America's stories told by the Smithsonian

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From delusional hijackers to suicidal pilots, three flights fall victim to astonishing acts of sabotage.

Air Disasters

Sabotage

Three planes fall prey to deadly winds, and it is up to investigators to find out why.

Dangerous Winds

The crews of three doomed aircraft make catastrophic blunders.

Poor Piloting

America has so many stories to tell. And nobody brings them to your home like Smithsonian Channel.

Smithsonian Channel HD

With hidden flaws buried in their navigation systems, three planes suffer catastrophic computer errors that force investigators to dig deep for clues.

Deadly Data

Pilots are prepared to cope with a range of emergency scenarios, but failures in training can lead to catastrophe in the cockpit.

Trained to Fail

From corrosion and metal fatigue to faulty repairs, three doomed airlines are brought down by gradually deteriorating parts.

Ticking Time Bomb

In a rush to complete their flights, three different flight crews skip key procedures, ignore signs of danger and make deadly decisions.

Time Critical

Mistaken identity and hostile fire over enemy territory are among the many risks that pilots face in war zones around the world.

Time of War

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Statistically, traveling by airplane is safer than driving and other forms of transportation, but when something goes wrong during a flight, it can be catastrophic with potentially hundreds of lives at stake. This series examines some of the world's worst air disasters, using official reports, transcripts and interviews with people involved to tell the stories of midair mishaps and discover what went wrong in each case. Episodes include a discussion of how the weather affects flights -- including stories of aviation disasters and near-misses -- and a New Year's Eve flight that fell from the sky into the Florida Everglades.

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From pilot error to meltdowns within air traffic control, investigators dig deep into three mid-air collisions that seem to defy logic.

Accidents in the Air