Ep 10. The Lost Plane

In season 17, episode 10 of Air Disasters, titled The Lost Plane, viewers are taken back to November 2017 when an Argentine submarine goes missing in the South Atlantic Ocean. What should have been a routine detection exercise turns into a frantic search and rescue mission as the Argentine navy, aided by international allies, scours the ocean floor for any signs of the missing vessel.

The episode starts by introducing viewers to the San Juan, a German-built submarine that was commissioned by the Argentine Navy in 1985. The vessel had been in service for more than three decades and had undergone major overhauls and upgrades that ensured its seaworthiness and operational efficiency. But on the morning of November 15, 2017, the San Juan sent out an ominous message to its shore-based headquarters. An electrical short-circuit had occurred in the vessel's battery compartment, resulting in a fire and subsequent loss of power. The crew of 44 sailors was ordered to relocate to safer areas of the submarine.

The episode then takes viewers through the initial hours following the San Juan's emergency message. As the Argentine Navy desperately tries to communicate with the submarine, international allies, including the United States, offer assistance in the search and rescue operation. The San Juan is believed to be submerged in a vast area of the South Atlantic Ocean, with no clear indication of its exact location.

The search and rescue operation involves the deployment of numerous naval vessels, aircraft, and specialized equipment such as underwater drones and sonar systems. The magnitude and complexity of the operation are further compounded by adverse weather conditions, with strong winds and rough ocean waves making it difficult for the search teams to locate any signs of the missing submarine.

As the search operation progresses, experts in the naval industry are called upon to offer insights and suggestions on how to find the missing submarine. The episode details how each potential lead is explored and the different hurdles that the search teams encounter along the way. In one instance, the search teams are excited by the discovery of a mysterious sound emanating from the ocean depths, suggesting that it could be the San Juan's emergency beacon. However, deeper analysis revealed that the sound was not related to the missing submarine.

As time passes, hopes of finding the San Juan diminish rapidly. The families of the crew members and the Argentine public anxiously await news as the search teams continue to scour the ocean floor. Experts begin to suggest that the San Juan may have imploded due to the immense water pressure at the depths it was believed to be located. The episode takes viewers through the potential causes of an implosion and how it could have occurred on the San Juan.

As the episode nears its end, the search teams make a breakthrough that leads them to the wreckage of the San Juan. The discovery brings hope to the families of the missing crew members, but their joy is short-lived as it is confirmed that there were no survivors. The episode ends by highlighting the outpouring of grief from the Argentine public and the naval community as the nation mourns the loss of its brave sailors.

Overall, The Lost Plane is a compelling episode of Air Disasters that takes viewers through the complexities and challenges of search and rescue operations involving naval vessels and submarines. The episode does an excellent job of depicting the human side of the tragedy and the immense toll it took on the families of the missing sailors.