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TV14HDAir Disasters1hSmithsonian Channel

Three last-resort water landings, all handled differently yet each one crucial to improving the outcomes of ditching on open water.

Three last-resort water landings, all handled differently yet each one crucial to improving the outcomes of ditching on open water.

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Air Disasters

S18, EP24 "Who's Flying the Plane?"

A look at accidents and incidents where problems with the interface between crew members and onboard avionics are a factor, and the causes of those problems.

Air Disasters

S20, EP17 "Death From Above"

Midair tragedies are particularly horrifying when they occur over a community, and rain terror on the people below.

Air Disasters

S10, EP10 "Afghan Nightmare"

When a cargo plane crashes at a U.S. airfield in Afghanistan, investigators reach a conclusion that ultimately proves incorrect.

Air Disasters

S8, EP9 "No Clear Options"

When a commuter turboprop plane crashes at an Irish airport, investigators uncover a startling gap in aviation safety.

Air Disasters

S24, EP5 "Eleven Deadly Seconds"

Solving the crash of China Airlines Flight 676 hinges on 11 baffling seconds when neither pilot controls the airplane.

Air Disasters

S24, EP4 "Without Warning"

Two float planes collide midair near an Alaskan waterfall. One shatters; the other crash-lands intact. With no warning before impact, investigators use wreckage clues and 3D tech to uncover how-and why-the deadly crash occurred.

Air Disasters

S24, EP3 "Deadly Departure"

After a DC-8 cargo plane with only three working engines crashes on takeoff in Kansas City, investigators uncover a flaw in the pilots' training.

Air Disasters

S24, EP2 "Disaster At Dutch Harbor"

While landing at a notoriously tricky Alaskan island airport, the pilots of a twin turboprop can't stop their plane.

Statistically, traveling by airplane is safer than driving and other forms of transportation, but when something goes wrong during a flight, it can be catastrophic with potentially hundreds of lives at stake. This series examines some of the world's worst air disasters, using official reports, transcripts and interviews with people involved to tell the stories of midair mishaps and discover what went wrong in each case. Episodes include a discussion of how the weather affects flights -- including stories of aviation disasters and near-misses -- and a New Year's Eve flight that fell from the sky into the Florida Everglades.
Starring: Brad Borbridge, David Guthrie, Frank Nakashima, Jean-Michel Le Gal, Jeff Sinasac, Jim Annan, Jimi Shlag, Johnathan Sousa, Jonathan Aris, Kevin Bundy, Kordo Doski, Oliver Dawson, Peter Pasyk, Steven Gallagher, Tre Smith
Original Air Date: May 15, 2011
Genres: DocuseriesTV Series
Rating: TV14
Playback: HD
22 seasons available on demand
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Air Disasters

Statistically, traveling by airplane is safer than driving and other forms of transportation, but when something goes wrong during a flight, it can be catastrophic with potentially hundreds of lives at stake. This series examines some of the world's worst air disasters, using official reports, transcripts and interviews with people involved to tell the stories of midair mishaps and discover what went wrong in each case. Episodes include a discussion of how the weather affects flights -- including stories of aviation disasters and near-misses -- and a New Year's Eve flight that fell from the sky into the Florida Everglades.

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