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 in just moments. Join Shelly in this episode of Take to the Sky: The Air Disaster Podcast as she recounts the unprecedented events as they unfolded on...
Oct 06, 2022•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 121
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 encountered conditions that threatened the lives of everyone onboard. Don't miss a single legacy: join our Patreon for exclusive air disaster stories, layo...
Sep 29, 2022•1 hr 14 min•Ep. 120
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. Join Shelly in this episode of Take to the Sky: The Air Disaster Podcast as she takes us back to the crash and to its victims' stories and a discuss...
Sep 22, 2022•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 119
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 aviation has not forgotten. Don't miss a single legacy: join our Patreon for exclusive air disaster stories, layover episodes, and surprises! Visit our ...
Sep 15, 2022•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 118
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 ocean and wait it out until help arrives. Will they be rescued in time? Join Shelly as she shares this unbelievable story that highlights the strength and...
Sep 08, 2022•1 hr 14 min•Ep. 117
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 as she shares the story of how one flight took off for a cross-country flight between New York and Washington-- and how, to this day, the questions of...
Jul 28, 2022•1 hr 16 min•Ep. 116
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 taken by the crew of Trigana Flight 267 - and how an investigation revealed ways that confidence sometimes is a double-edged sword. Don't miss a singl...
Jul 21, 2022•54 min•Ep. 115
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 about how essential communication is in all aspects of aviation safety in this week's episode of Take to the Sky: the Air Disaster Podcast. Don't miss...
Jul 14, 2022•1 hr 14 min•Ep. 114
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 walk through the events that unfolded on the runway and how the investigation uncovered flaws in the design of many aircraft components meant to keep ...
Jul 07, 2022•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 113
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 the story of how the plane that didn't have time to line up with its intended runway and, instead, ended up on a collision course with the town of Sto...
Jun 30, 2022•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 112
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, join Shelly as we explore if the captain made the right call and how what happened on Flight 3597 became a microcosm for larger problems within the ...
Jun 23, 2022•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 111
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 history was forever changed. Don't miss a single legacy: join our Patreon for exclusive air disaster stories, layover episodes, and surprises! Visit our w...
Jun 16, 2022•1 hr 16 min•Ep. 110
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 situation in the cockpit, and how if the crew are to survive, they must accomplish the extraordinary: fly the crippled A300 in a way that has never be...
Jun 09, 2022•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 109
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 Disaster Podcast, Stephanie shares the story of how troubleshooting one problem led to an entirely different one-- and created a problem that was far mor...
Jun 02, 2022•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 108
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 Disaster Podcast as she shares the shocking sequence of events and the controversial investigation that followed - and how an industry was left shaking its...
May 26, 2022•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 107
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 at taketotheskypodcast.com for show notes and our merch store!...
May 19, 2022•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 106
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 of this episode of Take to the Sky: The Air Disaster Podcast, join Stephanie as she shares one of the most tragic and powerful stories of bravery, pr...
May 12, 2022•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 106
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 this episode of Take to the Sky: The Air Disaster Podcast as shares the heartbreaking tale of two planes on a collision course with disaster, and the ...
May 05, 2022•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 105
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 Air Disaster Podcast, Stephanie shares how one airline's revered history led to shocking shortcuts-- and how one flight cast a spotlight on aviation ...
Apr 28, 2022•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 104
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 should have happened. Don't miss a single legacy: join our Patreon for exclusive air disaster stories, layover episodes, and surprises! Visit our website ...
Apr 21, 2022•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 103
As an Airbus A340 touched down on runway 24L in the middle of a Toronto thunderstorm, the crew and passengers alike were glad to be back on the ground. But for the people on board Air France Flight 358, the nightmare was just beginning when the plane failed to stop and careened toward the end of the runway. Join Stephanie as she tells the story of one of the most terrifying, dramatic, and death-defying landings in history on this week's episode of Take to the Sky: The Air Disaster Podcast! Don't...
