νικολάου, 27 Θέτη Νικολάου, 4 Νόνη Νεοκλέους, 30 Κώστας Χριστοδουλόπουλος, 45 Φωτεινή Χριστοδουλόπουλου, 18 Αναστάσιος Αναστασίου, 36 Στέφανη Χάσουλα, 18, Μαρία Καρακώστα,, 43 Ανδρέας Καρακώστας, 46 Πάμπος Καζαμίας, 59 Πανίκος Κιτρομηλίδης, 43 Φάνη Καπετάνιου Κιτρομηλίδου, 42 Μαρίνα Ν. Χριστοδουλόπουλου, 43 Ελένη Ονησιφόρου, 27 Γιαννούλα Νεοφύτου, 55 Μιχάλης Νεοφύτου, 28 Ελενα Μιχαήλ, 29 Αντρη Κυπριανού, 28 Ευγενία Κέντα, 32 Σωτήρης Κατσέξου, 60 Μαρία Κατσέξου, 54 Οδυσσέας Κουτσόφτα, 28 Χρυσούλα Κουτσόφτα,, 5 Ξένια Κουτσόφτα Βρακά, 27 Γεώργιος Θεοφάνης Μαρία Θεοφάνη Αρτέμης Θεοφάνη Μαρία Παπαγιάννη Ιωάννης Αλεξανδρής, 37 Αρης Αδελιδης Ιωάννης Παπαϊωάννου Ευσταθία Μούσα Θεόδωρος Δούνας, 38 Μιχαλης Δούνα, 10 Βασιλική Δούνα, 8 Τάσος Δούνας, 5 Χριστίνα Τσοπανή, 34 Χρίστος Πυρίλης, 40 Αντωνία Μανώλη Πυρίλη, 36 Εύα Πυρίλλη, 12 Ξένιος Πυρίλλη, 10 Μάρκος Πυρίλλη, 6 Αντώνης Αντωνίου, 39 Μαρία Αντωνίου,, 35 Χρίστος Αντωνίου, 9 Χριστίνα Αντωνίου, 6 Μιχάλης Γιωργαλλή, 51 Ανθούλα Γιωργαλλή, 47 Αγάθη Ευριπίδου, 41 Ευριπίδης Ευριπίδου, 47 Πολίνα Ευριπίδου, 12 Στέφανη Ευριπίδου, 17 Κυριάκος Κυπριανού, 48 Αναστασία Κυπριανού, 44 Στέλλα Κυπριανού, 16 Χρίστα Κυπριανού, 14 Χριστόδουλος Κυπριανού, 5 Αρα Τουτουντζιάν, 16 Μπαριέτ Τουτουντζιάν, 12 Χίλντα Τουτουντζιάν, 45 Χαγκοπ Τουτουντζιάν, 51 Σωτήρης Κωνσταντίνου, 10 Ειρήνη Κωνσταντίνου, 36 Μιχάλης Κωνσταντίνου, 39 Πέτρος Κωνσταντίνου, 13 Πολυξένη Σοφοκλέους, 30 Χριστόδουλος Προκοπίου, 34 Μαρία Πογιατζή, 23 Ιωάννης Παπαχριστοδούλου, 31 Μαίρη Γεωργίου, 42 Μιχάλης Κωνσταντίνου, 54 Καλλιόπη Κωνσταντίνου, 49 Χριστίνα Λαππά, 25 K. Καραμπαμπας Αναστάσιος Κυρλαγκιτσης E. Λιμπιτσιούνη K. Μιχαηλίδης E. Γαβριηλίδου, 29 Κλεόπας Νικολάου, 66 Δημήτριος 'Ομπασιης, 26 Γ. Γεώργιος, 25 Νίκος Νικολάου, 30 Γεώργιος Γεωργίου, 31 Ντίνα Κωνσταντινίδη Αντριάνα Χρυσάνθου, 63 Σωτήρης Χρυσάνθου, 65 Νίκος Χαραλάμπους, 34 Κούλα Χαραλάμπους, 59 Κωνσταντίνα Χαραλάμπους, 6 Πανίκος Αναστασίου, 38 Μαρία Ελένη Γιασουμή, 9 Σύλβια Γιασουμή, 46 Ιάσονας Γιασουμή, 47 Δήμος Ξιούρουππας, 39 Μαργαρίτα Ξιούρουππα, 34 Σοφία Ξιούρουππα, 10 Ιωάννα Ξιούρουππα, 9 Βασίλης Ρέγκο, 31 Περικλής Ψαρούδης, 34

[@judywein3282]

As always, thank you for your service in the remembrance of the victims.

[@CatOperated]

Thank you for this.

[@LemonLadyRecords]

Ty, I always read over them. So not forgotten. So many young people on that flight! Off to an exciting holiday or on to visit relatives, but never made it. ❤

[@zedfourme5085]

Gay

[@brigidsingleton1596]

💔😢Rest In Peace poor lost souls.😢💔

[@topspot4834]

So good, LOVE the newer, longer format Chloe ... KZbin algo could take awhile to reward you for your effort, but quality over quantity will eventually payoff for you. Excellent job!!

