Flight (2012)

Share this quote on facebook No one could have landed that plane like I did. No one.

Share this quote on facebook This thing is so heavy it's killed me.

Share this quote on facebook Plane fell apart at 30,000 feet.

Share this quote on facebook [addressing a prison counseling group] That was it. I was finished. I was done. It was as if I had reached my lifelong limit of lies. I could not tell one more lie. And maybe I'm a sucker. Because if I had told just one more lie, I could've walked away from all that mess and kept my wings, kept my false sense of pride. And more importantly, I could've avoided being locked up in here with all you nice folks for the last thirteen months. But I'm here. And I'll be here for at least the next four or five years. And that's fair. I betrayed the public trust. I did. That's how the judge explained it to me. I had betrayed the public trust. The FAA, they took away my pilot's license. And that's fair. My chances of ever flying again are slim to none. And I accept that. I've had a lot of time to think about it, all of it. I've been doing some writing. I wrote letters to each of the families that had lost loved ones. Some of them were able to hear my apology. Some of them never will. I also apologized to all the people that tried to help me along the way, but I couldn't or wouldn't listen. People like my wife, you know. My ex-wife and, uh, my son. And again, like I said, you know, some of them will never forgive me. Some of them will. But at least I'm sober. I thank God for that. I'm grateful for that. And this is gonna sound real stupid coming from a man who's locked up in prison, but for the first time in my life, I'm free.

Share this quote on facebook [to a hospital nurse] I'm on a list, baby girl.

Share this quote on facebook You're a rock star, man! You will never pay for another drink as long as you live.

Share this quote on facebook Whip: When I say, I want you to retract the flaps, retract the gear, trim us nose-down, okay? But everything's gonna be opposite, so make sure you trim us nose-down.
Evans: Trim down? What are you gonna do?
Whip: [to Margaret] Margaret, when I tell you, I want you to push these forward, full throttle, can you do that?
Margaret: Okay.
Evans: What do you mean, sir? What are we doing? Why would I trim down?
Whip: NIGGA IM DRUNK
Evans: CHILL BITCH ASS

Share this quote on facebook Lang: You can see on initial impact, the left wing hit the ground. Think if it would have sheared off completely, everybody would've walked away from this plane.
Whip: Wing snapped off, drove the engine cowling into the rear fuselage.
Lang: You were sitting in the last six or seven rows it was like being hit by a train. Listen, clearly there was a mechanical issue with this plane.
Whip: Clearly.
Lang: Yeah. But what you and I know, this was an act of God, and I'm going to fight to get the NTSB to add "act of God" as one of the probable causes.
Whip: Whose God would do this?

Share this quote on facebook Lang: When I first met you, I couldn't believe what a drunk arrogant scumbag you were.
Whip: Oh, really?
Lang: Yeah.
Whip: Oh, thank you.
Lang: But I did the research, Captain Whittaker. I heard the expert analysis and I'm in awe of what you did. The FAA and the NTSB took ten pilots, placed them in simulators, recreated the events that led to this plane falling out of the sky. Do you know how many were safely able to land the planes? Not one. Evey pilot crashed the aircraft. Killed everybody on board. You were the only one who could do it.

Share this quote on facebook [At the NTSB hearing]
Block: Mr. Whittaker, I want to talk about the days leading and the hours leading up to the accident, but before I do, I want to remind you that you are under oath and that any testimony you give here today will be considered admissable in any subsequent hearings or criminal proceedings. Do you understand what that means? [Whip nods] Captain Whittaker, for the record I need you to verbalize your answer.
Whip: Uh, I'm sorry. Yes, I understand.
Block: On the days leading up to the accident, Tuesday, October 11, Wednesday, October 12, or Thursday, October 13, did you consume any alcohol or any other intoxicating elements?
Whip: No, I did not.
Block: On the morning of the accident, Friday, October 14, did you consume any alcohol, or ingest any chemicals or drugs that may have impaired your ability to perform your job?
Whip: No.
Block: Mr. Whittaker, do you now, or have you ever had a problem with alcohol dependency, alcoholism, or drug addiction?
Whip: No, I have not.
Block: Okay, Mr. Whittaker, we're about done. Due to the severe turbulence in the early part of the flight, you asked the flight crew to suspend the beverage service on the plane, is that correct?
Whip: Yes, that's correct, I suspended the drink service on the plane.
Block: Are you aware that our investigators found two single service vodka bottles in the galley trashbin?
Whip: Yes, I'm aware of that.
Block: There were five crewmembers onboard that would have had access to the beverage trolley. Less than an hour after the accident, blood was taken from each of these crewmembers, yourself, First Officer Evans, Flight Attendant Margaret Thomason, and posthumously, from Camelia Satou, and Katerina Marquez. Toxicology analysis was performed, and three of these tests came back negative, one was disqualified for technical reasons, and one tested positive for alcohol, it registered .17 blood alcohol level. Are you aware of that?
Whip: Yeah, I'm aware of it now.
Block: Ms. Marquez was not only a colleague, but you knew her outside of work, is that correct?
Whip: Outside of work, no, not really.
Block: Did you know Ms. Marquez had a drinking problem?
Whip: No, I did not.
Block: Did you ever see her drink to excess?
Whip: No, I did not.
Block: Were you aware that she was twice treated for alcohol addiction, the last time was sixteen months ago and paid for by SouthJet Airlines?
Whip: No, I did not.
Block: Is it your opinion that Katerina Marquez drank on that flight?
Whip: Could you repeat the question?
Block: Is it your opinion that Katerina Marquez drank on that flight?
Whip: I'm sorry, my what?
Block: Your opinion, Captain. Since her toxicology report is the only toxicology report is the only report that is admissable in this hearing, and she in fact tested positive for alcohol, is it your opinion that Katerina Marquez drank the two bottles of vodka on the plane?
Whip: [exhales] God help me.
Block: I'm sorry, Mr. Whittaker, I couldn't hear you. What did you say?
Whip: I said, "God help me."
Block: Yes, well, however, is it your opinion...
Whip: It's my opinion Trina did not drink that vodka.
Block: Excuse me, Mr. Whittaker?
Whip: She saved a boy's life.
Block: Could you speak louder, Mr. Whittaker?
Whip: Trina did not drink the vodka... because I drank the vodka.

Share this quote on facebook Nadine Velaquez — Katerina "Trina" Marquez