Mayday Season 12 Episode 9 Air Disasters: Hockey Team Tragedy

On Mayday season 12 episode 9, titled "Air Disasters: Hockey Team Tragedy," viewers are taken on a harrowing journey into the tragic crash of a chartered plane carrying a professional ice hockey team. The episode begins with a panoramic view of the remote destination, Yaroslavl, Russia, where the news of the plane crash shock waves across Russia and Europe.

The Lokomotiv Yaroslavl hockey team, a respected team in the Kontinental Hockey League, were travelling in high spirits to their opening game of the season in Minsk, Belarus, on September 7th, 2011. However, fate had tragedy in store for the team. Just a few minutes after takeoff, the aircraft veers off the runway, crashing into a nearby riverbank before bursting into flames, killing 43 people on board, including members of the hockey team, coaching staff, and journalists.

The Mayday episode presents a full reconstruction of the incident, detailing not only the tragic moments of the crash but also the chain of events that led to it. Advanced computer graphics and experts' testimonies meticulously reconstruct every detail of the event, laying down the facts for viewers to understand.

A major focus of the episode is the investigation that ensued after the crash. The cause of the crash was determined to have been a loss of control from the cockpit crew due to engine failures, which caused violent vibrations and sudden drops in speed. As point of fact, investigators found that the crew had turned off the electronic stability system aboard the aircraft, making the plane much harder to control. But the investigation didn't stop there.

Viewers in this episode will learn that the cause of the engine failure was through human error during the maintenance check prior to the flight. A poorly installed jet fuel control lever was found to have been the major cause of the engine failure which led to the crash.

The episode goes on to show the consequences of the tragedy, not just for the families of those who lost loved ones, but also for the aviation industry and the sports industry worldwide. The Lokomotiv Yaroslavl crash was one of the deadliest disasters in aviation history to involve a sports team, and it raised many questions about the safety procedures in place for passenger air travel. The crash also galvanized the hockey world, with games and tributes being held in honor of the lost team.

Through poignant interviews with the family members of those who lost their lives, footage from the wreckage, and compelling reconstructions of the events leading up to the crash, Mayday's "Air Disasters: Hockey Team Tragedy" leaves viewers with a profound sense of tragedy, but also resilience in the face of loss and the enduring legacy of those who perished. Overall, it is an unforgettable episode for aviation enthusiasts and sports fans alike, one that highlights the importance of safety in air travel and the indomitable human spirit in the face of tragedy.