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  • Smithsonian Channel

Air Disasters

The disaster is only the beginning of the story.

  • 2011 – 2026
  • Returning Series
  • Documentary
  • ~45m / ep
  • 25 seasons
  • 8.2/10

Catastrophic incidents in aviation history are meticulously reenacted, providing insight into what went wrong and if the crashes and near-disasters could have been prevented. Accounts from survivors combine with cockpit recordings and computer images to weave the gripping tales, and expert testimony reveals the hows and whys behind the events, some of which have resulted in important changes to aviation safety and regulations.

Latest: Season 25 · 2026

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  1. E1. Pacific Ditching

    Mar 8, 2026 · 44m

    Just after takeoff from Honolulu, TransAir Flight 810 loses power and ditches in the Pacific. Both pilots survive, blaming dual engine failure—but when the Boeing 737 is recovered, the wreckage reveals a different cause behind the crash.

  2. E2. Panic Day

    Mar 15, 2026 · 8m

  3. E3. Eww

    Mar 22, 2026 · 25m

  4. E4. Garden day...

    Mar 29, 2026 · 34m

  5. E5. Monster Plane

    Apr 5, 2026 · 46m

  6. E6. The Aftermath

    Apr 12, 2026 · 47m

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