Mayday: Air Disaster - Complete Episode Guide

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Mayday: Air Disaster - Complete Episode Guide

Hey guys! Are you fascinated by air disasters and the investigations that follow? Then you're probably a fan of "Mayday," also known as "Air Crash Investigation" or "Air Disasters." This show delves deep into the hows and whys of aviation accidents, giving us a detailed look at the events leading up to the crashes, the investigations, and the lessons learned. This comprehensive guide will list every episode of Mayday Danger in the Sky.

What is "Mayday" All About?

Mayday isn't just another documentary series; it's a meticulously crafted show that combines dramatic reenactments, expert interviews, and computer-generated imagery to reconstruct air disasters. Each episode typically follows this structure:

  1. The Setup: We learn about the flight, the crew, the aircraft, and the weather conditions.
  2. The Incident: The episode recreates the events leading up to the crash, often using the actual cockpit voice recorder transcripts.
  3. The Investigation: Investigators piece together the evidence, analyze the black boxes, and interview witnesses to determine the cause of the accident.
  4. The Conclusion: The show summarizes the findings and explains how the accident has led to changes in aviation safety.

The series is renowned for its attention to detail and commitment to accuracy. It's not just about sensationalizing tragedy; it's about understanding what went wrong and preventing similar accidents in the future. For aviation enthusiasts, students, and professionals, Mayday is an invaluable resource.

Why "Mayday" is so Engaging

Mayday stands out due to its gripping storytelling and in-depth analysis. The show doesn't just present the facts; it immerses you in the experience. By using cockpit voice recordings and detailed recreations, you feel like you're right there in the cockpit, experiencing the same challenges and pressures as the flight crew. This immersive approach makes the show incredibly engaging and helps viewers understand the complex factors that can contribute to an air disaster. Furthermore, Mayday's educational value cannot be overstated. Each episode highlights critical lessons about aviation safety, human factors, and engineering. By examining past mistakes, the show helps to prevent future accidents and improve overall air travel safety.

Complete Episode List

Season 1

  1. Crash of Flight 111: Swissair Flight 111 crashes off the coast of Nova Scotia due to a fire caused by faulty wiring.
  2. Racing the Storm: Delta Air Lines Flight 191 crashes in Dallas, Texas, due to microburst wind shear.
  3. Unlocking Disaster: United Airlines Flight 232 suffers a catastrophic engine failure, leading to a partial loss of control.
  4. China Southern 3943: China Southern Airlines Flight 3943 crashes on approach to Guilin Airport in China due to pilot error and poor weather conditions. The flight crew's decision to descend prematurely into adverse weather, combined with inadequate monitoring of the aircraft's altitude and position, led to the fatal crash. This episode underscores the critical importance of adherence to standard operating procedures and the need for effective crew resource management, especially in challenging weather conditions. The crash serves as a stark reminder of the potential consequences of complacency and the necessity for vigilance in all phases of flight.
  5. Fire on board: ValuJet Flight 592 crashes in the Florida Everglades due to a fire caused by improperly stored oxygen generators.
  6. Cutting Corners: American Airlines Flight 96 and Turkish Airlines Flight 981 experience cargo door failures due to design flaws.

Season 2

  1. Explosive Evidence: Pan Am Flight 103 is destroyed by a bomb over Lockerbie, Scotland.
  2. Desperate Measures: Air France Flight 358 overruns the runway in Toronto due to poor weather and pilot error.
  3. The Heathrow Enigma: British Airways Flight 38 crashes short of the runway at Heathrow Airport due to ice crystals in the fuel.
  4. Fatal Fix: Japan Airlines Flight 123 suffers a catastrophic tail section failure due to improper repairs.
  5. Lost: Korean Air Flight 801 crashes on approach to Guam due to pilot error and a malfunctioning instrument landing system.

Season 3

  1. Target is Destroyed: Iran Air Flight 655 is shot down by the USS Vincennes over the Persian Gulf.
  2. Runway Collision: The Tenerife airport disaster occurs when two Boeing 747s collide on the runway.
  3. Impossible Landing: US Airways Flight 1549 lands in the Hudson River after a bird strike causes a dual engine failure.
  4. Phantom Strike: Birgenair Flight 301 crashes into the Atlantic Ocean due to faulty airspeed indicators.
  5. Out of Control: Aeroperú Flight 603 crashes into the Pacific Ocean due to blocked static ports.

Season 4

  1. Hamelin Pilot: Air Transat Flight 236 glides to a safe landing in the Azores after running out of fuel due to a fuel leak.
  2. Deadly Reputation: The crash of two Boeing 737s, United Airlines Flight 585 and USAir Flight 427, leads to the discovery of a design flaw in the rudder control system.
  3. Sideswiped: Comair Flight 5191 crashes on takeoff from Lexington, Kentucky, due to the pilots using the wrong runway.
  4. Lethal Skies: The Überlingen mid-air collision occurs when a passenger jet and a cargo plane collide over Germany due to air traffic controller error.
  5. Missing Over the Pacific: Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 disappears over the Indian Ocean, sparking a massive search and investigation. The disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 remains one of aviation's greatest mysteries. Despite extensive search efforts, the main wreckage has never been found, leaving investigators and the public to speculate about the possible causes. This episode delves into the various theories, from mechanical failure to pilot suicide, and examines the challenges of investigating an accident when the primary evidence is missing. It highlights the importance of international cooperation and technological advancements in underwater search and recovery operations. The search for MH370 has prompted significant improvements in aircraft tracking technology and emergency response protocols, ensuring that future incidents can be investigated more effectively.

