Black Box Down

A true crime podcast in the air. Lifelong aviation enthusiast Gustavo Sorola and his co-host Chris Demarais break down the major accidents in aviation and the steps taken to prevent future disasters. If you like true-crime podcasts but want something fresh and unique, you’ll love Black Box Down. Subscribe now and fasten your seat belt.

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150 episodes
Updated Jun 29, 2023

Episodes150

Newest first

Mar 3, 2022 · 48 min
Pilot Has A Breakdown / US Bangla Airlines Flight 211
The captain of a Bombardier Q400 becomes fixated with landing the plane no matter what. US Bangla Airlines Flight 211 is on approach when the crew becomes overwhelmed. The captain is in the middle of a breakdown and becomes disoriented. Once the crew finds the runway, the captain commits to landing at all costs. What was going on in the cockpit of this flight? Find out on this episode of Black Box Down.
Mar 2, 2022 · 54 sec
Introducing Ship Hits The Fan
Charlotte, Patrick and Brian are here to introduce a new podcast about maritime disasters: Ship Hits The Fan!
Feb 24, 2022 · 43 min
What It Takes to Animate Airplanes / Aviation Explanation Behind The Scenes
Learn what it takes to turn Black Box Down into an animated show. Gustavo and Chris are joined by Jordan Cwierz, Andrew Lhotsky and Al McClelland to learn the behind the scenes of Aviation Explanation. Learn some animation information on this bonus episode of Black Box Down.
Feb 10, 2022 · 22 min
Nightmare at 20,000 Feet | Insidious Inspirations Podcast
Find out the real life inspiration for this Twilight Zone episode. Gustavo and Chris guest star on the Insidious Inspirations Podcast to tell you what inspired the Twilight Zone episode "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet".
Feb 10, 2022 · 51 min
When Movies are Realistic with Insidious Inspirations / Real Pilot Starred in a Movie
Gustavo Sorola and Chris Demarais are joined by Nichole Goodnight to talk about the realism of aviation in movies. Listen as they discuss Nightmare at 20,000 Feet, Yellowjackets, and 7500 in this bonus episode of Black Box Down.
Jan 27, 2022 · 51 min
The Amsterdam Apartment Disaster / El Al Flight 1862 Loses Control Over Amsterdam
A Boeing 747 has engine trouble after takeoff. El Al Flight 1862 has just taken off and is flying over Amsterdam when the plane loses power from two engines. The crew realizes they are too high and too fast to land and must circle over the city. Suddenly the pilots lose control and the plane crashes into a nearby apartment building. What series of events led to this crash? Find out on this episode of Black Box Down.
Jan 20, 2022 · 55 min
Cargo Brings Down Plane / National Airlines Flight 102 Brought Down by Cargo
A Boeing 747 carrying military vehicles crashes right after takeoff. National Airlines Flight 102 is flying five multi-ton military vehicles out of Afghanistan and stops for a quick refueling. After some concerns about the cargo being loose, the crew prepares for departure. Shortly after takeoff, the plane pitches up sharply and falls flat to the ground. What series of events led to this accident? Find out on this episode of Black Box Down.
Jan 13, 2022 · 50 min
Confused Captain Makes a Wrong Turn / Crossair Flight 498 Spirals to the Ground
The captain of a Saab 340B gets lost in the clouds. Crossair Flight 498 has just taken off from Zurich and is climbing through the clouds. The crew are instructed to turn left, but the captain initiates a right turn without the first officer realizing. The bank angle continues to increase until the plane begins spiraling to the ground. Why did the captain make such a harsh right turn? Find out on this episode of Black Box Down.
Jan 6, 2022 · 1 hr 4 min
Joyriding Pilots Make Fatal Mistake / Pinnacle Airlines 3701
The pilots of a Bombardier CRJ200 decide to take a flight to 41,000 feet. Pinnacle Airlines Flight 3701 was a meant to be a simple relocation flight but the pilots decide to fly to the maximum altitude of 41,000 feet. After a short celebration, the engines start to lose power and shut down causing the plane to stall. Why weren't the pilots able to recover the plane? Find out on this episode of Black Box Down.
Dec 30, 2021 · 47 min
Refusing To Learn From Mistakes / The Turkish Airlines Flight 981 Tragedy
A DC-10 suffers explosive decompression while climbing to cruising altitude. Turkish Airlines Flight 981 has a cargo door burst open while climbing. This was not the first time this exact situation has occured, but safety recommendations were not implemented to prevent this from happening a second time. What is the fate of this flight? Find out on this episode of Black Box Down.
Dec 23, 2021 · 51 min
Plane Pitches Up Uncontrollably / Air Midwest Flight 5481 Stalls After Takeoff
A Beechcraft 1900D becomes uncontrolable immediately after takeoff. Air Midwest Flight 5481 starts pitching up uncontrollably after taking off. The pilots do their best to force the nose down but are unable to regain control of the aircraft. What made this plane become uncontrollabe? Find out on this episode of Black Box Down.
Dec 16, 2021 · 55 min
Airplane Has Counterfeit Parts / Bad Vibrations on Partnair Flight 394
A Convair CV-580 is flying between Norway and Denmark when it disappears from radar. Partnair Flight 394 is cruising over water when all contact is lost. Investigators find several strange things concerning the planes black boxes and are confused about what they are seeing. Eventually they discover something sinister about some of the parts that were installed on the aircraft. What discoveries were made about this flight? Find out on this episode of Black Box Down.
Dec 9, 2021 · 45 min
Plane Lands But No One Exits / The Mystery on Saudia Flight 163
A Lockheed L-1011 Tristar has an emergency after takeoff and is forced to land. Saudia Flight 163 has just taken off when the crew recieves a smoke warning from the cargo compartment. As they return to the airport, they lose their number 2 engine but land safely. However, after coming to a stop, the crew are never heard from again. What happened aboard this flight? Find out on this episode of Black Box Down.
Dec 2, 2021 · 47 min
Confused Pilots Get Lost / American Airlines Flight 965
A Boeing 757 crashes in Colombian mountains. American Airlines Flight 965 is on approach to their destination airport when the pilots are given instructions to land on a different runway.
Nov 25, 2021 · 51 min
Captain Starts a Nose Dive / China Airlines Flight 006
A Boeing 747 starts nose diving towards the Pacific Ocean. China Airlines Flight 006 is cruising normally towards California when the crew thinks an engine has failed. While trying to restart the engine, the captain doesn't notice a continuous bank to the right and the plane enters a nose dive. Were the crew able to regain control of the plane? Find out in this episode of Black Box Down.
Nov 18, 2021 · 33 min
The First Midair Collision / Accidents From The 1920's
Two airliners collide over France in 1922. Three accidents from the 1920's helped shape aviation regulations still used today. What were these three accidents? Find out on this bonus episode of Black Box Down.
Nov 4, 2021 · 49 min
Learning to Fly a Plane
Gus shares stories about becoming a pilot. Gus and our producer Dennis share stories with Chris about what it is like to be a student pilot. How hard could being a pilot really be? Find out on this bonus episode of Black Box Down.
Oct 21, 2021 · 57 min
The Tragedy of Helios Flight 522
Only one person on a Boeing 737 is awake. The crew of Helios Airways Flight 522 are trying to solve a problem as they are climbing to cruising altitude. Suddenly all radio communication stops but the plane flies for several more hours. An F-16 pilot looks into the airplane and finds that everyone is motionless except for one person who enters cockpit. What happened aboard this flight? Find out on this episode of Black Box Down.
Oct 14, 2021 · 55 min
Airplane is Unable to Slow Down / Cathay Pacific Flight 780
The throttles of an Airbus A330 are not responding to the captain's inputs. Cathay Pacific Flight 780 has a few minor engine warnings while cruising but are told it is safe to continue the flight. The problems get worse as the flight continues and the throttle becomes unresponsive during their approach leaving the flight too fast for a safe landing. What happens to Flight 780? Find out on this episode of Black Box Down.
Oct 7, 2021 · 53 min
Airplane Nose Dives By Itself / Qantas Flight 72
An Airbus A330 suddenly pitches down on its own. Qantas Flight 72 is cruising over the Indian Ocean when it violently pitches down without warning. The Captain eventually regains control but moments later it pitches down again. What is happening on board this plane to cause it to suddenly dive? Find out on this episode of Black Box Down.

