Air Disasters Season 6 Episode 10 Ocean Landing
- TV-14
- March 6, 2016
- 45 min
-
8.1 (134)
On this episode of Air Disasters, we follow the investigative team that delves deep into the mysterious incident that claims the lives of countless passengers and crew members. The episode is titled 'Ocean Landing' and it focuses on one of the most dramatic and terrifying mishaps in aviation history.
The story starts with a TransAsia Airways Flight 222 which takes off from Kaohsiung International Airport in Taiwan. The flight is destined for Magong Airport and is carrying 58 people including crew members and passengers. However, things take an unexpected turn as the flight develops mechanical issues mid-air. The pilots report that the plane has lost contact with the GPS and is experiencing a significant drop in altitude. The team on the ground tries their best to communicate with the pilots and offer any possible assistance.
The pilot attempts an emergency landing in the middle of a typhoon and ends up ditching the plane in the ocean. The incident results in numerous casualties and injuries. The passengers and crew are left fighting for their lives as rescue teams scramble to reach the crash site in the middle of a raging storm.
The episode shows the air traffic controller receiving reports of a sudden drop in altitude from Flight 222 before it loses contact altogether. The investigative team maps out the events leading up to the crash and gathers testimonies from the passengers and crew members' families.
As the investigators delve into the episode, they uncover that the crash was a result of several factors that contributed, rather than one single cause. Among the factors was the turbulent weather, which included high winds, low visibility, and heavy rain. However, the weather was not the only contributing factor.
The team discovers that there were issues with the navigational systems of the plane, mainly the GPS systems. The pilots had been trained to fly without GPS, but when it failed, they were at a significant disadvantage in navigating their way to safety. Additionally, the pilot's instrument rating status had recently been downgraded, rendering him unable to fly during poor visibility conditions.
The investigators use state-of-the-art technology to simulate the crash to understand how the GPS and instrument failures may have affected the pilot's decision making. The reenactment also sheds light on how the crew could have tackled the situation differently to avoid a catastrophic accident.
As the episode unfolds, the investigators piece together a comprehensive picture of what happened on Flight 222, highlighting the critical role that weather conditions, technological failures, and human errors played in the accident. The episode culminates with the findings of the investigation and subsequent safety recommendations to prevent future accidents, making it one of the most thrilling and thought-provoking episodes of Air Disasters so far.
In conclusion, Ocean Landing is a gripping tale that showcases the importance of aviation safety and highlights the importance of thorough investigations after plane crashes. The episode is a must-watch for aviation aficionados, investigative journalists, and anyone passionate about understanding the complex dynamics of airline crashes.