 Sanjay 282 proceed directly
to runway, backtrack, and hold.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
NARRATOR: Los Rodeos airport in
the Spanish island of Tenerife
is busier than it's ever been.
 DA 783, hold
short of the runway
and standby for taxi clearance.
NARRATOR: With so many planes
parked in the taxiways,
the controllers instruct
departing flights
to taxi along the airport's
only runway to get
into position for takeoff.
One of the planes waiting
to get to Las Palmas
is Pan Am flight 1736.
The Pan Am crew is ready
to get back in the air,
but they can't
taxi to the runway.
A KLM 747 has stopped in
front of them to refuel.
KLM CREW (OVER RADIO):
Tenerife, KLM 4805.
We've finished refueling.
Questing clearance for startup.
ROBERT BRAGG (VOICEOVER): He
said Follow KLM down a runway,
backtrack, make a exit to
get around back of KLM.
So that's what we were doing.
NARRATOR: First officer Bragg
is unfamiliar with the airport.
He checks a runway diagram
to help find their turn.
 OK.
That's this one right here.
 Goes ahead.
It's going to put
us on the taxiway.
NARRATOR: As they taxi, they
listen to the tower controller
tell the KLM crew ahead of them
what to do after departure.
AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER
(OVER RADIO):
You are clear to
the Papa Beacon.
Climb to and maintain
flight level niner zero.
Right turn after takeoff.
KLM CREW (OVER RADIO): Roger.
Clear to the Papa Beacon.
Flight level nine zero,
right turn at-- we
are now at takeoff.
AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER
(OVER RADIO): OK.
Uh, stand by for takeoff.
I will call you.
 And we're still taxing down
the runway, Clipper 1736.
AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER (OVER
RADIO): Papa Alpha 1736,
report runway clear.
ROBERT BRAGG: OK, we'll
report when we're clear.
AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER
(OVER RADIO): Thank you.
NARRATOR: The Pan Am crew
will be turning off the runway
in just a few more yards.
But now something's wrong.
First officer Bragg can see
a plane through the fog.
 I think he's moving.
 Look at him.
That idiot's coming.
 Saw KLM too.
ROBERT BRAGG: Get off.
Get off!
[ENGINES ACCELERATE]
[GASPS]
NARRATOR: Captain
Grubbs tries to steer
clear of the oncoming KLM.
But it's bearing down on them
at nearly 200 miles an hour.
ROBERT BRAGG: He had
lifted off the runway.
I could see his rotating
beacon underneath.
 Get off.
Get off.
Get off.
Get off.
Get off.
Get off!
 And then I ducked and
said a real quick prayer--
God, I hope he misses us.
