Flight 797

18:51 EDT : While over Louisville, Kentucky, a popping sound was heard in the cockpit, and Capt Cameron noticed the lavatory's circuit breakers had tripped. It was not uncommon for a plane's lavatory circuits to pop occasionally, precipitated by a large number of passengers using the toilet after eating, so Cameron waited approximately eight minutes to give the tripped circuits time to cool down before attempting to reset them again

18:59. The captain observed that the circuit breakers popped back out as he pushed them to reset

19:00, a passenger seated in the last row informed flight attendant Judi Davidson of a strange odour in the rear of the airplane. Light smoke observed from lav

19:02, cabin crew informed the flight crew of a "fire in the washroom". Captain Cameron put on his oxygen mask and ordered First Officer Ouimet to go back and investigate

19:04, Ouimet returned to the cockpit, told Cameron about the smoke, and suggested descending. However, A few seconds later, captain was an advised that passengers were moved forward and that the smoke was "easing up."

19:06, The captain, still believing the fire was limited to the lavatory trash bin, had not started descending as he expected the fire would be put out

19:06:30 "master caution" light in the cockpit illuminated, indicating a loss of main bus electrical power. The captain called the air traffic controller (ATC) in Indianapolis, Indiana, and notified them that Flight 797 had an "electrical problem." Flight 797's transponder signal then disappeared from ATC radar displays. ATC continued tracking on primary

19:07, Ouimet reached the aft lavatory again. He reached to open the door, but it felt hot to the touch, he decided not to open it. Ouimet directed the flight attendants to keep the lavatory door closed, then returned to the cockpit, where he told Cameron, "I don't like what's happening, I think we better go down, okay?" Cameron detected urgency in Ouimet's voice, which he took to mean an immediate descent was needed.

19:07:30 "master warning" light lit up, warning the pilots of a loss of emergency electrical power. Cameron ordered Ouimet to switch to battery power, but the loss of main and emergency electrical power caused some electrical systems to fail, including power for the horizontal stabilizer. This caused the stabilizer to be stuck in the cruising position.

19:08, Captain Cameron initiated an emergency descent and declared a "mayday" to Indianapolis ATC. Controllers granted Flight 797 clearance for an emergency landing at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport in Boone County, Kentucky, near Cincinnati, Ohio. Loss of partial instrumentation on Flight 797 necessitated ATC to provide approach guidance.

18:08 Smoke filled the passenger cabin and entered the cockpit as the plane descended. The PA system failed, leaving the flight attendants unable to communicate efficiently with the passengers.

19:20, Captain Cameron and First Officer Ouimet executed a difficult and demanding landing at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport. As the stricken aircraft touched down, four tires blew out. . Once the aircraft came to a stop, chief flight attendant Sergio Benetti opened the front door of the aircraft, through which he escaped. The pilots quickly shut the aircraft down. The overwing and forward aircraft doors were opened, and slides at the front doors were deployed. The three flight attendants and 18 of the passengers evacuated using these exits. Unfortunately, the Opening of the doors also caused an influx of air that fuelled the fire.

The pilots were unable to enter the passenger cabin because of the smoke and heat. FO Ouimet escaped through the right emergency window shortly after the plane landed, but Cameron, who was exhausted from trying to keep the plane under control, was unable to move. Firefighters doused Cameron in firefighting foam through the right window, shocking him back to consciousness. Cameron was then able to open the left emergency escape window and drop to the ground, where Ouimet dragged him to safety.

Captain Cameron was the last person to escape the aircraft.

90 seconds after touchdown, the interior of Flight 797 flashed over and ignited, killing the remaining 23 passengers on board.