Air Disasters

2011
4.6
364 reviews
TV-14
Rating
Eligible
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Season 4 episodes (13)

1 Fight for Control
4/27/14
The Lockheed Electra was the workhorse of Reeve Aleutian Airways, one of the few links from Cold Bay, Alaska, to the outside world. But on June 8, 1983, the plane nearly plunged 19,000 feet into the Pacific Ocean after one of its propellers tore from the aircraft and cut a hole through the cabin. Join us as we document this incredible story of survival, from the cockpit to the cabin, with witness accounts, official records, and dramatic recreations.
2 Fire in the Hold
5/4/14
The worst aviation disaster in Florida's history occurred on May 11, 1996. ValuJet Flight 592 mysteriously crashed into the alligator-infested swamps of the Everglades, killing all 110 aboard. Had the FAA implemented safety regulations instated after a similar crash eight years earlier, the tragedy would never have happened. Follow the investigation that would outrage a nation, cost the Secretary of Transportation and an FAA administrator their jobs, and ultimately doom ValuJet Airlines.
3 Caution to the Wind
5/11/14
October 31, 2000. As a typhoon bears down on Taiwan, Singapore Airlines Flight 006 hurtles down the runway through high winds and rain. The destination is Los Angeles, but before it even leaves the ground, the 747 erupts in a fireball, fed by thousands of gallons of fuel. Almost half of those on board are killed. Buckle up as we piece together the details of this air disaster, from its doomed takeoff to the shocking investigation that followed, one that may make you carefully consider where to sit the next time you travel by air.
4 Pushed to the Limit
5/18/14
It's a clear and calm December day in 1997 when a Boeing 737 suddenly plummets from the sky, slamming into the Indonesia jungles at supersonic speed. All 104 aboard are killed on impact, their bodies lost in the muddy Musi River. Evidence points to a serious mechanical failure, but when the full story of SilkAir Flight 185 is finally revealed, the cause is far more troubling than anyone could have imagined.
5 Blind Landing
5/25/14
Severe weather. A cracked windshield. A missing co-pilot. And a military pilot bucking civilian flight protocol. The 2005 crash of TANS Peru Flight 204 was a perfect storm of unlikely events and tragic mistakes, resulting in a fatal plummet into the Amazon jungle. Relive the final moments of the doomed flight and discover the causes of the crash as we examine this tragic air disaster. Dramatic recreations and firsthand accounts from the flight's air traffic controller and a fortunate survivor bring this catastrophe to horrific life.
6 Grand Canyon
6/8/14
1956 marked one of the most horrific air disasters in American history, and one of the most significant. A midair collision involving two major airlines shocked a nation that had come to think of air travel as luxurious and safe. An investigation led by examiner Jack Parshall confirmed that air accidents and death tolls would only rise unless immediate actions were taken. See how his pioneering methods led to major changes to the rules that govern commercial aviation, and validated the fledgling industry of air disaster investigation.
7 Catastrophe at O'Hare
7/20/14
It was the deadliest aviation disaster in U.S. history of its time. The 1979 crash of American Airlines Flight 191 terrified a nation and nearly put the DC-10 out of commission forever. Relive the horrific crash at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport that claimed 273 lives, and see how investigators, under intense pressure from the FAA, the media, and airline companies across the globe, finally identified the cause.
8 Focused on Failure
7/27/14
Just minutes before touching down in Portland International Airport, all four engines of a DC-8 mysteriously flame out. With the aircraft dropping 3,000 feet per minute, the pilots realize they have no option but to crash land in the middle of a major American city. Witness the harrowing emergency landing of United Airlines Flight 173 in Portland, Oregon, and uncover the shocking reasons for its massive engine failure.
9 Hockey Team Tragedy
8/3/14
A Russian passenger jet crashes into the Volga River, killing almost everyone on board. The incident turns into a national tragedy when rescuers discover the plane carried some of the country's most famous athletes, the Lokomotiv Yaroslavl hockey team. What caused one of the worst disasters in sports history? Was it the crew's fault or would the blame be cast on an aviation industry that isn't up to European and American standards? Investigators are under extreme pressure to find out. The reason is almost too simple to believe.
10 Death of a President
8/11/14
It was an air disaster that crippled a country, heightened tensions between two nations, and ignited conspiracy theories worldwide. On April 10, 2010, Polish Air Force Tupolev Tu-154M, carrying Poland's president, Lech Kaczynski, crashed on Russian soil, killing everyone aboard. Russian experts pinned the blame on the pilots, but Poland's Interior Minister examined the evidence and reached a far different conclusion. Experience the tragedy that shocked the world and follow the investigation that remains steeped in controversy.
11 Subtle Incapacitation
8/17/14
Five minutes into Ethiopian Airlines Flight 409, something goes wrong. The pilots lose control of their aircraft, and before they can regain command, they begin an unstoppable descent into the Mediterranean Sea. All 90 aboard are dead and experts are scrambling for answers. There was a storm, but was it big enough to take down a 737? Or was there a more ominous explanation? Experience the terrifying disaster of January 25, 2010, and follow the investigation that led to a finding so controversial, some still refuse to believe it.
12 Seconds to Survive
8/24/14
Santa Barbara Airlines Flight 518 is about to embark on a difficult, but common, trip from Mérida, Venezuela to Caracas. Minutes after leaving the ground, all aboard are killed when the aircraft crashes into a mountaintop, miles off course. What happened? Relive this devastating 2008 air disaster and witness the demanding recovery mission at an altitude of 14,000 feet. Then join the investigation as experts comb through evidence and discover a lethal combination of bad equipment and bad decisions.
13 Vanished
8/31/14
On June 1, 2009, a modern Airbus A330, traveling from Rio de Janeiro to Paris, vanished somewhere over the Atlantic. The families of the 228 presumed victims demanded answers, but would have to wait two years to get them. This is the story of Air France Flight 447, which came to rest 13,000 feet below the ocean's surface in an area deeper than the resting place of the Titanic. The effort to find and reach the aircraft was a miracle. And what investigators discovered in the wreckage would send shockwaves throughout the aviation industry.

