Best Airdisasters Podcasts (2026)

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Take to the Sky Episode 150: Japan Air Lines Flight 123 1:11:59

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2+ y ago1:11:59

1:11:59

On August 12, 1985, more than 500 passengers boarded Japan Air Lines Flight 123 for a short flight between Tokyo and Osaka. 12 minutes into the flight, passengers found themselves fearing for their lives as the flight crew fought desperately to save a plane that was suddenly uncontrollable. In this week's episode of Take to the Sky: the Air Disaste…

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Take to the Sky Episode 149: The 1977 Tenerife Airport Disaster 1:17:53

2+ y ago1:17:53

1:17:53

It was the deadliest disaster of all time – and it never should have happened. In our next-to-final regular episode of Take to the Sky: The Air Disaster Podcast, Shelly walks us through the fateful events of March 27, 1977, that led to two 747 passenger planes, Pan Am 1736 and KLM 4508, being on the same runway at the same time - and how aviation s…

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Take to the Sky Episode 148: Air Canada Flight 143 - The Gimli Glider 1:14:11

2+ y ago1:14:11

1:14:11

July 23, 1983 should have been just another day in the skies for Captain Bob Pearson and First Officer Maurice Quintal, but a series of miscommunications and mechanicals issues caught up with them and their brand-new Boeing 767 once they reached their cruising altitude. In this week's episode of Take to the Sky: The Air Disaster Podcast, we talk ab…

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Take to the Sky Episode 147: Air France 4590 and the Story of the Concorde 1:04:10

2+ y ago1:04:10

1:04:10

Whenever Concorde took off, it was a mesmerizing spectacle. But on July 25, 2000, when an Air France Concorde took the skies, it did so with flames trailing behind it. Join Shelly for this episode of Take to the Sky: The Air Disaster Podcast where she shares the story of the only deadly Concorde disaster and how it led to the downfall of the entire…

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Take to the Sky Episode 146: 1960 New York Mid-Air Collision 1:06:09

2+ y ago1:06:09

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On a quiet December morning in 1960, the streets of New York city turned from festive cheer to chaos when an aviation disaster played out in the skies above. In this week's episode of Take to the Sky: the Air Disaster Podcast, Stephanie shares the story of two planes headed to two different airports and the tragic chain of events that brought them …

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Take to the Sky Episode 145: Santa Barbara Airlines 518 1:04:43

2+ y ago1:04:43

1:04:43

Anyone onboard Santa Barbara Airlines Flight 518 on February 21, 2008 would have been taking in the gorgeous views of the Andes as the plane began to climb. But soon, as the mountain tops got closer and closer, some may have started to worry if the plane was flying too low. Join Shelly in this episode of Take to the Sky: The Air Disaster Podcast fo…

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Take to the Sky Episode 144: ExecuFlight 1526 1:18:35

2+ y ago1:18:35

1:18:35

As seven co-workers prepared for the final leg of a whirlwind business trip, they had no idea that they were about to spend the most dangerous 30 minutes imaginable on a luxury private jet. In this week's episode of Take to the Sky: the Air Disaster podcast, join Stephanie as she shares the shocking events that lead to what the NTSB called a "litan…

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Take to the Sky Episode 143: Southern Airways Flight 932 - We Are Marshall 1:11:41

2+ y ago1:11:41

1:11:41

When friends and family said their goodbyes and bid farewell to the 75 Marshall University football players, coaches, and fans as they boarded Southern Airways Flight 932, they didn't know that was the last time they would see them alive. Join Shelly in our latest episode of Take to the Sky: The Air Disaster Podcast for the story of a school and a …

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Take to the Sky Episode 142: Delta Air Lines Flight 191 1:05:36

2+ y ago1:05:36

1:05:36

Delta Air Lines Flight 191 should have been a routine trip from Ft. Lauderdale to Dallas Fort Worth, but instead it found a tragic and industry-changing place in aviation history. In this week's episode of Take to the Sky: The Air Disaster Podcast, Stephanie shares some of the incredible ways this flight made flight safer for all of us and how the …

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Take to the Sky Episode 141: LANSA Flight 508 and Sole Survivor Juliane Koepcke 1:08:28

