Summary
Highlights
On November 12, 2001, American Airlines Flight 587 prepares for takeoff from JFK Airport bound for the Dominican Republic. Security is high due to the recent 9/11 attacks. Captain Ed States and First Officer Stan Mullen are in command of the Airbus A300. Among the 251 passengers are Hipolito Algarrobo and his wife, Ben Zia, returning home. The flight is delayed, and after a Japan Airlines 747 takes off, controllers issue a routine caution about wake turbulence to Flight 587. At 9:14 AM, the plane begins its takeoff run.
Shortly after takeoff, Flight 587 encounters turbulence, which the pilots attribute to the preceding jumbo jet's wake. First Officer Mullen responds by applying aggressive rudder inputs to stabilize the aircraft. Less than two minutes into the flight, the plane begins to break apart in the air. Eyewitnesses on the ground, including firefighter Pete Hayden, observe pieces of the plane, including engines, detaching. At 9:16 AM and 15 seconds, Flight 587 crashes into a residential area of Queens, igniting fires and causing widespread destruction. Controllers and residents initially fear another terrorist attack.
Emergency services rush to the scene, and Mayor Giuliani arrives. The city goes on high alert, with airports closing and fighter jets scrambling. On the ground, residents like Michael Morley frantically search for loved ones. Hector Algarrobo learns his parents were on the plane. The NTSB's 'Go Team,' led by Bob Benson, begins the investigation. Debris is scattered widely, and a crucial discovery is made when the plane's tail fin is found floating in Jamaica Bay, indicating it was one of the first parts to separate.
FBI forensic experts search for bomb evidence and the plane's black boxes. The cockpit voice recorder is recovered quickly, boosting investigation hopes. Despite initial fears of terrorism, the NTSB finds no corroborating evidence and announces that it is likely an accident, causing public skepticism. Security camera footage from the Triboro Bridge shows a faint streak trailing the aircraft moments before the crash, but analysis proves it occurred after the initial distress, likely fuel escaping, not an explosion.
The flight data recorder is eventually recovered, though damaged. The tail fin, made of reinforced carbon fiber composite, is meticulously examined. Investigators note that all six attaching points connecting the tail to the fuselage gave way. While the metal components remained intact, the composite lugs failed. Extensive testing by NASA and NTSB scientists finds no fault with the aircraft's design or materials, deepening the mystery of the cause.
The retrieved flight data reveals that First Officer Stan Mullen made five extreme rudder movements, causing violent side-to-side lurches, which would have put extraordinary stress on the tail. This manipulation of controls is believed to have broken the aircraft. The NTSB issues a warning to pilots about this new danger. Further investigation into Mullen's background reveals a tendency to react aggressively with the rudder, and American Airlines' training programs are found to encourage aggressive rudder use in some simulator scenarios, a practice Airbus had warned against due to the rudder's high sensitivity at speed.
The investigation concludes that Mullen's aggressive and excessive rudder inputs, exacerbated by the aircraft's sensitive rudder system and potentially flawed pilot training, led to the vertical stabilizer detaching. The plane encountered wake turbulence, leading Mullen to instinctively overreact with the rudder. This resulted in extreme aerodynamic forces that tore the tail from the fuselage, causing the plane to fall from the sky. In total, 265 people died. Airbus issues new guidelines, and American Airlines modifies its training to prevent similar tragedies.