About this show

Harrowing stories of tragedy and triumph in the sky are brought to life through official reports and interviews with flight crews, investigators, and lucky survivors of history's most terrifying crashes. Widely considered to be the safest form of travel, air transportation is still in its infancy and when midair calamity strikes, the results are often catastrophic. From the cockpit to the cabin, from the control room to the crash scene, we uncover what went wrong, then reveal what's been done to ensure these atrocities never happen again.

Ratings and reviews

4.6
364 reviews
Linda Alcorn
May 6, 2019
It amazes me how the investigators can find what went wrong and from charred pieces and tangled wires.The one that floored me the most was a small charter that went down over water in a flight that lasts 8 minutes How they found out what brought the plane down. Part of me feels guilty that I enjoy watching this show. There's times the plane seems doomed, and somehow with the flight crew working together, saves the plane and most importantly the passengers.
9 people found this review helpful
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Monito Power
August 2, 2015
True events, real people. A docu-drama made to simulate the point where you're in a plane crash! And how it can save you too. Fasten Your seatbelt and get ready for season 6! Don't forget about "Air Crash Investigation"! Hopefully they'll come to America but we have this! So prepare for landing and brace for impact!
4 people found this review helpful
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Jackie Nichols
May 16, 2022
Me encanta cómo los investigadores siempre hacen cambios después de una investigación para evitar que vuelva a ocurrir un accidente. Incluso si descubren que un accidente fue un error humano, intentan cambiar las cosas para que sea aún más difícil que alguien vuelva a cometer el mismo error. En realidad, es bastante reconfortante, y desearía que todas las industrias funcionaran de esta manera.
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