The Flight Files

August 12th, 1985. Just twelve minutes after takeoff from Tokyo’s Haneda Airport, a deafening explosion ripped through the rear of Japan Airlines Flight 123. The force tore away part of the tail, destroyed all four hydraulic systems, and left the crew with no way to control their Boeing 747. For the next 32 minutes, passengers and crew endured a desperate struggle against the inevitable, as the massive jet bucked, rolled, and plunged through the skies of central Japan. When it finally struck the mountains of Gunma Prefecture, 520 people were gone. Only four would survive. This was the deadliest single-aircraft accident in aviation history, a tragedy born from a hidden flaw that went undetected for years. Let’s investigate The Flight Files of Japan Airlines Flight 123.Follow The Flight Files for more episodes, and review the show on your favorite podcast app!Business Contact: contact@theflightfiles.comIntro Music by Paschimee Studio from PixabayJapan Air Lines 123, JAL 123, Boeing 747SR, Aft Pressure Bulkhead, Fatigue Cracking, Improper Repair, Vertical Stabilizer Loss, Hydraulic Failure, Differential Thrust, Hypoxia, Gunma Prefecture, Aviation Disaster, Maintenance Error, Fail-Safe Design, NTSB, AAIC, Deadliest Single Aircraft Accident.

The air is thick, wet with the chill of a January night. Inside the cockpit of Air Inter Flight 148, the crew is focused, their eyes scanning the glow of the instrument panels as they begin their final approach into Strasbourg. It's a routine flight, a simple VOR DME procedure through the rugged, cloud-shrouded terrain of the Vosges mountains in eastern France. But tonight, routine will become anything but.As the Airbus A320 descends, its automated systems are set. The pilots believe they have commanded a standard, gentle descent of 800 feet per minute, perfectly aligned with the glide path of the runway ahead. But the plane is plummeting. Unseen by the crew, the jet is diving at a catastrophic 3,300 feet per minute, four times faster than it should be. With no visual reference, the crew is utterly unaware of their fatal error until it is far too late.In the final terrifying seconds, the automatic voice alarm sounds, but it is not enough. With a thunderous impact, the ghost of Mont Sainte-Odile claims its prize, leaving a trail of fire and twisted metal in its wake. How did a state-of-the-art Airbus A320 fly so far astray? And what hidden flaw in the relationship between man and machine could lead to such a deadly miscalculation? Today, we investigate the Flight Files of Air Inter Flight 148.Follow The Flight Files for more episodes, and review the show on your favorite podcast app!Business Contact: contact@theflightfiles.comIntro Music by Paschimee Studio from PixabayAir Inter 148, Airbus A320, CFIT, Mont Sainte-Odile, Pilot Error, Mode Confusion, GPWS, Aviation Safety, BEA, Controlled Flight Into Terrain, France

On the evening of May 6, 1937, the German airship LZ 129 Hindenburg approached its destination at Lakehurst Naval Air Station in New Jersey, marking the end of a smooth transatlantic journey from Frankfurt. The airship carried 97 people—passengers and crew—on what was expected to be a routine landing. But just as the ground crew prepared for its arrival, something went horribly wrong.In mere seconds, the Hindenburg erupted into flames, crashing to the ground in a fiery disaster that would claim 36 lives and forever change the course of aviation history.What caused the world’s most advanced airship to meet such a tragic fate? Was it a catastrophic failure in design, or a deadly encounter with the forces of nature?In today’s episode, we’ll examine the fateful final flight of the Hindenburg, the crew's actions in those crucial moments, and the lasting impact this disaster had on the future of aviation. What truly brought the Hindenburg down? Let’s investigate The Flight Files of the Hindenburg disaster.More from Dan: https://www.youtube.com/crateupBusiness Contact: contact@theflightfiles.comIntro Music by Paschimee Studio from Pixabay

In the early hours of August 27, 2006, Comair Flight 5191 prepared for what should have been a routine takeoff from Lexington’s Blue Grass Airport. The Bombardier CRJ-100 had 50 people onboard, ready for a quick hop to Atlanta. But as the aircraft started its takeoff roll, it veered onto the wrong runway—one that was far too short for a safe departure. Within seconds, the aircraft crashed, and 49 lives were tragically lost.How did an experienced crew end up on the wrong runway? What went wrong during those crucial moments before takeoff? Today, we’ll explore The Flight Files of Comair Flight 5191.More from Dan: https://www.youtube.com/crateupBusiness Contact: contact@theflightfiles.comIntro Music by Paschimee Studio from Pixabay

On June 10, 2008, Sudan Airways Flight 109 was on its final approach to Khartoum International Airport after a long journey from Amman, Jordan, with a brief stop in Damascus, Syria. Onboard were 214 people, including passengers and crew. As the Airbus A310 touched down, the aircraft overran the wet runway, ultimately coming to rest beyond its end. Moments later, the right side of the aircraft was engulfed in flames. While many onboard managed to escape, 30 lives were tragically lost in the aftermath.What caused this aircraft to overrun the runway and why did it catch fire after landing? Today, we explore The Flight Files of Sudan Airways Flight 109.More from Dan: https://www.youtube.com/crateupBusiness Contact: contact@theflightfiles.comIntro Music by Paschimee Studio from Pixabay

On the night of May 31, 2009, Air France Flight 447 took off from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, bound for Paris, France. It was a routine transatlantic flight until, just hours after departure, the aircraft vanished from radar over the Atlantic Ocean. For days, the world watched as search teams scoured the ocean for wreckage. When the Airbus A330 was finally found, it was clear that something had gone terribly wrong. The crash claimed the lives of all 228 people on board and raised questions about modern aviation safety.How could an experienced crew flying a technologically advanced aircraft end up in such a disastrous situation? What were the critical factors that led to the crash of Air France Flight 447? Today, we explore The Flight Files of Air France Flight 447.More from Dan: https://www.youtube.com/crateupBusiness Contact: contact@theflightfiles.comIntro Music by Paschimee Studio from Pixabay

On May 25, 1979, American Airlines Flight 191, a DC-10 aircraft, was scheduled to fly from Chicago's O'Hare International Airport to Los Angeles. Just seconds after takeoff, tragedy struck. The left engine and strut assembly tore away from the wing, leaving the flight crew to face a catastrophic failure. The plane, now critically unbalanced, began to roll left, plunging toward the ground. Within moments, Flight 191 crashed, killing all 271 passengers and crew onboard. This was not just a mechanical failure but a tragedy with far-reaching consequences for the aviation industry.What went so terribly wrong that day? How did an error on the ground lead to one of the deadliest aviation accidents in U.S. history? Today, we explore The Flight Files of American Airlines Flight 191.Business Contact: contact@theflightfiles.comIntro Music by Paschimee Studio from Pixabay

On February 16, 2005, a Cessna Citation 560, operated by Martinair, Inc., for Circuit City Stores, Inc., crashed. The aircraft was carrying two pilots and six passengers and the flight departed from Richmond International Airport in Richmond, Virginia and was headed to John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana, California, with a scheduled fuel stop in Pueblo, Colorado.During the flight, the aircraft encountered icing conditions and despite efforts to combat the conditions, the aeroplane crashed east of Pueblo Memorial Airport. All eight people on board perished in the accident. What caused this tragedy to occur? Let's investigate the flight files of Circuit City Stores: Cessna Citation 560Business Contact: contact@theflightfiles.comIntro Music by Paschimee Studio from Pixabay