ABC MONDAY NIGHT MOVIE: CRASH LANDING, THE RESCUE OF FLIGHT 232 (TV)
Summary
This made-for-television production is based on the true account of the 1989 crash of United Airlines flight 232 in Sioux City, Iowa. The programs begins with an airlines pilot, Captain Al Haynes, describing the appearance of Sioux City, Iowa's farmlands as one nears the airport. The story begins in a nearby cornfield as a practice drill for emergency personnel takes place, with town locals standing in for bloodied victims. Fire Chief Bob Hamilton arrives on the scene and meets with firefighter Jim Hathaway as they try to put out a blazing bus and make "rescues." B.J. Johnson is instructed to set up a triage area. Jim and Bob watch TV news as Gary Brown, the chairman and organizer of the Woodbury Counter Disaster Committee, is lauded for the first undertaking of his group, a newly formed merger of civil defense, rescue and medical services. Gary then discusses the importance of a disaster committee. Jim doesn't think Gary's team did well, stating that Gary is "playing with fire." Jim thinks Gary -- to whom he refers as "a big-mouthed yuppie" -- is trying to become a media sensation but Bob thinks change could be good. Gary invites Bob and Jim to a post-drill committee meeting. There, Gary discusses the issues of what could happen during a plane's crash landing, and why communications between the various groups wasn't satisfactory in the drill. Later, Gary's wife Elaine offers him some solutions to his problems, thinking he should appoint his rival Jim to head up the international guard's fire unit at the airport. Gary tracks down Jim to offer him the job, asking only that Jim and his cronies offer total support of the rescue committee. Jim reveals that he doesn't trust Gary, thinking he is looking out solely for his own gain. Eventually, Jim accepts the position, immediately launching into what needs to be done.
Two years later, on July 19, 1989, a TV news report discusses how the disaster committee has grown. Meanwhile, Al, Flight Engineer Dudley Dvorak, and First Officer Bill Records prepare for takeoff on flight 232. In the air, en route to Chicago, the airplane passes over Iowa with all equipment seemingly OK. Back on the ground, Sioux City Journal reporter Marcia Poole asks Bob if intern Shari Zenor and photographer Gary Anderson can do a story on an average day in the life of the fire department's personnel. Bob reluctantly agrees. Jim then talks with Lieutenant Colonel Dennis Nielsen, who is overseeing a four-plane squadron circling above the airport. Soon, flight 232 experiences an explosion and starts losing altitude. Al is forced to go into emergency shutdown as they lose all hydraulic pressure, as well as the tail engine. Al and Dudley are able to get the plane somewhat stable but it is still in deep trouble. Al has serious doubts about reaching their destination and thinks he may have to put the plane down. Soon, Al is being advised to head toward Sioux City. Gary is informed and prepares his team. In the meantime, Dennis is trying to get an airstrip cleared so that his four-plane squadron can land. Later, Jim and his men head out as Al begins dumping fuel and getting some assistance from DC-10 check pilot Dennis Fitch. Gary begins culling information about the troubled DC-10 in order to help his rescue efforts, learning that there are 296 individuals aboard the airline. Jim and Shari head to the airport in his truck, followed by the rest of his units. Later, the Sioux City gateway is put on alert, should the DC-10 not be able to make a runway. The local hospital also begins to follow its emergency procedures. Marcia then heads to the scene to report on the story. Once on the tarmac, Jim puts on his red jumpsuit as everyone anxiously awaits a potential crash. Gary makes some plans for Jim's deployment. Gary predicts that the DC-10 will make the airport and thus orders his troops there. The squadron is then ordered to land before the DC-10 gets any closer, with the four jets making safe touchdowns. As he prepares for a crash landing, Al tells his flight attendant what to expect, including the fact that the DC-10 will have problems braking.
Gary, at the command post, makes some final preparations for the potential crash. Meanwhile, Gary Anderson hops an airport fence to get his photos for the newspaper, as Marcia remains frustrated at being unable to follow him. At the same time, Al and his crew work toward a final descent. Al shows some levity as he speaks with Chris Porter of ground control. Al chooses runway twenty-two for an attempted landing, which is currently occupied with Gary and Jim's men, as well as the recently landed squadron. All are forced to quickly clear the area. Al cautions his passengers to brace as the DC-10 barrels toward the runway, a crowd already gathering nearby with Marcia. Al and his crew are unable to steer the plane toward the runway and instead crash into a cornfield, tossing and turning and immediately catching fire. The nearby spectators are frightened, while Gary and Jim can only watch. As smoke billows high into the sky, the rescue team deploys to the scene. At the crash site, the crew sees utter devastation, the plane torn apart and passengers strewn on the tarmac. Gary thinks there are certainly no survivors as the fuel continues to burn. As Jim's crew begins to put out the blaze, Gary has B.J. start the triage procedure. Gary surveys the scene, finding quite a few living but wounded passengers. Later, Jim is shocked when other survivors begin walking through the cornfield to safety. Gary Anderson hits the scene to take pictures, snapping one of Dennis carrying young passenger Spencer Bailey to safety and handing him to B.J. Civil defense worker Sam Gochenour heads into the cornfield to help others. Jim is angered at some of his firefighters' lack of speed in getting to the scene. On the runway, as Shari takes notes, she is interrupted by an injured child, and succeeds in getting help for him from Gary.