[@DisasterBreakdown]

I appreciate your comment. Thanks :)

[@rogerrendzak8055]

Who's Chloe?? That's a feminine name. But, the voice is male.

[@GuyNamedSean]

@@rogerrendzak8055She's trans. Not sure what her personal reason is (she could have a variety, but it's a common choice among voice actors) but she doesn't seem to focus as much on voice training. There's a few videos where you can see her.

[@rogerrendzak8055]

@@GuyNamedSean Her?? You mean him?? What kind of pride is there, if you're not at least, looking gay?? Like a normal, gay couple. Confusing, ain't it🤔⁉️

[@xochixat_5285]

@@GuyNamedSean i didn’t know chloe was trans! that’s amazing ❤❤❤

[@lunayoshi]

I've heard one of the reasons Andreas was able to stay conscious so much longer than everyone else was because he was supposedly very fit and liked to hike or some other activity that improves lung capacity. It might have meant he lasted long enough to grab an oxygen tank before he got hypoxic. Great video, as always, Chloe. You can revisit these any time because they're always entertaining, revisions or not. They don't happen often, but ghost planes fascinate me.

[@samuelmatheson9655]

he'd also recognize what was going on

[@Shatyice420]

He might share blood with Nepalese Sherpas, who have a unique blood makeup that allows them to summit Everest without oxygen tanks while avoiding hypoxia. That can explain why he was still conscious

[@speedbird9313]

He had portable oxygen right next to him, that helps😉

[@lunayoshi]

@@speedbird9313 True, but it (apparently) didn't help the rest of the flight attendants that passed out.

[@speedbird9313]

@@lunayoshi No, that is really strange actually🙄🤔

[@supermanpapastalin]

One of the F16 pilots had a voice recording where he was screaming "the plane is falling ITS FALLING". You can really feel for the guy watching a plane become a coffin.

[@RahulRk-tr7ot]

Yeah. The Fighter pilot recording is available in "Real horror" channel. I saw that video.

[@dws84]

Interesting

[@Nicholas-Borg.]

is there a video somewhere where i can have a listen

[@kellylingro3288]

The concept of a ghost flight is so chilling. There's something about planes continuing on autopilot that feels both tragic and terrifying.

[@wokewokerman5280]

so true, and then for one person, someone who could have gained access to the cockpit, reset the altitude to say 10,000, and then worked to get comms up. Why that did not happen is a total mystery... the 737 on a normal day is just not that hard to fly.....

[@britbongtankie]

When Andreas made that final turn before impact, he likely saved the lives of several people on the ground. May he rest in peace.

[@speedbird9313]

The aircraft banked left when engine #1 flamed out..

[@Edelweiss1102]

​@@speedbird9313He made turns AFTER the engine ran out. But random dudes on the internet always know better.

[@speedbird9313]

@@Edelweiss1102 No, the official accident report with statements from the fighter pilots actually knows better, if muppets like yourself only would bother to read it..

[@TheCondoInRedondo]

Even if the pilots had "muscle-memoried" the checklist when it came to cabin pressurization, the problem is that you're supposed to alternate between "AUTO" and "ALTN" with each flight to exercise both of the independent pressurization computers all the time. I.e., if the switch was left in AUTO from the previous flight, you're supposed to use ALTN for the next flight and vice versa. You don't just leave it in AUTO for every flight. This protocol is to ensure that a failure of ALTN doesn't go undetected, such that a later failure of AUTO yields a surprise when you switch to ALTN only to discover it's broken, too! This protocol is supposed to be part of the airline's "flight manual". My point is that a competent 737 pilot would have sought to switch from AUTO to ALTN or from ALTN to AUTO, in which case he/she would have discovered the switch positioned to MANUAL.

[@sage5296]

This is probably also just to make sure you interact with the panel, as it's much harder to "look without seeing" when you have to actually interact with the object in question

[@TaeruAlethea]

This is a good process change to better prevent mistakes and undetected failures.

[@abebuckingham8198]

I think in general if you skip something that's on the checklist three times you're probably a terrible pilot regardless.

[@alanm8932]

I'm pretty sure the procedure won't be as you say. If it were then on every other flight, where Altn was selected, there would be no automatic selection of a backup if a failure occurred. I guess you would have to realise there is a fault and then select Auto so that the primary pressurisation computer can take over. (Or select manual, which would make no sense when you presumably have a good primary to use). I believe the swapping of primary and Altn channels on each flight is done inside the unit each time power is cycled and it doesn't even appear to indicate to the pilot which channel it is considering to be primary and which is Altn for any particular flight. You always select auto. There is always an automatically selected Altn channel. The system is (invisibly to the pilot but they are told in the manual that it is doing it) using a different channel as primary (& the other one as Altn) each time the power is cycled so that you can't have a faulty channel and it go unnoticed.

[@beenaplumber8379]

What is ALTN? The procedure you describe sounds like a great way to prevent this. Was that procedure in place at the time of this accident? Was that procedure part of your company's ops manual (you sound like a pilot), and maybe not part of Helios' manual?

[@purplegalaxies2149]

The thought of a plane flying in the skies with a dead crew and passengers freaks me out to my core. Rest in peace, everyone who passed that day.

[@lunayoshi]

At least it didn't crash into a populated area. We might have Andreas to thank for that in his last moments, but again, we'll never be sure.

[@mboyer68]

Imagine being the military pilot pulling alongside and seeing that?Totally creepy!

[@Gencturk92]

@@lunayoshi i dont even believe this plane suffered hypoxia, helios company were not doing good, they wanted to shut down helios, the f-16's shot the plane down

[@lunayoshi]

@@Gencturk92 Oh no, not one of you. You know planes can crash from lack of fuel and aren't super eager to kill people, right? I hope you do. I've seen 4 channels/tv shows talk about this incident and all 4 of them say the plane ran out of fuel. Or is that a conspiracy too?

[@Gencturk92]

@@lunayoshi oh ok so you watched some programs on tv and they said that the plane ran out of fuel... yeah that really does prove it thank you, anything else ? they said on 9/11 building 7 collapsed due to falling debris and office fires, they said storys about Madeline Mccan, they said about Malaysian plane mh370, they said about JFK assasination... for some reason whatever the news channels tells us is always the truth but when people do some research and see what conclusions are to come up with we are the ones that are conspiracy theory's ?

[@retrowoohoo468]

I remember watching an Air Crash Investigation regarding this case. I had a thought Andreas in his barely conscience knew the plane wasn’t going to make it and will crash into Athens. He managed to steer the plane away from city and ended up crashing into mountains.

[@LT.SeaGull]

Not to nitpick but at that low altitude he was probably recovered from the hypoxia already.

[@pensivelyrebelling]

I’ve seen this suggestion that he steered the plane to avoid casualties on the ground. He was clearly not doing well based on the final transmission, so maybe he didn’t feel confident he could land the plane in his weakened state.

[@DC-10sBiggestFan-ug1vc]

Another quality video. It's extremely tragic what occurred on this flight. Imagine being the flight attendant, and you see the fuel run out, and you can't do anything to stop it, or save the lives of anybody else on the plane, not even yours.

[@freddiecunningham2860]

Screw that I'd get on the controls and try something

[@DC-10sBiggestFan-ug1vc]

@@freddiecunningham2860 With no knowledge on how to fly that plane? people who know a ton about flying an aircraft can't land a commercial plane. Now imagine that, but you trying to fly and land a plane, and without even having ATC to help you, and no fuel. It's just not going to work.

[@N1clasBerg]

@@DC-10sBiggestFan-ug1vcnot true. there were instances, although tbf quite a few, that a regular person would be able to land a plane, with the help of the ground telling them what to do

[@N1clasBerg]

@@DC-10sBiggestFan-ug1vcthere was enough fuel to fly for 2 hours, when the flight attendant could make 2+2 together and try to communicate with the cockpit or enter it

[@DC-10sBiggestFan-ug1vc]

@@N1clasBerg Did you watch the video? He was tunes in into nicosia ATC, which meant he couldn't get help from them, and he wouldn't know to change the frequency.

[@beccyvc5743]

Giiiirl, I have a 1 hour trainride ahead of me and you drop the disaster that haunts me the most. Thanks ❤

[@DisasterBreakdown]

Enjoy your journey!

[@pattimaeda6097]

@@DisasterBreakdownhave you done Payne Stewart’s similar disaster?

[@sagittarinaofficial]

Girl? Isn't the narrator a man?

[@tf2255]

Good to see some of the older videos getting a face-lift. It goes to show just how far you have come. Keep up the good work.

[@DisasterBreakdown]

Thanks!

[@dontspikemydrink9382]

​@DisasterBreakdown why do you redo these videos

[@georgezachos7322]

Greek here. This one hits hard. Thank you for your efforts Chloe.

[@DisasterBreakdown]

Thanks for listening

[@Pippis78]

It makes it worse that one person was awake and knew what had happened and would happen next. No peaceful death for him. But perhaps he stopped an even bigger tragedy from happening if the plane had crashed into a populated area.

[@ChristopherBurtraw]

I think it is unfair for Alan Irwin to have gone to prison over this, unless it is established as an imperative safety checklist on his part to reset that switch according to the maintenance SOPs. I'm glad a court found him not responsible, because as far as I can tell, he wasn't, even if he were to admit that he had left that switch. This is 10000% on the pilots. Regarding remaking videos, TBH I think I would particularly enjoy a video of this magnitude of depth on the Hindenberg disaster - it's the oldest video on this channel (was it the very first DB video?) and very short.

