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Episodes

Spirit Airlines Collapse, A Near-Miss at United, & