Air Disasters
Season 25
“The disaster is only the beginning of the story.”
Created by: André Barro, Bernard Vaillot
Network: Smithsonian Channel
Season aired: 2026-03-08
Seasons
Overview
Catastrophic incidents in aviation history are meticulously reenacted, providing insight into what went wrong and if the crashes and near-disasters could have been prevented. Accounts from survivors combine with cockpit recordings and computer images to weave the gripping tales, and expert testimony reveals the hows and whys behind the events, some of which have resulted in important changes to aviation safety and regulations.
Episodes · 6
Pacific Ditching
Just after takeoff from Honolulu, TransAir Flight 810 loses power and ditches in the Pacific. Both pilots survive, blaming dual engine failure—but when the Boeing 737 is recovered, the wreckage reveals a different cause behind the crash.
