August 24, 2001. 06:26 UTC. Both engines failed over the Atlantic Ocean. The Airbus A330 had no power. The aircraft was 65 nautical miles from Lajes Air Base in the Azores.

 

August 24, 2001. 06:26 UTC. Both engines failed over the Atlantic Ocean. The Airbus A330 had no power. The aircraft was 65 nautical miles from Lajes Air Base in the Azores.

Captain Robert Piché, 48, had 16,800 flight hours. 796 hours on the Airbus A330. He was an experienced glider pilot. He learned to fly as a teenager in Quebec's Gaspé Peninsula.

First Officer Dirk DeJager, 28, had 4,800 flight hours. 386 hours on the A330.

When engine number 1 flamed out, Piché took control of the powerless aircraft. DeJager calculated descent rate: approximately 2,000 feet per minute. He calculated fuel reserves and altitude. He determined they had 15 to 20 minutes to reach the air base or ditch in the ocean.

Air traffic control guided them toward Lajes. Piché had to execute 360-degree turns to lose altitude and speed while maintaining glide path toward the runway. The aircraft descended through 20,000 feet. Then 10,000 feet.

The runway came into view. But the aircraft was descending faster than optimal. The airspeed was too high.

Piché executed a forward slip maneuver—banking the aircraft while holding the nose level. This increased drag and slowed the descent without changing pitch. It was a precision maneuver in a powerless aircraft with 306 people aboard.

DeJager monitored the descent continuously. His calculations kept them on glide path.

Piché lined up with runway 33. The aircraft touched down at 06:45 UTC. Landing speed: approximately 200 knots.

The glide lasted 19 minutes over 65 nautical miles. The longest glide of a commercial passenger aircraft without engine power.

All 306 people survived. 18 sustained injuries. No fatalities.

Captain Piché's gliding experience. First Officer DeJager's precision calculations. Two pilots. No engines. Perfect execution.

Amazing Aviation