Georgia Hardstark

But the KLM crew does hear the next transmission when the tower tells the Pan Am crew to report when they're clear. And so one member of the KLM crew then asks over the radio while they're at full speed taking off if this means they're not clear already. Like, clearly in that cockpit as well, there was some confusion. Like, with everybody.

But the KLM crew does hear the next transmission when the tower tells the Pan Am crew to report when they're clear. And so one member of the KLM crew then asks over the radio while they're at full speed taking off if this means they're not clear already. Like, clearly in that cockpit as well, there was some confusion. Like, with everybody.

Are you saying we're not clear? Right. And the captain, who's like... thinks we're clear and taking off is like old school seasoned captain. So like questioning him is probably like not something most people do.

Are you saying we're not clear? Right. And the captain, who's like... thinks we're clear and taking off is like old school seasoned captain. So like questioning him is probably like not something most people do.

So that clearly was his way of being like, this isn't right. So then the Pan Am flight comes into view of the KLM flight that's trying to take off. And the last recording recovered from the KLM cockpit is Captain Van Zant crying out as he tries to pull up and take off to avoid hitting the Pan Am flight. So he just like fucking tries so hard to pull up. But

So that clearly was his way of being like, this isn't right. So then the Pan Am flight comes into view of the KLM flight that's trying to take off. And the last recording recovered from the KLM cockpit is Captain Van Zant crying out as he tries to pull up and take off to avoid hitting the Pan Am flight. So he just like fucking tries so hard to pull up. But

They had just gotten a bunch of fuel on the plane, too, which made it heavier. There are about eight seconds when the two planes are visible to each other. And in those eight seconds, the captain of the Pan Am flight named Victor Grubbs says, quote, God damn it, that son of a bitch is coming. And he tries to steer his plane off the runway to get it out of the way.

They had just gotten a bunch of fuel on the plane, too, which made it heavier. There are about eight seconds when the two planes are visible to each other. And in those eight seconds, the captain of the Pan Am flight named Victor Grubbs says, quote, God damn it, that son of a bitch is coming. And he tries to steer his plane off the runway to get it out of the way.

So, sorry, they're both taking off at each other, essentially? The Dutch flight is taking off quickly in the direction of the Los Angeles flight. That's just taxiing and coming slowly forward. Okay. Yeah. So they're both coming towards each other. And then the Dutch flight is actually going really fast and trying to take off. Oh, my God. Right.

So, sorry, they're both taking off at each other, essentially? The Dutch flight is taking off quickly in the direction of the Los Angeles flight. That's just taxiing and coming slowly forward. Okay. Yeah. So they're both coming towards each other. And then the Dutch flight is actually going really fast and trying to take off. Oh, my God. Right.

Despite the KLM flight trying to pull up and the Pan Am flight trying to veer away, it's no use. The KLM flight just gets off the ground, but slices right through the upper deck of the Pan Am flight, resulting in an instant explosion. I know. The KLM flight remains airborne for a few seconds before crashing to the ground in a fireball.

Despite the KLM flight trying to pull up and the Pan Am flight trying to veer away, it's no use. The KLM flight just gets off the ground, but slices right through the upper deck of the Pan Am flight, resulting in an instant explosion. I know. The KLM flight remains airborne for a few seconds before crashing to the ground in a fireball.

There are no survivors from the KLM flight, which had 248 people aboard. Wow. So meanwhile, at first, Pan Am First Officer Robert Bragg doesn't think their flight has been extensively damaged. They're the one who got hit that we're taxiing because all he could feel was a bit of shaking. And then he realizes that all the windows in the cockpit are gone.

There are no survivors from the KLM flight, which had 248 people aboard. Wow. So meanwhile, at first, Pan Am First Officer Robert Bragg doesn't think their flight has been extensively damaged. They're the one who got hit that we're taxiing because all he could feel was a bit of shaking. And then he realizes that all the windows in the cockpit are gone.

And in this model of 747, the cockpit is on the upper level. So Robert turns around in a seat and sees the tail of the airplane, meaning the entire top part of the plane had just been sliced right off.

And in this model of 747, the cockpit is on the upper level. So Robert turns around in a seat and sees the tail of the airplane, meaning the entire top part of the plane had just been sliced right off.

I know. Just turns around and like he can see the tail of the plane from the cockpit. He says, quote, we had 28 people in the upstairs lounge. The lounge was no longer in the plane. It was just a big hole there. End quote. That's the lounge that Joanie and her boyfriend had considered going up to, but instead had stayed in their seats.

I know. Just turns around and like he can see the tail of the plane from the cockpit. He says, quote, we had 28 people in the upstairs lounge. The lounge was no longer in the plane. It was just a big hole there. End quote. That's the lounge that Joanie and her boyfriend had considered going up to, but instead had stayed in their seats.

So Joni had felt the plane veer to the left before the impact. And the next thing she remembers is this horrific scene of devastation around her and destruction. There's debris and small fires everywhere in the cabin. But next to her, her boyfriend Jack is also still alive. They're both injured, but not horrifically so.

So Joni had felt the plane veer to the left before the impact. And the next thing she remembers is this horrific scene of devastation around her and destruction. There's debris and small fires everywhere in the cabin. But next to her, her boyfriend Jack is also still alive. They're both injured, but not horrifically so.