Thanks for your patience during Caroline's unexpected hiatus! We're back, with a harrowing tale of fire, destruction, and death. A routine flight from Florida with a stopover in Texas became a tragic nightmare when a powerful storm began to fight Delta Airlines 191. What followed resulted in the death of over 100 people, and the longest trial in aviation history. But what exactly happened here? And who should be to blame? Tune in as Caroline and Trevor discuss this crash (but try to ignore...

On January 31, 2000, Alaska Airlines 261 became one of the most infamous flights in history. As pilots from two other planes watched helplessly, the MD-80 aircraft spiraled downward toward the ocean, ending in a violent crash that killed 88 people. But how did this happen? The answer proved to be scandalous, and led to the exposure of airline corruption beyond anyone's worst nightmares. Tune into this week's episode as Caroline and Justin delve into this horrific story.

What happens when two Boeing 747s crash into each other on a runway at hundreds of miles per hour on a remote island? Well, the answer is probably even worse that you can imagine. On today's finale of our two-part series on the worst accident in aviation history, we uncover the grisly unfolding of the crash between Pan Am 1736 and KLM 4805, and the destruction that followed. During the investigation, authorities uncovered information that will probably make you want to break something (or at...

On March 27, 1977, the worst aviation accident in history took place on the island of Tenerife. A terrorist attack in the Canary Islands started a devastating chain reaction, ultimately resulting in a horrific crash that changed the aviation industry forever. Nearly 600 people lost their lives in a brutal, preventable way. Tune in this week as Caroline and Drew dive into this unforgettable event in world history.

If you knew that one person would be killed on your flight, would you still get on that plane? Unbeknownst to anyone, those were the odds facing the passengers of Southwest 1380 when they boarded the aircraft in spring of 2018. A freak accident would occur that fateful day, tragically taking the life of a beloved person. And if things had happened slightly differently, everyone else would have died too. But how did this occur in the modern era, especially on a plane that belonged to America's...

On an August day in 2005, each and every person on Helios 522 lost consciousness. Inside the cockpit, both pilots were slumped over in their seats, unresponsive. Without any manual input to guide the aircraft, the Boeing 737 flew itself for over an hour. But two hours after takeoff, everyone on board died in a fiery crash. What happened here? Why didn't the pilots take control of the plane? And how did everyone lose consciousness? Tune into this week's episode as Caroline and Trevor discuss...

On our final part of the Andes Flight Disaster series, we cover the grim realities of survival cannibalism, a violent avalanche, and the miraculous rescue of the survivors of Uruguayan Air Force 571. How do you make the impossible decision to consume the body of another person, who you knew and loved? How do survive a natural disaster with no equipment or help? And after everything you've gone through, how do you gather the strength to hike 38 miles and try to find rescue? We'll learn the...

Cannibalism. We're talking about that  flight that ended in cannibalism: Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571. But how did this happen? What brought a group of young rugby players, their families, and their friends to resort to survival cannibalism in the remote, desolate Andes? No one thinks they'll ever be in a plane crash, but for these crash victims, they quickly found themselves in a living nightmare that lasted for 72 days. With no water, no food, and no equipment, these 33 survivors lived...

Ever wondered what happens if a plane flies through a volcanic eruption? Well, today you can find out! On a beautiful summer day in the 1980s, British Airways 009 took off for what should have been an uneventful flight to Australia. However, their flight was soon disrupted by a bizarre weather phenomenon that the weather radar didn't detect. But despite the ensuing chaos and danger, the crew pulled off a miracle that no one saw coming. Tune in this week as Caroline and Justin explore this...

We love the FBI's most wanted list! From possible CIA connections, to Vietnam veterans with a "death wish," the suspects and theories about the identity of D.B. Cooper are endless. In today's episode we cover the FBI's criminal profile and decades-long investigation on D.B. Cooper, discuss likely suspects, and cover a second murder that is wrapped up in this case. Finally, we disclose our own theories about who the mystery hijacker is, why he did it, and where he is now. Tune into this week's...

After the hijacking of Northwest Orient Flight 305, we are left with a staggering number of questions. Where did this hijacker disappear to? Who is he? Is he dead somewhere?! The FBI begins their biggest manhunt of the 20th century, and along the way, they'll find more than they bargained for. Also, a little boy found something that the FBI couldn't. Good job, kid! To hear all about the initial investigation into who D.B. Cooper is (and whether or not he's even alive,) tune into this weeks...

The last words you want to hear on a plane is, "I have a bomb." But for the flight attendants on board Northwest Orient Airlines 305, those are the exact words spoken to them the night before Thanksgiving in 1971. The elaborate and unusual hijacking that ensued would elude the FBI for over 50 years, and and become one of the world's most fascinating mysteries. Who is D.B. Cooper? Why did he hijack this plane? Did he even survive his own hijacking? We'll tell the story of this legendary...

Today's episode is a listener request! In the late 1980s, a flaming passenger plane fell from the sky near Warsaw, Poland. Unlike many crashes, all 183 souls on board had already been fully aware of their impending death for over ten minutes. Pandemonium had broken out in the passenger cabin as they try to flee the fire, and inside the cockpit, the pilots screamed their last, chilling words to air traffic control. What is everyone doing inside that plane, knowing that death is just around the...

Have you ever been on a plane when a sinking feeling of existential dread sets in? Do you find yourself gripping the armrests during turbulence in a cold sweat? Or, have you ever canceled a trip because you were simply too afraid of flying? If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, you're not alone. Tune into today's episode as Caroline and returning guest Drew discuss flight anxiety, flight phobia, and what to do about it. We also go on a few side tangents. (Side tangents are comic...

Between October 2018 and April 2019, the Boeing 737 MAX killed nearly 350 people. Once internal documents are released and the investigation begins, Boeing sinks even further into depravity. How did this happen? What caused the plane to crash itself? And how will Boeing pay the price of its mass negligent homicide? Tune in this week as Caroline and Justin finish out two-part series on a piece of recent history that is truly demented.

It's the year 2018. Flying has never been safer, and Boeing, the world's most trusted aircraft manufacturer, has just released its latest innovation. Pilots and passengers alike were looking forward to experiencing the new and exciting Boeing 737 MAX. But unbeknownst to everyone, Boeing's newest creation would claim the lives of over 300 innocent people. The most shocking part? Boeing knew the dangers all along. They even went so far as to conceal this danger from both the passengers and...

Sometimes you make a terrible mistake. Sometimes you make a terrible mistake that lands you in the Pacific Ocean. And sometimes extraordinary luck comes in to save you and 106 other people in a one-in-a-million miracle. In our last episode of 2022, we explore a tale of optimism and ownership in the face of a truly overwhelming situation. Tune in for this week's episode with Caroline and Nancy, as well as a listener mail section featuring the best part of the podcast - YOU!

34 years ago today, the world lost 270 people to a bombing that was meant to shake the world to its core. A man was sent to prison... but was he actually guilty? A bizarre trial led to a controversial sentencing that still leaves questions unanswered today. In fact, in December 2022, a new arrest has been made in the case. Even though the victims of Pan Am 103 have been gone for 34 years, the fight for justice is still going strong. Tune in today to hear Caroline and Drew discuss the trial...

So... who killed these people? And why? In the second episode of our Lockerbie series, we get into the years-long investigation of the bombing of Pan Am 103. Several terrorist organizations claim to be responsible, but only one is telling the truth. And while exploring the possible motives behind the attacks, the United States has some of its own dirty laundry brought to the surface. Tune into this episode as Caroline and guest Drew discuss the claims, evidence, and possibilities of who will...

The night of December 21, 1988, a Pan Am Boeing 747 took off from Heathrow Airport. What should have been an uneventful flight to America turned into a gruesome nightmare that shook the globe. A terrorist attack unlike anything ever seen before took place at 31,000 feet, and 270 people died a horrible death as a result. What happened that fateful night? Who died on that plane? And equally important, who was killed in their homes on the ground? Tune into today's first episode of a three-part...

On today's lighthearted episode, Caroline and returning guest Dana discuss the ups and downs of turbulence (pardon the pun.) We'll discuss some wild instances of extreme turbulence, some tragic cases of wind shear and wake turbulence, and answer some common questions: Can turbulence crash your plane? How does turbulence work? How do you deal with turbulence anxiety? In a digestive emergency, should you use your barf bag, or run to the bathroom? Tune into today's episode to find out.

As Aeroperú 603 flew over the Pacific Ocean on a pitch-black night, nothing seemed amiss to any of the 70 passengers on board. But inside the cockpit, the two pilots faced an absolute nightmare: their plane had seemingly turned against them. The Boeing 757 was giving false altitude, speed, stall warnings, overspeed warnings, and many others.  They had no clue what their altitude or airspeed was. Flying over the ocean in a hazy night, the pilots could see nothing at all. And without their...

On September 7, 1940, Nazi pilots began a months-long attack on Great Britain that would eventually be called The Blitz. Often under the cover of night, these pilots used radio signals and beams to drop firebombs on their targets... and carried out countless terrorist attacks on innocent civilians. The Royal Air Force fought back, and one of the most famous war stories in history ensued. Tune in this week as we dive into one of Britain's darkest times, and the aviation that brought them back...

Nine years ago, a Boeing 777 ripped into two pieces as it crashed into the seawall at the San Francisco International Airport, killing three children. But instead of feeling sympathy, America laughed. Literally. Later that day, a news station fell for a sick prank by the NTSB and broadcast now-famous fake pilot names: Captain Sum Ting Wong, Wi Tu Low, Ho Lee Fuk, and Bang Ding Ow. In the aftermath of the accident, the average American was only aware of the prank played on the news station....