Boeing 737-800 Technical Manual May 2026

"Because three years ago, I was a line mechanic before I got my ATP."

Later, the NTSB asked Ellis why he went to the technical manual instead of declaring an emergency and landing heavy, fast, with no flaps.

The FO blinked. "How do you know that?"

"Run the alternate flaps procedure," Ellis said.

"Landing distance?" the FO asked.

"Because Boeing wrote this for the people who really know the airplane. And sometimes, the pilot needs to think like a mechanic."

A former avionics tech

Ellis reached over and pulled C809— FLAP LOAD LIMIT —a breaker no pilot had ever pulled in training. Then he engaged the alternate flaps switch. Slowly, agonizingly, the 737-800’s trailing edge flaps extended 15 degrees. Not much, but enough.