With less than an hour before landing, South African Airways Flight 295 seemed prepared for a safe arrivial after a 10-hour flight from Taiwai to Mauritius. Instead, the sound of the onboard smoke detector signaled a terrifying end to an otherwise uneventful flight. Join Stephanie in this episode of Take to the Sky: The Air Disaster Podcast as she shares the story of a challenging and expensive investigation that found more questions than it did answers and left many people wondering if the trut...
Feb 03, 2022•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 92
Seven minutes after takeoff, United Airlines Flight 629 explodes in the sky. In this episode of Take to the Sky: The Air Disaster Podcast, Shelly walks us through the investigation that followed, which soon takes a chilling turn. And when the cause of the explosion is finally revealed, investigators and the public are horrified. Don't miss a single legacy: join our Patreon for exclusive air disaster stories, layover episodes, and surprises! Visit our website at taketotheskypodcast.com for show n...
Jan 27, 2022•59 min•Ep. 91
Korean Air Flight 801 had all of the makings of a safe flight: crew experienced with both commercial flights and successful emergency landings, a safe aircraft, and a clear route. Just 20 minutes before landing, what should have been a routine descent turned into anything but the smooth landing everyone expected. Join Stephanie in this episode of Take to the Sky: The Air Disaster Podcast as we explore and discuss the factors that led to the shocking and live-threatening events that left an endur...
Jan 20, 2022•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 90
On June 1, 1999, American Airlines Flight 1420, with 145 people onboard, tried to land in a dangerous thunderstorm. But when the aircraft overshot the runway, it led to a deadly disaster that revealed industry-wide pressure placed on pilots to land at any cost. Join Shelly for this latest episode as we dive into what happened and why this unforgettable crash helped change aviation safety for the better. Don't miss a single legacy: join our Patreon for exclusive air disaster stories, layover epis...
Jan 13, 2022•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 89
On April 4, 1975, the first of 30 flights that operated as part of Operation Babylift left Saigon with a single mission: to carry some of the youngest and most vulnerable of those impacted by the Vietnam War to safer places. In this week's episode of Take to the Sky: the Air Disaster Podcast, Stephanie shares how the first flight took a tragic turn not long after its departure and how it changed the lives of people around the world. Don't miss a single legacy: join our Patreon for exclusive air ...
Jan 06, 2022•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 88
Air disasters are never soulless or faceless, and we believe that air disasters are best understood and remembered through the stories of those who lived, those who died, those who were left behind. In the second part of our two-part episode, we share stories of Pan Am Flight 103's victims, their families, and the communities that were changed forever. Don't miss a single legacy: join our Patreon for exclusive air disaster stories, layover episodes, and surprises! Visit our website at taketothes...
Dec 23, 2021•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 87
In part one of this special two-part episode of Take to the Sky: the Air Disaster Podcast, we explore the bombing of Pan Am 103, which claimed the lives of 270 people, as well as the complex and complicated investigation that followed, and why some believe the complete truth about who is really to blame has yet to be discovered. Don't miss a single legacy: join our Patreon for exclusive air disaster stories, layover episodes, and surprises! Visit our website at taketotheskypodcast.com for show n...
Dec 16, 2021•1 hr 17 min•Ep. 87
As Flash Airlines Flight 604 climbed into the air on its way to a quick layover stop in Cairo, the plane began to bank sharply to the right. In this week's episode of Take to the Sky: the Air Disaster Podcast, Stephanie shares how the right bank went from bad to worse to better- and how a few shocking factors contributed to an air disaster with tragic results and a lasting legacy. Don't miss a single legacy: join our Patreon for exclusive air disaster stories, layover episodes, and surprises! Vi...
Dec 09, 2021•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 86
In September 1989, a group of scientists and pilots known as the Hurricane Hunters took off in NOAA 42, a government research plane, to gather important information on the rapidly growing hurricane Hugo. In this episode, Shelly shares the harrowing story of the flight that would change everything about how the Hurricane Hunters entered and endured the eye of a category 5 hurricane. Don't miss a single legacy: join our Patreon for exclusive air disaster stories, layover episodes, and surprises! V...
Dec 02, 2021•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 85
On October 14, 2004, a standard repositioning flight from Little Rock to Minneapolis went wildly out of control-- but why? In this week's episode of Take to the Sky: the Air Disaster Podcast, Stephanie shares some of the stunning decisions that risked the flight crew's lives, bringing what it means to operate an airplane safety both on and off the ground into question. Don't miss a single legacy: join our Patreon for exclusive air disaster stories, layover episodes, and surprises! Visit our webs...
