Die letzte Reise der Landshut (Doku D 2017)

The Lufthansa Technik team has a special task: they must dismantle the Landshut. The Boeing 737 has been rotting in Brazil for almost ten years. Most of them see the hijacked plane for the first time 40 years ago. Fried Dirk and Lisa are already thinking about how they will get into the plane's tanks so that they can better loosen the wings from the inside later. They have to get in here. That is a big crisis in the machine. There is a precise "We planned with the airport staff the dismantling of the 737," explains project manager Martin Brandes. Now we will have to tow the plane to another location because we need more space for the cranes and for all our equipment, and we will do that first.

Change Google and refill the main landing gear wheels with fresh water so we actually believe we are towing and then your tool gets stuck in Brazilian customs which means waiting. The long journey of the Landshut began in the fall of '77. At that time, the youth Vito was the co-pilot, remember determining exactly he flew to Mogadishu yes, there is Mogadishu the Dallas flight map for 40 years he has been collecting everything he has to see with the folders and books of the hijacking yes and these are all interviews this is my flight book from September 77 to January 80 and that was 10 10 I flew regularly for the last time and then on the 13th with the Charly Eco Jürgen Thumann as captain the hijacking shook the republic good evening ladies and gentlemen a German Lufthansa plane has been in the hands of the Landshut since the hijackers on the afternoon of October 13, 1977, the Landshut is hijacked by Palestinian terrorists aboard 86 passengers and five members of the crew, who demand the release of the RAF leaders who were then in German prisons.

The federal government of Chancellor Schmidt remains firm in landing in Mogadishu, the machine of the Somali capital. After a 5-day flight, the terrorists shot pilot Jürgen Schumann the day before. Finally GSG 9 raided the machine at night. All the hostages survived the co-pilot Jürgen Vitor. After the liberation at Mogadishu airport, arriving in Frankfurt the next day he supports young people like Gabriele von Lowtzow who was injured. 40 years later, the two get off a plane together again. Gabriele von Luther and Jürgen Vitor have traveled to Brazil. Spring

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. They want to work to get the Landshut back to Germany, but under what conditions will their destiny as pilots be tomorrow?

Seeing the plane again, memories of the days of the hijacking awaken Jürgen while Tor was flying in extreme conditions. Gabriele von Lowtzow took care of the passengers. The tabloids called her the Angel of Mogadishu. They are both convinced that no other type of plane would have managed to survive a dusty plane that Scree banks to make an emergency landing and take off again. The Landshut was our protector. Without her, we wouldn't have gotten out. She managed to fly where we would not have been able to fly. She managed to land and take off again without breaking the engines and then flew for over 30 years, so we wouldn't have gotten out. a brave machine somewhere as a servant to both.

The Landshut is a symbol of freedom here at Pinto Martins Airport in northern Brazil. But the Landshut is simply a decommissioned plane, an accident parked at the edge of the They did not see the plane for decades until 2008, when the Landshut was used by several airlines. Since then, it has been standing here. It's a sad sight, girl. My God, how many times have I walked here to do checks. The last time the device was used was as a cargo plane for a Brazilian airline. On the way, that's why the seats were removed. All the terrorists were surprised by GSG 9, including the leader Mahmud of Mahmut Tas at the front and he was shot.

Here. 40 years ago, this door for Gabi von Luther, the path to freedom, was truly the moment of reparation that I treasure most. The liberation that is the most important thing for me, everything that happened before is nothing you are happy to call. oneself, but to get out of this, to be free after this horror, that is what I can fondly remember, if the story of the Landshut ends here, for Jürgen Vitor that would be it. It's hard to bear when the plane has to leave. "We return to Germany as a symbol of the fight against terrorism," he thinks.

If you say Mogadishu, country GSG9 today after years, then most people know what was there because it immediately shows the image of the 40 years of the RAF airman and so on. , at least those who are a little older, know immediately what was going on, well, and that is why it is probably appropriate that this machine is returned to Germany, since, as a contemporary witness, it does not deserve to be told that it returns home shortly time after. In fact, the federal government bought the scrapped machine for 20,000 euros. The anniversary year of the Landshut kidnapping is also an election year.

Dornier Museum Friedrichshafen. There are other famous machines from the aviation and space travel dynasty here more than ever in the family's own museum on Lake Constance. The Landshut could be a new attraction, at least that's what the CEO believes, and one of the heirs, David Bonny, read an article about the Landshut and then applied. He went to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and quickly got the contract. The museum's director, David Haye, invited Jürgen Vitor. The former co-pilot cannot wait to see what environment his 737 is presented in. The Landshut will not be next to the other aircraft, but in a special place.

In this place the entire hill will be leveled and will make way for a large aircraft hangar and then you will practically reach this area directly: it is the symbol of the German autumn paragraph and then newspaper reports appear, but at least part of these 40 years It is still standing, but the planned monument will cost millions. It is not yet clear who will pay for it. David Dornier hopes for Berlin's support and donations. The negotiations will take place in August

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strength, it is finally time to launch the lufthansa technik team I will leave on time at 37 for the airport The trip takes half an hour The security check is fast and runs smoothly, but in the middle on the way to close the bus stops a small plane is in the way The owner can't be found The bus can go "Do not pass in front of the plane," explains the deputy director of the airport.

This endangers international air traffic. To do? They agree on the small official route with the military police. Tow it in Brazilian. The device is stuck at customs, but in at least a bottle of nitrogen is delivered early in the afternoon the tires are inflated then tested with another adapter the result today the rear tires are inflated at least and then shortly before sunset when no one expects it, the tools of the customs project come out Director Martin Brandes is not relieved. The next morning the big mess begins. Changing tires on a Boeing 737. After all, such a device weighs almost 40 tons.

The Landshut can be towed. For added security, an airport security agent checks the situation again. I think it bothers him. The men are discussing how to maneuver one by one. Which direction should we pull first? As much as possible in the direction before the wing hangs from the tree. I don't want to say anything else. . Continue so as not to waste any more time. It looks good, but suddenly the Landshut's wing gets stuck in the bushes. Now we know why our colleague has finally packed his bags. After two hours, the 737 is freed. And it is a few meters ahead.

Now the special team can work on the Landshut from all sides so that it can soon be transported back to Germany. At the beginning of September 2017, Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel lands in Friedrichshafen with a government plane. he has made Landshut a top priority. David Dornier has invited him. There are still many unanswered questions. It's about location and money behind closed doors. The Foreign Minister is a media topic in the election campaign If you wonder why an object with national and historical importance does not end up in the capital, but in quiet Friedrichshafen next to Lake Constance, you can say why not in the History House in Bonn, because a Boeing 737 needs space and perhaps some small parts could have been displayed.

There, however, the concept we have in mind with an exhibition with visit possibilities for the entire machine could not have been realized and there are not many places for that, and Friedrichshafen is one of them. It is a great offer from the Dornier Foundation, which we are happy to talk about. Many Friedrichshafen residents also want to continue negotiating. They are also surprised that this affects Friedrichshafen personally. The connection between Landshut and the cemetery was simply not possible. Personally, I think to me that seems like they are now trying to save the machine, have it here and then look further afield, at the end of Gabriel's visit it is at least clear that the dismantling and transportation of the plane will be the responsibility of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Foreign Affairs and Lufthansa Technik.

The federal government also wants to contribute an appropriate amount to the monument and the Minister of Culture and Media will cover the restoration costs. Meanwhile, the engines will be dismantled today. Lufthansa Technik specialists use unusual tools. You have to improvise. A delivery of mattresses has just arrived. At the end comes a forklift with spikes. Rudy from Hamburg is the only one on the team who has an international forklift driving license, but he was not recognized here. . Rudi is upset. After all, the schedule is very strict. Before the engines can be dismantled, the fairing must be removed so that the engine, which weighs several tons, does not break during transport.

