Ep 2. Testing the Limits

On season 8 episode 2 of Air Disasters, titled Testing the Limits, viewers are taken on a journey to explore the infamous crash of a brand new Boeing 737-800 aircraft operated by Flydubai flight FZ981 that occurred in 2016. The episode is a detailed investigation of the disaster that claimed the lives of all 62 people on board.

The episode starts off with a brief introduction to the beginning of the flight that took off from Dubai International Airport bound for Rostov-on-Don Airport in Russia. Everything seems normal, with the experienced captain and co-pilot carrying out their pre-flight checks and preparing for takeoff. The weather is typical for the time of year, with a light rain shower and some gusts of wind. Once in the air, however, things start to go wrong.

As the plane approaches Rostov-on-Don Airport, it enters an intense thunderstorm. The turbulence is so severe that it causes the captain to abandon his initial landing attempt and instead opt for a ‘go-around’ procedure. This involves the pilot aborting the landing and circling the airport to attempt a second landing.

But, upon entering the storm once again, things take a turn for the worse. The weather impact is so severe that it dents and potentially damages the nosecone of the plane, playing havoc with key instruments that are vital for the pilot to control the aircraft. The autopilot system struggles to cope and eventually disengages while the plane is at an altitude of 3,000 feet.

As the captain struggles to keep control of the aircraft, the plane is in a near-vertical climb and is travelling at more than 400 mph. The cockpit voice recorder picks up the sound of alarms and repeated warnings from the onboard system as it detects a severe altitude loss. The pilots are struggling to understand the situation until the last moments, just before impact.

The episode examines in detail the many factors that contributed to the crash. The weather was a significant factor and it was apparent that the airline's pilots had not received any specific training to handle such severe weather conditions. This lack of specialized training and inexperience impacted the way the captain and co-pilot worked together in the cockpit.

The Flydubai accident investigators worked with Russian counterparts in the aftermath of the crash. It was discovered that there were a chain of events that led to the pilot's inability to control the aircraft's descent.

As the investigation unfolded, it became clear that the accident could have been avoided if the pilots had understood how to maneuver the plane safely in adverse weather conditions. The investigation team concluded that the pilots lacked training and practice in dealing with severe weather conditions.

The episode ends by reviewing the measures that have been put in place following the crash. The action taken includes improving pilot training and the modification of the boeing 737 series of planes to prevent a similar crash in the future. There have been many lessons learned from the Flydubai crash, and the legacy from this tragic event will help to make flying safer in the future.

Overall, Air Disasters season 8 episode 2 titled Testing the Limits is a compelling and sometimes terrifying episode that offers a glimpse into the many factors that led to the Flydubai crash. It sheds light on the importance of training pilots, particularly for adverse weather situations. Viewers will be left with a sense of awe as the investigation team takes them through the minute details of the incident, from the start of the flight to the tragic end.