MovieChat Forums > Fail Safe (1964) Discussion > If you were either pilot what would you ...

If you were either pilot what would you do?


The reason we all exist now is because smart people on both sides recognized malfunctions of the nuclear system before launching an attack. There was of course the Cuban Missile Crises, but also the 1985 Soviet glitch (see link below) and a few others that would have started WW3 if not for one or two heros who recognized the glitches and stopped it before it was too late. Now just consider this scenario: you're a pilot at the "failsafe point" (at Soviet airspace chasing a UFO that turns out to be a commercial jet), due to an electrical glitch you get a signal of launchcodes, open the Top Secret packet which says Moscow. Your radio has interference. You head to the target to launch H bombs and enroute the President and your wife both call you to tell you it's a mistake and there is no war. What would you do?
a. disregard and launch nukes anyway
b. decide to turn back.

I would definitely turn back, but that's why they would never choose me for a pilot like that. They want a robot who will follow orders even if it's an error and the whole world is at stake.
The other question is what if you were the pilot who was ordered to nuke NYC?
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-24280831

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I'd drop the bomb on Mar-a-lago. ;-)

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If I get the appropriate code I would abort the mission. Otherwise - GOOD BYE, WORLD!!!

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