1. Headlines News
Three
devastating crashes make front page news around the globe, and the media frenzy
puts intense pressure on investigators to uncover the true cause of these
deadly disasters. On September 11th, 2001, American Airlines Flight 77
disappears from radar and slams into Pentagon. When TWA Flight 800 explodes
over Long Island, a media reports spark a four year investigation. And, when an
Air France Concorde crashes in Paris just seconds after takeoff, it signals the
end of the supersonic era.
2. Rookie Errors
The
simplest mistakes are at the heart of some of the worst airline accidents, and
while commercial pilots undergo hundreds of hours of training and testing, even
experienced pilots can make deadly rookie errors. A botched takeoff in Buenos
Aires kills 60 people and the cause stuns investigators. Just two months after
9/11, American Airlines Flight 587 crashes in Queens, New York, igniting fears
that America is once again under attack. And, when Continental Airlines 3407
stalls above Buffalo, the flight crew's baffling reaction proves fatal.
3. Collision Course
Facing
deadly tragedies that could have been avoided, investigators comb through the
wreckage of three separate midair collisions in a race to prevent another fatal
impact. In California, a massive passenger plane collides with one of the
fastest fighter jets in the sky. Seven years later, another deadly collision
leaves investigators puzzled and San Diego in shock. And, in India, two
passenger jets collide causing the world's deadliest-ever midair collision.
4. Engines Out
When an
aircraft loses total engine power, a pilot's training can make all the
difference in the world, but it's still up to investigators to determine what
went wrong. An Airbus flames out en route to Hong Kong, and the crew is
determined to avoid a disastrous ocean ditching. En route to Australia, a
mysterious engine failure ultimately leads to a giant leap in aviation safety.
And, after a terrifying ten-kilometer freefall, a captain is hailed as a hero
by passengers, but the resulting investigation tells a different story.
5. Fuel Trouble
Three
mysterious accidents send investigators hunting for clues. In the end, all
three trails lead back to the same source-the fuel tank. Minutes before
touching down in Portland, United Airlines 173 loses all four engines over a
densely populated suburb. In Japan, a Boeing 737 lands safely, but then catches
fire with all 165 passengers and crew still on board. And, nearly 700 miles off
course, the crew of Varig Flight 254 are forced to make a crash landing in the
Amazon jungle.
6. Perilous Payload
Three
planes fatally out of balance force investigators to question every
calculation. It's a flight risk that's entirely preventable, and yet repeated
disasters reconfirm the need for critical backup systems. With nearly 90,000
pounds of denim on board, a cargo plane in Miami crashes moments after lifting
off. A packed commuter flight slams into a North Carolina hangar, revealing a
deadly industry oversight. And, the NTSB is called in when a jumbo jet loaded
with armored military vehicles pancakes to the ground in Afghanistan.
7. Runway In Sight
If pilots
aren't prepared when the runway is in sight, a landing can quickly become a
tragedy. On its final approach, an Indonesian passenger jet smashes down at a
catastrophically high speed. Without warning, a Delta flight crew faces a
deadly storm just before touchdown in Dallas. And, tragedy strikes in San
Francisco when a Boeing 777 crew lands short of the runway.
8. Deadly Confusion
Spatial
disorientation is one of the leading causes of all air accidents. Even the most
experienced pilots are susceptible to its subtle yet deadly effects. A confused
John F. Kennedy Jr. disappears on the way to Martha's Vineyard. High over the
Red Sea, a captain loses his bearings and crashes his passenger jet. And, off
the coast of Indonesia, pilots fly their Boeing 737 into a violent storm and
end up on the ocean floor.
9. Radio Silence
Radio
silence between pilots and air traffic controllers can mean many different
things, but only the physical evidence can reveal the true story. Three
shocking cases send investigators hunting for answers. A Greek airliner goes
rogue and crashes outside Athens. A China Airlines 747 disappears from radar
and the culprit is discovered on the ocean floor. And, when controllers lose
contact with a private jet, fighter planes scramble to intervene.
10. Design Flaws
Drawing the
attention of the entire world, three fatal design flaws put air crash
investigators in a storm of controversy. When one of former race car driver
Niki Lauda's planes nosedives into a Thai jungle, a one-in-a-million failure
reveals a weak spot in every Boeing 767. A piece of the plane blows off a
Turkish Airlines DC-10 causing the most catastrophic mid-air emergency of its
time. And, a risky test flight is the only way to uncover the startling truth
about what brought down Atlantic Southeast Airlines Flight 2311.
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