Ep 9. Deadly Solution

Air Disasters is a documentary series that explores aviation incidents and accidents from all over the world. In season 16 episode 9, titled Deadly Solution, the show examines the events leading up to the crash of Lion Air Flight JT610, one of the deadliest aviation disasters in Indonesian history.

The flight departed from Jakarta, Indonesia, on the morning of October 29, 2018, destined for Pangkal Pinang. On board were 189 passengers and crew members, including Captain Bhavye Suneja, a highly experienced pilot, and First Officer Harvino, who had only recently completed his training.

Shortly after takeoff, the cockpit began to experience technical problems, including erroneous data from the plane's angle of attack (AOA) sensors. The AOA sensors measure the angle at which the wind meets the plane's wings, providing critical information for pilots to control and stabilize the aircraft. However, in this case, the sensors were providing conflicting and inaccurate data, which confused the pilots.

As a result, the plane's automatic safety system, known as the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS), was activated. The MCAS is designed to prevent the plane from stalling by adjusting the aircraft's pitch, or angle of ascent or descent. However, the MCAS system was activated as a result of the conflicting sensor data, and it aggressively pushed the nose of the plane downwards, despite the pilots' attempts to correct it.

As the plane began to descend rapidly, the pilots struggled to regain control and troubleshoot the problem. The first officer frantically searched through the aircraft's manual to find a solution, but the cockpit was filled with warning alarms and instrument malfunctions. Passengers on the plane were unaware of the situation in the cockpit and continued their routine activities until the plane hit the water, killing everyone on board.

The show uses reenactments, expert analysis, and interviews with aviation experts and investigators to piece together the events leading up to the tragedy. The episode explores the factors that contributed to the crash, including the malfunctioning sensor data, the activation of the MCAS system and the pilots' attempts to regain control of the aircraft. It also looks at the investigation that followed and the changes that were made to the MCAS system in response to the accident.

Through the examination of this disaster, the show highlights the critical importance of proper training, communication, and the need for accurate and reliable technology in the aviation industry. The episode is a sobering reminder of the dangers that pilots and passengers face and the need for constant vigilance to ensure the highest levels of safety in air travel.