America's stories told by the Smithsonian

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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.

Air Disasters

Accidents in the Air

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

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

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

Ticking Time Bomb