America's stories told by the Smithsonian

SMITHSONIAN CHANNEL HD

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

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

Watch TV Networks, Shows and Movies | DIRECTV

The latest movies and must watch shows!

Tune in this Friday & Saturday at 9/8c on REELZ.

Watch It Welcome to Derry on the HBO Max app, included with an HBO Max subscription.

Data/messaging rates may apply for app download/usage. HBO Max subscription required.

Welcome to your ultimate entertainment destination. Watch new episodes of Jeremy Renner in the new season of Mayor of Kingstown and more all in one network.

Watch exclusive originals like the new psychological thriller The Institute and Hollywood hit movies.

MGM+ is a trademark of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Lion Corp. All copyrights, trademarks, and other intellectual property or proprietary rights are the property of their respective owners.

Watch visionary original series like Power Book IV: Force, Outlander: Blood of My Blood, BMF, The Couple Next Door and much more.

Watch Hollywood hits like Civil War and behind-the-scenes exclusives when you add CINEMAX to your current DIRECTV package.

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.