Watch Freefall: Flight 174

Freefall: Flight 174 is a 1995 made-for-television movie that tells the harrowing story of the real-life disaster involving Air Canada Flight 143 (or the 'Gimli Glider' incident) in 1983. The movie dramatizes the events that occurred before, during, and after the flight when the aircraft lost all power and had to make an emergency landing in a disused airfield in Gimli, Manitoba. The movie stars William Devane as Captain Bob Pearson, the pilot in command of Flight 174, who is a veteran pilot with over 15,000 hours of flying experience. Also featured is Scott Hylands, who plays First Officer Maurice Quintal, and Shelley Hack, who portrays a passenger named Diane Curtis. The movie begins with the crew of Flight 174 preparing for departure from Montreal with 69 passengers and 5 crew members on board. Everything seems normal during the routine checks and pre-flight procedures until the crew realizes that something is amiss. They notice that the fuel gauge readings are off, and they have a lower than expected amount of fuel on board. However, they are told that it is a minor issue and proceed to take off, hoping that they will have enough fuel to reach their destination, Edmonton. As the flight progresses, the captain and his crew discover more issues with the aircraft's electrical and hydraulic systems. They are also unable to read the measurements on the fuel gauge, making it impossible to know how much fuel they have left. The crew frantically tries to troubleshoot the problem while also keeping the passengers calm and informed. As the situation becomes more dire, the crew realizes that they will not be able to reach Edmonton and must find a place to land before their fuel runs out. They consider landing at Winnipeg or Regina airports, but the landing strips are deemed too short for a landing the size of their aircraft. Captain Pearson makes the decision to make an emergency landing at Gimli, a disused air force base that has a decommissioned runway. The crew works together to prepare the aircraft for the emergency landing at Gimli. They have to manually lower the landing gear, which is usually done by hydraulics, as the system has failed. Meanwhile, the passengers are instructed to assume the brace position for the landing. As the aircraft approaches the runway at Gimli, the crew realizes that they have miscalculated the length of the runway and realize that they don't have enough space to land. Captain Pearson makes a split-second decision to land the aircraft in the middle of the runway and use the NDB ("Non-Directional Beacon") as a makeshift guide to bring the aircraft to a stop. Thankfully, all the passengers and crew survive the ordeal, and the plane comes to a safe stop. The Gimli Glider incident becomes an aviation landmark as an example of successful crew resource management and creative problem-solving. The movie is a tense and dramatic retelling of the events that took place on that fateful day. The crew members are portrayed as heroes who remain composed and focused under extreme pressure. The movie captures the intensity and danger of the situation, building up the suspense as the crew tries to overcome various obstacles to bring the plane to a safe stop. The performances by the cast, especially William Devane, are excellent, bringing depth and nuance to their characters. Overall, Freefall: Flight 174 is a compelling and well-crafted movie that tells the story of a remarkable incident in aviation history. It showcases the heroism and professionalism of the crew members who were able to turn a potentially catastrophic situation into a triumph of problem-solving and teamwork. It's a must-watch for aviation aficionados and anyone interested in stories of human resilience and triumph in the face of adversity.