3y ago1:08:28

1:08:28

When seventeen-year-old Juliane Koepcke and her mother, Maria, decided to fly back home on Christmas Eve 1971, they never expected just how fateful that decision was. What happened next was so unbelievable, so against all the odds, it would become the source of studies, documentaries, and one amazing autobiography. In this latest episode of Take to…

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Take to the Sky Episode 140: Varig Flight 254 1:12:42

3y ago1:12:42

1:12:42

For passengers on the final leg of Varig Flight 254, they couldn't land in Belém, Brazil soon enough; their trip began moments after kickoff for an important football match, and everyone was anxious to know whether Brazil would win and advance to the 1990 World Cup. In this week's episode of Take to the Sky: The Air Disaster Podcast, Stephanie tell…

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Take to the Sky Episode 139: Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 1:08:12

3y ago1:08:12

1:08:12

When passengers boarded Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 on the morning of January 8, 2020, they never knew they would be flying through airspace that was on high alert. And when an explosion brings down Flight 752, killing everyone onboard, the international community demands answers. Join Shelly as she explores the complicated Iranian AA…

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Take to the Sky Episode 138: Northwest Orient Airlines Flight 2501 and D.B. Cooper 1:13:22

3y ago1:13:22

1:13:22

In aviation, there are few people as well-known as the infamous D.B. Cooper, who has shocked, captivated, and confused investigators and the public since he vanished from the back of a 737 on November 24, 1971. In this week's episode of Take to the Sky: the Air Disaster Podcast, Stephanie tells the story of Northwest Orient Airlines Flight 305, whi…

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Take to the Sky Episode 137: The Überlingen Midair Disaster 1:10:41

3y ago1:10:41

1:10:41

No one could have imagined how a field trip of a lifetime for 54 children could turn into a nightmare within just minutes. But when two planes collided on July 2, 2002, in the night sky over the small town of Überlingen, Germany, the disaster forever changed the families of the lost children and led to the redesign of an important onboard safety sy…

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Take to the Sky Episode 136: Bhoja Air Flight 213 1:14:42

3y ago1:14:42

1:14:42

A threatening storm system and one pilot's drive to touch down at his intended destination created a recipe for disaster on April 20, 2012, when Bhoja Air Flight 213 began its descent into Islamabad Pakistan. In this episode of Take to the Sky: the Air Disaster Podcast, Stephanie shares the many layers to a tragedy that started long before Flight 2…

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Take to the Sky Episode 135: Turkish Airlines Flight 1951 58:11

3y ago58:11

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On February 25, 2009, everything was going according to plan for the flight crew and passengers of Turkish Airlines Flight 1951 - until it wasn't. While descending toward the runway at Schipol Airport, the plane begins falling from the sky. Join Shelly in this episode of Take to the Sky: The Air Disaster Podcast as she explains what happened to a p…

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Take to the Sky Episode 134: EgyptAir Flight 804 1:02:38

3y ago1:02:38

1:02:38

In aviation, the most dangerous part of any flight is statistically the first few minutes and the last few minutes, when flight crews have less time to react to problems that may arise. In this week's episode of Take to the Sky: The Air Disaster Podcast, join Stephanie as she tells the story of EgyptAir Flight 804, which encountered a startling iss…

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Take to the Sky Episode 133: The Kobe Bryant Helicopter Crash 1:06:36

3y ago1:06:36

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The morning of Janaury 26, 2020 forever changed the world of sports when the devastating news emerged that basketball legend Kobe Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter Gianna, and seven others had been killed in a helicopter crash. In this week's episode of Take to the Sky: The Air Disaster Podcast, Shelly takes us back through the investigation that un…

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Take to the Sky Episode 132: Carmel Mid-Air Collision 1:01:30

3y ago1:01:30

1:01:30

On December 4, 1965, fear and panic erupted in the skies above Carmel, New York when TWA Flight 42 and Eastern Airlines Flight 853 collided. In this week's episode of Take to the Sky: the Air Disaster Podcast, Stephanie tells the story of two planes with incredible flight crews who shared a single goal: get their planes back to the ground below as …

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Take to the Sky Episode 131: Eastern Airlines Flight 212 58:53

3y ago58:53

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It should have been just another landing. But when the pilots of Eastern Airlines Flight 212 have trouble locating a landmark on their final approach to the airport on September 11, 1974, things suddenly go from routine to disastrous. Join Shelly in this episode of Take to the Sky: The Air Disaster Podcast as she tells the story of how this acciden…

