The 1983 flight that turned a commercial jet into a glider

The 1983 "Gimli Glider" Incident. · 14:39 · Video: The History Guy: History Deserves to Be Remembered · Watch at the source

In short: Long before the 'Miracle on the Hudson,' a 1983 flight faced a terrifying mechanical failure at 41,000 feet. This video explores the high-altitude emergency that forced pilots to navigate a powerless aircraft.

While modern audiences often recall Captain Sully’s 2009 water landing at 2,800 feet, the 1983 'Gimli Glider' incident occurred under vastly different conditions. After losing power at a staggering 41,000 feet, the pilots were forced to manage the aircraft as a glider to find a viable landing site.

The video provides historical context on this forgotten aviation emergency, illustrating the skill required to maintain control of a heavy jet without engine thrust. It serves as a study of historical aviation incidents and the critical importance of learning from past events.

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