Later, the emergency crews try to rescue a man trapped under the plane. Upon being pulled out by Dennis, the survivor is found to be a badly injured Al. The burned and injured survivors are rushed to the hospital to be assessed and get medical attention from Dr. Larry Foster. Larry is told by injured youth Tony Feeney that he jumped from the airplane before it landed. Meanwhile, the communications center fields a plethora of phone calls while curious folks gather outside the blood bank trying to learn information about the crash. Soon, the evacuation of the crash site is complete and Jim has finally gotten the fire under control. Bob identifies which hangar will be used as a morgue. Jim is curious what should be done to honor the dead still on the field. Dr. Michael Wolpert assures Al -- still on a gurney in the hospital hallway -- that all of his crew, as well as the flight attendants, have been admitted to the hospital. On the news, Gary's rescue efforts are honored. Once things have calmed down, Gary walks the crash site before meeting up with Jim to discuss the events. They bemoan that more lives weren't saved. The next morning, Gary calls Elaine and says that he still can't come home. Later, Gary is told that he and many of his co-workers should be treated for post-traumatic stress syndrome. Both Gary and Jim agree that they make a good team. A week later, some of the passengers have begun to heal, most notably Spencer and his brother Brandon. Dennis goes to visit them, recalling how he carried Spencer off the field. Later, Gary and Larry visit Tony, who is saluted for his "freefall" survival by Golden Knights parachutist Rick Kelbaugh. Then, Chris comes to speak with Al, who is elated to see him, thanking him for his efforts in guiding the plane down. Finally, Jim, Gary, Bob, Dennis, Elaine, and various rescue team members gather to salute Al as he departs from Sioux City. Al comments on the lasting legacy of the Sioux City rescue effort. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: ABC
- DATE: February 26, 1992 9:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:48:39
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:25837
- GENRE: Drama, historical
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama, historical; Drama, action/adventure; Airplane accidents
- SERIES RUN: ABC - TV, 1992
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Dorothea G. Petrie … Executive Producer
- Bradley Wigor … Producer
- Joseph Maurer … Producer
- Paul A. Levin … Associate Producer
- Lamont Johnson … Director
- Harve Bennett … Writer
- Charles Fox … Music by
- Charlton Heston … Cast, Captain Al Haynes
- Richard Thomas … Cast, Gary Brown
- James Coburn … Cast, Jim Hathaway
- Leon Russom … Cast, Bob Hamilton
- John M. Jackson … Cast, Lt. Colonel Dennis Nielsen
- Tom O'Brien … Cast, Chris Porter
- Philip Baker Hall … Cast, Sam Gochenour
- Tom Everett … Cast, Mack Zubinski
- Carmen Argenziano … Cast, First Officer Bill Records
- Bruce McGill … Cast, First Engineer Dudley Dvorak
- Arthur Rosenberg … Cast, Dennis Fitch
- Bill Geisslinger … Cast, Chuck Sundberg
- Steven M. Porter … Cast, Gary Anderson
- Stephanie Dunnam … Cast, Elaine Brown
- Mariangela Pino … Cast, Marcia Poole
- Akuyoe … Cast, Flight Attendant
- Kenneth Stephens … Cast, B.J. Johnson
- Judith Hart … Cast, Marg Shuck
- Matthew Nelson … Cast, Dr. Larry Foster
- Colt Sicher … Cast, Spencer Bailey
- Joe Howard … Cast, Dr. Michael Wolpert
- Robin Frates … Cast, Shari Zenor
- Jeremy Howard … Cast, Tony Feeney
- Sharon Howard … Cast, Nurse Colleen Johnson
- Priscilla Hagen … Cast, Nurse Barbara Small
- Mary Wayman … Cast, Mrs. Haynes
- Jennifer Davis … Cast, Heidi
- B.J. Tobin … Cast, Joe
- John Beumler … Cast, Trooper
- Neil Brooks Cunningham … Cast, Major Rick Kelbaugh
- Bob Castro … Cast
- John Lepard … Cast
- David Stansbury … Cast
- Diane Rinehart … Cast
- Travis Piester … Cast
- Rhonda Raad … Cast
- Tony Swartz … Cast
- Ray Stevens … Cast
- Dan Snook … Cast
- Dave Nixon … Cast
- Greg Lund … Cast
- Charles Stone … Cast
- Marcia Poole … Cast
- Lisa E. Falk … Cast
- Tony Wike … Cast