On July 23, 1983, Air Canada Flight 143 took off from Montreal, bound for Edmonton with a scheduled stopover in Ottawa. Unbeknownst to the 61 passengers and 8 crew members aboard, they were about to be part of one of aviation's most infamous incidents. This is the incredible story of how the flight crew's chain of unlikely errors spiraled into a desperate struggle for survival as the aircraft began to lose power high over the Canadian wilderness.
Captain Robert Pearson, a veteran pilot with over 15,000 flying hours, and First Officer Maurice Quintal, who had logged 7,000 hours, were prepared for what they thought would be a routine flight. They were operating a Boeing 767—Air Canada's new and advanced aircraft. However, earlier pilots had noted a malfunction with the fuel gauges, requiring a manual drip test to assess the fuel levels.
While the outgoing crew indicated the aircraft was in perfect order, their assessment failed to account for a critical flaw: the fuel gauges were blank due to troubleshooting that left one channel out of operation. Although Pearson expected gauge issues based on his conversation with the previous flight crew, both the Captain and First Officer overlooked vital information in the aircraft's tech log, leading to a false sense of security about the plane's fuel status.
As the aircraft was prepared for the next leg of its journey, the ground crew conducted the drip test, discovering about 7,600 liters of fuel. However, due to a miscommunication about the units of measurement, the refueling team mistakenly filled the aircraft with only 10,000 kilograms of fuel instead of the necessary 22,000 kilograms. Consequently, unbeknownst to the flight crew, they were flying with significantly less fuel than required.
Upon takeoff, everything seemed normal, but behind the scenes, an impending disaster was unfolding. Approximately an hour into the flight, alarming indications of low pressure began appearing on the cockpit instruments, suggesting fuel pump malfunctions. When both engines flamed out, the crew found themselves in the harrowing position of gliding an aircraft with no engine power.
From Emergency to Survival Mode
The immediate situation escalated into a full-blown emergency as both engines ceased to function. The pilots, stripped of most instruments and without engine power, quickly began identifying emergency landing options. With their altitude rapidly decreasing, they swiftly directed their aircraft toward the nearest airport, Winnipeg.
Yet the descent trajectory was bleak. Despite their best efforts to glide the aircraft, it became clear they would not reach Winnipeg. By this time, Captain Pearson had to find an alternative landing strip, identifying Gimli, a decommissioned military airbase nearby. Remarkably, the airbase had transformed into a public airport, and unbeknownst to the flight crew, it was also hosting a race day on one of its runways.
As Flight 143 approached Gimli, the crew faced further complications. The ram air turbine, which provided the essential hydraulic power, had begun failing to keep the plane’s flap system operational. Pearson was suddenly required to execute a landing using much higher approach speeds than normal, a daunting task without proper control of the aircraft.
The unexpected scenario of a racetrack beneath them presented an immediate risk. Pearson had to execute a forward slip maneuver—an advanced technique more common in gliding than commercial flights—to reduce their altitude without increasing speed. With the ground and racecars approaching rapidly, the crew’s nerves were put to the ultimate test.
In an unprecedented feat, Captain Pearson successfully managed to land the aircraft on the strip, albeit with severe limitations: no engine power, flaps, or fully functional landing gear. As the aircraft touched down, the main tires burst, and a fire broke out due to the nose scraping against the ground. Nevertheless, through remarkable piloting skills and a bit of luck, both crew and passengers emerged from the airplane without injury.
The incident, later dubbed the "Gimli Glider" because of its safe landing at the decommissioned military base, marked a turning point for fuel management practices in aviation. Investigations revealed the flaws in communication and established procedures exacerbating the chances of miscalculations in fuel efficiency.
As a result of this chilling incident, Air Canada implemented critical changes in policies and procedures. Standardizing fuel weight measurements, improving maintenance logs, and designing better training programs for ground crews and pilots helped mitigate future disasters.
Captain Pearson was subsequently demoted for six months, a decision that highlighted the balance between accountability and heroism in the industry. Both he and First Officer Quintal moved on successfully from this defining moment in their careers.
The harrowing events of Air Canada Flight 143 serve as a reminder that while technology continues to advance aviation, diligent communication, protocol adherence, and preparedness remain the foundations of successful flight safety.
