At 33,000 feet, there was no hail and no fog. But how were the planes supposed to land?

Some aircraft took the risk and descended. The result was predictable—immediate catastrophe. Others stayed airborne until their fuel ran out, forced into a desperate landing attempt or a powerless plunge from the sky.

If these planes crashed in remote wilderness or over the open ocean, the damage was contained. But when they plummeted into cities, it created a secondary disaster.

People were trapped indoor