Air Crash Investigations

AIR CRASH INVESTIGATIONS:

9:30pm (PG)

This week on AIR CRASH INVESTIGATIONS, January 10, 1954 and one the world's first passenger jets, the de Havilland DH-106 Comet-1 took off from Rome. The plane was the ultimate in passenger luxury, but 26 minutes into the flight it exploded catastrophically killing 35. Then months later, another Comet crashed in the same way. A team of investigators must find out why this state-of-the-art aircraft had a habit of breaking up in the air. What was the fatal flaw?

In early 1954, De Havilland is at the forefront of commercial aviation, introducing the first passenger jet airliner to the world. On 10 January, 1954, a flight takes off in Rome at 10:31 AM to finish the last leg of its international journey, carrying children returning home for the school term, a famous BBC reporter and others travelling to Britain.

Approximately 30 minutes later, the plane disappears from radar at high altitude and crashes into the Mediterranean Sea. Authorities confirm that all 35 passengers and crew have died, and post-mortem examinations show unusual injuries to many victims.

AIR CRASH INVESTIGATIONS:

9:30pm (PG)

This week on AIR CRASH INVESTIGATIONS, two months after 9/11, American Airlines Flight 587 slams into a residential area of New York City - home to many already deeply affected by the terrorist attacks. Initially, terrorism was suspected. But what really caused this horrific disaster? The answer rocked the commercial aviation industry.

With the world still coming to terms with the 9/11 terror attacks, New York city was again put on terror alert when on November 12 2001, American Airlines Flight 587 crashed into Rockaway in Queens, New York, shortly after takeoff from JFK Airport.

All 260 people aboard the plane and five people on the ground were killed, and the plane was destroyed by impact forces and a post-crash fire.

Was this terrorism again? Or a fault? Or could it have been pilot error? The answer rocked the commercial aviation industry.

AIR CRASH INVESTIGATIONS:

9:30pm (PG)

This week on AIR CRASH INVESTIGATIONS, blizzard conditions in Washington, D.C. delay departure of a passenger plane for nearly two hours. Finally, the 737 takes off—and crashes instantly into the icy Potomac River, killing 78. What caused the tragedy? Was it terrorism? Ice? Pilot error?

On 13 January 1982, Air Florida Flight 90 left Ronald Reagan National Airport in Washington DC for Miami with 79 passengers and crew on board.

The Boeing 737-200 is delayed for hours by bad conditions, and only seconds after getting airborne it crashes into the icy Potomac river.

Only five survivors were pulled out alive and 79 - including four motorists – lost their lives. What went wrong?

PLEASE NOTE: This episode screens in Sydney and Brisbane only. Other markets check local guide for details.

AIR CRASH INVESTIGATIONS

8:30pm (PG)

Tonight’s episode of AIR CRASH INVESTIGATIONS takes us back to February 19, 1985, when a series of small mistakes causes a 747 passenger jet to fall 30,000 feet (10 kms) in just two minutes. Could a lack of sleep be behind the near disaster of China Airlines flight 006?

China Airlines Flight 006 is less than 500 kms from Los Angeles when disaster strikes. A series of small problems – beginning with the failure of the jet’s fourth engine – snowballs into an all-out emergency.

The plane stalls, and begins tumbling toward the Pacific Ocean. As it twists and turns, the strong G-forces make the ride hellish for the crew and passengers who are crushed to their seats. The wings buckle, the doors to the landing gear are ripped off and crash into the tail. Precious hydraulic fuel – essential for landing – is lost. The wild spinning motion – and the thick clouds – mean the crew can’t tell up from down.

AIR CRASH INVESTIGATIONS:‘Out Of Sight’

8:30pm (PG)

Tonight’s episode of AIR CRASH INVESTIGATIONS takes us back to August 31, 1986. Two planes collide in mid-air and crash into a quiet Los Angeles suburb. There are more than 80 victims in the air and on the ground. Findings reveal a series of disturbing facts about congested airports. The accident set in motion many changes, notably the way planes are monitored by the controllers on the ground and by each other.

A calm Labour Day weekend is shattered by a devastating tragedy. A Los Angeles neighbourhood is destroyed and more than 80 lives are lost when two planes fall from the sky.