Part 1/9:
The Desperate Journey of Air Canada Flight 143
On July 23, 1983, Air Canada Flight 143 took off from Montreal, bound for Edmonton with a scheduled stopover in Ottawa. Unbeknownst to the 61 passengers and 8 crew members aboard, they were about to be part of one of aviation's most infamous incidents. This is the incredible story of how the flight crew's chain of unlikely errors spiraled into a desperate struggle for survival as the aircraft began to lose power high over the Canadian wilderness.
A Routine Departure Ignored Warning Signs
Part 2/9:
Captain Robert Pearson, a veteran pilot with over 15,000 flying hours, and First Officer Maurice Quintal, who had logged 7,000 hours, were prepared for what they thought would be a routine flight. They were operating a Boeing 767—Air Canada's new and advanced aircraft. However, earlier pilots had noted a malfunction with the fuel gauges, requiring a manual drip test to assess the fuel levels.
Part 3/9:
While the outgoing crew indicated the aircraft was in perfect order, their assessment failed to account for a critical flaw: the fuel gauges were blank due to troubleshooting that left one channel out of operation. Although Pearson expected gauge issues based on his conversation with the previous flight crew, both the Captain and First Officer overlooked vital information in the aircraft's tech log, leading to a false sense of security about the plane's fuel status.
Miscommunication and Critical Mistakes
Part 4/9:
As the aircraft was prepared for the next leg of its journey, the ground crew conducted the drip test, discovering about 7,600 liters of fuel. However, due to a miscommunication about the units of measurement, the refueling team mistakenly filled the aircraft with only 10,000 kilograms of fuel instead of the necessary 22,000 kilograms. Consequently, unbeknownst to the flight crew, they were flying with significantly less fuel than required.
Part 5/9:
Upon takeoff, everything seemed normal, but behind the scenes, an impending disaster was unfolding. Approximately an hour into the flight, alarming indications of low pressure began appearing on the cockpit instruments, suggesting fuel pump malfunctions. When both engines flamed out, the crew found themselves in the harrowing position of gliding an aircraft with no engine power.
From Emergency to Survival Mode
The immediate situation escalated into a full-blown emergency as both engines ceased to function. The pilots, stripped of most instruments and without engine power, quickly began identifying emergency landing options. With their altitude rapidly decreasing, they swiftly directed their aircraft toward the nearest airport, Winnipeg.
Part 6/9:
Yet the descent trajectory was bleak. Despite their best efforts to glide the aircraft, it became clear they would not reach Winnipeg. By this time, Captain Pearson had to find an alternative landing strip, identifying Gimli, a decommissioned military airbase nearby. Remarkably, the airbase had transformed into a public airport, and unbeknownst to the flight crew, it was also hosting a race day on one of its runways.
The Critical Approach to the Unforgiving Runway
Part 7/9:
As Flight 143 approached Gimli, the crew faced further complications. The ram air turbine, which provided the essential hydraulic power, had begun failing to keep the plane’s flap system operational. Pearson was suddenly required to execute a landing using much higher approach speeds than normal, a daunting task without proper control of the aircraft.
The unexpected scenario of a racetrack beneath them presented an immediate risk. Pearson had to execute a forward slip maneuver—an advanced technique more common in gliding than commercial flights—to reduce their altitude without increasing speed. With the ground and racecars approaching rapidly, the crew’s nerves were put to the ultimate test.
A Miraculous Landing
Part 8/9:
In an unprecedented feat, Captain Pearson successfully managed to land the aircraft on the strip, albeit with severe limitations: no engine power, flaps, or fully functional landing gear. As the aircraft touched down, the main tires burst, and a fire broke out due to the nose scraping against the ground. Nevertheless, through remarkable piloting skills and a bit of luck, both crew and passengers emerged from the airplane without injury.
The incident, later dubbed the "Gimli Glider" because of its safe landing at the decommissioned military base, marked a turning point for fuel management practices in aviation. Investigations revealed the flaws in communication and established procedures exacerbating the chances of miscalculations in fuel efficiency.
Lessons Learned in Aviation Safety
Part 9/9:
As a result of this chilling incident, Air Canada implemented critical changes in policies and procedures. Standardizing fuel weight measurements, improving maintenance logs, and designing better training programs for ground crews and pilots helped mitigate future disasters.
Captain Pearson was subsequently demoted for six months, a decision that highlighted the balance between accountability and heroism in the industry. Both he and First Officer Quintal moved on successfully from this defining moment in their careers.
The harrowing events of Air Canada Flight 143 serve as a reminder that while technology continues to advance aviation, diligent communication, protocol adherence, and preparedness remain the foundations of successful flight safety.