Pilot Heroically Breaks Rules to Save Boeing 747 & Athens from Disaster!

Support the channel by checking out my sponsor 👉🏻 Go to curiositystream.thld.co/mentourpilot_0122 and use code MENTOURPILOT to save 25% off today, that’s only $14.99 a year. Thanks to Curiosity Stream for sponsoring today’s vid

I was on this flight almost 44 years ago. I was 15 years old traveling by myself to New York after spending most of the summer with relatives in Greece. I still have my passport and plane tickets from this flight if you need to verify what I'm saying. Your video is fascinating and really tells most of the story. From a passenger's perspective, I was seated next to the left wing, at a section of 3 seats next to the window. Since I was seated across and parallel to the right wing, I was able to see the flame out and heavy black smoke from engine 3 as the plane shook when it happened. I can tell you with certainly that most passengers knew immediately something was wrong as we could clearly see we were flying just over the roof tops of buildings and not gaining altitude. There were 3 Greek priests seated a few rows behind me, and they began praying out load resulting in lots of crying and some screaming among the passengers. Some of us remained calm but very worried. I could see in the eyes of the flight attendants that they knew we were in serious trouble. I was seated with and next to a newly wedded couple who had shared with me before takeoff, as we engaged in cordial conversation, that they had just found out they were having a baby. As we experienced this terrible predicament, we actually held arms because we were so afraid. Your entire depiction of what was happening outside the plane regarding our altitude, speed, and landmarks is very accurate, and I clearly remember the hills we could see ahead of us. I also remember the gradual left turn away from the hills and over the sea where we were also then able to see fuel being ejected from the tip of the wing we were sitting next to. We, of course, made it back to the airport. When we exited the plane, which in those days in Athens was by walking down the steps and not through the tube, I remember seeing a number of, I assume, members of the press taking pictures while others shook the hand of the the flight deck crew. We were taken back to the terminal where we waited some hours as another 747, which was being prepped for a flight to London, was then given to us to fly to New York later that day. In other conversations with personnel at the terminal, we were told the highway next to the airport was cleared in case we had to emergency land there. When I finally arrived in New York, my Dad had been waiting for me at the airport, and he had been waiting for hours past the time we were supposed to arrive. The airport arrival screen in New York said only that the flight was delayed...no other information. He tried to find out more but to no avail. I told him what had happened, and he didn't believe me. A few days later, he apologized to me after reading the story and seeing photographs in the Greek newspaper. Watching your video gave me chills all these years later as this was an experience I never forgot, but I kind of repressed all along. Should you ever need to reach out to me for more information, from the passenger perspective, please feel free to do so. Thank you for the great video.

The speed at which pilots go from “normal day at work” to “I am probably going to die, but I will do everything in my power to save as many lives as possible” is insane

"all of us who were onboard that aircraft smuggled life (cheated death). But even when at the worst situation there can be a tiny glimpse of hope which at the end may save the day". Those are the words of Captain Migadis in the one and only tv interview he ever gave. An exceptional professional.

This pilot is insane levels of boss. The skill, the composure, the resolve, and this time with what he was provided in equipment and crew ability, the payoff. What a legend.

My uncle was a 747 pilot at Olympic Airlines back then. Ioannis Migadis was a living legend among Olympic pilots. As you said Migadis was not trying to save the plane. Rather he was trying to reach the mountain est of the center of Athens to crash in a less populated area. You 3D renconstitution is nice but there are no tiled roofs in Athens but rather flat terraces. Migadis said that the flat terraces helped create ground effect. Also some think that the hot air rising from the streets created a lifting current adding a slightly ascending force that helped the plane to continue flying despite being quite under the stall speed. Some other say Zeus intervened directly to avoid the crash of a plane named after him. I am of the latter .⚡

I loved it when you said, "This is a heavy, fully loaded flight. It is full of American tourists. So it is very very heavy." I choaked with laughter 😂

I'm from Athens and had vaguely heard of this story. Asked my dad about it today - he was a young man at the time: "Dad, have you heard about this crazy story with the plane that flew too low in 1978"? And my dad was like "Not only have I heard of it - I saw this flight"! He was at work and remembers seeing the plane flying super low and heading towards Mount Egaleo. He and his colleagues were all glued to the windows and watching - they were sure it was going to crash on the mountain.

In 1978 this pilot invited me into his cockpit on a flight from Melbourne to London . Being a learner flying Cessna 152 it was an awesome experience I spent hours in there and his knowledge was remarkable he gave me priceless flying information A true gentleman and amazing pilot

The Ellinikon airport closed down in 2001 and I remember my grandpa taking me to the street just outside where the Olympic jets were parked and abandoned and telling me this story. Mr. Migadis is considered a local folk hero by older Greeks.

Usually a lot of things have to go wrong at the same time for a plane to crash. This time a lot of things went just right for it to fly, what a refreshing experience. Props to the crew for their skill and professionality.

Captain Migadis was a WWII veteran - he had taken part in the Battle of Crete and then in the Cretan resistance, serving with the SOE. In 1943 he escaped to Egypt where he joined the allied forces and learned how to fly in an RAF training centre in (what was then) Rhodesia. Other Olympic captains, such as Pavlos Ioannidis, had a very similar background.

plane crashes are tragic, but when a plane is saved in such a spectacular way, there's something extra special about these stories that so incredible to learn about.

Back then most pilots of Olympic were former fighter pilots. They were experienced in making split-second decisions. Like Sully, Migadis was also former Air Force pilot.

I've said it before and I'll say it again - you are a gifted storyteller, and these videos are absolutely fascinating. You include just the right amount of technical explanation (e.g. the water/glycol system). I enjoy the feeling that we're just sitting in my living room or by a fireplace in a pub somewhere while you're telling me this story - me, just me, not many thousands of YouTube viewers. Well done sir, and thank you!

When the representatives of Boeing saw the flight records, they said: "This plane can't exist, it has crashed ". Then captain Migadis replied: "Here it is, come see it, it's yours ". Some people suggest that the new airport of Athens should have been named Sifis Migadis, instead of Eleftherios Venizelos. I totally agree with that, this man is a legend, a national hero. He saved hundreds of lives, he tricked the reaper.

I think the reason they couldn't climb was the weight of the massive iron balls of the captain to begin with.

That Captain is a legend. over 400 people still walk the earth today because of him, more if you count any kids they had after.

It was about time for this wonderful aviation story to become known and for Cpt. Migadis to get the recognition he deserves ✈

If there was a Pantheon for the most courageous and gifted pilots who saved the lives of all their passengers, the list would include: Capt. Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger, Captain Carlos Dárdano, Captain Richard Champion de Crespigny, Captain He Chao and Captain Sifis Migadis.