[@DisasterBreakdown]

Alan Irwin did an article with the Guardian if you haven't already read it: www.theguardian.com/world/2020/sep/19/in-2005-helios-flight-522-crashed-into-a-greek-hillside-was-it-because-one-man-forgot-to-flip-a-switch He tells his side of things. It's certainly an extension of the helios story and is even tragic in parts.

[@RealBrik2]

​@@DisasterBreakdownCan you make a video on Easyjet 6074?

[@sarahfrith1984]

I agree. Irwin probably experiences some guilt that he could have set it back and prevented this but it’s not his fault the pilots did not check it. On their part I guess they allowed assumption to take over, as they assumed it was set to auto like it usually is. It is such a tragic accident that was so preventable but hindsight is 20/20 and looking back it all seems so obvious to us looking at it

[@GuyNamedSean]

Fully agree. In his shoes, I'd probably never be able to stop blaming myself. Regardless, it was unquestionably not his fault. There's a lot of people at fault, from the pilots all the way to whoever wrote the inadequate guide directions. He's not one of them, though.

[@foxglovesbouquet2905]

Tayla: Definity 100% should have been on the SOP, that's on however wrote it however.

[@MightyMoon1]

Poor Andreas. He was all alone surrounded by dead people (his girlfriend being one of them) and those were his final moments. That’s ridiculously terrifying. The fact that he was able to steer the plane away from a populated area and was still thinking that clearly is amazing.

[@speedbird9313]

Sorry to tell you, but that last part is only found in wikipedia and certain youtube videoes😕 You should read the official accident report.

[@jess_lol4579]

@@speedbird9313if he kept in on its programmed flight path it would of crashed into the centre of athens. causing ground casualties

[@speedbird9313]

@@jess_lol4579 No it wouldnt, the holding pattern of flight 522 was not close to being over central parts of Athens. And it stayed in its holding pattern untill engine #1 flamed out and disconnected the autopilot.

[@lakeireland]

I really hate to say this but if I ever have to die in a plane incident, this is how I want to go. Thank you, Chloe for all the work you’ve done and continue to do in these videos. I wish you a speedy recovery!

[@SunayanaSB1998]

Sad but true

[@planescaped]

One can only assume the flight attendant took so long to get into the cockpit because he had passed out at some point, but managed to somehow come to.

[@AdrianColley]

My theory is that he was trying every possible combination at the door lock.

[@yeos_angel_]

That was my thinking

[@dubstepsquid31]

That or I also thought maybe since autopilot was flying the plane, he figured the pilots were still in control.

[@alanm8932]

​@@dubstepsquid31cabin crew must have enough training to know that if the oxygen masks drop, they have 12 minutes to get down to 10,000ft. That's usually a fairly dramatic descent that you're going to notice. If they hadn't initiated a descent within 2 minutes I'd at least be asking the purser to contact the cockpit & find out why they're not descending. Obviously they should be busy but by 2 mins, they should be descending unless they are flying over Mt Everest.

[@NickyBlue99]

The slow loss of oxygen probably made the people on the plane hypoxic over such a long time, that when the masks fell the pilots didnt know what to do with them. ​@alanm8932

[@bri-was-here]

Your cadence, your sense of humor, your wealth of knowledge, everything about your videos is worth the wait. Even with stories I'm already familiar with, you make it interesting to hear about them again. I'm always excited to see you pop up in my subscription feed 😁

[@johnnicholas1488]

I agree. She has a subtle mysterious charm which intrigues me. Bet she is fun.

[@andrewlonghofer]

I think your OG Helios 522 video was the first of your channel I ever saw, which made me subscribe. This is a BRILLIANT remake, and I have been awed by Andreas Prodromou since the first time I heard this story. Extremely well done.

[@ChaosMagnet]

I first learned about this incident from an old Discovery Channel show, ages ago. It has haunted me ever since. I even had a few nightmares about it. I can’t imagine what that poor flight attendant was thinking and feeling. I know that the lack of adequate oxygen would likely have made him feel very distanced from the concept of his own impending mortality, at least to some degree, but he had to be aware that without the pilots being conscious, there was no way to safely land. And he tried so *damned* hard to save that plane. He tried so hard. I think that’s part of why I found this case so particularly heartbreaking. It just feels so wrong for the story of that flight and the lives of all aboard to have ended like that, when that lad tried so hard to get help, to save the lives of all flying with him.

[@yanikeonpurpose]

To be honest, half way through after holding my head in my hands the whole time, when he said they’d fallen unconscious, I felt peace for them. They died without feeling a thing. They just fell asleep. That compared to being fully aware of your impending doom is fate I would much prefer. Rip to them all, especially that brave pilot at the end. 🕊✨

[@desertstar223]

This disaster has been covered by other channels. However, you brought your own unique style of telling the story. Especially all the background details. Which none of the other channels covered. Quality work.

[@DisasterBreakdown]

Thanks :)

[@ky7299]

I have been at the crash site at Grammatiko. There was a memorial at a nearby small chapel with photographs of the victims already bleached under the sun, including the one of Andreas Prodromou and his girlfriend you used. Vegetation on the hillside had regrown fully and you couldn't tell there had been a plane crash there together with a small fire that was easily put out. The small plateau where the 737 crashed was about two football fields long and made us wonder whether an experienced pilot could have made a better crash landing but it doesn't matter since all on board except Prodromou were already brain dead with no hope of recovering. The chief investigator in Athens used a similar 737 of another company to try to duplicate the trip to better understand what happened. Most say it was an unnecessary move done only to have his name made public by the media and gain praise. The coroner that examined the bodies stated that their hearts were still beating at the time of the crash, which while technically correct was misleading in the sense that people thought they were "alive" while they already had sustained irreversible brain damage and were in an unrecoverable vegetative state. In this sense the fact that the plane crashed and finished them off was a blessing, imagine those 110+ people in a hospital in an unrecoverable coma. Photographs of the victims' bodies after the crash were leaked in dark web sites. I had a chance to see them. I won't go into detail but I got to see what extreme deceleration trauma looks like. Most of them didn't have even a small cut on their skin and this is the only thing I want to say.

[@OutsideGalaxy]

I've seen this covered before but I always love how you go over things. This is such a very tragic disaster honestly both heartbreaking and eerie to think about

[@cecilyanng]

Always better detail with Chloe!

[@andreavgr]

I live in Athens and I remember on that day I was 12 years old. On that morning we were with my mother at Marathon beach for a swim and I remember asking her "why does this plane keep going in circles?" We only found out later when we were returning home on the radio in the car.

[@somethingsomething404]

Holding patterns are common, but yeah 5+ laps isn’t

[@andreavgr]

@@somethingsomething404 I don't remember how many laps I saw it do but I remember it went on for a good while and by the end many people were looking at it.

[@crosshyparu]

Chloe saying Freedom Units is the highlight of my life

[@ADRgman]

Even though I saw the Air Crash Investigation for this I still watch it because these videos are so full of quality content

[@DisasterBreakdown]

I appreciate the kind words, glad you like the videos.

[@sophiec1528]

Out of all the air disasters I know of, this particular one has always stuck with me. It is incomprehensible in a "special" way for lack of better term. Thanks for this video Chloe I really enjoy these longer videos

[@Sahai907]

As a person who uses subtitles, I really appreciate your writing the subtitles. Quality is what makes a good KZbinr, not quantity

[@sammygirl6910]

Chloe, I just wanted to say how much I love your content. You are one of only three flight channels I watch, along with Montour Pilot and Green Dot. The detail and professionalism of your videos is really impressive. Keep up the great work.

[@janethigginbottom]

They're my favourite three too. I'd love to see Chloe collab with Petter

[@runristenn3214]

Thank you. You have a very clear and good english, it's easy to listen to and easy to understand. My native tounge is swedish, I often watch Mentours videos and both of you delivers high quality stuff, you from the outside and Mentour from the inside of the cockpit. Well done!

[@linux4me28]

I was going to say, this is a remake. I think it was fitting because it shows the progression of this channel. I remembered the first one, this was an amazing remake of it. Amazing Job!!!

[@emilycormeraie8858]

I’ve spoken many times to my husband about this flight, and what’s really interesting is he always brings up what happened to him. See, he was actually on one of those Ryanair flights that suffered the same issue. He said that as the flight was taking off, still climbing, he began to feel drowsy. He looked around and oddly, it seems lots of people had fallen asleep. Suddenly a stewardess went running up to the front of the plane as fast as she seemed she could, the plane still climbing. He couldn’t see what she did, but moments later he began to feel lighter, and people started waking up. He said it all took place before they’d even levelled off, but it scared him so much. When we speak about the Helios flight, he worries for what could’ve happened if that attendant hadn’t reacted so quickly.

[@speedbird9313]

Bleed-less takeoff, not uncommon for lowprice airlines Im afraid🙄

[@Joshuadgog]

Its just a crazy crash. The horror of being in a plane with everyone died of the lack of oxygen. And one guy being left to try to save the plane but he could do nothing.

[@D7STOPIAN]

I definitely agree, I don't usually get scared by crashes but the idea of being alone and watching everyone else die while you struggle with the fact that you will join them soon, that is a truly horrible fate.

[@MELANIE2571]

Oh my. This made me cry. You don't really think about exactly what happens when you see these articles on the news etc. Just so tragic. Thanks Chloe,brilliant as always, done with compassion and empathy as always ❤

[@TheWeatherbuff]

Hi Chloe! Sorry I am late to the party on this channel. I guess the YT algorithms decided I would like it... And I DO!! I've been bingeing on your past videos this weekend, and just subscribed. Obviously I am enjoying your productions. I must say, the narration is excellent. I work in broadcasting and voice acting, and you are doing a STELLAR job!! 😊

[@mattamiller2002]

I've seen a few other takes on this disaster and I really think this is the best one. Clarified and corrected a few things I'd heard about this incident. Good luck with the surgery. Can't wait for the next video.

