Mayday Season 7 Episode 5 Target is Destroyed

The Mayday season 7 episode 5 is titled "Target is Destroyed." The episode focuses on the June 3, 1983, crash of Air Canada Flight 797, which made an emergency landing after a passenger reported smoke in the cabin. The DC-9 aircraft was filled with 46 passengers and crew, as well as a cargo of flammable materials. However, the pilots didn't follow the standard emergency procedures and delayed the evacuation.

After the emergency landing, the aircraft was engulfed in flames and thick smoke. While many passengers and crew managed to escape, some did not make it out alive. The investigators found that the fire was caused by a faulty lavatory fan, which sparked due to an electrical malfunction. The episode follows the major events that led to the crash and the investigation that followed.

The episode begins by introducing the Air Canada Flight 797 and its passengers and crew. The flight was scheduled to travel from Dallas, Texas, to Toronto, Canada, with a layover in Montreal. However, things went wrong when a passenger reported smoke in the cabin. The pilots quickly declared an emergency and initiated an emergency landing at the nearest airport.

The episode then focuses on the cockpit voice recorder, which captured the conversations between the pilots and air traffic controllers during the emergency. The investigators found that the pilots deviated from the standard emergency procedures and delayed the evacuation. They tried to troubleshoot and fix the problem before giving the evacuation order. This delay proved costly, as the smoke and flames quickly spread throughout the aircraft.

The episode then shows the harrowing scenes inside the aircraft, as passengers and crew tried to escape from the smoke and flames. Many passengers used the emergency exit doors and slides, while some tried to escape through the emergency rope ladders. However, the thick smoke and intense heat made the evacuation challenging and chaotic. Some passengers panicked and blocked the emergency exits, which slowed down the evacuation further.

The investigators found that the cargo of flammable materials, which included fireworks and paint, caused the fire to spread quickly and intensify. The episode shows the aftermath of the fire, as the aircraft was completely destroyed and many passengers and crew suffered from serious injuries. The crash highlighted the importance of following the standard emergency procedures and evacuating the aircraft as quickly as possible.

The investigation into the crash revealed that the faulty lavatory fan caused the fire. The fan had been recently replaced, but the maintenance crew failed to replace the wire harness properly, which caused an electrical malfunction. The episode shows the meticulous investigation carried out by the authorities to identify the cause of the crash and prevent similar accidents from happening in the future.

The episode ends by highlighting the lessons learned from the crash and the improvements made in the aviation industry to prevent such accidents from happening again. The crash of Air Canada Flight 797 was a wake-up call for the aviation industry, and it led to significant changes in the safety procedures and regulations for commercial aircraft.

In conclusion, the Mayday season 7 episode 5, "Target is Destroyed," is a dramatic retelling of the tragic crash of Air Canada Flight 797. The episode highlights the importance of following the standard emergency procedures and the need for constant vigilance in the aviation industry to prevent such accidents from happening in the future. It's a must-watch for anyone interested in aviation or documentary-style TV shows.