Mayday Season 3 Episode 7 Death and Denial

On May 11, 1996, a ValuJet Flight 592 carrying 105 passengers and crew crashed into the Everglades shortly after takeoff from Miami, Florida. The episode "Death and Denial" from Season 3 of Mayday examines the tragic events leading up to the devastating crash, as well as the aftermath and the complex investigation that followed.

The episode begins by introducing the background of ValuJet, a low-cost airline based in Atlanta, Georgia that acquired AirTran Airways in 1997. The company's business model relied on keeping costs low by outsourcing maintenance work and leasing older planes, which, as the episode will reveal, played a key role in the deadly flight.

On the day of the crash, passengers and crew boarded ValuJet Flight 592, which was scheduled to fly from Miami to Atlanta. Shortly after takeoff, however, the plane's cockpit voice recorder captured a loud bang followed by the sound of a fire alarm. Despite the sudden emergency, the pilots were unable to communicate with air traffic control, and within minutes, the plane went down in a remote corner of the Everglades.

As the episode progresses, it delves into the painstaking investigation that followed the crash. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) led the effort to determine what had caused the plane to crash, and their initial findings were troubling. They quickly discovered that the plane carried hazardous materials, specifically oxygen generators, in the cargo hold. The generators were designed to provide oxygen in case of an emergency, but they were not properly packaged or labeled and were likely responsible for the fire that had caused the crash.

The episode also explores the role of ValuJet's corporate culture in the disaster. The airline's rapid expansion had led to a lack of oversight and questionable practices, such as outsourcing maintenance work to unqualified contractors and ignoring warning signs of safety concerns. Additionally, the episode highlights the challenges faced by the surviving family members as they struggled to come to terms with the loss of their loved ones while grappling with the airline's denial of responsibility.

Throughout "Death and Denial," interviews with family members, survivors, and aviation experts provide insight into the tragedy. The episode also includes reenactments and archival footage of the crash and its aftermath, painting a vivid picture of the chaos and confusion of those involved.

In the end, "Death and Denial" serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of proper safety regulations and oversight in the aviation industry. By revealing the systemic failures that led to the ValuJet Flight 592 crash, the episode underscores the need for ongoing vigilance and accountability to prevent similar disasters in the future.