It's the summer of 1983. Canada World Airways' brand-new Boeing 767 leaves Montreal bound for Edmonton. When the plane reaches its cruise altitude, the impossible happens: the plane runs out of fuel, due to a miscalculation by the ground staff in Montreal. Captain Bob Pearson and First Officer Maurice Quintal face a potentially deadly disaster in this true story, as the 767, with about 60 souls on board, slowly falls from the sky.
Did You Know?
Based fairly closely on an actual incident on July 23, 1983, nicknamed the "Gimli Glider". The actual error made in fueling was in converting the fuel volume to weight; this is necessary because the density varies with temperature. The crew used the familiar density number in pounds per litre rather than the correct one for kilograms per litre. See more
When the aircraft is shown taking off, it is a 737-200, as the engines are long and thin, whereas a 767 has wider engines See more
It's the first time in my life I'd rather be on the ground than in the air.