Ep 8. Focused on Failure

In the episode Focused on Failure of the fourth season of Air Disasters, viewers are taken through a series of chilling incidents where focus and attention have been diverted from what should have been the core task of flying the aircraft safely.

The episode starts by detailing the crash of Flight 965 in Colombia, where pilots were so engrossed in their task of programming aircraft systems, they failed to realize that the aircraft was heading towards the mountain. When they finally took note of the danger, it was almost too late to take evasive action, leading to the death of most people onboard.

Viewers are then taken through the story of another accident that occurred in 2005, in Abuja, Nigeria. Nigerian Aviation Airways Flight 2120 was supposed to fly from Nigeria to Saudi Arabia, but it crashed, killing all passengers and crew members onboard. The cause of the accident was found to be a small, but key, error committed by the aircraft maintenance staff. They had failed to remove wooden blocks that were used to prop up the aircraft during maintenance, preventing the wheels from exceeding the design limits. This oversight was not noticed by the pilots or ground crew, and by the time it was, it was too late to rectify the situation.

The episode then shifts focus to the dangers of distraction from passengers. The narrative takes a turn through the incident when a suicidal passenger ignited a fire onboard China Airlines Flight 120. The pilot was so preoccupied with dealing with the fire and what he believed was an engine failure that he did not follow the proper procedures of landing the plane safely. This lack of concentration led to a harrowing experience for the passengers, but thankfully they all survived.

The episode then moves into the story of Germanwings Flight 9525, where the tragedy resulted from the co-pilot's intended actions. The pilot had left the cockpit, leaving the co-pilot alone. The co-pilot took that opportunity to alter the aircraft's speed, intending to crash it in the mountains. This reprehensible and determined intentional failure led to a loss of 150 lives onboard.

The episode also touches on the dangers of overconfidence on the part of the pilots, which led to the crash of Indigo Flight 421 in the year 2016. The pilots on this flight believed that they could land in turbulent weather, despite the conditions being below the minimum required safety standards. They encountered bad weather during the flight, and as they descended, the aircraft crashed. The overconfidence of the pilots impeded their judgment and decision-making skills, which proved to be fatal.

Throughout the episode, the point that the show tries to make is that the distractions and diversions from the task of flying the aircraft safely can have fatal consequences. This is further highlighted by the fact that even experienced pilots make errors and misjudgments that lead to accidents. The show urges all pilots to be focused and diligent in their tasks, to be aware of their surroundings, and to remain vigilant at all times.

In conclusion, Focused on Failure is a gripping episode that highlights the importance of remaining focused on the task of flying the aircraft safely. It emphasizes the need for pilots to be alert to all potential distractions, to be aware of their surroundings, and to remain alert and vigilant at all times. The episode also calls for better training and awareness programs to be put in place for pilots, to help them recognize and avoid potential hazards and errors. Overall, this episode serves as an important reminder that human error can have terrible consequences, and that every small mistake can have a catastrophic outcome.