In the first episode of The Secret History of the Estonia, investigative journalist Stephen Davis hears remarkable eyewitness accounts from four survivors of the tragedy.   The Estonia sets sail from Tallinn port on the 27th September 1994, heading across the Baltic Sea to Stockholm. It’s a routine crossing for the passengers and crew. But in the middle of the night the ferry suddenly starts taking on water. There’s a raging storm outside and the ship is sinking fast. It’s a question of life...

Coming soon - The Secret History of the Estonia. A tale of secrets, smugglers and spies and how 852 people died on a ferry.  From the team behind The Secret History of Flight 149, journalist Stephen Davis investigates the tragic sinking of the passenger ship The Estonia, uncovering a mysterious trail that leads back to the Cold War. Episodes released weekly from January 9th 2023, with the whole series available ad-free on the Crowd Stories channel on Apple Podcasts. You can also listen...

Want another podcast to listen? Let us introduce you to dot com: The Hacking. Russian ransomware attacks almost doubled last year, and in this brave new world, nothing is too small, or big, to be digitalised - including acts of war. At this very moment, cybercriminals are crippling schools, supermarkets, dentists, kindergartens, hospitals, oil pipelines - all in the name of money. Katie Puckrik wants to know who is doing this, and why. You can binge the whole series now by subscribing to the...

When a car bomb kills Daphne Caruana Galizia on the beautiful Mediterranean island of Malta, the hunt for her killers exposes secrets with consequences that go far beyond its shores. In the aftermath of her death an international team of journalists comes together to continue her work. Along the way they start to uncover clues that might lead to her killers. From Wondery, comes a new story about power, corruption and one woman’s fight for the truth. Hosted by investigative reporter Stephen...

Looking for your next Crowd podcast? If you’re a history fan, try We Didn’t Start the Fire, with Katie Puckrik and Tom Fordyce. They follow Billy Joel’s lyrics to chart the most fascinating, random and original history of the post-war world. It's politics, rock 'n' roll, sport, space, television, the Cold War, explored and explained by historians, eyewitnesses, and mega-fans.  If you want more, click here: https://podfollow.com/1549243765 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit...

Stephen reveals some new details that have come to light since we started making this series, and speaks with someone who was on the ground in Kuwait at the time of the invasion. We also hear from all the human shields we’ve been following, and learn about the personal impact of this horrific ordeal. Additional material across the series courtesy of Getty, Blakeway Productions, The Parliamentary Recording Unit and C-Span. Stay tuned for more ‘Secret History’ episodes later in the year. Learn...

The investigation gains momentum as key individuals speak out about the events of August 1990. Stephen reveals just who was on Flight 149...is this why the plane landed? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The hostages may have made it home, but the psychological and emotional effects continue. Stephen begins his search for the truth. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The West stands on the brink of war against Saddam Hussein’s regime, but the human shields are in the line of fire. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What must it have felt like to be a child hostage? Stephen hears the remarkable tale of one of the youngest captives, and also asks how the Flight 149 family members left behind coped with the ordeal. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The US Embassy finds itself under siege. As the international pressure on Saddam Hussein intensifies, he makes a sudden announcement that creates a dilemma for many of the human shields. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The hostages have now become human shields – scattered at strategic locations across Iraq and Kuwait. They have been put in the line of fire and are living in constant fear of being bombed. When food supplies run dangerously short, they are forced to take drastic measures...  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The hostages are faced with the impossible decision of whether to follow the official advice and stay in a hotel occupied by the Iraqi army, or risk everything to make a run for it. The Captain calls a secret meeting of his crew, but has he left it too late to escape? This episode contains descriptions of graphic violence. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Flight 149 passengers and crew are now stranded in war-torn Kuwait. Tanks surround their hotel, and soldiers have set up camp in the basement. But could the hostages smuggle themselves to safety?  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When Flight 149 departed London Heathrow on 1 August 1990, the passengers and crew had no idea of the trauma that lay ahead. A routine stopover in Kuwait turned into a hostage crisis. Hear from the hostages themselves as they recall the horrifying realisation that their holiday had taken a very dark turn. Journalist Stephen Davis delves into what's been dubbed one of the biggest cover ups in modern history. Episode one of nine. Please note this episode contains references to violent sexual...

Imagine boarding a flight thinking you’re heading on holiday, but instead you get taken hostage by Saddam Hussein. It might sound far-fetched, but in August 1990 this really happened to the passengers and crew of BA Flight 149. What followed has been dubbed the most shocking government cover-up of the last thirty years. The Secret History of Flight 149 launches February 7th, from Crowd Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices