Accidents & Investigations Episodes

Why did a commercial jet and a military Black Hawk collide over the Potomac River? In this episode of The Black Box Aviation Podcast, we analyze the NTSB final report on the 2025 DCA mid-air collision. We dive into the systemic FAA failures, air traffic control workload, and the heartbreaking connection to the 2026 Winter Olympics and US figure skater Maxim Naumov. Key Topics Discussed: The Incident: A minute-by-minute breakdown of PSA Flight 5342 and PAT25. The Investigation: Why TCA...

What really happened to Air New Zealand Flight 901? 🏔️✈️ In our first "Hot Topic" episode, Tom and Mike dive deep into one of the most controversial aviation accidents in history: the 1979 Mount Erebus disaster. What was supposed to be a luxury, champagne-filled sightseeing flight over Antarctica turned into a nightmare when a DC-10 slammed into an active volcano. In this episode, we discuss: The Luxury Experience: 36 flight attendants, gourmet meals, and the legacy of Sir Edmund Hillary....

Welcome back to the Black Box Aviation Podcast, where we talk aviation, travel, and the things you NEED and WANT to know about flying. It’s a quick-hit episode today—covering breaking aviation news, airline hiring shifts, and some classic stories from the road. A look at a Challenger 600 crash in Bangor, Maine UPS officially retires the MD-11 and what it means for cargo aviation Southwest Airlines ends open seating—a major culture shift A car crashes into Delta’s baggage cl...

In this post-Christmas episode of the Black Box Aviation Podcast, Tom and Mike recap the holidays, listener corrections, airline life on the road, and dive deep into recent aviation accidents and industry discussions. The guys break down listener call-outs and corrections from the Christmas episode, talk airline schedules, training culture, and what it’s really like balancing family life with flying during the holidays. From childhood Christmas nostalgia to international travel prep, nothing ...

Welcome to the Black Box Aviation Podcast, where Tom and Mike break down the latest in aviation news, airline industry updates, pilot stories, air travel trends, and real-world flying experiences. This episode is packed with surprises, industry drama, and jaw-dropping aviation stories — including a live FedEx delivery surprise that shows up during the recording! ✈️ What we cover in this episode: • A surprise gift delivered by FedEx LIVE during the show • Flying with dogs on seats — a real ...

Buckle up — this week in aviation has been absolute turbulence. From major software recalls to a global cargo fleet grounding, winter runway scares, and wild stories from the road, Aviation Chaos Week breaks down everything shaking the industry. ✈️ This Episode Covers: 🔹 Airbus A320 global software recall impacting airlines worldwide — what caused it, who’s hit hardest, and how long disruptions may last 🔹 UPS MD-11 inspection crisis — why the fleet grounding now appears to be months, not week...

Ladies and gentlemen — welcome aboard another adrenaline-charged episode of the Black Box Aviation Podcast, where aviation gets real. In today’s episode, Tom and Mike break down the chilling story of Swissair Flight 111, an MD-11 that departed New York for Geneva in September 1998… and never arrived. What began as a routine transatlantic flight quickly turned into one of the deadliest and most defining aviation emergencies in Canadian history. We walk step-by-step through: ✈️ The mysteriou...

Welcome back to The Black Box Aviation Podcast — where we dive into aviation, travel, and the wild, unbelievable stories from the world of flying that you need and want to know. Hosted by Tom & Mike, two pilots who love airplanes and aren't afraid to get technical. On March 31st, 1992, a 28-year-old Boeing 707-321C departed Luxembourg carrying 70,000 lbs of freight. What should have been a routine climb turned into one of the most incredible saves in aviation history. ⚠️ At 32,000 feet, th...

In this chilling episode of The Black Box Aviation Podcast, Tom and Mike take listeners back to one of the most haunting winter aviation disasters in U.S. history — Air Florida Flight 90, the Boeing 737 that crashed into the icy Potomac River moments after takeoff from Washington National Airport in 1982. This episode explores how improper de-icing, pilot error, and misjudged procedures led to tragedy — and how brave civilians and first responders turned a day of horror into a story of herois...

In this special breaking news edition of The Black Box Aviation Podcast, Tom and Mike dive deep into the tragic crash of UPS Flight 2976, a McDonnell Douglas MD-11 that went down shortly after takeoff from Louisville, Kentucky. This episode hits close to home — Tom is currently qualified and flies the same aircraft type involved in the accident. With that insider knowledge, the hosts break down what’s known so far about the takeoff fire, engine failure, and possible uncontained engine event t...

This week on the Black Box Aviation Podcast, Tom & Mike dive deep into aviation emergencies, strange skies, and one of the eeriest stories in airline history — the haunting of Eastern Air Lines Flight 401. We start off with a quick recap of last week’s interview with Nate Ehlers, founder of TheBackseatPilot.com. Don’t forget — you can still grab 15% off your order with code BLACKBOX at checkout! Then, it’s time for: ✈️ Shoutouts from listeners — including Will’s question about the origins ...

This week on the Black Box Aviation Podcast, Tom & Mike sit down with special guest Heather, a passenger on Southwest Flight 2169 — the flight that suffered a wing strike on landing in Hartford back in 2019. Heather relives that terrifying day: the violent touchdown, passengers getting sick as the plane attempted two more landings, and the final emergency diversion to Providence. It’s a firsthand story of fear, confusion, and what it’s like when a routine flight goes very wrong. We talk about...