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Take to the Sky Bonus Episode: 2022 Podcast Year in Review 49:25

3y ago49:25

49:25

It's hard to believe we're already heading into another calendar year! In this episode of Take to the Sky: the Air Disaster Podcast, Shelly and Stephanie recap another year of telling air disaster stories and learning about their legacies. Wondering which stories were our favorites? We'll tell you which episodes were the most memorable, made us the…

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Take to the Sky Episode 130: Allegheny Airlines Flight 736 1:07:08

3y ago1:07:08

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41 passengers boarded Allegheny Airlines Flight 736 on a cold and snowy December 24, 1968, and none of them were prepared for the dramatic and life-threatening way their flight would end. In this week's episode of Take to the Sky: the Air Disaster podcast, Stephanie tells the story of how this flight- and another crash with surprising similarities-…

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Take to the Sky Episode 129: Continental Express Flight 2574 55:28

3y ago55:28

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When Continental Express 2574 breaks up in the sky over Eagle Lake, Texas, on September 11, 1991, no one could imagine what brought down the plane. In this latest episode, Shelly walks us through the tragic plight of Flight 2574 and the divisive investigation that uncovered an unexpected point of error – and shed light on systemic problems in aircr…

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Take to the Sky Episode 128: United Airlines Flight 585 1:03:15

3y ago1:03:15

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On March 3, 1991, it took just 9 seconds for a flight to change from tranquil to terrifying-- and it took 10 years to know why. In this week's episode of Take to the Sky, the Air Disaster Podcast, Stephanie shares a story that challenged NTSB investigators and defied resolution until two other incidents shed light on what might have gone wrong for …

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Take to the Sky Episode 127: West Caribbean Airways Flight 708 1:04:03

3y ago1:04:03

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When West Caribbean Airways Flight 708 suddenly disappears from radar on August 16, 2005, no one can imagine why an advanced MD-82 aircraft could simply fall out of the sky and crash. And when investigators learn of the pilots' distress call claiming both engines had flamed out, that only deepens the mystery. Join Shelly for this episode of Take to…

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Take to the Sky Episode 126: Pan Am Flight 7 1:04:31

3y ago1:04:31

1:04:31

When one of the most luxurious planes in the world missed their scheduled position check, not everyone was worried at first-- but it wasn't not long before the world realized the aircraft wasn't going to make its intended arrival. In this week's episode of Take to the Sky: the Air Disaster Podcast, Stephanie tells the story of Pan Am Flight 7 and t…

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Take to the Sky Episode 125: Air Inter Flight 148 1:07:54

3y ago1:07:54

1:07:54

Air Inter Flight 148 disappears from radar on the night of January 20, 1992. Questions immediately form around how a brand-new Airbus A320 could have been lost without warning. But when the plane is found crashed in the Vosges mountains, investigators will scrutinize the airplane design to understand what happened. Join Shelly as she walks through …

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Take to the Sky Episode 124: Wapiti Aviation Flight 402 1:09:37

3y ago1:09:37

1:09:37

On an especially dark, cold night, one pilot and nine passengers flew off toward northern Canada with plans to land at a few airports- but their plane didn't land at any of them. In this week's episode of Take to the Sky: the Air Disaster Podcast, Stephanie shares the numerous layers of a complex story that questions what it means to prioritize hum…

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Take to the Sky Episode 123: Ramstein Air Show Disaster 1:05:52

3y ago1:05:52

1:05:52

August 28, 1988 was a beautiful day for watching planes in the sky and on the ground at the Flugtag '88 Air Show held at the US Air Base in Ramstein, Germany. Three hundred thousand spectators couldn't wait to watch Italy's aerobatic team, Fecce Tricolori, and their ten jets fly in a death-defying formation. In our latest episode of Take to the Sky…

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Take to the Sky Episode 122: 1996 Air Africa Crash 1:03:10

3y ago1:03:10

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January 8, 1996 was by all accounts a very normal day for the people of Kinshasa in Zaire, now known as the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Normalcy was shattered when the city found itself in the throws of one of the world's most shocking and devastating air disasters. In this week's episode of Take to the Sky: The Air Disaster Podcast, Stephani…

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Take to the Sky Episode 121: Aeroflot Flight 593 1:03:23