Apr 14, 2022•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 102
It was called the “safest helicopter in the world.” But on March 12, 2009, a Sikorsky S92 helicopter operating as Couger 91 faced every sea pilot’s worst nightmare while flying over the North Atlantic Ocean: oil pressure problems. Join Shelly in this episode of Take to the Sky: The Air Disaster Podcast for an unforgettable story of an over-water flight gone terribly wrong and the lasting safety changes that helped make an entire industry – and its passengers – safer. Don't miss a single legacy: ...
Apr 07, 2022•59 min•Ep. 101
It started off like any other flight: a typical takeoff, a climb into the sky, leveling off for a smooth ride. Less than an hour into the flight, Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 disappeared from radar, leaving the world to spend almost a decade searching, questioning, and grieving. In our 100th episode of Take to the Sky: the Air Disaster Podcast, Stephanie and Shelly discuss the timeline, investigation, and theories that contribute to one of aviation history's greatest disasters. Don't miss a sing...
Mar 31, 2022•1 hr 20 min•Ep. 100
On August 21, 1995, Atlantic Southeast Airlines Flight 529 is sailing above the state of Georgia when suddenly, the left propeller blades snap. Join Shelly as she shares how the flight crew uses all their skills and might to keep the plane in the air for as long as they can. 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!...
Mar 24, 2022•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 99
When a plane crashes to the ground, investigators begin the challenging task of determining the one thing that can lead to safer skies: the reason for the accident. In this week's episode of Take to the Sky: the Air Disaster podcast, Stephanie takes a look at a shocking crash, a frustrating lack of evidence, and how a somewhat unlikely investigator settled for nothing less than the truth in his quest to ensure no life was lost in vain.
Mar 17, 2022•1 hr•Ep. 98
While on final approach to Sumburgh Airport on December 15, 2014, Loganair Flight 6780 is struck by lightning – and the pilots must fight to keep the plane from crashing into the sea. Join Shelly for this latest episode as she shares the heart-stopping story of what happened next and the unforgettable investigation that forever changed the design of a critical onboard system. Don't miss a single legacy: join our Patreon for exclusive air disaster stories, layover episodes, and surprises! Visit o...
Mar 10, 2022•1 hr•Ep. 97
For a flight crew, there's nothing quite as jarring as an unexpected warning in the cockpit. In this week's episode of Take to the Sky: the Air Disaster Podcast, Stephanie takes us through the incredible series of events that started 39,000 feet above the ground and resulted in one of the most frightening landing sequences imaginable. 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 ...
Mar 03, 2022•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 96
When the rising star of Chapecoense, a Brazilian football team, boarded LaMia Flight 2933, the team was on its way to fulfilling dreams of winning an upcoming football final. But sadly, Flight 2933 never makes it to the airport. In episode 95 of Take to the Sky: the Air Disaster Podcast, Shelly shares the heartbreaking story of a talented team on a doomed flight, the shocking investigation that brought down an airline, and the unnecessary accident that broke the hearts of football fans worldwide...
Feb 24, 2022•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 95
On June 18, 1972, just a day before a planned strike in response to working conditions, the flight crew of British European Airways (BEA) Flight 548 found themselves facing a surprising emergency just minutes after takeoff. In this episode of Take to the Sky: the Air Disaster Podcast, Stephanie takes us through a timeline that led to one of the UK's most deadly plane crashes-- and the shocking factors that contributed to the heartbreaking outcome. Don't miss a single legacy: join our Patreon for...
Feb 17, 2022•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 94
While inflight on June 10, 1990, British Airways Flight 5390 experiences an explosive decompression. If that emergency wasn’t enough to deal with, the crew must face an even greater – and more urgent – danger in the cockpit. Join Shelly in this episode of Take to the Sky: The Air Disaster Podcast for this amazing story of a crew working together to fight for survival against all odds. Don't miss a single legacy: join our Patreon for exclusive air disaster stories, layover episodes, and surprises...
Feb 10, 2022•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 93
