747 Electronics Fail, Pilot Flies Blind Across the Pacific Piggy-Backing to Another Plane

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, the 284 passengers on board Quantas Flight 12—a Boeing 747-400 flying from Los Angeles to Sydney—couldn't believe their eyes when they looked through their windows to see another Boeing from Air New Zealand flying just a few thousand feet from their aircraft. The explanation, as the commander announced, was simple: He was "flying blind" after their aircraft's weather radar broke three hours after take off. Fortunately, as Qantas explained, the Air New Zealand flight was able to relay the data their 747 needed all the way to the other side of the Pacific: More »