Storyline

In this special season of Air Crash Investigation, every episode examines multiple aviation disasters that prove to have similarities including; engines that separated from their aircrafts mid-flight, mismatched pilot pairings that led to deadly crashes, and improvised landings with tragic consequences.

First Aired

2018-07-09
Last Aired

2024-08-12
Creator
Genre

Documentary, Reality
Seasons

6
Episodes

56
Status

Returning Series
Language

English
Network

National Geographic

Keywords:

plane air crash

Stream and watch Air Crash Investigation: Special Report

Season 1

Season 2

Season 3

Season 4

Season 5

Season 6

1. Communication Breakdown

Some of the deadliest air crashes in history have been caused by simple misunderstandings, and it's a ...More

Some of the deadliest air crashes in history have been caused by simple misunderstandings, and it's a tiny error in the cockpit that brought tragedy to Quincy Airport in Illinois. Meanwhile, a minor mistake, a non-standard approach, and heavy smoke add up to a tragic misunderstanding that cost the lives of everyone on board Garuda Indonesia Flight 152. And, however disastrous, never has a misunderstanding taken as devastating a turn as on the island of Tenerife and the single deadliest aviation accident of all time.Less

44mins 2018-07-09

2. Bad Attitude

On every flight, passengers place their lives in the hands of their captain whose human flaws are enou...More

On every flight, passengers place their lives in the hands of their captain whose human flaws are enough to bring down an aircraft. When BEA Flight 548 crashes just moments after takeoff, investigators unravel a tragic combination of human factors centered around the captain. Meanwhile, a captain's belligerence paralyzes the first officer on Northwest Airlink Flight 5719. And, it's the captain's hidden flaw that proves fatal for everyone on board Trans Colorado Flight 2286.Less

44mins 2018-07-16

3. Hero Pilots

It takes years of training to become an airline captain, but it's when a crisis strikes that a pilot r...More

It takes years of training to become an airline captain, but it's when a crisis strikes that a pilot really earns his stripes. An airliner is crippled after takeoff from New York's LaGuardia Airport, and the courageous captain pulls off an amphibious landing in the Hudson River. A catastrophic failure strikes high above the Canadian Prairies turning a Boeing 767 into a very large and very heavy glider. And, when the engines of TACA Flight 110 flame out in a violent storm, its captain pulls off one of the most remarkable landings in the history of commercial aviation.Less

44mins 2018-07-23

4. Plane Versus Pilot

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44mins 2018-07-30

5. Explosive Evidence

In 1985, an Air India flight vanishes off the coast of Ireland. The rescue mission discovers that the ...More

In 1985, an Air India flight vanishes off the coast of Ireland. The rescue mission discovers that the crew had no warning before the jet was ripped apart. Investigators are alerted to a bag checked in without the passenger boarding. Another explosion on the same day at Tokyos Airport is soon linked to this incident. The bomb builder is traced and sent to jail but the person who checked the bag onto the plane has never been caught.Less

44mins 2018-08-06

6. Killer in the Cockpit?

Compared to the number of suicides in the general population, suicidal pilots are almost statistically...More

Compared to the number of suicides in the general population, suicidal pilots are almost statistically non-existent. But when they do emerge from obscurity to unleash their horrific plans on innocent passengers, the destruction they inflict is epic. A 737 cruising above an Indonesian jungle suddenly plummets from the sky. An Airbus A-320 crashes into the French Alps. And, Malaysian Airlines Flight 370 vanishes over the South China Sea, and remains one of the greatest aviation mysteries of all time.Less

44mins 2018-08-13

7. Missing Pieces

Three horrifying accidents capture the world's attention, and in order to solve these deadly mysteries...More

Three horrifying accidents capture the world's attention, and in order to solve these deadly mysteries, hero investigators are pushed to the limit to uncover the hidden clues. A commercial jet plunges into the Florida Everglades and investigators face one of the most hazardous scenes imaginable. When a Boeing 777 crash lands at Heathrow Airport, investigators can't find anything wrong with the aircraft. And, a devastating crash shatters a Scottish village becoming the largest crime scene in the world.Less

44mins 2018-08-20

8. Controversial Crashes

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44mins 2018-08-27

9. Deadly Distractions

In 1981, the Federal Aviation Administration established the sterile cockpit rule requiring pilots to ...More

In 1981, the Federal Aviation Administration established the sterile cockpit rule requiring pilots to refrain from non-essential activities during critical phases of flight. When this rule is broken, the resulting distraction can be deadly. Passengers fight for their lives inside a burning plane at Dallas Fort Worth Airport. A brand new L-1011 crashes in a remote swamp in the Florida Everglades. And, during a demonstration flight, a brand new Russian Superjet slams into a mountain south of Jakarta.Less

44mins 2018-09-03

10. Fire On Board

One of aviation's worst nightmares, a fire on board can have disastrous consequences. And though these...More

One of aviation's worst nightmares, a fire on board can have disastrous consequences. And though these epic tragedies have exacted a terrible human cost, they've also helped lead the way towards significantly safer skies. In Manchester, a holiday flight bound for the Mediterranean faces an inferno on the runway. In the skies over Saudi Arabia, a flight ful of pilgrims is consumed by flames. And, after a UPS cargo plane crashes in Dubai, investigators discover a tiny battery with outsize implications.Less