Season 5

  1. Fatal Climb: West Caribbean Airways Flight 708 crashes in Venezuela due to pilot error and icing.
  2. Ocean Landing: Ethiopian Airlines Flight 961 is hijacked and crashes into the Indian Ocean after running out of fuel.
  3. Communication Breakdown: Avianca Flight 052 runs out of fuel and crashes on Long Island, New York, due to communication failures between the pilots and air traffic control.
  4. Held Hostage: Air France Flight 8969 is hijacked in Algiers, and the hijackers are eventually killed by French special forces.
  5. Fatal Distraction: Eastern Air Lines Flight 401 crashes in the Florida Everglades due to the pilots being distracted by a faulty landing gear indicator.

Season 6

  1. Cleared for Disaster: Northwest Airlines Flight 255 crashes on takeoff from Detroit due to pilot error and a lack of checklist discipline.
  2. Frozen in Flight: Air Midwest Flight 5481 crashes shortly after takeoff from Charlotte, North Carolina, due to improper maintenance and weight imbalance.
  3. Cracks in the System: Aloha Airlines Flight 243 experiences explosive decompression due to metal fatigue.
  4. Deadly Delay: Crossair Flight 3597 crashes on approach to Zurich, Switzerland, due to pilot error and poor weather conditions.
  5. Head-On Collision: Bashkirian Airlines Flight 2937 and DHL Flight 611 collide in mid-air over Germany due to air traffic controller error.

Season 7

  1. Who's in Control?: The Gimli Glider: Air Canada Flight 143 runs out of fuel mid-flight due to a metric conversion error, but the pilots manage to glide the plane to a safe landing at Gimli, Manitoba.
  2. Split Second: Southwest Airlines Flight 1248 overruns the runway at Chicago Midway International Airport due to poor weather conditions and pilot error.
  3. Fire Fight: British Airways Flight 2276 experiences an uncontained engine failure and fire during takeoff from Las Vegas.
  4. Edge of Disaster: Qantas Flight 32 experiences an uncontained engine failure shortly after takeoff from Singapore.
  5. Under Pressure: Japan Airlines Flight 123 suffers a catastrophic tail section failure due to improper repairs.

Season 8

  1. Nowhere to Land: Polish Air Force Flight 101 crashes on approach to Smolensk, Russia, killing the Polish president and numerous other high-ranking officials.
  2. Deadly Silence: Colgan Air Flight 3407 crashes near Buffalo, New York, due to pilot error and inadequate training.
  3. Cockpit Chaos: Qantas Flight 72 experiences a series of sudden and uncommanded pitch-down maneuvers, injuring several passengers and crew members.
  4. Fatal Approach: TAM Airlines Flight 3054 overruns the runway at São Paulo–Congonhas Airport in Brazil due to pilot error and inadequate runway conditions.
  5. Bad Attitude: Trigana Air Service Flight 267 crashes in Indonesia due to pilot error and mountainous terrain.

Season 9

  1. The Plane That Flew Too High: Helios Airways Flight 522 crashes in Greece after the pilots lose consciousness due to a lack of oxygen.
  2. Rogue Landing: Asiana Airlines Flight 214 crashes on final approach to San Francisco International Airport due to pilot error and automation mismanagement.
  3. Deadly Mission: UPS Airlines Flight 6 crashes in Dubai due to a fire caused by lithium batteries.
  4. Impossible Turn: First Air Flight 6560 crashes near Resolute Bay, Canada, due to pilot error and a faulty navigation system.
  5. Terror in the Skies: Delta Air Lines Flight 191 crashes in Dallas, Texas, due to microburst wind shear.

Season 10

  1. Death in the Desert: Atlas Air Flight 3591 crashes near Anahuac, Texas, due to pilot error.
  2. Pacific Plunge: China Airlines Flight 676 crashes near Taipei, Taiwan, due to pilot error and poor weather conditions.
  3. Fatal Transmission: Air Canada Flight 624 crashes upon landing in Halifax, Nova Scotia due to poor weather conditions and pilot error.
  4. Turbulence: American Airlines Flight 587 crashes in Queens, New York, due to pilot error and overreaction to wake turbulence.

Season 11

  1. Vanishing Act: The disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370.
  2. Deadly Descent: Germanwings Flight 9525 crashes in the French Alps after the co-pilot deliberately crashes the plane.
  3. Caught on Camera: AirAsia Flight 8501 crashes into the Java Sea due to pilot error and poor weather conditions.
  4. Borderline Tactics: LAM Mozambique Airlines Flight 470 crashes in Namibia due to pilot suicide.
  5. Etihad Flight 444: Etihad Airways Flight 444 experiences an engine failure shortly after takeoff from Melbourne.

Season 12

  1. Attitude Problem: LaMia Flight 2933 crashes in Colombia after running out of fuel due to poor flight planning.
  2. Runway Runoff: Lion Air Flight 904 crashes into the sea after overrunning the runway in Bali due to pilot error and poor weather conditions.
  3. Code Red: United Airlines Flight 232 suffers a catastrophic engine failure, leading to a partial loss of control.
  4. Kerala Nightmare: Air India Express Flight 1344 crashes while landing at Calicut International Airport due to pilot error and poor weather conditions.
  5. Amsterdam Disaster: Turkish Airlines Flight 1951 crashes on approach to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport due to a faulty radio altimeter.

Season 13

  1. Deadly Crossroads: The Überlingen mid-air collision occurs when a passenger jet and a cargo plane collide over Germany due to air traffic controller error.
  2. Air France 447: Lost at Sea: Air France Flight 447 crashes into the Atlantic Ocean due to pilot error and a lack of understanding of airspeed anomalies.
  3. SAS Flight 751: Scandinavian Airlines Flight 751 crashes shortly after takeoff due to ice ingestion in the engines.
  4. Hudson River Runway: US Airways Flight 1549 lands in the Hudson River after a bird strike causes a dual engine failure.
  5. Japan Airlines 123: Japan Airlines Flight 123 suffers a catastrophic tail section failure due to improper repairs.

Season 14

  1. Saudia 163: Saudia Flight 163 catches fire after landing in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, killing all passengers and crew.
  2. Comair 5191: Comair Flight 5191 crashes on takeoff from Lexington, Kentucky, due to the pilots using the wrong runway.
  3. American 96 & Turkish 981: American Airlines Flight 96 and Turkish Airlines Flight 981 experience cargo door failures due to design flaws.
  4. Aeroflot 593: Aeroflot Flight 593 crashes in Russia after the captain's son inadvertently disengages the autopilot.
  5. China Airlines 140: China Airlines Flight 140 crashes near Nagoya, Japan, due to pilot error and automation mismanagement.

Season 15

  1. Eastern 401: Eastern Air Lines Flight 401 crashes in the Florida Everglades due to the pilots being distracted by a faulty landing gear indicator.
  2. Tenerife: The Tenerife airport disaster occurs when two Boeing 747s collide on the runway.
  3. Malaysia Airlines 370: The disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370.
  4. Southwest 1248: Southwest Airlines Flight 1248 overruns the runway at Chicago Midway International Airport due to poor weather conditions and pilot error.
  5. Avianca 052: Avianca Flight 052 runs out of fuel and crashes on Long Island, New York, due to communication failures between the pilots and air traffic control.

Season 16

  1. Kegworth Air Disaster: British Midland Flight 92 crashes near Kegworth, England, due to pilot error and a misdiagnosis of engine failure.
  2. Air Canada 797: Air Canada Flight 797 catches fire mid-flight, leading to a difficult emergency landing and multiple fatalities.
  3. PSA 182: PSA Flight 182 collides with a Cessna 172 over San Diego, California, resulting in a massive loss of life.
  4. Charkhi Dadri Mid-Air Collision: The Charkhi Dadri mid-air collision occurs when Saudi Arabian Airlines Flight 763 and Kazakhstan Airlines Flight 1907 collide over India due to air traffic controller error.
  5. Aloha 243: Aloha Airlines Flight 243 experiences explosive decompression due to metal fatigue.

Season 17

  1. Atlas Air 3591: Atlas Air Flight 3591 crashes near Anahuac, Texas, due to pilot error.
  2. American Airlines Flight 587: American Airlines Flight 587 crashes in Queens, New York, due to pilot error and overreaction to wake turbulence.
  3. Air France Flight 358: Air France Flight 358 overruns the runway in Toronto due to poor weather and pilot error.
  4. Swissair 111: Swissair Flight 111 crashes off the coast of Nova Scotia due to a fire caused by faulty wiring.
  5. Ethiopian Airlines Flight 961: Ethiopian Airlines Flight 961 is hijacked and crashes into the Indian Ocean after running out of fuel.

Season 18

  1. Aer Lingus 712: Aer Lingus Flight 712 crashes in the Irish Sea due to possible structural failure.
  2. Japan Airlines 516: Japan Airlines Flight 516 collides with a coast guard aircraft on the runway at Haneda Airport, resulting in a fire and multiple fatalities.
  3. Turkish Airlines 6491: Turkish Airlines Flight 6491 crashes near Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, due to pilot error and poor weather conditions.
  4. China Eastern Airlines 5735: China Eastern Airlines Flight 5735 crashes in Teng County, Wuzhou, Guangxi, China, due to unknown reasons, sparking investigation.

Stay Tuned for More!

This list will be continually updated to include new episodes as they air. So, keep checking back to ensure you don't miss any thrilling installments of Mayday! Happy watching, and safe travels!