Ep 10. Slam Dunk

In Air Disasters season 13 episode 10 "Slam Dunk," viewers are taken back to 2001 when a Siberia Airlines flight collides with a Ukrainian cargo plane at cruising altitude. All 78 passengers and crew on board the Russian airliner perish, while the cargo plane's crew miraculously survive. This tragic incident is one of the deadliest mid-air collisions in aviation history and sparks the question of how two planes could collide while flying in opposite directions.

As investigators begin their hunt for answers, they soon discover that a combination of human error and outdated technology played major roles in the crash. The Russian airliner's pilots had relied on an old system of air traffic control that didn't provide the necessary warnings of the approaching cargo plane. Furthermore, the controller tasked with keeping the planes separated was overwhelmed with too many flights and didn't have the time to dedicate to ensuring the two planes stayed clear of each other.

The episode also delves into the challenge of piecing together evidence from the wreckage, which was scattered across a vast area of Siberia. Investigators must sift through hours of cockpit voice recordings and radar data to determine exactly what happened in the moments leading up to the collision. They also explore whether language barriers between the Russian and Ukrainian crews contributed to the confusion and ultimately led to the tragedy.

Through interviews with experts and dramatic reenactments, viewers get an inside look at the painstaking work that goes into investigating an air disaster. The episode also offers important lessons for the aviation industry, highlighting the need for improvements in technology and communication systems to prevent similar accidents from happening in the future.

Overall, "Slam Dunk" is a gripping and informative episode that showcases how a chain of errors can lead to a catastrophic event. It's a tragic reminder of the risks inherent in air travel and the importance of constantly striving to improve safety measures.