Air Disasters — Season 1
The disaster is only the beginning of the story.
About this season
Catastrophic incidents in aviation history are meticulously reenacted, providing insight into what went wrong and if the crashes and near-disasters could have been prevented. Accounts from survivors combine with cockpit recordings and computer images to weave the gripping tales, and expert testimony reveals the hows and whys behind the events, some of which have resulted in important changes to aviation safety and regulations.
Episodes (10)
1. Invisible Killer
Aired 15 May 2011 • 45 min
A landing goes wrong when Delta Airlines Flight 191 is hit by an invisible force.
2. Gimli Glider
Aired 22 May 2011 • 45 min
A pilot heads for a decommissioned air force base when the 767 he is flying runs out of fuel.
3. Behind Closed Doors
Aired 29 May 2011 • 45 min
A flaw on the infamous DC-10 airline causing two midair crashes in the early 70's.
4. Fanning the Flames
Aired 5 June 2011 • 45 min
A recovery operation is launched to find out if a 747 was carrying illegal weapons.
5. Dead Weight
Aired 12 June 2011 • 45 min
Just after take-off, Air Midwest Flight 5481 plummets to the ground, killing all on board.
6. Southern Storm
Aired 26 June 2011 • 45 min
In 1977, Southern Airways Flight 242 finds itself in a violent storm. When both engines fail, the pilots must land their plane on a rural Georgia highway.
7. Explosive Evidence
Aired 10 July 2011 • 45 min
Air India Flight 182 crashes into the sea after an explosion. Was it a tragic accident or an act of terrorism?
8. Mixed Signals
Aired 17 July 2011 • 45 min
Conflicting alarms confuse pilots of Birgenair Flight 301 before it crashes into the ocean.
9. Fatal Distraction
Aired 24 July 2011 • 45 min
Pilots try to determine why both landing-gear lights do not function on an L-1011.
10. Phantom Strike
Aired 31 July 2011 • 45 min
A Legacy business jet collides with a Boeing 737 in mid-air over the Amazon Rain Forest.