Ep 7. A Wounded Bird

A Wounded Bird is the seventh episode of the first season of Mayday. This episode of the popular air crash investigation show explores the tragic crash of Flight 1771. This flight was headed from LA to San Francisco on December 7, 1987, when it crashed into a remote hillside. All 43 people on board were killed.

The episode begins by introducing us to Captain Dave Burke, a seasoned pilot who had been with the airline for over a decade. Burke was flying the plane that day and had a reputation as a tough but fair captain. He was just a few months away from retirement and was looking forward to spending time with his family.

The show then introduces us to David Niles, a former employee of the airline who was fired for stealing from the company. Niles was also involved in a bitter custody battle with his former girlfriend, who worked for the same airline. Niles had left threatening messages on her voicemail, and it was clear that he was deeply disturbed.

When Niles arrived at the airport on the day of the crash, he had a handgun in his bag. The show explores the various security measures in place at the time and how they failed to catch the gun.

The flight took off from LA and things seemed to be going smoothly until about 20 minutes into the flight. A piercing noise could be heard on the cockpit voice recorder (CVR), followed by the sounds of a struggle. The CVR also picked up Niles' voice saying, "let go of me, let go of me." Shortly after, the CVR stopped recording.

The show then delves into the extensive investigation that followed the crash. The wreckage was spread out over a large area, making it difficult to piece together what happened. The investigation team eventually found evidence of a gunshot, which confirmed that Niles had taken the gun out of his bag and shot both the pilot and co-pilot before crashing the plane.

The investigation team also discovered that Niles had researched the airline's flight schedules and had selected Flight 1771 for its short duration. They also found evidence that Niles had fraudulently obtained a ticket for the flight, which highlighted flaws in the airline's security measures.

The episode ends on a somber note as family members of the victims speak about their loved ones and the impact the crash had on their lives. The investigation team also reflects on the lessons learned from the crash and how they could prevent something like this from happening again.

Overall, A Wounded Bird is a compelling episode of Mayday that explores the tragic crash of Flight 1771. The show weaves together eyewitness accounts, interviews with investigators, and dramatic reconstructions to tell the story of what happened that day. The episode also raises important questions about airline security and the need for stricter measures to prevent incidents like this from happening again.