PickFlick
Air Disasters

Air Disasters

The disaster is only the beginning of the story.

122011•45m•8.2/10
Documentary

Ratings

🎬TMDb
8.2/10(16)

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.

Open in PickFlick

Language

EN

Status

Returning Series

First Aired

May 15, 2011

Last Aired

February 15, 2026

Networks

Smithsonian Channel

Created By

André Barro, Bernard Vaillot

Where to Watch
Region US · Lang EN
US
No providers available for this region.
Seasons & Episodes
Select a season to view episodes. Reddit links may contain spoilers.
Season
Invisible Killer
E1
Invisible Killer
Air date: 2011-05-15
A landing goes wrong when Delta Airlines Flight 191 is hit by an invisible force.
Gimli Glider
E2
Gimli Glider
Air date: 2011-05-22
A pilot heads for a decommissioned air force base when the 767 he is flying runs out of fuel.
Behind Closed Doors
E3
Behind Closed Doors
Air date: 2011-05-29
A flaw on the infamous DC-10 airline causing two midair crashes in the early 70's.
Fanning the Flames
E4
Fanning the Flames
Air date: 2011-06-05
A recovery operation is launched to find out if a 747 was carrying illegal weapons.
Dead Weight
E5
Dead Weight
Air date: 2011-06-12
Just after take-off, Air Midwest Flight 5481 plummets to the ground, killing all on board.
Southern Storm
E6
Southern Storm
Air date: 2011-06-26
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.
Explosive Evidence
E7
Explosive Evidence
Air date: 2011-07-10
Air India Flight 182 crashes into the sea after an explosion. Was it a tragic accident or an act of terrorism?
Mixed Signals
E8
Mixed Signals
Air date: 2011-07-17
Conflicting alarms confuse pilots of Birgenair Flight 301 before it crashes into the ocean.
Fatal Distraction
E9
Fatal Distraction
Air date: 2011-07-24
Pilots try to determine why both landing-gear lights do not function on an L-1011.
Phantom Strike
E10
Phantom Strike
Air date: 2011-07-31
A Legacy business jet collides with a Boeing 737 in mid-air over the Amazon Rain Forest.

Cast

Stephen Bogaert

Stephen Bogaert

Narrator

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