Mayday S11E6 · Turning Point (Northwest Airlines Flight 85)

Mayday

Season 11 · Episode 6 · Turning Point (Northwest Airlines Flight 85) · 45 min

On 9 October 2002, Northwest Airlines Flight 85 is cruising above the Bering Sea, when the lower rudder segment suddenly deflects to the left. The pilots divert the aircraft to a successful emergency landing at Anchorage, Alaska, by using engine thrust for control. The incident was attributed to a fatigue failure of the rudder hydraulic control module, resulting in part of the module's metal casing breaking off.