Turning Point (Northwest Airlines Flight 85)
Show: Mayday --> Season: 11 - Season 11
AirDate: 12/29/2011
Runtime: 45
Voting: 9 (1)

Overview: 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.