Episodes

  • The Hammer Attack and the Child Pilot

    The Hammer Attack and the Child Pilot
    Feb 28 2026
    FedEx Flight 705 faced a deliberate hijacking in 1994 when an off-duty employee attacked the crew with hammers and a spear gun in a suicide attempt to crash the plane for insurance. Despite severe injuries, the pilots performed extreme aerial maneuvers to subdue the attacker and land safely.
    In the same year, Aeroflot Flight 593 crashed in Siberia after a pilot allowed his children to sit at the controls. One child’s movements partially disengaged the autopilot, triggering stalls and dives that the crew could not recover from.
    These incidents underscore the critical importance of cockpit security and illustrate how human error can interact dangerously with automated flight systems.


    You can listen and download our episodes for free on more than 10 different platforms:
    https://linktr.ee/Air_Crash_Chronicles

    Produced by Podcai Studio:
    https://www.podcaistudio.com/
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    11 mins
  • Burning Tires and a Cockpit Gunman

    Burning Tires and a Cockpit Gunman
    Feb 27 2026
    Nigeria Airways Flight 2120 crashed in 1991 when underinflated tires ignited during takeoff, causing total hydraulic failure and killing all 261 people on board. Investigators found that maintenance logs had been falsified to conceal shortcuts taken to meet tight schedules.
    In 1987, Pacific Southwest Airlines Flight 1771 ended in tragedy when a disgruntled former employee smuggled a weapon on board, murdered the crew, and intentionally crashed the plane.
    Both incidents show how negligent maintenance and security lapses can lead to catastrophic outcomes, prompting major reforms in aviation safety and industry regulations.


    You can listen and download our episodes for free on more than 10 different platforms:
    https://linktr.ee/Air_Crash_Chronicles

    Produced by Podcai Studio:
    https://www.podcaistudio.com/
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    16 mins
  • Stripped Jack Screws and Silent Engines

    Stripped Jack Screws and Silent Engines
    Feb 26 2026
    Alaska Airlines Flight 261 crashed after a stripped jack screw caused catastrophic control failure, with maintenance negligence and faulty repair procedures contributing to the disaster. The crew perished due to a lack of design redundancy in the aircraft.
    In contrast, Air Transat Flight 236 suffered a ruptured fuel line from maintenance errors, yet the pilots managed a record-breaking emergency glide to safety despite confusing computerized warnings.
    Both incidents highlight how small errors in maintenance can escalate into life-or-death situations, underscoring the need for strict regulation, careful oversight, and the courage to report safety issues.


    You can listen and download our episodes for free on more than 10 different platforms:
    https://linktr.ee/Air_Crash_Chronicles

    Produced by Podcai Studio:
    https://www.podcaistudio.com/
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    16 mins
  • Runaway Freight

    Runaway Freight
    Feb 25 2026
    In 1989, a runaway freight train in San Bernardino destroyed a neighborhood after inaccurate weight calculations and insufficient braking power caused it to derail. The disaster was worsened weeks later when a damaged pipeline exploded during cleanup.
    Aeroflot Flight 593 crashed in Siberia after the pilot allowed his teenage son to handle the controls. A partial autopilot disconnection went unnoticed, triggering an unrecoverable stall that killed everyone on board.
    Both tragedies show how small errors and unfamiliar technology can combine to produce catastrophic loss of life.


    You can listen and download our episodes for free on more than 10 different platforms:
    https://linktr.ee/Air_Crash_Chronicles

    Produced by Podcai Studio:
    https://www.podcaistudio.com/
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    14 mins
  • Wrestling a 747 and Linate's Blind Collision

    Wrestling a 747 and Linate's Blind Collision
    Feb 24 2026
    A Boeing 747 experienced a critical rudder malfunction over the Bering Sea, but the crew’s expert manual flying and teamwork allowed everyone on board to survive.
    In contrast, a deadly runway collision at Milan’s Linate Airport between an MD-87 and a Cessna during heavy fog killed 118 people. Poor signage, deactivated safety alarms, and the absence of ground radar contributed to the disaster.
    These cases contrast a successful emergency recovery with a preventable tragedy caused by organizational failures.


    You can listen and download our episodes for free on more than 10 different platforms:
    https://linktr.ee/Air_Crash_Chronicles

    Produced by Podcai Studio:
    https://www.podcaistudio.com/
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    17 mins
  • Munich’s Slush and a Rogue 747 Rudder

    Munich’s Slush and a Rogue 747 Rudder
    Feb 23 2026
    The 1958 Munich air disaster destroyed much of the Manchester United football team when the plane failed to take off. While early reports blamed wing icing, later investigations revealed runway slush as the true cause, and the pilot spent years clearing his name.
    Northwest Airlines Flight 85 faced a critical rudder hardover above the Bering Sea. The crew’s expert cockpit management and manual flying skills allowed them to safely land the aircraft despite the severe mechanical failure.
    Both cases highlight the importance of pilot skill, integrity, and persistence in ensuring safety and advancing air accident investigations.


    You can listen and download our episodes for free on more than 10 different platforms:
    https://linktr.ee/Air_Crash_Chronicles

    Produced by Podcai Studio:
    https://www.podcaistudio.com/
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    16 mins
  • A Snapped Propeller and a Fatal Typo

    A Snapped Propeller and a Fatal Typo
    Feb 22 2026
    ASA Flight 529 crashed in Georgia after a corroded propeller blade snapped mid-flight, damaging the engine and forcing a violent crash landing.
    American Airlines Flight 965 flew into a Colombian mountain due to navigational errors and miscommunications with air traffic control.
    Both incidents underscore the heroic efforts of survivors and the critical importance of strict maintenance protocols and clear cockpit communication in preventing aviation disasters.


    You can listen and download our episodes for free on more than 10 different platforms:
    https://linktr.ee/Air_Crash_Chronicles

    Produced by Podcai Studio:
    https://www.podcaistudio.com/
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    14 mins
  • The Sucked-Out Captain and Snapped Propeller

    The Sucked-Out Captain and Snapped Propeller
    Feb 21 2026
    A British Airways flight suffered a windscreen blowout that partially ejected the captain from the cockpit, but quick crew action saved his life. The incident was traced to a maintenance error using incorrectly sized bolts.
    An Atlantic Southeast Airlines plane crashed after a fractured propeller blade severely damaged the engine and wing. The pilots managed a crash landing in a field, but a post-impact fire caused multiple fatalities and serious injuries.
    Both cases highlight the vital importance of strict inspection protocols and the intense physical and psychological impact of aviation disasters.


    You can listen and download our episodes for free on more than 10 different platforms:
    https://linktr.ee/Air_Crash_Chronicles

    Produced by Podcai Studio:
    https://www.podcaistudio.com/
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    15 mins