3y ago1:03:23

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Many children who fly for the first time have dreamed of meeting the pilots of their flight. And sometimes, while a plane still sits on the ground, a pilot may even invite youngsters into the cockpit for a quick tour or photo. But on March 22, 1994, when a pilot opens the cockpit to visitors while inflight, things go from celebratory to disastrous …

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Take to the Sky Episode 120: Braniff Airways Flight 250 1:13:53

3+ y ago1:13:53

1:13:53

Stormy skies throughout the USA's Midwest on August 6, 1966 had pilots on alert, and a storm cell led to mixed reports from dispatchers on the ground and flight crews in the air. This week, join Stephanie for the story of Braniff Airways Flight 250, which rocked the aviation industry and the community of Falls City, Nebraska when the aircraft encou…

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Take to the Sky Episode 119: Itavia Flight 870 1:07:31

3+ y ago1:07:31

1:07:31

On the evening of June 27, 1980, Itavia Flight 870, with 81 people onboard, crashed into the Tyrrhenian Sea near Sicily. In the preceding decades, Itavia 870 became known for its complicated investigations that took twists and turns, a public that pointed to conspiracies, a judiciary that alleged coverups, and conclusions that divided investigators…

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Take to the Sky Episode 118: TACA Flight 110 1:10:07

3+ y ago1:10:07

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On May 24, 1988, TACA Flight 110 was preparing to make an ordinary landing in some less-than-desirable weather-- and that's when a normal flight turned into a terrifying attempt to make a safe landing. Join Stephanie for this week's episode of Take to the Sky: The Air Disaster Podcast as we discuss an incredible story and a memorable legacy that av…

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Take to the Sky Episode 117: The Hawley and Lundy Family Plane Crash 1:13:36

3+ y ago1:13:36

1:13:36

When friends Jens Lundy and pilot Jim Hawley decided to rent a plane and take their fathers on a once-in-alifetime fishing trip to Loreto, Mexico, they never thought that disaster would strike. After the plane's single engine fails, the four men face something that few others have ever survived: they will need to ditch the plane in a thrashing ocea…

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Take to the Sky Episode 116: Northwest Orient Airlines Flight 2501 1:15:34

3+ y ago1:15:34

1:15:34

There are many mysteries in the world around us, and the world of aviation has its fair share of incidents with open questions and dead ends. In this week's episode of Take to the Sky: the Air Disaster Podcast, we take a look at one of the USA's most shocking and least-understood air disasters: Northwest Orient Airlines Flight 2501. Join Stephanie …

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Take to the Sky Episode 115: Trigana Air Flight 267 53:55

3+ y ago53:55

53:55

When the AFIS officer on duty has trouble calling up the overdue arrival of Trigana Air Flight 267 on August 16, 2015, no one, at first, was worried. But the mystery only deepens once the plane is found - but west of the regular approach path. In episode 115 of Take to the Sky: The Air Disaster Podcast, join Shelly as she shares the troubling path …

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Take to the Sky Episode 114: Avianca Flight 52 1:14:26

3+ y ago1:14:26

1:14:26

As Avianca Flight 52 prepared for landing, a series of traffic-related delays kept their aircraft circling above JFK Airport longer than expected. Although the crew was prepared for bad weather and a wait before they could land, they weren't prepared for what came next-- and neither were the passengers onboard. Join Stephanie as she shares a story …

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Take to the Sky Episode 113: Continental Airlines Flight 603 1:07:49

3+ y ago1:07:49

1:07:49

Shortly after takeoff on March 1, 1978, the flight crew of Continental Airlines Flight 603 hears a loud boom and knows instantly what that sound means: it is no longer safe to takeoff, and instead, the takeoff will be rejected. But now, the plane won't stop. Join Shelly for this incredible episode of Take to the Sky: The Air Disaster Podcast as we …

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Take to the Sky Episode 112: Stockport Air Disaster 1:04:54

3+ y ago1:04:54

1:04:54

As the United Kingdom came into view below British Midland Flight 542, passengers onboard were excited to reunited with friends and family again-- and the flight crew was baffled by the sudden failure of an engine that, in turn, rendered the plane uncontrollable. In this week's episode of Take to the Sky: the Air Disaster Podcast, Stephanie shares …

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Take to the Sky Episode 111: Crossair Flight 3597 1:03:33

