Mayday Season 16 Episode 6 Meltdown Over Kathmandu

On May 12, 2012, flight DHL575 crashed into the outskirts of Kathmandu, Nepal, just seconds after takeoff. All three crew members on board died in the crash, which left investigators with countless questions about what went wrong. In Season 16, Episode 6 of Mayday, entitled "Meltdown Over Kathmandu," viewers are taken on a harrowing journey as aviation experts piece together the events leading up to the disaster. Through interviews with survivors, family members, and investigators, this episode offers an in-depth look at the factors that contributed to the crash.

We learn that DHL575 was a cargo flight flying from the Nepalese capital of Kathmandu to the Bangladeshi capital of Dhaka. The weather was clear, and the Boeing 757-200F took off without issue. However, something went wrong just moments later. The plane began to climb steeply and bank hard to the left, climbing to an altitude of over 4,000 feet before crashing into a riverbed just outside the airport.

As investigators combed through the wreckage, they discovered that there were several factors that may have contributed to the crash. One of the main issues was the plane's weight. The cargo hold was filled to capacity, and the plane was carrying more than 17 tons of cargo. This put a significant amount of stress on the plane, and may have contributed to the loss of control.

Another potential factor was the plane's location. Kathmandu's airport is located in a valley surrounded by mountainous terrain. This makes takeoff and landing incredibly challenging, as pilots have to navigate through narrow passes and deal with rapidly changing winds. In the case of DHL575, it's possible that the pilot simply didn't have enough room to recover from the climb and turn he initiated after takeoff.

Further complicating matters was the fact that the plane was flying at night. This made it more difficult for the crew to navigate through the challenging terrain, and may have contributed to their loss of situational awareness.

As the investigation progressed, investigators focused on one particular component of the plane: the elevator control system. This system is responsible for controlling the plane's pitch, and it was discovered that the system had malfunctioned just prior to the crash. Specifically, the plane's elevators - which control the angle of the tail - had become stuck in an upward position. This would have made it incredibly difficult for the pilot to bring the plane back down to a safe altitude, and may have contributed to the loss of control.

Despite these challenges, the investigators were able to piece together the events leading up to the crash with remarkable accuracy. Through computer simulations and interviews with survivors and witnesses, they were able to paint a vivid picture of what happened on that fateful night. This episode of Mayday offers a powerful look at the challenges of aviation, and the incredible efforts of those who work tirelessly to make air travel safer for everyone.