Ep 13. Impossible Landing

Mayday, also known as Air Disasters, explores aviation accidents and incidents that have occurred throughout history. In season 11 episode 13, titled "Impossible Landing," the show focuses on the story of TransAsia Airways Flight 235, which crashed on February 4, 2015, in Taipei, Taiwan, killing 43 of the 58 people on board.

The episode begins with an explanation of the aircraft involved in the accident, an ATR-72, and the route of the flight from Taipei Songshan Airport to Kinmen Airport. The crew, including the captain, was experienced, and the weather conditions were clear with good visibility. The flight took off normally but soon encountered a problem.

The right engine of the aircraft malfunctioned, and the propeller stopped working. The crew followed standard procedures and attempted to restart the engine, but it didn't work. The left engine was still functioning, but due to the design of the aircraft, it was difficult for the crew to control it with only one engine.

The situation became critical when the aircraft started to roll to the right, causing the captain to lose control. The crew attempted to use the rudder to counteract the roll, but it wasn't enough. As the aircraft began to turn sharply to the right, the crew had to make a split-second decision.

In an attempt to prevent the aircraft from crashing into buildings and densely populated areas, the crew made the decision to attempt an emergency landing in the nearby Keelung River. The captain skillfully guided the airplane onto the water, but it was a hard impact, and the right side of the aircraft broke into pieces. The passengers and crew were quickly evacuated from the sinking aircraft.

The episode delves into the investigation that followed the crash. The cause of the engine failure was determined to be a metal fatigue problem in the gearbox. The investigation also revealed that the crew had not followed proper procedures, including failing to switch off the working engine during the landing attempt.

The show also highlights the heroism of the civilians who witnessed the crash and immediately jumped into the river to rescue the passengers and crew. In total, 15 people were rescued from the water by the rescuers.

The episode concludes with a discussion of the impact of the crash on the aviation industry and the lessons learned from the incident. It emphasizes the importance of proper procedures and regular inspections in ensuring the safety of airline passengers and crew.

Overall, "Impossible Landing" is a gripping and informative episode that sheds light on a tragic aviation accident and the heroism of the responders and rescuers involved. It is a reminder of the importance of safety protocols in the aviation industry and the need for constant vigilance in preventing accidents and incidents from happening.