Miracle Landing (1990 TV Movie) User Reviews (21)

Surprisingly emotional and moving

[HotToastyRag · 7/10 · 17 April 2022]

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.

Fasten Your Seat Belts, Please.

[rmax304823 · 5/10 · 9 August 2014]

These made-for-TV docudrama disaster movies seem to have conformed to a pattern. Since the budget is limited and the shooting time constrained, they can't really have a carefully wrought plot line or expensive computer-generated effects. With rare exceptions they now reach a level of flaccid competence and are stuck there, kind of in comformity to the Peter Principle.

When the subject is an airplane in jeopardy, as this one is, the problem is compounded by the fact that airplane disasters tend to occur not in increments but all at once -- in a few seconds the engine quits, or the hydraulic system fails, or, as in this case, the top of the cabin blows away and not only causes chaos but sucks somebody out -- not pictured here.

If the cataclysm is over with so quickly, what do you do with the rest of the time? You can fill it in with the back stories of all the passengers and crew with some voice overs and flashbacks. That's what the holotype did -- "The High and the Mighty." But the current writers have pared that down to merely showing that all the crew members were cheerful and happy. No voice overs and only two brief and pointless flashbacks.

Instead, the catastrophe occurs rather early and the rest of the time is taken up with the terror and heroism in the cabin and flight deck. And a good deal of time is devoted to what happens AFTER the aircraft s safely stopped on the runway, an anti-climax if there ever was one.

On the plus side, some nice model work with the crippled airplane, decent performances, and Connie Sellecca, who is a genuine fox, in the right-hand seat.

The direction is pedestrian though. The camera lurches and jumps around, one of the flight attendants is too obviously a heroine, and the sight of passengers and crew coping with the horror goes on too long and becomes repetitious and confusing. The dialog doesn't scintillate but neither is it stupid. I frankly missed the usual conversation among the stewardesses about their sex lives. And the absence of the sick child who desperately needs a laparotomy almost brought me to tears.

All in all, remarkably routine.

This movie is NOT stupid.

[alex_grease · 10 October 2003]

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.

key elements of real story were incorrect

[bcollierbooks · 1/10 · 18 October 2021]

If you read the actual history, there was a lot of "Hollywood" in this movie. Also, you couldn't find Asian actors and actresses for the role? This wasn't a flight from Boise, Idaho.

Great Made For TV Movie!!

[Axiom-2 · 10/10 · 31 March 1999]

Miracle Landing is a very well done film. It's a miracle that more people were not killed when the front section of the plane (roof section) tore away, sucking out one of the flight attendants. This is a true story, which made viewing it all the more enjoyable. My heart really went out to all the crew & passengers. What an ordeal to go through.Trust me, this is a great film to see. Mark Snows music adds that much more to it...

The Best Aircraft Disaster Movie I Ever Saw

[uniqueabba · 10/10 · 25 November 2009]

As an ex cabin crew member or flight attendant in US terms, I have to say this film is one of the most accurate and well filmed movies I have ever seen regarding an aircraft disaster.

Many times in the past, I have watched these movies where the aircraft takes off as a B727 then in flight is a DC10 and lands as a MD87. Through out this movie, accuracy was excellent! I flew for a leading UK airline in the 1980's and remember reports of this disaster coming through. It was all the more relevant since I actually flew on the B737-200, which is exactly the type shown in this movie.

I found little if anything wrong with the movie, in fact am astonished at how it was so well put together considering it was probably a TV movie with a lower budget than big Hollywood blockbusters.

The aerial shots of the B737 in "cabriolet" mode were excellent. Cabriolet is what we called them after we heard what happened to the B737's fuselage. All out B737s were immediately grounded and checked, and then went on to have major refits and strengthening was undertaken.

My last flight on a B737-200 was in December 1992 and shortly after, they were withdrawn.

This film was excellent viewing and I recommend it to all people who take a blasé view of the role pilots AND cabin crew on board. Without well trained staff, passengers would die in such an incident.

Excellent movie!

[airodyssey · 28 July 1999]

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.

Its a true story........

[tazioratnayeke · 9/10 · 8 June 2006]

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!

