Mayday Season 16 Episode 2 Playing Catch Up

Mayday season 16 episode 2 Playing Catch Up explores an aviation accident that occurred on a flight from Cyprus to Greece. On August 14, 2005, Cypriot Helios Airways Flight 522 lost contact with air traffic control during the final approach to Athens. The Airbus A320 had left Larnaca International Airport earlier that day and was carrying 115 passengers and six crew members.

As the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder were recovered, investigators began to uncover the series of events that led to the tragedy. The flight crew failed to complete their pre-flight checklist, which meant that the pressurization system remained on manual instead of being switched to automatic. This meant that the cabin altitude gradually increased, leading to a loss of consciousness of the crew and passengers.

As the plane flew over Athens, Greek fighter jets were scrambled to intercept Flight 522 when it became clear that something was wrong. The pilots were unresponsive and had slumped over their controls. Despite attempts to signal the cockpit, the fighter pilots couldn't see anyone through the windows.

As the fuel ran out, the airplane entered a steep descent and eventually crashed into the mountains northwest of Athens, killing all 121 people on board. This episode explores the aftermath of the tragedy and the investigation that followed.

The episode features interviews with survivors, eyewitnesses, and aviation experts who analyze the events leading up to the accident. The investigators used data from the black boxes to determine what happened in the cockpit and to analyze the decisions made by the flight crew.

Mayday season 16 episode 2 Playing Catch Up also explores the legal implications of the crash. The families of the victims sued the airline for damages, and a settlement was eventually reached. The case also led to changes in air safety regulations, including more stringent requirements for pilot training and improved cockpit procedures.

Overall, the episode provides a detailed and engaging account of a tragic aviation accident and the investigation that followed. The viewer gains a better understanding of the complex factors that can contribute to such an event and the importance of ongoing safety reforms in the aviation industry.