Terrifying: This Flight Crew Isn't Sure What Hit Their Plane! 😱 Air Disasters | Smithsonian Channel

Operation Desert Storm, February 22, 1991: a USAF refueling plane experiences a violent leftward turn, mid-flight. For a few tense moments, the crew aren’t sure if the plane has malfunctioned or if they’re under attack.

#OperationDesertStorm #PlaneCrash #SmithsonianChannel

[Powerranger-leup]

Never underestimate wake turbulence. They were lucky that the other two engines managed to hold on because they were nearly blown off.

[vts.gaming]

Real answer: a wake turbulence from another KC-135 causes this KC-135 to turn sharply to the left and right, breaking off both left engines.

[Middle_fingers_]

I'm happy all aboard survived and may captain Sweeny get the medal of honor 😊

[lexusdriver]

Mission Disaster is one of my favorite Air Crash Investigation (Air Disaster) episodes ever because we see the crew working together in the event of an unexpected emergency and getting the plane back to the airport safely. The crew working together is a true show of Crew Resource Management. No matter how senior or junior you are: Captain, Senior First Officer, First Officer or Second Officer flying a jetliner or any large airliner or in this case a large military jet plane you work together as a team.

[nathancard]

Man: "The engines are gone!"
Music: 💃💃🕺🕺🕺

[tian.-.]

“The engines are gone”

Flight engineer: I-… don’t know what to say to that

[bandabanderos]

“How was the flight?”
“Oh not bad, just lost a couple engines, no biggie”

[YYPeh]

Smart move there by the captain to level off the aircraft using speed brakes during the sharp bank/roll to the sides. Are non Air Force pilots taught that?

[GameOver-yrms]

Aircraft crew : Engines are gone
Atmosphere of the plane now : sad flute 😂😂

[faridkalouch]

These are literally *SOOO* addicting to watch

[Amummu]

Great presence of mind by senior pilot... Glad all alive in the end..

[padmavathys]

Engines : Okay We have worked a lot...Time to leave...Take care, bye...😅

[rampagoetech]

The good thing is, they're survived

[shaofuchang]

They were lucky. Grissom KC-135E aircraft 58-0013 lost two engines, and the aircrew was still able to land with no loss of life. crew encountered jet wash. The unexpected jet wash pitched them so violently from side-to-side, that somewhere in the process, both engines on the left side of the tanker were torn free, leaving the fully loaded tanker with very serious control problems. the entire crew was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for their skill in safely landing the aircraft. They tried to duplicate the feat in the simulator and crashed every time.

Meanwhile a similar incident was a KC-135A, 58-0002, entered a thunderstorm near Killeen, Texas. Two engines separated and one of the engines struck the tail, causing loss of control. The aircraft crashed on a hillside, killing all four crew on board. That was back in 1959

[nihaoyt]

If this happened before takeoff: Captain: Why is the right wing sounding so quite? *Boom Operator leaves seat and comes into cockpit* Boom Operator: There's a problem Pilots: What problem?! Boom Operator: Engine one and two is missing?

[thedave]

Its good to see one of the crew men commenting in current time - so you know they made it...

[Commentator]

He remembered the training - let’s give him a medal. :D

[ididyermom]

They Hit Genie on Flying Carpet!! They killed Aladdin!!

[LaniakeaDenizen]

Excellent sideways acting by the guy at 1:45 there.

[GEORGIABOY]

I love how this show stopped right in the