Ep 5. Deadly Detour

In season 10 episode 5 of AIR DISASTERS, titled Deadly Detour, viewers are taken on a harrowing journey as they uncover the catastrophic events that led to the crash of Air Midwest Flight 5481 in Charlotte, North Carolina. The episode begins by setting the stage for how routine maintenance checks and human oversight can go horribly wrong, leading to one of the deadliest regional airline crashes in U.S. history.

The flight, operated by Air Midwest, was a short-hop commuter flight between Charlotte and Greenville-Spartanburg, NC. The plane was a Beechcraft 1900D - a small, twin-engine turboprop aircraft that was designed to carry up to 19 passengers. But on January 8th, 2003, that flight would end in disaster.

As the episode unfolds, we learn that early that morning, a mechanic working at the airline's maintenance facility had discovered a serious problem with the airplane. One of the plane's control cables had worn down to a dangerous level, compromising the plane's ability to maneuver. The mechanic reportedly alerted his supervisors about the problem, but the airline rejected his proposal to have the plane grounded for repairs.

Despite the alarming warning signs, the plane was cleared for takeoff, and the flight departed Charlotte for Greenville-Spartanburg. But just moments after takeoff, the plane lurched to the left, banked hard, and then plummeted to the ground, killing all 21 people on board. The episode traces the investigation that followed, revealing the fatal cascading events that led to the deadly detour.

Expert interviews and dramatic reenactments help viewers understand the sequence of events leading up to the crash. There are tense moments as investigators dig deeper into the airline's maintenance practices, revealing a system that had become complacent and careless. Experts propose multiple theories for what could have caused the crash, including issues with the aircraft's weight and balance, or problems with its hydraulic systems. But as evidence is examined and reports from the cockpit voice recorder are analyzed, the truth becomes tragically clear - the plane's balance was off-kilter, due in large part to the neglected maintenance practices of the airline.

The human toll of the crash is also carefully examined in this episode. We hear from family members who lost loved ones in the crash, as they grapple with the grief and shock of losing family members in such a senseless way. The human impact of the crash is palpable, as we see how it affected the airline industry in the U.S. and has led to changes in airline safety procedures and guidelines.

AIR DISASTERS season 10 episode 5, Deadly Detour, is a sobering look at the ways in which failures in oversight, maintenance, and communication can lead to devastating results. Through gripping storytelling and detailed analysis, the episode sheds light on the tragedy that occurred on Air Midwest Flight 5481, and the lessons that can be learned from it to prevent future disasters.