[@DisasterBreakdown]

Thank you!

[@CuriousMess61]

RIP to all those who were lost and blessings to their families. Another great video Chloe. It was good to hear your voice on the Plainly Difficult video I recently watched. You and John should do more collaborations. Good luck with your surgery.

[@ryanatkinson2978]

This disaster occupies my mind more than most. I've watched pretty much every video on it from the various channels, and this one was really good

[@LuchinoBruttomesso]

Nice video,this accident will also forever be burned into my memory as i just was so happened to be born 5 days After this tragedy, R.I.P to the 121 people onboard flight 522

[@greenockscatman]

You really did justice to a very tragic case. Appreciate the remake, Chloe! And best of luck with the surgery!

[@mikkelangelo5700]

I have listened to many accident documentaries through the years of my life (was fed a steady diet of Seconds Before Disaster as a child), so videos such as these have become the way to keep me sane through the workday, however... Even after having listened to your video about Saudia Flight 163, which was harrowing in its own right, this one was so utterly heartwretching that I wept on the bus home from work. Absolutely stunning work making this video, well done.

[@finnomaly]

good luck with the surgery chloe, and i wish you a smooth and speedy recovery :D

[@DisasterBreakdown]

Thank you!

[@xblindside]

what i loved the most about this remake is how the added detail and improved visuals really set it apart from the original video and give me a fresh perspective on an incident i didn't get from watching other video analyses, including professional documentaries like mayday. you actually delve deep into the airline's history and marketing and what made it a viable choice for european tourists, which helped flesh out the tragedy and, in a bittersweet sort of way, helps your audience empathize more with the passengers who were probably looking forward to their vacation. amazing job chloe, i'm so excited for your next remakes!

[@CapitalismSuxx]

I subbed to your Patreon as a Christmas treat and you don't disappoint. Love everything from your channel !

[@DisasterBreakdown]

Thank you very much for your support 😊

[@PoppyRoseWitch]

Absolutely incredible video about a heartbreaking disaster. I’m thoroughly impressed with the amount of details! You put in so much work, and it shows! Amazing job ❤

[@DisasterBreakdown]

Thank you so much for watching!

[@dankrauz1036]

Though i've heard this story before...only you Chloe can tell it in such detail. Kudos.

[@DisasterBreakdown]

Thank you so much. I'm thrilled you like the videos!

[@charlotteinnocent8752]

Good luck and recover soon! Another wonderful video, this story always makes me cry to imagine the man walking to the front o the plane where the love of his life was unconscious, getting into the cockpit, and finding there was nothing he could do. It's the stuff of horror movies. Those poor people. I don't blame the engineer either, it was up to the captain and co pilot to check the switch. But may they all RIP.

[@hollymartins6913]

Besides the accuracy and depth of the information provided and the flawlessly-synced visual references, your narration is flawless.

[@sharoncassell5273]

I was watching another video on a different channel and comments praised other artists so I added your name Chloe to the bragging rights group. I praised your presentation urging them to experience your reports. Thank you for such a thoroughness.

[@ubielecki]

I was backpacking through Europe when this happened. I still remember that photo in the newspapers of the tail on the mountainside. Such a sad and preventable story

[@StellaMurano]

Helios 522 will always be close to my heart as it's one of the first air disasters I learnt about when I started my journey as avgeek. Thank you so much for preparing longer videos for us! Aaand happy new year! 🎉❤

[@ZombieSazza]

“Despite what you might think, an aircraft is not perfectly sealed.” _[Stares at Alaska Airlines Flight 1282]_ Yeah, I mean that *does* check out.

[@speedbird9313]

No commercial jet is perfectly sealed👍🏻

[@Halinspark]

​@@speedbird9313Neither are ships or submarines.

[@speedbird9313]

@@Halinspark And?

[@Halinspark]

@@speedbird9313 And I thought it was interesting trivia related to the discussion, so I said it. That's kind of how communication works, do try to follow along.

[@speedbird9313]

@@Halinspark That a nice suppression technique after you’ve written something completely useless👏🏻👍🏻

[@starlightela]

heartbreaking, but a really fascinating example why safety checks are important and shouldn't be glossed over! lovely video as always!!!

[@DisasterBreakdown]

Thank you!

[@zombinosh]

I may have heard this on the Flight Channel or Mentour Pilot but nothing takes away from how tragic it was. Nice work, Chloe.

[@StellaDraco]

You got very good information on hypoxia and explained it very well. Great video!

[@DisasterBreakdown]

Thank you!

[@shadrecklungu9384]

This is absolutely beautiful best explanation of this tragic accident and it's very hurtful to know that this was avoidable from the beginning through checklists.

