She Fell from the Sky - Juliane Koepcke Quiz

Answer: hit by lightning

Juliane and her mother were passengers aboard the LANSA Flight en route from Lima's Jorge Chávez International Airport to Pucallpa, Peru. The plane was cruising at about 6,400 metres (21,000 ft) above sea level when it encountered an area of thunderstorms and severe turbulence. Due to pressure to continue the flight to meet the holiday schedule, the crew decided not to turn back.

The airplane was hit by lightning and Julianne plummeted to the ground.

Answer: 3,000 m / 10,000 ft

Juliane actually fell 3,000 metres / 10,000 feet from the plane. Imaging falling just 3 kilometres! She was conscious for the first part of her fall, but then lost consciousness. When she awoke, she was alone in the jungle. Incredible! It is a miracle that she survived. She has said that the first thought she had after regaining consciousness was, "I survived an air crash".

Answer: her mother

Juliane's parents had founded the biological research station in the Amazon Rainforest, where they conducted scientific studies on tropical birds and wildlife. They lived and worked there and that is where Juliane grew up. She and her mother, Maria, waited until after Juliane's high school graduation to fly to Panguana where her father was working in order to be with him for Christmas. The last words Juliane remembers her mother saying were, "That is the end, it's all over" shortly before the crash.

Answer: strapped to her seat

She was sitting in a window seat in a set of three seats. The other two seats were to her left. Juliane was ejected from the plane still strapped to her seat and fell into the canopy of the dense rainforest. It is believed that the seat acted as a parachute, and the dense canopy slowed down her descent.

Answer: False

Juliane survived in the Peruvian Amazon. She used the skills that her parents, both scientists, had taught her. She knew not to eat unknown fruit and sustained herself by rationing a bag of candy. Juliane remembered her father telling her that if she was ever stranded in the jungle, to follow water downstream, and she would find people. She followed his advice and survived.

Answer: 11 days

Juliane survived a total of 11 days injured and alone in the jungle. She found a packet of sweets soon after she landed, but when they were gone, she was afraid she would starve. Juliane was only wearing a sundress and sandals, one of which she lost. She had poor eyesight and had lost her glasses as well.

While walking she led with the foot that had the sandal to make sure she was walking on the ground and not on snakes. She was very cold and alone at night, due to her sundress being her only covering.

Answer: zoologists

They were both zoologists. Her father, Hans-Wilhelm Koepcke died in 2000. Her mother, Maria Koepcke, died as the result of the plane crash. After her body was discovered it was determined that she had not instantly died, but had been so severely injured that she couldn't move.

Interestingly, a species of Peruvian lizard, "Microlophus koepckeorum", is named in honour of Mr and Mrs. Koepcke.

Answer: a broken ankle

Juliane had numerous injuries. In addition to the above, other injuries included gashes on her calf, a torn knee ligament, an arm gash, bloodshot eyes, a fractured shin, strained vertebrae, and eventually her arm wound became infected with botfly larva. Juliane survived by applying the skills that her parents taught her, walking in a stream. Trusting her father's advice about surviving in the wilderness, she remained calm, which contributed to her ability to make rational decisions.

Answer: by lumberjacks

Juliane Koepcke was rescued by three Peruvian lumbermen who were cutting down trees. They found her in the Amazon Rainforest, and at first they thought she was an apparition. The gave her first aid, food, and water, and then took her by canoe to a nearby settlement where she received more extensive medical care. I was unable to find information regarding how long it took her to recover from her injuries.

Answer: bats

Juliane returned to Germany and continued with her education. She published her thesis, "Ecological study of a bat colony in the tropical rain forest of Peru", in 1987.

Her survival has prompted books and movies. She also wrote a book, "When I Fell From the Sky", published in 2011. She told her own story in the 1998 documentary, "Wings of Hope" by Werner Herzog. Interestingly, Herzog was originally scheduled to be on the same flight as Juliane, as he was location scouting for another movie. His reservation had been canceled due to a last minute change in itinerary.