On June 2, 1983, Air Canada Flight 797 was halfway through a routine flight from Dallas to Montreal when circuit breakers started popping in the cockpit. What began as a seemingly minor electrical issue quickly escalated into a race against time as smoke filled the cabin and an invisible fire burned behind the lavatory walls. Join Alice and Zach as they explore how a small problem became a deadly inferno, the heroic efforts of the crew to land the plane safely, and the tragic flashover that claimed 23 lives just 90 seconds after touchdown. This episode reveals how split-second decisions during emergencies can mean the difference between survival and catastrophe.

Sources:

• "Fire on Board! Air Canada Flight 797" by Curious Pilot (YouTube)
• Mayday: Air Disaster - Season 4, Episode 3 "Fire Fight": Air Canada 797
• NTSB Aircraft Accident Report: Air Canada Flight 797, McDonnell Douglas DC-9-32

Find FINAL BOARDING CALL online:

• Website: finalboardingcallpodcast.com
• Instagram: @FinalBoardingCallPod
• Facebook: Final Boarding Call

Credits: Final Boarding Call is hosted by Alice Stern and Zach Stemas, researched and written by Alice Stern, produced and edited by Alice Stern and Zach Stemas.