On June 1, 2009, Air France Flight 447 from Rio de Janeiro to Paris disappeared while flying over the Atlantic Ocean. Several days later, bodies and aircraft debris were sighted, confirming the tragic loss of more than 200 passengers and crew, which led to one of the most extensive crash investigations ever conducted. Filmmaker Kenny Scott's PBS-aired NOVA documentary draws on expert testimony from scientists, pilots, and air safety investigators, along with CGI reconstructions and messages from the plane's computer system, to both capture the last moments of Flight 447 and offer speculation on what might have caused the tragedy. Although some immediately assumed terrorism played a role, most feel that a massive thunderstorm masked by a smaller storm was the more likely culprit. The documentary notes that today's airplanes have complex high-tech systems that leave little chance for pilot error, but when a crisis occurs, some of those in the cockpit may not have enough “seat of the pants” experience to pull through. The black box that could have provided helpful clues was never found (one interviewee notes that searching for it was like looking for a shoe box on the island of Manhattan)—and lacking this critical piece of the puzzle, the investigation continues. Although a bit too technical at times and raising as many questions as it answers, this is an informative look overall at an unresolved mystery. Recommended. Aud: C, P. (S. Rees)
Crash of Flight 447
(2010) 56 min. DVD: $24.99 ($44.95 w/PPR). PBS Video. ISBN: 978-1-60883-304-7. Volume 26, Issue 2
Crash of Flight 447
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