Men build a kind of bed. of mattresses and pallets. Lisa labels each piece so that at some point the Landshut can be put back together correctly. Meanwhile, in Berlin, 8,000 kilometers away, in the Federal Chancellery, government representatives negotiate with David without discussing the future of the Landshut. The total costs are estimated at ten million euros, who pays what is complicated anyway until the plane arrives, belongs to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and then the Minister of State for Culture and Media is also responsible for the exhibition of the porta reader concept that will be held today at the beginning of September.

Television crews and photographers from all over the world have been coming for days to the Lufthansa Technik team Working for this moment, removing the wings is the biggest technical challenge because many connections have to be released from the tank and that was quite exhausting, so the preparatory work in the tank were exhausting. Friedl was also one of those who worked for hours in the tank wearing a breathing mask. Currently, while we loosen the last screws on the exterior, the wing cannot stand the heat, it will be soon and we want you to be more neighbors together again, you will be able to remove the wing without damaging the fuselage, the last milestone has been achieved, the other regrettable works are already They are dismantled now you have to prepare the

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for transport that's easy, that's what it is, yes it's easy, it worked so well the team was totally amazing, they looked at everything that was outside and got the red ones without any damage and Antonov, one of the largest transport planes in the world, landed perfectly a week later at night.

The Russian cargo plane is often used for military transportation. Helicopters and boats. The Antonov only fits a Boeing 737 with sand wings. Friedl hasn't slept much. He doesn't want to miss this moment. The Landshut will make its last voyage with the Antonov The hull of the Landshut has a diameter of four meters 4. The men measured it again, but the height of the cargo hold of the Antonow is only four meters 40. Furthermore, transportation is planned , so it is narrow. On a sled, the Landshut slides very slowly, inch by inch. In the cargo hold of the Antonov the tension will only drop when we are sitting on the plane and now we can all drop a stone from the last one, so it really fits. "The tube worked very well for you to free Anton.

Now we have 37.5 tons of cargo on board and at most. Can we take off with 40,000? It's crazy and I'm very happy. At three in the afternoon the time has come of the last". When the Landshut takes off 40 years after its fateful flight Jürgen Vitor, the former co-pilot of the Landshut, returned to Friedrichshafen, he wants to be there when his 737 arrives. France 15 should land. Is a feeling. It's also a good year. I'm happy. that she is coming here we have the last flight at the Dornier Museum today is David's open day more than ever, local politicians and a member of the regional parliament are at his side now it is nine fourteen the Antonow is approaching what a feeling is to see so many wheels alone most of the technicians flew home directly from the advantages readers, but today, with the arrival of the Landshut, almost everyone is here again, it is the highlight of the Landshut operation the four of them came together during weeks in Brazil, it was exhausting, it was still fun and now it's over forus and I feel relieved and my team has done a great job this year.

I'm not proud of it and now I have written a bit of contemporary history and it continues jürgen witte is also happy gabriele von lowtzow the former stewardess flew here from frankfurt this morning to be present at the arrival of the

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we have done it the balance will be there that It is also a great feeling of Of course, it would have been better if it had been in the Rhine Main area or in Bonn, because there is a direct connection, but here there is a regulated operation of the museum and that's it. Landshut should attract many visitors to the Dornier Museum, and an exhibition concept is now being sought for this location that will commemorate the dramatic events of the autumn of October 77, 2017, shortly before the fortieth anniversary of the kidnapping.

Landshut temporarily ends up in storage in a warehouse at the airport next to the Dornier Museum. Martin Brandes is said to appreciate the restoration effort, so we as Lufthansa Technik will take some time to put together the developed concept because the machine has serious corrosion damage, which can already be seen here and which will ultimately You have to calculate and plan in time. This takes a lot of time and you will also need something starting next spring. Landshut won't be on display until 2019, so how long will it stay here for sure?