Ep 1. Wounded Bird

Wounded Bird is the first episode of the second season of the documentary series Mayday. The episode focuses on the crash of Atlantic Southeast Airlines Flight 529, which occurred on August 21, 1995, in Carroll County, Georgia.

The flight was scheduled to travel from Atlanta, Georgia to Gulfport, Mississippi, with 29 passengers and four crew members on board. However, just minutes after takeoff, the plane suffered a catastrophic failure of its left engine.

The episode examines the events leading up to the crash, including the maintenance procedures and inspection protocols that were in place for the aircraft. It also looks at the response of the flight crew to the engine failure, as well as the efforts of the first responders who were called to the scene.

One of the key features of the episode is the use of both reenactments and interviews with those who were directly involved in the crash. The producers have gone to great lengths to recreate many of the key moments from the accident, using both actors and real-life participants to give viewers a sense of what it was like to be on the flight or responding to the crash.

The episode also features expert analysis from a range of aviation and accident investigators, who examine the accident to try and determine what went wrong. This includes examining debris recovered from the crash site, reviewing the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder, and conducting a thorough examination of the aircraft's maintenance records.

Throughout the episode, viewers get a sense of the incredible chaos and confusion that erupted in the moments after the engine failure. The flight crew is shown struggling to maintain control of the plane, all while trying to communicate with air traffic control and figure out what their options are.

Meanwhile, first responders on the ground are racing to the scene, trying to get a sense of the scale of the disaster they are about to confront. Many of these individuals are interviewed for the episode, and viewers get a sense of the incredible bravery and determination that they displayed in the aftermath of the crash.

Overall, Wounded Bird is a gripping and emotionally charged episode that provides a detailed and vivid account of one of the most harrowing aviation disasters in recent memory. With a mix of expert analysis, real-life interviews, and dramatic reenactments, it provides a comprehensive picture of what happened, as well as a deep sense of the human toll that the crash had on those involved.