Ep 3. Attack over Baghdad

On this episode of Mayday, we see how a routine military refueling mission turned into a deadly disaster. The show covers the events of the morning of April 2, 2003, when two United States Air Force (USAF) KC-135 Stratotanker planes were refueling two F-18 fighter jets over Baghdad.

The KC-135s were being flown by pilots with years of experience, but they had not anticipated the danger that lay ahead. One of the fighter jets was hit by a missile fired from Iraqi air-defense forces, and the other jet was damaged soon after. The two planes immediately lost altitude and began to spiral downward, with the KC-135s still attached to them.

The pilots of the tanker planes knew they had to quickly disconnect their planes from the fighter jets. But they also knew that if they did, they risked losing control and crashing. They had to make a life-or-death decision that would ultimately affect not only themselves, but also the pilots of the fighter jets.

As the four planes plunged towards the ground, the pilots tried to keep control, but at such a low altitude, there was little they could do. The fighter jet pilots ejected from their planes in an attempt to survive, while the KC-135s continued their descent. One of the planes crashed into a residential area, killing several people on the ground.

The episode takes us through the events of the day and the aftermath that followed. We see the challenges faced by the military investigators tasked with determining the cause of the crash and how they try to piece together the clues from the wreckage.

Mayday also looks at the impact of the tragedy on the families of the victims, as well as the psychological toll it took on the surviving pilots. We see how the military tried to provide support for those affected by the disaster and how they worked to improve the safety of refueling operations in the air.

Overall, this episode of Mayday is a sobering reminder of the immense risks faced by military pilots on a routine basis, as well as the courage and determination they possess when faced with life-and-death situations. The show offers a fascinating insight into the intricacies of aviation, the importance of training and proficiency, and the need for constant vigilance when operating in a war zone.