I have flown only a few times, living in the DC area, I saw that plane coverage you are speaking of-it was sad and terrible. As for the movie High and the mIghty-it is ok-not the greatest, another film Wayne made around the same time I liked better was Island in the Sky which deals with the rescue of a downed plane in a wilderness area in winter
take care-oh pre1945 films work for me as well-though i do like some later ones.