[@fushigifreakorbulusraymond6838]

A fantastic video as ever! Usually I'm fairly resistant to getting upset about these subjects, but this one was absolutely haunting, which I suppose is fitting. Your video quality has improved so much since the original! Best of luck with the surgery as well :)

[@Snogard45]

love your longer form content, I really appreciate the larger amount of details and study into the crash. wishing you well with your surgery!

[@YourGranIsBigMad]

I love how much you go in depth with the details with your videos. It's been awesome seeing your content and quality improve with each video. You've done very well. 👍

[@steve10]

The music played as you mentioning them passing was really touching , I guess if it was just passing out with no panic and no suffering in the way you would if you drown or suffocate then if you do go then I would rather go that way tbh. Amazing how the computer just flies the plane with everyone dead on board , its quite chilling. The one person still alive must have been spooky for him and quite scary.

[@stuarthumphrey1787]

Happy new year Chloe. Yet another fascinating insight into a tragic event. Thank you for your dedication in bringing us such informative videos

[@kaaz1010]

I have watched hundreds of films and videos on air disasters... This one made me actually cry, one sole survivor trying his best in a hopeless struggle. Call me a crybaby... This breaks my heart

[@Your_Local_Nerd]

I’ve watch almost every single video on your channel and they are all so detailed and amazing, thank you for making these, I cannot thank you enough

[@DisasterBreakdown]

You're very welcome!

[@ericbartol]

I have never heard this disaster story before. Thank you for this chronicle of the event. I love your channel when I have time to enjoy it. Keep up the good work!

[@keeperofoddknowledgesociet3264]

I love this channel. The details are amazing. I don’t think I heard this much about the cockpit crew. Wow.

[@birdbrain4445]

Just stumbled on your channel through this video from a certain other video on this very disaster. This is an altogether lengthier and more detailed look at it, with a greater emphasis on the specifics of aviation and less on the existential horror of it, as that video does. Airline disasters are an interest of mine - a morbid one I sometimes don't like to delve near, admittedly - but yeah this is some great content. Really good work; subscribed! Hope you're recovering well from your surgery

[@olig6769]

Congrats on the surgery! I'll be having top surgery this year and this channel will definitely be on rotation during recovery.

[@smellyfanelly]

I’ve been binging your videos for over a week, and this lovely new video just popped up. Excellent work, consistently, top notch.

[@DisasterBreakdown]

Awesome, thank you!

[@axilleas]

Great video!!!! Thank you!!! P.S.: A little known but very disturbing fact is that photos of the crash site “pre recovery” were leaked on the internet a few years after the crash, completely disrespecting the loved ones of those that perished. The people responsible, almost certainly part of the investigation were never found or held accountable.

[@arutabaga8264]

Chloe, really appreciate your deep dive into the background and details of this doomed flight. I learned much more than I did from other videos. What a messy, complex set of circumstances that led to the tragic and avoidable deaths.

[@lyedavide]

It's crazy to have a single warning sound for more than one specific problem. With respect to this particular problem, there should have been an automatic reset, like the door catch, which automatically returns to it's default position as automatic, exactly the same as the spring loaded door catch springs out once you release the door handle. That said, as with so many accidents, this one was caused by a cascading string of errors by several people. RIP to those who died in this really unfortunate accident.

[@martynlittler1304]

Just found your channel after watching your videos on the Facebook page the storytelling, excellent work

[@TheGustavok]

"Freedom Units" was absolutely brilliant! :D

[@DavidElkind42]

I gotta say, I've watched alot of air disaster videos on KZbin & despite how tragic each situation is, I never really got emotional. But hearing you describe the poor passengers final moments with them watching everyone around them just dropping one by one... Man, idk if it was the music, or your delivery or both but I was in full on tears.

[@StephenLuke]

RIP To the passengers and crew of Helios Airways Flight 522

[@xYuki91x]

I don't know what kind of surgery you're getting, but I wish you all the best, Chloe!! Your videos are amazing

[@doubledistilled]

Premium quality in-depth content. Thank you! Condolences to all those involved in this tragedy.

[@rt12.12]

this is such a good channel, the topics are so interesting and your voice is so soothing i wish this was on spotify

[@chrishusted9296]

Hypo referring to a low or lowered presence Oxy referring to oxygen And Emia meaning presence in blood. Hypoxemia: low oxygen presence in blood.

[@moreheff]

Happy New Year and good luck Chloe. I have seen a few videos on this incident and it gives me chills every time. Incredibly sad

[@stevenmcghee6649]

Excellent video (as ever). This extraordinary story is almost like a script from a movie except such a script would probably be rejected as being too far-fetched. I can't begin to imagine how that poor man felt for those 2 hours, all alone and in such a hopeless situation. He did remarkably well to ensure, as far as his limited experience allowed, that the final crash occurred over uninhabited ground.

