Ep 9. Bad Attitude

In season 3, episode 9 of the popular documentary series AIR DISASTERS, viewers are taken on a harrowing journey to understand the root causes of an infamous plane crash that claimed the lives of dozens of passengers. The episode is called "Bad Attitude," and it explores the factors that led to the catastrophic crash of a 727-200 that was flying from Miami to Cali, Colombia in December of 1995.

As the episode opens, viewers are given a stark reminder of the danger and complexity of air travel. The voice-over narration sets the scene by describing the flashy livery of American airline company SAM, which stands for Servicio Aéreo a Territorios Nacionales. SAM was a small airline that operated within Colombia, primarily flying short-haul routes between regional airports. But on this particular day, SAM was operating a 727-200 airplane that had been leased from another airline, and that was flying a much longer route from Miami. Viewers are shown footage of the airplane as it takes off from Miami International Airport, and are able to see the passengers settling in for what they hope will be a smooth and uneventful flight.

But almost immediately, the filmmakers introduce a note of tension into the storyline. They explain that the crew of the airplane, made up of a captain, a first officer, and a flight engineer, have a history of clashing with each other over operational procedures and communication. They also hint that one of the crew members has a reputation for being difficult to work with, and for ignoring safety precautions. Viewers are shown an interview with one of the surviving crew members, who describes the pre-flight briefing as being filled with arguments and disagreements.

As the airplane reaches cruising altitude, viewers are treated to breathtaking aerial shots of the Andes Mountains, which the airplane will soon be flying over. But the awe-inspiring scenery is quickly forgotten as the scene shifts to the cockpit, where the narrator informs us that the problems between the crew members have not gone away. In fact, they have escalated. The captain is overbearing and uncooperative, and the first officer is timid and unwilling to challenge him. The flight engineer tries to be a peacemaker, but is largely ignored.

Then, just over an hour into the flight, disaster strikes. Without warning, the airplane begins to roll over and plunge towards the earth. Viewers are given a sense of the confusion and chaos that must have reigned in the cockpit as the crew tried to figure out what was happening and how to regain control of the airplane. There is a sense of urgency and desperation in the air, as the men struggle against the forces of physics and time.

From there, the episode becomes a slow-motion account of the investigation that followed the crash. Viewers are shown the painstaking efforts of the forensic team as they try to piece together what happened. They are given an understanding of the critical role that the airplane's flight data recorder played in the investigation, and are shown examples of how the data was used to uncover crucial pieces of evidence.

But just as the investigators are making progress, they hit a wall. There is a piece of information that they simply cannot explain or reconcile with the other evidence. It is only when they are able to conduct a psychological examination of the surviving crew member that things start to become clear. The examination reveals that one of the crew members had a longstanding history of substance abuse that was not detected by the pre-employment medical exam. This revelation leads to other discoveries about the individual's behavior and mental state during the flight, which in turn help to explain the cause of the crash.

As the episode nears its end, viewers are left with a sense of the immense complexity and interconnectivity of all the factors that go into air travel. It is not just a matter of engineering and mechanics, but of human psychology and behavior as well. Through a combination of stunning visuals, insightful interviews, and rigorous investigation, AIR DISASTERS season 3 episode 9 leaves viewers with a deeper appreciation for the hard work and dedication that goes into keeping air travel safe for everyone.