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Air Historian

A comedy and history podcast for the curious, morbidly curious, and mechanically curious about the tragedies and oddities of flight.

  1. 2023-05-10

    A Deadly Wind: Delta Airlines 191

    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 Trevor's ridiculous ATC theories.)

    37 min

  2. 2023-04-20

    Death Spiral: Alaska Airlines 261

    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.

    49 min

  3. 2023-03-30

    Fatal Blade: Southwest Airlines 1380

    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 safest airline? Caroline and Trevor answer all these questions on today's episode.

    28 min

  4. 2023-03-22

    Never Waking Up: Helios 522

    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 one of history's most haunting aviation disasters.

    32 min

  5. 2023-03-16

    Cannibalism: The Andes Flight Disaster Part II

    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 answers to all of these questions, straight from the accounts of people who lived through the experience. Tune into this week as Caroline and Alex finish the story of this death-defying journey.

    1h 8m

  6. 2023-03-08

    Fight to Survive: The Andes Flight Disaster Part I

    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 through a series of events that even the most imaginative movie studio could never come up with. The truth, in this case, is truly stranger than fiction.  Tune in this week as Caroline and Alex begin a multi-part series on the miraculous, gruesome, and morbidly inspiring story of the Andes Flight Disaster.

    47 min

  7. 2023-03-01

    Volcanic Disruption: British Airways Flight 009

    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 incredible flight.

    44 min

  8. 2023-02-22

    The Perfect Crime: D.B. Cooper Part III

    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 finale on our three-part series on the infamous D.B. Cooper/Dan Cooper/whoever the heck he actually is.

    41 min
See All (45)

4.3
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

A comedy and history podcast for the curious, morbidly curious, and mechanically curious about the tragedies and oddities of flight.

Information

  • Creator
    Air Historian
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2023
  • Episodes
    45
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Mayday!
  • Show Website
    Mayday!