An Aeromexico DC 9 is preparing to land at Los Angeles International Airport – one of the busiest in the world – when it collides with a much smaller plane, a Piper PA-28 Cherokee. The Cherokee slices off the tail of the DC 9, causing it to spiral out of control and crash. The smaller plane also crashes into the quiet suburb. The devastation is horrifying, all onboard perish and five homes are destroyed. The entire area is ablaze.

AIR CRASH INVESTIGATIONS:
Episode 2, ‘Hidden Danger – US Airlines’
Wednesday June 6
8:30pm (PG)

In tonight’s episode of AIR CRASH INVESTIGATIONS, ‘HIDDEN DANGER – US AIRLINES’, two 737 planes crash within several years of each other. The similarities are striking but investigators are stumped. It takes a third near miss, for investigators to get the break they need and crack the case.

In 1991, moments from landing, United Airlines 585 starts spinning out of control and falls out of the sky at 450 kilometers per hour. Everyone on board is killed. In ten violent seconds, the crash site has become one of the most mysterious air disasters in aviation history.

Almost two years after the crash, the NTSB had studied the crew, the weather, the rudder, and thousands of other pieces of evidence – but they can’t solve the mystery. For only the fourth time in its history, the NTSB release a report stating the cause of the crash of flight 585 was undetermined.

AIR CRASH INVESTIGATIONS:
‘Motorway Plane Crash’
Wednesday May 30
8:30pm (PG)

**SERIES RETURN – ALL NEW EPISODES**

A Boeing 737-400's engine fails shortly after take-off on a routine flight. The flight diverts to a nearby airport, but something goes wrong and the plane crashes into a busy freeway, killing 47 people. What went so wrong? Find out in tonight’s episode of AIR CRASH INVESTIGATIONS, ‘Motorway Plane Crash’.

A short, routine flight takes off from London's Heathrow airport heading to Belfast in Northern Ireland on January 8, 1989. The Boeing 737-400 is equipped with the latest cutting-edge technology. On board are 6 flight attendants, 2 crew and 118 passengers.

Shortly after take-off an engine fails, lighting up the night sky with sparks and flames. The captain reassures the cabin that everything is under control and the crew prepares to divert to a nearby airport. But something has gone tragically wrong in the cockpit.

In a terrifying conclusion, this British Midlands Flight 092 struggles to reach the runway and crashes into a busy freeway, killing 47 people. What went wrong? Investigators are shocked to discover that basic human error is to blame.

AIR CRASH INVESTIGATIONS: ‘Sioux City Crash’
Wednesday April 13
7:30pm (PG)

**PREMIERE**

United Airlines flight 232 experiences catastrophic engine failure and plunges towards the runway at Sioux City, Iowa, at speeds three times normal. In a dramatic emergency landing, it cartwheels into a field, breaks apart and explodes. Find out what was happening in the cockpit, how many passengers survived, and why it happened in tonight’s episode of AIR CRASH INVESTIGATIONS.

On July 19, 1989, United Airlines flight 232, a DC10-10 experiences a catastrophic failure on its number two tail mounted engine during the flight. The tail engine's fan disc splits. It severs all the hydraulic lines. The plane becomes uncontrollable.

A flying instructor heads to the cockpit and offers his assistance. Together they manage to wrestle the plane to the ground but the plane starts plunging towards the runway at Sioux City, Iowa, U.S at speeds almost three times the normal rate.

AIR CRASH INVESTIGATIONS
‘Miracle Escape - Air France 358’
Wednesday March 28
7:30pm (PG)

**PREMIERE**

On tonight’s episode of AIR CRASH INVESTIGATIONS, ‘MIRACLE ESCAPE – AIR FRANCE 358’. In August 2005 an Air France A340 with 299 passengers attempts to land in Toronto during a severe lightning storm. Passengers' initial relief on touching down turns to terror as the plane overshoots the runway and bursts into flames near a busy freeway.

Investigators go on to determine whether the plane, pilots or inadequate storm warnings are to blame for the accident.

AIR CRASH INVESTIGATIONS examines history's most shocking air disasters to reveal the gripping human stories behind each tragedy. Through real life footage, dramatic re-enactments and eyewitness accounts, get into the cabins of routine flights that turned into nightmares.