[@speedbird9313]

So why didnt he enter the cockpit at an earlier stage?🤷🏻‍♂️

[@stevenmcghee6649]

@@speedbird9313 he knew what he'd find and perhaps he sat there, beside his now-dead girlfriend, wondering if there was any point in doing so. Perhaps he did think that if he could use his limited flying experience to keep the plane away from populated areas, then it was better than no action at all. We'll never know.

[@speedbird9313]

@@stevenmcghee6649 The plane flew for nearly three hours, so why are you fast forwarding 2.5 hours? Non of the flight attendants entered the cockpit before nearly three hours had gone, but that is mainly on the chief flight attendant, not Andreas Prodromou. He didnt have limited flying experience by the way, he held a propeller type a/c CPL. And he didnt keep the plane away from populated areas.

[@eldenno]

As much as I already knew about Helios flight 522 it's great to see it presented again here so beautifully by Choe for the second time. Such a catalogue of errors leading to the, completely avoidable, total loss of the aircraft along with all aboard, this really is a haunting accident that lives with you.

[@grapeshot]

Salute to that Airline steward🫡🫡🫡🫡

[@debbie62140]

I found your channel and subscribed a few weeks ago. I'm so glad I did. Your videos are awesome, very professional, and your lovely soothing voice is easy to listen to. Good luck with your surgery. Much love and empathy. xx

[@DanRelayer_Ukraine]

one of the most haunting aviation accidents

[@wolfgangpeter2995]

Good luck for your surgery.. Me beeing in Hospital myself right now i cant state enough how much your Videos help pass the long and boring days in Hospital.. even tho i feel taken care of very well here, days tend to feel loooong 🙂

[@bradwolf07]

An utter tragedy. RIP to all those who lost their lives.

[@rockrash133]

17:32 Don't do that to me. Don't show me a happy couple and then tell me how they both died in the same plane accident. Besides that, this was an amazing start to posting videos this year, Chloe! Keep it up 👍

[@serverbf100mr]

Great video Chloe, like always! If possible, may you do the Kano Air Disaster or the Agadir Air Disaster? Both were B707 and were 2 years apart 173 Deaths for KAD and 188 Deaths For AAD

[@DisasterBreakdown]

I have Kano on my "to look at" list for a while. I might get to it soon actually.

[@pennywaltz4601]

​@@DisasterBreakdown will you do a video of Uruguayan air force flight 571 sometime this year? You must have heard of that crash its called the Andes flight disaster and Miracle of the Andes. Where most of the passengers survived the crash some dead from their injuries, the cold, also a avalanche. The search for the crash site was called off after 8 days during 72 days the survivors faced extreme hardships, exposure, also starvation the remaining passengers resorted to cannibalism to survive. Two survivors Nando parrado and Roberto Canessa climbed out the mountain peak without mountaineering gear hiked for 10 days before finding help.

[@olig6769]

​@@pennywaltz4601 It might be hard to work into this channel, since the crash itself was pretty uncomplicated and the interesting part only used the plane as a backdrop. But if you're interested in that case, Last Podcast on the Left just did a three-hour series on it. Their humour isn't for everyone, but I personally enjoyed it.

[@doobat708]

Fantastic re-make, what a great way to start your year. Have a good time recovering from surgery! ✨

[@fliegenistdassicherste8828]

Helios 522 really fits to the Greek tragedy from ancient Greece. It almost seems like fate, that this had to happen in greece

[@loretta_3843]

Thanks so much for the extra information about the company and how things are done, at times, in the industry. It gives a greater understanding about the whole picture of this horrible tragedy. I know it must have been extra work, but I hope you know it's appreciated!😊🙋🏻‍♀️

[@Awest101784]

This accident always fascinated me.

[@DisasterBreakdown]

me too!

[@CassassinCatto]

Going back to the classic pre-cracked egg video to compare after this. Good luck with the surgery and get well soon. This was one of the first Air Crash Investigation episodes I watched (ironically two weeks before I went on my very first flight in a Bombardier Dash-8 Q400) but this video has far more detail with much less sensationalism than ACI; the only thing I miss from this is the interview with Andreas' father, which made me cry when I saw it. I discovered recently through Paper Skies there is an incident of a Russian Ghost Plane but don't know any more detail, would you consider that as a future video? Also hoping to have a new job soon and dropping a donation in the Patreon hat is on my plans for my first paycheck. Good luck!

[@mr.brooks3143]

I really love this video, weirdly ive tried listening to the Helios story 3+ times already but it was never interesting enough to keep my attention, but this videochanged that completely, keep up the great work! ❤

[@DisasterBreakdown]

Thank you!

[@3xbadboy264]

Would definitely be interested in seeing a video about Payne Stewart's plane crash that occured in 1999. His too, also involved Hypoxia. Thanks for all of your hard work with researching and putting these vids together for us to watch! 👍👏

[@EdinMike]

“Most of the passengers were Cypriot, some were Greek…” As someone who had an ex Cypriot girlfriend, I ain’t touching that sentence with a barge-pole !

[@stefanhoimes]

The 400 pleats include residents of the island, minus the occupiers.