When a Japan Airlines DC-8 lands short of the runway in San Francisco Bay, its captain admits fault with disarming honesty — a statement that later becomes known as the Asoh Defense. Decades later, the U.S. Navy submarine USS Greeneville collides with the Japanese fishing vessel Ehime Maru, and another captain shoulders the weight of guilt. In this episode of The Essence of Safety, we explore how self-blame can obscure the deeper truths behind accidents — and why taking responsibility isn’t always the same as learning from it.

In this episode, we have a special guest: Nuno Aghdassi, an esteemed investigator from GPIAAF, the Portuguese Office for the Prevention and Investigation of Accidents. Aghdassi shares his remarkable journey into the field, reflecting on the evolution of accident investigations over the years. We talk about the initial stages of an investigation and discuss the pros and cons of flight data and ATC recordings being publicly available. From the initial stages of an investigation to navigating the influx of flight and accident data, listeners gain invaluable insights into the intricate process of uncovering the truth behind air disasters. Moreover, Nuno sheds light on the impact of politics and conspiracy theories on investigations, offering compelling perspectives on how these challenges need to be managed.

Listeners are treated to firsthand accounts of the attributes and qualities required of future investigators, providing aspiring professionals with invaluable guidance on joining this vital and rewarding team.

The accident of Rescue 116 is tragic in many ways. On a dark and rainy night, the helicopter and its crew were on a mission to assist in airlifting an injured seaman off a fishing vessel when they collided with terrain. Once again, we go beyond the immediate and obvious reasons for the accident and take a long, hard look at the organisational factors, including the overall safety management. Why wasn't any terrain shown on the crew's maps? Why didn't the EGPWS any warnings? And why was Rescue 116 called out to assist in the first place?