Black Box Down

Pilot Has A Breakdown / US Bangla Airlines Flight 211

Introducing Ship Hits The Fan

What It Takes to Animate Airplanes / Aviation Explanation Behind The Scenes

Nightmare at 20,000 Feet | Insidious Inspirations Podcast

When Movies are Realistic with Insidious Inspirations / Real Pilot Starred in a Movie

The Amsterdam Apartment Disaster / El Al Flight 1862 Loses Control Over Amsterdam

Cargo Brings Down Plane / National Airlines Flight 102 Brought Down by Cargo

Confused Captain Makes a Wrong Turn / Crossair Flight 498 Spirals to the Ground

Joyriding Pilots Make Fatal Mistake / Pinnacle Airlines 3701

Refusing To Learn From Mistakes / The Turkish Airlines Flight 981 Tragedy

Plane Pitches Up Uncontrollably / Air Midwest Flight 5481 Stalls After Takeoff

Airplane Has Counterfeit Parts / Bad Vibrations on Partnair Flight 394

Plane Lands But No One Exits / The Mystery on Saudia Flight 163

Confused Pilots Get Lost / American Airlines Flight 965

Captain Starts a Nose Dive / China Airlines Flight 006

The First Midair Collision / Accidents From The 1920's

Learning to Fly a Plane

The Tragedy of Helios Flight 522

Airplane is Unable to Slow Down / Cathay Pacific Flight 780

Airplane Nose Dives By Itself / Qantas Flight 72