Air Transat Flight 236 was a scheduled commercial flight from Toronto, Canada to Lisbon, Portugal. On August 24, 2001, during its transatlantic journey, the Airbus A330 encountered a severe fuel leak, which was initially unnoticed. The plane, carrying 306 passengers and crew, lost both engines around 40 minutes away from the Azores. The pilots, Captain Robert Piché and First Officer Dirk De Jager, faced an unprecedented challenge: to keep the aircraft airborne without engine thrust. Despite the dire circumstances, they managed to glide the aircraft for approximately 70 miles, a distance significant enough to reach the nearest land at Lajes Field, an airport on Terceira Island in the Azores. The crew executed a perfect emergency landing without further incident, demonstrating their exceptional flight training and composure under pressure.

In the immediate aftermath, the incident garnered extensive media attention and raised questions about aviation safety protocols, specifically concerning fuel management and emergency preparedness. The passenger and crew experiences varied, with many displaying remarkable calm and composure. An investigation later revealed that a fuel leak caused by a faulty connection had led to the loss of engine power. Both pilots were heralded as heroes for their skill and determination during a potentially catastrophic event.