I Tried Emergency Landing a Plane

The Challenge Setup00:00:00

Michelle explores the common belief that an average person could land a plane in an emergency. She enters a high-fidelity 737 simulator to attempt the landing with guidance from an air traffic controller named Jim.

Establishing Communications00:01:21

Michelle struggles to operate the cockpit controls, including finding the microphone to contact ATC. She eventually establishes a connection with Jim, who begins guiding her through the flight basics while noting they are already off-track.

Navigating the Aircraft00:04:16

With Jim's help, Michelle identifies fuel levels, sets the heading, and manages altitude using the MCP panel. They prepare for a 360-degree turn to line up for the airport approach.

Managing Emergencies00:09:37

The simulation introduces an engine fire and failure. Michelle is tasked with cutting fuel to the affected engine and managing the aircraft while dealing with difficult flight mechanics, showing how challenging it is to translate technical jargon into physical actions.

Final Approach and Landing00:13:03

Under intense pressure, Michelle follows Jim's instructions to use the rudder pedals to keep the plane steady. She successfully lands the plane, demonstrating the extreme difficulty of the task even with remote expert guidance.