Mayday - Air Disasters Season 12 Episode 6 Grand Canyon Disaster

On this episode of Mayday - Air Disasters, season 12 episode 6, viewers will be taken back to the year 1956 when a United Airlines DC-7 collided with a Trans World Airlines Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation over the Grand Canyon. This tragic event, which occurred on June 30, 1956, was one of the deadliest air disasters in history, with a total of 128 passengers and crew on both planes losing their lives.

The show presents a detailed account of the fatal accident, the events leading up to it, the incredible rescue mission that followed, and the resulting changes in the aviation industry that aimed to prevent such tragedies from happening again.

The episode begins by introducing the two aircraft, United Flight 718 and TWA Flight 2, as they embark on their separate journeys across the skies of the United States. We learn about the pilots and crews on board and the passengers they are responsible for. As both planes enter the Grand Canyon, the unthinkable happens - they collide in mid-air. The show then explores the events leading up to the collision, shedding light on the different factors that led to the tragic event.

Through interviews with aviation experts, crash investigators, family members of those involved in the accident, and survivors, viewers get a glimpse into the chaotic aftermath of the collision, where rescue teams had to navigate the rugged terrain of the Grand Canyon to reach the crash sites. We see the rescue effort, the horror of discovering the extent of the devastation and the difficult job of identifying the victims.

The episode also delves into the investigation that followed the disaster, which sought to determine the cause of the collision and to prevent it from happening again. The investigators undertook a comprehensive analysis of the accident, looking at all aspects of the flight, from weather conditions, to air traffic control procedures, to pilot error. We see how their findings resulted in the implementation of numerous safety measures that have transformed the aviation industry into one of the safest modes of transportation in the world.

Mayday - Air Disasters season 12 episode 6 - Grand Canyon Disaster is an emotional, gripping and informative episode that examines the events of one of the deadliest air disasters in history. It presents a thorough and detailed account of the happenings that surrounded the collision, the challenges that were faced during the rescue mission and the sweeping changes that resulted in safer flying conditions for all. This is an episode that is equal parts informative and moving, and is a must-watch for anyone interested in aviation history.