Ep 1. Cockpit Failure

Mayday - Air Disasters is a documentary series that focuses on air crashes and incidents. In season 1 episode 1, named Cockpit Failure, experts analyze the disappearance of a Cessna Citation II private jet en route to Monterrey, Mexico, from Houston, Texas.

The episode begins with the anxious family members who are waiting for their loved ones to arrive but do not hear any news about their flight. The air traffic controllers on duty also begin to worry as they do not have any contact with the aircraft. After a few attempts to reach the plane, the air traffic control alerts the authorities and triggers a search operation.

The search party looks in various areas used by the aircraft, and eventually, they receive a ‘ping’ signal from the beacon in the airplane’s black box. With this information, the search party narrows down the search area, but the terrain is challenging. It is mountainous and heavily forested, which makes it difficult for the rescue team to locate the crashed plane.

The investigators finally find the wreckage of the crashed plane, and they notice that the cockpit looks messed up. They send the black box to a laboratory to retrieve the data and analyze the cause of the crash. The cockpit voice recorder (CVR) reveals that one of the pilots was not qualified to fly, and he was not following the protocol.

The investigation team argues that the captain should have been more cautious and assertive as he was the person in command. The airplane malfunctioned in the middle of a flight, but the pilot did not follow the correct procedure during the emergency landing. The pilot’s lack of knowledge and expertise aggravated the situation, resulting in the crash.

The experts further analyze the events leading to the crash, such as the communication between the passengers and the pilot, and the flight’s control system. The aircraft’s radar system was not working correctly, which led to the lack of information on the position of the plane. Additionally, the weather conditions at the time of the crash were also unfavorable as there was poor visibility.

The episode provides detailed animations to explain the technical aspects of the crash and how they might have occurred. The explanations are accompanied by interviews with pilots, crash investigators, and other aviation experts. The experts give their insights on how the crash could have been avoided and the procedures that should have been followed.

Mayday - Air Disasters season 1 episode 1, Cockpit Failure, is a gripping and educational episode for aviation enthusiasts and anyone interested in air crash investigations. It provides an insightful look into the factors that can lead to an aircraft crash and the subsequent investigation involved. The episode is a reminder of why protocols are essential in air travel and why they should be followed strictly.