On this episode of the Black Box Aviation Podcast, Tom & Mike break down one of the most shocking aviation stories ever—FedEx Flight 705. In 1994, Auburn Calloway, an off-duty FedEx pilot, attempted to hijack a DC-10 using hammers, mallets, and even a speargun. His plan: crash into FedEx headquarters in Memphis. What followed was a brutal cockpit battle, a desperate fight for survival, and aerobatic maneuvers in a jumbo jet that were never meant to be possible. We also discuss the book Touchi...

This week on the Black Box Aviation Podcast, Tom & Mike cover everything from music icons to major aviation headlines. Tom visits New York, takes in the USS Intrepid Air Museum, and maybe even spots Lady Gaga — but is he really a fan? We break down the WestJet 2276 hard landing in St. Maarten that forced a passenger evacuation and shut down the airport, plus a discussion on jumpseat etiquette following news of the Alaska Airlines pilot who took mushrooms and tried to shut down the engines — n...

Even pro travelers make rookie mistakes — Tom forgot to pack underwear. 🧳✈️ Mike won’t let him live it down as the Black Box Aviation Podcast takes off with stories from the road. This episode dives into the world of fuel dumping: why airlines do it, FAA rules, and what happened when Delta Flight 89 dumped thousands of gallons over Los Angeles, showering neighborhoods and schools below. Tom and Mike share their own experiences with emergency fuel dumps in the P-3 and MD-11, breaking down the ...

In this episode of the Black Box Aviation Podcast, Tom & Mike take a deep dive into one of the most shocking tragedies in modern aviation: the Germanwings Flight 9525 crash. On March 24, 2015, an Airbus A320 was intentionally brought down by its first officer, killing all on board. We break down the timeline, the cockpit voice recordings, and the critical lessons learned from this heartbreaking event. But that’s not all—we also explore: ✅ The State of Mental Health in Aviation New researc...

In Hot Topic #9 of The Black Box Aviation Podcast, Tom & Mike dive into the haunting story of Northwest Orient Flight 2501, a DC-4 lost over Lake Michigan in 1950 during a violent storm—becoming the deadliest aviation accident in U.S. history at the time. With chilling similarities to modern incidents, and a 75-year mystery that ends not with discovery, but with surrender, this episode explores low-level icing, microbursts, and the limitations of vintage aviation tech. We’ll also touch on the...

In Episode 28 of the Black Box Aviation Podcast, Tom & Mike dive deep into the just-released preliminary report on Air India Flight 171, the tragic 787 crash out of Ahmedabad. What initially looked like a puzzle of flap settings, weather, and electrical theories now zeroes in on a chilling cockpit moment: both engines lost power after the fuel cutoff switches were mysteriously triggered just seconds after takeoff. Was it mechanical failure or human error? We break it all down. We also hit: ...

It’s a jam-packed episode of the Black Box Aviation Podcast with Tom & Mike, where we talk aviation, airlines, travel chaos, grilling food, and the wild world of airline policy. This week we dig into everything from 4th of July cookout trends to TSA controversies, historic crashes, and whether Southwest Airlines is losing its soul. Here’s what’s on the flight plan: 🌭 4th of July Food & Fireworks Mayhem From baby back ribs to flying bratwurst — and a reminder that 14,700 people landed in th...

Welcome to another episode of the Black Box Aviation Podcast, where we talk all things aviation, flying, travel — and the occasional wild conspiracy. Your hosts Tom & Mike are back with stories from the road, industry news, and an unsolved mystery from aviation history. Here’s what we dive into this week: 🇺🇸 4th of July in the Airline World — Why holiday pay isn’t always guaranteed, contract frustrations, and how the system should work. ✈️ Stories from the Flight Deck — From Memphis to Anchor...

Welcome to Hot Topic #8 on the Black Box Aviation Podcast with your hosts Tom & Mike, where we break down the latest and most pressing events in aviation. Today’s episode takes a hard look at the tragic Air India crash involving a Boeing 787 that went down on June 12th shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad en route to London. We examine: The sequence of events captured on video, including the unusually high angle of attack, gear still down, and ultimate impact beyond the runway. Pos...

Welcome back to the Black Box Aviation Podcast with Tom & Mike — where we break down the latest in aviation, travel, and everything you need to know about life in the skies. This episode is a full plate! We start with the Hot Topic — the Air India incident — and we’re currently working to bring in a safety expert to go even further. We also dissect a JetBlue A220 landing incident at BOS in strong crosswinds, a dramatic heavy landing we recently had ourselves, and a few stories from our time o...

In this week’s Hot Topic, we’re revisiting one of the most tragic and influential accidents in U.S. aviation history: American Airlines Flight 191, the catastrophic DC-10 crash just moments after takeoff from Chicago O’Hare on May 25, 1979. This wasn’t just a terrible accident—it was a turning point. In this episode, we dive deep into: ✈️ Personal Memories – Flying the DC-10, the 727, and now the MD-11 🧰 The Maintenance Misstep – How a shortcut during engine removal led to catastrophic failur...

In this high-flying episode of The Black Box Aviation Podcast, we’re diving into one of the most mysterious unsolved cases in aviation history—the legend of DB Cooper. On November 24, 1971, a man in a modest suit boarded a Northwest Orient Airlines 727 in Portland, Oregon. He handed a note to a flight attendant, claimed he had a bomb, demanded $200,000 in cash, parachutes, and a flight to Mexico... and then disappeared—literally—into the night sky over the Pacific Northwest. We’ll break do...