An excellent movie about a real life air disaster

[aqx99 · 10/10 · 12 November 2001]

I wish people would stop writing comments about how stupid or unbelievable the endings to movies like this are. This movie was about a REAL EVENT, and people are writing reviews about how the title gave away the ending, or how there were too many scenes of the pilot getting her hair mussed in the wind. This movie tried, to the best of their ability, to recreate a real disaster. I think that they did an excellent job with this movie. No small detail was left out. They even tried to use, word for word, what was said between the pilots and the air traffic controllers.

Exciting heartfelt drama with a wonderful miraculous ending.

[johnnied01 · 25 February 2000]

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.

One of the very best true disaster films ever made

[doranwen · 10/10 · 9 February 2014]

I am very impressed with this film. As it sparked my interest, I started digging into the original disaster, pulling up every news article, photo, and video I could find that related to it. The accuracy rate is pretty amazing for a true story made into a movie.

To the reviewer who commented on the long flowing hair, I have seen the Mayday documentary episode on this incident, which contains footage taken minutes after evacuating all passengers. In it, Michelle Honda clearly has loose hair down to her shoulders; Ana Alicia actually has her hair done up a little bit more than that, with the top "ponytail". So she probably really did have her hair blown every which way. I guess Aloha Airlines had a different dress code with regards to hair than the other airlines some might have been familiar with.

As for Connie Sellecca's hair, well, from the photos I found, Mimi Tompkins didn't have long hair like that. And Connie's hair is too beautiful to chop off, so braiding it was a good compromise. I would imagine even Mimi's short hair got blown every which way, so I didn't find it distracting, but another way of making the story real. I found Connie's acting to be very good--overacting would have ruined the film. She added a subtlety to it that made it come to life.

The weakest point was perhaps Ana Alicia's role--she exaggerated a lot of what Michelle Honda actually did, but her actions weren't illogical for the situation. When people are terrified and panicking, you often do have to yell at them and pretty much order them around; the authority you assert helps them feel like someone's in control and helps them to calm down. If in the actual account, Michelle Honda didn't end up yelling at someone beyond just to be heard (as the wind noise was pretty insane), that isn't too great a change to make it enjoyable. There are great true story films that have a lot more to complain about than Miracle Landing does.

The joking and quips were, I think obviously, added for movie viewers to enjoy, but the pilots *were* pretty calm throughout in real life. Have not had the opportunity to listen to the CVR so I can't speak for Bob Schornstheimer's tone of voice, but the ATC audio has a very calm-sounding Mimi Tompkins informing the tower that they'll need assistance with the passengers. Some of the miscommunication was exaggerated a slight bit, but never invented from nowhere, as you'll see if you read the CVR transcript. The same goes for the rest of the film; a few incidents were exaggerated or placed out of logical order (such as the guy asking about the pilot; in reality Michelle Honda knew they'd be landing on Maui once they passed the first mountains), but overall nearly everything in the film has its grounds in reality in some way. Even Michelle Honda helping a young boy (traveling with his mother) put on his life jacket is a factual occurrence.

The soundtrack was one of the best parts of the film; it's a tragedy that it was never released. From the jogging scene to the plane landing/takeoffs, comforting passengers to the somber notes of the credits music, it was very enjoyable and I could easily have listened to an entire album of it.

Hopefully someday this gem of a movie will be released on DVD with higher quality video than what's currently available; I would purchase it in a heartbeat.

Miracle Landing in Hawaii

[sakliegel-1 · 10/10 · 1 June 2019]

This is one of our favorite movies. We have been to Hawaii many times and used to ride on both Aloha Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines. We would sincerely like to own a dvd or blu Rey of this movie. Please re-issue it so we can buy a copy. Also like to buy a gift copy. Thank you.

Great Made for TV movie

[kmw1962 · 16 September 2007]

I had the opportunity to meet one of the stewardesses from the actual flight as well as Captain Schornstheimer. This movie catches much of the real tension that was occurring.

Putting aside the 18 foot section of the plane being gone and torrential wind being blown at everyone,the pilots had no idea what had happened in the cabin and the flight attendants had no idea whether what the pilots were doing, if they were preparing to ditch or the plane could be landed anywhere. Furthermore, the landing calculations needed to be done by hand due to instrumentation damage.

POTENTIAL SPOILER

The movie is a tribute to how tough flight attendants are and how a good algebra teacher can save your butt some day (after the real flight safely landed in Maui, Captain Schornstheimer thanked his algebra teacher).

amazing movie, one of the best

[cammers-29156 · 10/10 · 14 October 2023]

This is one of the best dramas of a real disaster ever made and very emotional/touching. Very tense and thrilling and shows backstories for the crew and you really feel like you are there. There are times that are really nerve wracking and the film is just so well made. There are many 1980s staples who star in this movie as well.

The movie is based off the real incident that occured in the 80s on a aloha air flight which happened exactly like this movie. Sadly, like the movie, CB Lansing was sucked out of the plane when she went to investigate the crack after being alerted to it by a passenger. Rest in peace CB. This movie is how drama movies on air disasters should be.

Edge Of Your Seat

[mad-99775 · 10/10 · 2 August 2021]

Based on a true story, took place in Hawaii..I saw this film on TV and fell in love.. Starring Wayne Rogers (Mash) Connie Selleca (Knight Rider) and Ana Alicia (Falcon Crest) Took a long time to find, so glad I did...

Good movie BECAUSE it's realistic rather than "dramatic".

[wombat_1 · 20 January 2002]

I find myself in the unusual position of agreeing with all the previous commentators! Unlike "airport"-style movies, this one is not overly dramatic. And for that reason it is interesting and realistic, and (possibly paradoxically) slightly "undramatic".

Compare this with "Apollo 13" (err, the movie, not the event), where certain events were "dramatized". What - an accident in space that could result in the deaths of all on board, for the first time ever, in space, on TV, is not dramatic enough????? I wonder whether "Apollo 13" would have been "better" or "worse" without this "dramatisation"? This movie certainly opens that question. This movie shows that the understated approach _can_ work.

I also agree with the comments about the "flying hair", not only of Connie Seleca, as mentioned, but of all the women involved. My recollection of stewardesses in the 1980s is that they were somewhat more professional in appearance; those who had long hair wore it up and back. Certainly in Australian airlines of the day the flowing hair was not tolerated. This is distracting from the drama. It gives a slight soft-core porn feel to the movie, which is unnecessary and inappropriate, and spoils the whole effect.

I too could think only of Trapper when looking at the pilot. He did seem to stretch the definition of "nonchalance" to the limit:-).

In summary, I agree with the sense of this group of guidelines. A very good movie. Realistic. As to the lack of surprise ending: it doesn't harm "Titanic", it doesn't harm this one, either.

A Real Life Experience You Would Not Want Your Worst Enemy to Go Through

[shelbythuylinh · 8/10 · 27 November 2021]

This is based on the 1988 plane that had no bomb but that over in the lifting off due to the something on a plane that was ripped off as a kid in the motive pointed out.

One person died as the crew must keep their cool, calm, collectiveness there. As they fly to safety. Really the FBI agents was a jerk and really throw them off the plane as they were suffering. Until he realizes there was not a bomb and acts nicer to redeem himself.

Connie Selleca and the late Wayne Rogers in the leads do great job.

Sorry...

[alex_grease · 10 October 2003]

...now a mistake by myself: It was United 811 rather than 801 that had a quite similar accident like Aloha 243, which is shown in Miracle Landing.

I'm sorry.

Trapper - What Have You Done?

[Seanie C · 19 November 1998]

This is an appalling film. Wayne plays a low-rent Charlton Heston (Airport) while Connie Sellecca spends far too long having wind muss up her hair. The reaction from the FBI at the movie's far-less-than-climactic conclusion - a landing of truly miraculous proportions - is hilariously preposterous. Hawaii never looked so awful. Trapper John MacIntyre, what have you done?

No surprises here

[Linda Lee · 6 April 2002]

We know the outcome from the title, but as another reviewer has said, that didn't harm Titanic! Unfortunately this awful film is harmed by the appalling acting - or lack of it. The characters are more like caricatures - I was waiting for the singing nun to appear with her guitar! I appreciate that the scriptwriters tried to use as much actual cockpit dialogue as possible, but otherwise this film is a string of cliches. I'm sure the real-life flight attendants were terrific but the actresses who portrayed them were dire, and quite unbelievable. The pilot was so laid back he appeared catatonic, and the co-pilot's hair acted harder than she did. A dreadful portrayal of what must have been a terrifying experience for all those involved, though you'd never know it from this film.

Don't watch this if you are going on holiday soon!

[miletas · 23 February 2001]

The problem with this film is that all the suspense is given away in the title. However very realistic special effects and the passengers played their parts well including the extras. Unlike the 2 pilots who appeared fairly non-plussed throughout by the fact that half their aeroplane was missing!