Mayday Season 16 Episode 5 Cabin Catastrophe

In this episode of Mayday, titled Cabin Catastrophe, viewers are taken on a chilling ride as they witness the tragic events that led to one of the worst aviation disasters in recent history. The story centers around TransAsia Flight 235, which took off from Taipei, Taiwan, on February 4th, 2015, with 58 passengers and crew on board.

At first, everything seems to be going smoothly as the pilots navigate their way through the cloud cover. But just a few minutes into the flight, something goes terribly wrong. The right engine of the ATR 72-600 airplane suddenly stops working, causing the plane to veer sharply to the left. The pilots try to regain control of the aircraft, but their efforts are unsuccessful.

As the plane continues to descend towards the densely populated city below, the crew is forced to make a split-second decision. The captain, who has only been flying the ATR for a few months, tells his co-pilot to re-start the other engine in an attempt to keep the plane in the air. However, the co-pilot accidentally shuts off the working engine instead of the faulty one, causing the plane to lose all power and crash into the Keelung River.

Miraculously, a handful of passengers survive the impact and manage to escape from the rapidly sinking plane. But for most of the people on board, it is a tragedy that hits home. With footage from security cameras, recordings of the pilots' conversations, and interviews with aviation experts, the episode shares an in-depth account of the events that led to this devastating accident.

Viewers will learn about the challenges that ATR planes face in inclement weather conditions, particularly in terms of their engines. Experts weigh in on the importance of proper training and how the co-pilot's lack of experience flying the ATR may have contributed to the disaster. Additionally, the episode explores how factors such as pilot fatigue and communication breakdowns can play a role in aviation accidents.

Overall, Mayday season 16 episode 5, Cabin Catastrophe, is a gripping and emotional account of a tragedy that should never have happened. The episode not only sheds light on the specific causes of the TransAsia Flight 235 crash, but it also raises important questions about air travel safety as a whole. It is a must-watch episode for anyone interested in aviation or concerned about the potential risks of flying.