Mayday: The Accident Files

Some of the deadliest air crashes in history have been caused by simple misunderstandings, including the single worst aviation accident of all time.

On every flight, passengers place their lives in the hands of their captain whose human flaws are enough to bring down an aircraft.

It takes years of training to become an airline captain, but it’s when a crisis strikes that a pilot really earns his stripes.

Sometimes the trust between pilots and their planes breaks down, and the cockpit inadvertently turns into a struggle that pits man against machine.

Civilian planes inadvertently become targets, but each incident teaches us vital lessons about how to protect commercial flights from the heat of war.

Though the cases are extremely rare, when suicidal pilots unleash their horrific plans on innocent passengers the destruction they inflict is epic.

Safety in the sky relies on air crash investigations. But sometimes investigators disagree, and the pressure intensifies when the victims are famous.

The sterile cockpit rule requires pilots to refrain from non-essential activities during critical phases of flight. Distractions can be catastrophic.

A fire on board can have disastrous consequences. These tragedies have helped lead the way towards significantly safer skies.