On the early morning of August 24, 2001, Air Transat Flight 236 etched its name in aviation history with a dramatic mid-Atlantic emergency that is still hailed as a masterclass in crisis airmanship.
The flight, operated by an Airbus A330-243, was carrying 306 passengers and crew from Toronto Pearson International Airport (Canada) to Lisbon Portela Airport (Portugal) when it encountered a life-threatening situation nearly five hours into the transatlantic journey.
As the aircraft cruised at 39,000 feet, roughly 120 kilometers away from Lajes Air Base in the Azores Islands, a small chain of Portuguese islands in the Atlantic Ocean, something began to go seriously wrong.
What followed was one of the most extraordinary gliding feats in commercial aviation, leading to a safe landing without a single fatality—a feat that earned its place in history as the “Miracle on the Azores.”
Fuel Leak Unnoticed Until It Was Nearly Too Late
The incident was triggered by a fuel leak in the right engine, caused by the improper installation of a hydraulic component—a hydraulic pump adapter—which had been incorrectly swapped during maintenance. This subtle but critical error allowed fuel to leak through the hydraulic lines, going unnoticed until the situation became dire.
As the plane consumed fuel far faster than normal, the Flight Management System (FMS) gave no early warnings that would typically accompany such a scenario.
At first, the crew believed it was a fuel quantity indication system malfunction, not a real leak. But by the time the leak was detected, it was already too late to prevent engine failure.
“Mayday, Mayday, Mayday… We’re Gliding Now”
At 06:13 UTC, the right engine flamed out due to fuel starvation. Thirteen minutes later, the left engine also lost power, leaving the wide-body jet completely without propulsion—a terrifying scenario for any pilot, made even more critical by their mid-ocean location and distance from land.
First Officer Dirk DeJager, then just 28 years old, calmly radioed a chilling message: Mayday, mayday, mayday. We have lost both engines due to fuel starvation. We’re gliding now.”
The Longest Glide in Commercial Aviation History
With both engines out, the A330 became a glider—a 250-ton aircraft with no thrust, limited hydraulics, and reduced electrical functionality. But in the cockpit sat Captain Robert Piché, a former bush pilot with glider experience, and his composed co-pilot DeJager.
Together, they executed a controlled glide from 39,000 feet, maintaining critical airspeed and glide angle to maximize distance.
The jet managed to glide for an astonishing 120 kilometers (75 miles) over the Atlantic before safely touching down at Lajes Air Base on Terceira Island in the Azores.
The landing, though rough—with overheated brakes and blown tires—was successful. All 306 people on board survived, with minor injuries to 16 passengers.
This feat set the world record for the longest glide by a commercial aircraft without engine power, and became a case study in flight training, risk management, and crew coordination.
Comparing Transat 236 with Other Aviation Emergencies
The heroism of Transat 236 is often compared to the 2009 US Airways Flight 1549 incident, famously known as the “Miracle on the Hudson”, in which Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger glided an Airbus A320 to a safe landing on the Hudson River after a bird strike disabled both engines.
However, unlike Sully’s 3-minute glide, Transat 236 had to remain airborne for nearly 20 minutes, navigating across the open ocean with no engine assistance.
Lessons Learned and the Aftermath
Investigations by the Transportation Safety Board of Canada and Portugal’s GPIAA revealed that the fuel leak was caused by a maintenance error and insufficient monitoring of fuel use.
Air Transat was fined, and the aircraft’s maintenance procedures were revised to include better leak detection and technician training.
Captain Piché and First Officer DeJager were later awarded numerous honors for their composure and skill. Though initially criticized for not recognizing the fuel loss earlier, both were eventually praised for saving lives under unprecedented conditions.
The Airbus A330 involved, C-GITS, was repaired and returned to service. It was affectionately nicknamed “Azores Glider” by aviation enthusiasts and was later retired from service in 2020.
Aviation Safety Under Renewed Scrutiny After Recent Incidents
Though commercial air travel remains the safest mode of transportation, recent aviation disasters have reignited focus on emergency training, systems automation, and pilot decision-making.
- Air India Flight 171 (fictional for context) reportedly crashed due to conflicts between the pilot’s manual inputs and the FADEC (Full Authority Digital Engine Control) system, which allegedly overrode human commands, resulting in a deadly loss of control.
- In another case, the Jeju Air tragedy highlighted the consequences of incorrect engine shutdown decisions. Investigations revealed that the less-damaged engine was shut down, exacerbating the emergency and ultimately leading to loss of life.
These incidents have led regulators to call for:
- Enhanced simulator training for dual-engine failure scenarios.
- Stricter monitoring of automation in cockpit decision-making.
- Better coordination between pilots, engineers, and air traffic control.
- Increased insurance premiums for airlines with recent safety violations.
A Legacy of Skill and Survival
Today, the story of Air Transat Flight 236 stands as a beacon of human resilience, technical skill, and calm under unimaginable pressure. It is a powerful reminder that even in a high-tech age dominated by automated systems, the training, judgment, and courage of flight crews remain the final safeguard.
This legacy continues to shape flight safety standards and underscores the importance of continuous learning and vigilance in aviation.
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