Air Disasters Season 18 Episode 22 Ripped Apart
- March 12, 2023
- 44 min
Air Disasters is a TV show that explores disastrous plane crashes and investigates their causes. In season 18 episode 22, titled "Ripped Apart," we delve into one of the deadliest aviation disasters in history. The episode descends into the harrowing account of a fatal accident that occurred on November 12, 1996.
The deadly crash took place in the Himalayan mountain range in India. The flight was en route from New Delhi to Kathmandu when it crashed into a mountainside, killing all 189 passengers and crew members on board. The episode begins with an eerie reenactment of the accident, where we see the plane plunge into the snowy mountains and explode on impact.
The viewers are then taken back to the investigation's beginning when the authorities received a distress call from the flight's captain just seconds before the crash. The investigators have a few clues to work with, including the aircraft's black box, which survived the impact. However, the black box is badly damaged, and it takes the investigators months to extract any meaningful information from it.
As the investigation progresses, the authorities discover that the pilots were navigating through a dense cloud cover and turbulence. This made visibility challenging, and the pilots had to rely on their instruments to fly the plane. The investigators soon realize that there was a critical error in the plane's computer system that caused it to malfunction. This error created incorrect readings on the pilots' instruments, and they became disoriented.
With incorrect readings being displayed, the pilots believed that the plane was ascending, but in reality, they were rapidly descending towards the mountain. The plane had just moments before crashing into the mountainside, and the frantic pilots had no time to react to the impending disaster.
The episode then goes on to explore the complex mechanics of the plane's computer system and the steps that the authorities took to prevent such an accident from happening again. We see interviews with aviation experts who delve into the intricacies of the technology and highlight the potential dangers that can occur when things go wrong. They underline the importance of proper maintenance and checks to ensure that everything is working correctly.
The investigation reveals that the accident could have been prevented with proper training and procedures. The pilots were neither trained nor aware of the possibility that the computer system could malfunction and display incorrect information. This oversight ultimately led to a tragic loss of life.
The episode continues to explore the lives of the victims, their families, and the impact this tragedy had on them. It also highlights the humanitarian efforts that the Indian Government took to support the victim's families' grieving process.
In conclusion, Air Disasters' season 18 episode 22 "Ripped Apart" is an in-depth investigation into a horrific aviation disaster. The episode takes the viewers on a journey as they explore the crash's causes, the technicalities of the plane's computer system, and the steps authorities took to prevent a similar catastrophe from occurring again. The episode highlights the necessity for proper maintenance, checks, and training in the aviation industry. It is a deeply moving episode that honors the memory of the victims and their families.