Miracle Landing

This movie is by far one of the best in the field of the air disaster made-for-TV movies. Great visual quality, great soundtrack, excellent special effects (it isn't easy to show a 737 with portion of the roof out). It really is to wonder how that plane made it.

You might wonder why the opening text of Miracle Landing lets you know the outcome and that the film is based on a true story, but the reason is soon revealed. If you weren't told it was a true story, you would never believe it. In this airplane drama, the roof of the passenger compartment flies off mid-flight. Without any communication between the stewardesses and the cockpit, and very little between the pilots and airflight control, they have to land the plane. It really is unbelievable; but then again, it really did happen.

As in the classic formula, the main characters have a bit of a backstory in the set-up before takeoff. The pilot (Wayne Rogers) is an ex-flyboy from the Vietnam War, the co-pilot (Connie Sellecca) is a woman in training, and one of the stewardesses (Ana Alicia) is a single mom who wants to set a good example for her daughter. The head stewardess is Nancy Kwan, although she unfortunately has a very small part. Other passengers include a honeymoon couple, a kid coming back from vacation, old folks who are nervous about flying, and the other usual tropes you'll usually find in a disaster movie. There's some "intense" music, some low-budget special effects, and an obvious "disaster-flick" script, but somehow this tv movie gives you an emotional experience.

The opening text told me what to expect, but I was at the edge of my seat with a lump in my throat the entire time. I couldn't believe what I was seeing, and I didn't know how anyone would make it out alive. And how did Ana Alicia get up the courage to keep throwing herself up and down the aisles to help people, knowing that if she let go for a second, she'd be sucked out of the plane and killed? Truly inspiring, and although cheesy, a must-see for disaster movie fans.

I have to admit that I actually never watched the movie, but I wanted to add some facts to franzi775's post, since it's some sort of misinformation.

Miracle Landing is based on a true accident, like already said by other comments, and covers the story of flight 243 of Aloha Airlines.

Indeed, sudden explosive decompression CAN lead to a complete loss of an aircraft, but it MUST not! Besides Aloha 243 there are some similar accidents that did end up *quite* fortunately, e.g. United flight 801, 10 months later.

Thus... the movie is realistic, rather than stupid! Sorry, but had to set things right.

It is truly the ignorant that would condemn this film for lack of action and climax, or having the heroine spend too much time having her hair blown in her face......... somehow, one wonder if people do read the little words on the screen saying..... Based On A True Story.

All I can say is, it paid respect to a very harrowing experience.

One must commend the real pilots and the stewardesses who handled such a critical situation with such mettle.

Especially a case where you loose hydraulics, communications and depressurisation..... not easy as those who fly will tell you.

So to the producers and Director who tried their best to re-enact a moment of true heroism........Bravo!

Miracle Landing, in my opinion, is a superb show involving everyday people caught up in a terrible potential disaster. It is very realistic and I couldn't help but feel for all those people on that flight. The heroism of the crew shows the spirit that each of us have inside to overcome adversity and work toward a common good. Very well done.