Complicating matters yet further was the fact that with both of its engines out, the plane made virtually no noise during its approach. People on the ground thus had no advance warning of the impromptu landing and little time to flee. As the gliding plane closed in on the decommissioned runway, the pilots noticed that there were two boys riding bicycles within of the projected point of impact. Captain Pearson would later remark that the boys were so close that he could see the looks of sheer terror on their faces as they realized that a large, passenger-laden aircraft was bearing down on them - the 767-200, the aircraft type in question, was only classed as a medium-size airliner however when empty still weighed roughly 80 tonnes without passengers.