Ep 7. Bad Attitude

On Mayday season 11, episode 7, titled "Bad Attitude", viewers are taken through the dramatic and harrowing events surrounding a horrifying crash between two planes in the Swiss Alps. The incident takes place on January 19, 2000, when a Russian-made Tu-154 passenger plane collides with a DHL cargo plane above Überlingen, Germany. The result was one of the deadliest aviation disasters in modern history, as all 71 passengers and crew members on both planes perish in the collision.

The episode opens with a brief introduction to the two planes involved, both of which had taken off from their respective airports earlier that day and were flying over Europe at cruising altitude. The Tu-154 was carrying mostly Russian passengers travelling from Moscow to their final destination in Spain, while the DHL plane was en route from Bahrain to Brussels, carrying mostly electronic goods. As the planes approached each other over Switzerland, the unthinkable happened: they collided in mid-air, resulting in a catastrophic crash.

From there, the episode recounts the devastating aftermath of the crash as rescue crews and aviation experts tried to piece together what had happened. There were no survivors, leaving investigators to rely on the wreckage and the black boxes recovered from both planes to determine the cause of the collision.

Over the course of the episode, viewers are given a complete and comprehensive look at the investigation process and the various factors that contributed to the accident. The narrative is driven by interviews with aviation experts, investigators, and family members of the victims, each providing their own perspective on what happened and how best to prevent similar tragedies in the future.

One of the main themes explored in "Bad Attitude" is the issue of air traffic control. Many argue that the collision was the direct result of an overworked and understaffed air traffic control system that failed to properly distinguish between the two planes and keep them at safe distances from each other. The episode delves into the specifics of this system, highlighting some of the critical flaws and weaknesses that left planes vulnerable to mid-air collisions.

Another key issue that the show examines is the phenomenon of "crew resource management" and how it may have played a role in the crash. Crew resource management is a set of skills and techniques that pilots and other aviation personnel use to navigate stressful and high-pressure situations, such as a plane crash. Experts argue that the pilots of the Tu-154 were under a tremendous amount of stress and may have been suffering from "automation addiction", relying too heavily on the plane's autopilot system and failing to notice the approaching DHL plane before it was too late.

Ultimately, "Bad Attitude" is a gripping and deeply informative episode that sheds light on one of the deadliest aviation disasters in modern times. Through expert analysis and first-person accounts, viewers gain a full understanding of the events that led to the crash and the lessons that can be learned from it. Fans of aviation drama and those interested in understanding the complexities of air travel and safety will find plenty to enjoy and contemplate in this episode of Mayday.