Nov 18, 2021•1 hr 18 min•Ep. 84
On February 19, 1985, China Airlines Flight 006, with 274 people onboard, experienced a malfunction of its number four engine while cruising at almost forty thousand feet. Suddenly, the plane entered a dive, spiraling down out of the sky. In episode 83 of Take to the Sky: the Air Disaster Podcast, Shelly shares the terrifying details of a plane out of control and an investigation that reached several uncomfortable conclusions about what led to the fall. Don't miss a single legacy: join our Patre...
Nov 11, 2021•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 83
On December 11, 1994, Philippine Airlines Flight 434 was more than halfway to its destination when a shocking explosion led to chaos onboard. In this week's episode, Stephanie tells the story of the desperate bid to save the plane and its passengers as well as the horrific origins of the explosion-- and it's shocking ties to another well-known incident half a world away.
Nov 04, 2021•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 82
On June 26, 1988, Air France 296Q crashed into a forest while conducting a demonstration flight during the Habsheim Air Show. In episode 81 of Take to the Sky: the Air Disaster Podcast, join Shelly as we explore the controversial accident investigation that sought to explain how a highly automated, brand-new Airbus A320 crashed during a risky flyover maneuver. Don't miss a single legacy: join our Patreon for exclusive air disaster stories, layover episodes, and surprises! Visit our website at ta...
Oct 28, 2021•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 81
Taking off during bad weather is rarely enjoyable, but it can certainly be a dangerous decision. In this week's episode of Take to the Sky: the Air Disaster Podcast, Stephanie takes us through the events that led to the crash of Aeroméxico Connect Flight 2431 on July 31, 2018. Was it the weather, bad decision making, or something even more surprising that led to the accident? This story has a few twists and turns that with surprise you as well as a legacy that is sure to stay with you. Don't mis...
Oct 21, 2021•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 80
On December 19, 1997, Silk Air Flight 185 suddenly dove from the sky and crashed into the Musi River, killing all 104 people onboard. Join Shelly in this episode of Take to the Sky: The Air Disaster Podcast as she tells the story of the terrifying crash and the shocking investigation that leads some investigators toward a disturbing conclusion and sparks a divide in opinion about probable cause that remains today. Don't miss a single legacy: join our Patreon for exclusive air disaster stories, l...
Oct 14, 2021•1 hr 14 min•Ep. 79
Very early in the morning on January 21, 1985, 65 passengers boarded a charter flight from Reno to Minneapolis for the trip home after a quick weekend away. As the plane became airborne, the entire frame began to shake violently. In this week's episode of Take to the Sky: The Air Disaster Podcast, Stephanie shares the story of devastation, shock, and confusion that emerged as investigators learned what went wrong as well as how the flight served to make flight safer for future passengers. Don't ...
Oct 07, 2021•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 78
On June 9, 2005, Ansett New Zealand Flight 703 crashed when it collided with terrain just 10 miles from the airport in Palmerston, New Zealand. Join Shelly as she shares the story of how a distracted flight crew and faulty systems led to the crash that killed 4 out of 21 people. Don't miss a single legacy: join our Patreon for exclusive air disaster stories, layover episodes, and surprises! Visit our website at taketotheskypodcast.com for show notes and our merch store!...
Sep 30, 2021•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 77
In this week's episode of Take to the Sky: the Air Disaster Podcast, Stephanie takes us through the shocking events that contributed to the crash of Delta Air Lines Flight 1141 on August 31, 1988. As the NTSB attempted to reconstruct the airplane's configuration in search of what could have caused a crash just moments after takeoff, answers came from an unexpected source and forced the industry to take an even closer look at what it means to prepare for a safe flight. Don't miss a single legacy:...
Sep 23, 2021•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 76
On August 9, 2007, Air Moorea Flight 1121 crashed shortly after takeoff. Join Shelly in this episode of Take to the Sky: The Air Disaster Podcast as she shares the unexpected events that led to the crash of this Twin Otter plane and the investigation that uncovered the seemingly unconnected factors that brought the plane down – and how these same factors could jeopardize so many other flights. Don't miss a single legacy: join our Patreon for exclusive air disaster stories, layover episodes, and ...
Sep 16, 2021•59 min•Ep. 75
In this week's episode of Take to the Sky: The Air Disaster Podcast, Stephanie shares a lesser known story connected to the events that transpired on September 11, 2001. Korean Air Flight 85 was preparing for its arrival in Anchorage, Alaska when it suddenly transmitted a code associated with a hijacking. Over the course of 90 minutes, officials grappled with whether to let the plane land or shoot it down as the small town of Whitehorse in Canada's Yukon Territory prepared for its arrival. Don't...
