Mayday Season 4 Episode 4 Final Approach

On this episode of Mayday, Season 4, titled "Final Approach," viewers will be taken through the events leading up to a tragic aviation disaster. The episode follows the story of Continental Airlines Flight 1404 from Denver to Houston on December 20, 2008.

The flight was scheduled to depart at 6:57 p.m. but was delayed by 45 minutes. Upon takeoff, the pilots noticed that something was off with the aircraft. They heard a loud noise coming from the plane's left side. They decided to abort takeoff but it was too late. The plane ran off the runway, crashed through a perimeter fence and skidded to a stop on a snowy plain.

At the time of the crash, there were 115 passengers and crew members aboard the plane. Miraculously, there were no fatalities, but there were several injuries, with some passengers requiring hospitalization.

The investigation into the cause of the crash reveals that the accident was primarily caused by the malfunction of the plane's engine thrust reverser. But as the story unfolds, it is clear that there are other factors at play as well. The extreme weather conditions that the aircraft faced, coupled with the mistakes made by the pilots, contributed to a perfect storm that led to disaster.

As the episode progresses, viewers will also see how the airline's management responded to the incident. Continental Airlines took full responsibility for the crash and worked closely with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) to investigate the incident. The airline also offered assistance to those who were injured and made sure that their medical expenses were fully covered.

"Final Approach" is an emotionally charged episode that captures the sense of confusion and ultimately the triumph of survival displayed by the passengers and crew of Continental Airlines Flight 1404. The episode reveals how the aerospace industry is constantly searching for ways to enhance aviation safety and how teamwork between airlines, aircraft manufacturers, and investigators is essential to achieve this goal. Overall, it is a compelling and informative episode that gives viewers an insight into the complex and interdependent world of aviation safety.