Ep 9. Vertigo

In this episode of Air Disasters, titled "Vertigo," we learn about the deadly consequences of spatial disorientation, a phenomenon that occurs when pilots lose their sense of direction and orientation in the air. This can happen in a variety of ways, but one of the most common causes is a lack of visibility, such as when flying in fog or at night.

We begin with the tragic story of Helios Airways Flight 522, which crashed into a mountain in Greece in 2005. The flight was en route from Cyprus to Athens when the crew noticed that the air conditioning had stopped working. They attempted to fix the problem but were unsuccessful, and soon after, they began to feel ill and disoriented. The plane continued to fly on autopilot until it ran out of fuel and crashed, killing all 121 people on board.

Investigators learned that the crew had suffered from spatial disorientation due to a lack of oxygen in the cockpit. The air conditioning failure had caused the cabin to depressurize, and because of a malfunctioning switch, the crew was unable to put on their oxygen masks. As a result, they gradually lost consciousness and were unable to regain control of the plane.

We then move on to the story of SilkAir Flight 185, which crashed into a river in Indonesia in 1997. The flight was en route from Jakarta to Singapore when it suddenly plunged into the water, killing all 104 people on board. Investigators initially suspected that the crash was caused by a mechanical failure, but they soon discovered evidence of pilot suicide.

The captain of the flight, a Canadian named Tsu Way Ming, had a history of financial problems and had been the subject of an investigation by his airline. He had also been experiencing personal problems, including a failed marriage and a mistress who had left him. Investigators concluded that he had intentionally crashed the plane by pulling the control column back and putting the plane into a steep dive.

The final story of the episode focuses on TWA Flight 3, which crashed in California in 1946. The flight was en route from Albuquerque to Los Angeles when it disappeared from radar and crashed into a mountain, killing all 35 people on board. Investigators later discovered that the cause of the crash was spatial disorientation.

The pilot of the flight, Captain Wayne Williams, had experienced a sudden change in weather conditions, which caused him to become disoriented. He lost his visual reference to the horizon and began to rely on his instrument panel, which gave him false readings due to a malfunctioning gyroscope. As a result, he became confused about the plane's altitude and direction and inadvertently flew into a mountain.

Overall, "Vertigo" is a sobering reminder of the dangers of spatial disorientation and the importance of proper training and equipment for pilots. It also highlights the complex nature of air disasters and the many factors that can contribute to their occurrence.