I had the opportunity to meet one of the stewardesses from the actual flight as well as Captain Schornstheimer. This movie catches much of the real tension that was occurring.
Putting aside the 18 foot section of the plane being gone and torrential wind being blown at everyone,the pilots had no idea what had happened in the cabin and the flight attendants had no idea whether what the pilots were doing, if they were preparing to ditch or the plane could be landed anywhere. Furthermore, the landing calculations needed to be done by hand due to instrumentation damage.
POTENTIAL SPOILER
The movie is a tribute to how tough flight attendants are and how a good algebra teacher can save your butt some day (after the real flight safely landed in Maui, Captain Schornstheimer thanked his algebra teacher).
Putting aside the 18 foot section of the plane being gone and torrential wind being blown at everyone,the pilots had no idea what had happened in the cabin and the flight attendants had no idea whether what the pilots were doing, if they were preparing to ditch or the plane could be landed anywhere. Furthermore, the landing calculations needed to be done by hand due to instrumentation damage.
POTENTIAL SPOILER
The movie is a tribute to how tough flight attendants are and how a good algebra teacher can save your butt some day (after the real flight safely landed in Maui, Captain Schornstheimer thanked his algebra teacher).