Sep 09, 2021•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 74
When two best friends, Ruth Clifford McCourt and Paige Farley Hackel, boarded separate flights on September 11, 2001, they never knew they would both suffer the same awful fate. Join Shelly for this special 9/11 highlight episode of Take to the Sky: the Air Disaster Podcast where she shares the story of two friends whose lives - and deaths - were so closely linked together. Don't miss a single legacy: join our Patreon for exclusive air disaster stories, layover episodes, and surprises! Visit our...
Sep 02, 2021•52 min•Ep. 73
On June 29, 2009, Yemenia Flight 626 prepared to land in the island nation of Comoros as a cold front swept through the region. Join Stephanie as she shares how a routine landing sequence turned into devastation for the crew and passengers on board and opened the door to questions about the airline's safety record and just what caused the plane to crash. Don't miss a single legacy: join our Patreon for exclusive air disaster stories, layover episodes, and surprises! Visit our website at taketoth...
Aug 26, 2021•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 72
On New Year's Day in 2007, Adam Air Flight 574 crashed into the sea off the coast of Indonesia. Join Shelly for this episode of Take to the Sky: The Air Disaster Podcast as she walks us through the unforgettable turn of events that led to the crash and the investigation that followed, which revealed an airline whose philosophy of profit over safety set in motion many of the factors that caused 102 people to lose their lives. Don't miss a single legacy: join our Patreon for exclusive air disaster...
Aug 19, 2021•58 min•Ep. 71
July 31, 1973 was not an ideal day for flying; foggy conditions enveloped New England, leading to delays and cancellations throughout the region. In this episode of Take to the Sky: the Air Disaster Podcast, Stephanie takes us through the issues and decisions that led Delta Air Lines Flight 723 to make a terrifying crash landing into Boston's Logan Airport. From the obvious challenges to surprising factors, this story left a lasting impact on the community and aviation. Don't miss a single legac...
Aug 12, 2021•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 70
On December 7, 1987, Pacific Southwest Airlines Flight 1771 crashed into a hill in San Luis Obispo County, CA, killing all 43 people onboard. Soon, the investigation into the cause of the crash became a criminal one led by the FBI. And when investigators piece together what led up to the crash, they exposed vulnerabilities within airline security procedures that would lead to sweeping changes in airline security policies. Join Shelly for this week's episode, which is one we don't think you'll so...
Aug 05, 2021•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 69
After the harrowing crash of United Airlines 232 in a cornfield near the runway at Sioux Gateway Airport, something miraculous happens - survivors emerge from the smoky and mangled wreckage. In part two of our episode, Shelly tells the events of the crash from the perspectives of those very survivors, including the cabin crew, as well as from first responders on the ground. These stories highlight just how remarkable the landing was and how the crash forever changed the local community in Sioux ...
Jul 29, 2021•1 hr 18 min•Ep. 68
When the crew of United Airlines Flight 232 boarded their aircraft on July 19, 1989, they had no idea they were just a few hours away from the greatest challenge they would ever face. In the skies above Iowa, a terrifying noise and a shuddering aircraft would start one of aviation history's most memorable tales, and the outcome changed lives and flight safety for all of us. In the first of this two-part episode, Stephanie shares what happened before, during, and after the disaster as well as why...
Jul 22, 2021•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 68
On July 6, 2013, Asiana Airlines Flight 214 crashed into a seawall upon landing at San Francisco International Airport, and divided the NTSB over the main cause of the crash – was it due to pilot error or the complexities of flight deck automation? Join Shelly as she tells the story of how this crash led to further FAA actions related to the perils of too much automation in flying. Don't miss a single legacy: join our Patreon for exclusive air disaster stories, layover episodes, and surprises! V...
Jul 15, 2021•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 67
There is so much to be learned from every plane crash, and this week's episode of Take to the Sky: the Air Disaster Podcast takes a look at an investigation so detailed and thorough it took the NTSB more than four years to complete. Join Stephanie as she tells the tragic story of USAir Flight 427, which taught lessons that make aviation safer and changed the way that family members are cared for in the aftermath of a crash. Don't miss a single legacy: join our Patreon for exclusive air disaster ...
Jul 08, 2021•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 66
As the crew of BOAC Flight 911 tried to get closer to give their passengers a better view of Mount Fuji on March 5, 1966, disaster suddenly struck, and the 707 fell in pieces back to earth. Following the crash, investigators would discover an unknown and invisible phenomenon that we understand today, but that in 1966, literally tore a passenger jet out of the sky. Don't miss a single legacy: join our Patreon for exclusive air disaster stories, layover episodes, and surprises! Visit our website a...
Jul 01, 2021•1 hr•Ep. 65
