Ep 3. The Turning Point

The season 17 episode 3 of Air Disasters, titled "The Turning Point," tells the story of the tragic crash of Flight 9525. The Germanwings airliner was flying from Barcelona to Dusseldorf when it suddenly crashed into the French Alps, killing all 150 passengers and crew onboard.

The episode begins with the usual routine of the travelers boarding the plane and the pilots starting their pre-flight checks. However, soon after taking off, the co-pilot, Andreas Lubitz, locked the captain out of the cockpit and initiated the plane's descent. Lubitz then flew the plane into a mountain, intentionally crashing it.

The investigators analyzing the black box recording realized that Lubitz had suffered from severe depression and was declared unfit to fly. However, he kept this information from the airline and continued to fly. The episode follows the investigation into how Lubitz's condition went unnoticed and how the accident could have been prevented.

The investigators reviewed Lubitz's medical records and discovered that he had researched suicide methods and cockpit door security measures before the flight. They realized that Lubitz's suicidal intentions led him to crash the plane and that the accident could have been averted if his history and psychological issues had been discovered earlier.

The episode also explores the role of the airline, Germanwings, and the aviation industry in general. The airline was criticized for not having access to the medical records of their pilots, and the industry, in general, was criticized for not providing adequate mental health support to pilots suffering from depression.

The episode describes the aftermath of the tragedy, including the families' reactions to the loss of their loved ones and the efforts of the aviation industry to prevent similar accidents from happening in the future. The episode also discusses the implementation of new rules for cockpit procedures, including mandatory two-person rules, and improved psychological screening for pilots.

In summary, "The Turning Point" is a heart-wrenching episode highlighting the importance of mental health and safety measures in the aviation industry. It shows how one individual's negligence can cause devastating loss and emphasizes the need for airlines and regulatory agencies to work together to prevent similar tragedies from happening in the future.