The Best Episodes of Mayday Season 10

#1 Fan Favorite
8.6/10(215 votes)
#1 - Dead Tired (Colgan Air Flight 3407)
S10:E53/21/2011
On 12 February 2009, Colgan Air Flight 3407 stalls at low altitude and dives into a residential area near Buffalo, New York. All on board and one person on the ground are killed. Several critical errors made by the flight crew might have been the result of their fatigue.
Director:James Hyslop
Writer:Greg Gransden
Be the first to start the conversation for this episode
Director:James Hyslop
Writer:Greg Gransden
7.8/10(180 votes)
#2 - The Heathrow Enigma (British Airways Flight 38)
S10:E23/7/2011
On 17 January 2008, British Airways Flight 38 is on its final approach to land, when the autothrottles command increased thrust from the engines. The engines do not respond to the control inputs and remain at idle. The captain raises one notch of flaps to give the aircraft a few more feet of flying distance; it crash-lands just short of the runway without causing any fatalities. The fuel flow to both engines was restricted because of ice crystals causing a blockage in the fuel-oil heat exchangers.
Director:George D'Amato
Writer:Larry Bambrick
Be the first to start the conversation for this episode
Director:George D'Amato
Writer:Larry Bambrick
7.8/10(175 votes)
#3 - Cockpit Failure (Crossair Flight 3597)
S10:E33/12/2011
On 24 November 2001, Crossair Flight 3597 crashes into a hill during final approach to Zurich, killing 24 of the 33 passengers and crew members on board. The cause of the crash was the pilot descending the aircraft below the minimum safe altitude for the approach.
Director:Ian Robertson
Writer:Greg Gransden
Be the first to start the conversation for this episode
Director:Ian Robertson
Writer:Greg Gransden
7.6/10(163 votes)
#4 - Hudson River Runway (US Airways Flight 1549)
S10:E43/14/2011
On 15 January 2009, US Airways Flight 1549 suffers a bird strike with a flock of Canada geese approximately 1.5 minutes after taking off from LaGuardia Airport in New York City. Both engines fail, and less than two minutes later, the crew members successfully ditch the aircraft in the Hudson River. All on board survive.
Director:George D'Amato
Writer:Larry Bambrick
Be the first to start the conversation for this episode
Director:George D'Amato
Writer:Larry Bambrick
7.5/10(159 votes)
#5 - Who's in Control (Turkish Airlines Flight 1951)
S10:E12/28/2011
On 25 February 2009, Turkish Airlines Flight 1951 is on approach to land at Schiphol in Amsterdam, when it stalls and crashes 1.5 kilometres from the runway. Nine people, including the three cockpit crew members, are killed. A faulty radar altimeter caused the aircraft's flight control computer to automatically reduce engine thrust prematurely, and the flight crew failed to notice the resulting drop in airspeed until it was too late.
Director:James Hyslop
Writer:Alex Bystram
Be the first to start the conversation for this episode
Director:James Hyslop
Writer:Alex Bystram
7.5/10(158 votes)
#6 - Pilot Betrayed (Scandinavian Airlines Flight 751)
S10:E612/3/2011
On 27 December 1991, Scandinavian Airlines Flight 751 crash-lands without loss of life in Gottröra moments after taking off due to both engines failing. Clear ice from the tops of the wings had been sucked into both engines, causing internal damage. An automatic system (of which the pilots were unaware) to increase the engines' thrust contributed to their failure.
Director:Su Rynard
Writer:Christopher Blow
Be the first to start the conversation for this episode
Director:Su Rynard
Writer:Christopher Blow