3+ y ago1:03:33

1:03:33

On November 24, 2001, as winter weather conditions worsened, the pilots of Crossair Flight 3597 struggled to visually locate the airport runway on final approach to Zurich. And when faced with a crucial decision to continue or abandon the approach, the captain chooses to keep going. In our latest episode of Take to the Sky: The Air Disaster Podcast…

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Take to the Sky Episode 110: Aloha Airlines Flight 243 1:16:11

3+ y ago1:16:11

1:16:11

Flying through the skies above Hawaii, a quick trip between islands turned into a terrifying brush with death when a piece of the plane's fuselage ripped off in midair. In this week's episode of Take to the Sky: The Air Disaster Podcast, join Stephanie as she shares how one flight crew found themselves facing the unthinkable-- and how aviation hist…

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Take to the Sky Episode 109: DHL Baghdad Attempted Takedown 1:10:39

3+ y ago1:10:39

1:10:39

When the two pilots and flight engineer of a civilian DHL A300 cargo plane took off from Baghdad International Airport on November 22, 2003, they were rocked by what came next. Within minutes, the plane's left wing is struck by a blast, and now the flight crew is faced with an impending catastrophe. Join Shelly as she walks us through the gripping …

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Take to the Sky Episode Episode 108: Eastern Air Lines Flight 401 1:03:28

3+ y ago1:03:28

1:03:28

Safe air travel is the responsibility of everyone on board, and no one takes safety more seriously than flight crews. When the flight crew on Eastern Air Lines 401 noticed a possible issue with their aircraft, they immediately went into troubleshooting mode to ensure the problem could be fixed. In this week's episode of Take to the Sky: The Air Dis…

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Take to the Sky Episode 107: Ethiopian Airlines Flight 409 1:06:48

3+ y ago1:06:48

1:06:48

Everything was normal for the takeoff of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 409 on January 25, 2010 as it departed Beirut, Lebanon, for Addis Abbaba, Ethiopia. But what happens in the cockpit of Flight 409 over the next four plus minutes will confuse and divide aviation experts for years to come. Join Shelly in this episode of Take to the Sky: The Air Disas…

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Take to the Sky Episode 106: Flying Tiger Flight 923 Part 2 1:08:49

3+ y ago1:08:49

1:08:49

After losing three engines and plummeting toward the North Atlantic Ocean, the worst was yet to come for the passengers and crew of Flying Tiger 923. Join Stephanie for the second part of this truly incredible story! Don't miss a single legacy: join our Patreon for exclusive air disaster stories, layover episodes, and surprises! Visit our website a…

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Take to the Sky Episode 106: Flying Tiger Flight 923 Part 1 1:05:45

3+ y ago1:05:45

1:05:45

More than a few passengers were nervous about their flight on September 23, 1962, but as Flying Tiger Flight 923 took off from Gander, Newfoundland, no one knew that just a few hours into their transatlantic journey every single person's life would hang in the balance between threatening storm clouds above and the unforgiving ocean below. In Part 1…

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Take to the Sky Episode 105: The Mato Grosso Midair Collision 1:11:02

3+ y ago1:11:02

1:11:02

September 29, 2006 was supposed to be a celebratory flight for the 2 flight crew and 5 passengers onboard an ExcelAire private Legacy 600 business jet. But everything changed in a moment when the plane suffers serious damage, and it soon emerges that this jet may have collided with a Boeing 737 Gol passenger jet carrying 154 people. Join Shelly in …

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Take to the Sky Episode 104: Chalk's Ocean Airways Flight 101 1:09:02

3+ y ago1:09:02

1:09:02

There are many ways to experience air travel, and for 18 passengers onboard Chalk's Ocean Airways Flight 101, their trip from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida to Bimini, Bahamas was a quick but exciting journey on a seaplane. Less than a minute after takeoff, thrill turned to terror for the passengers and crew. In this week's episode of Take to the Sky: the…

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Take to the Sky Episode 103: TransAsia Airways Flight 235 1:04:24

3+ y ago1:04:24

1:04:24

On February 4, 2015, a taxi's dash cam caught the unimaginable on video: the image of a turbo prop passenger plane summersaulting into the Keelung River in Taipei, Taiwan. Join Shelly in this episode of Take to the Sky: The Air Disaster Podcast for this tragic story as we discuss the shocking investigation that uncovered why this tragedy never shou…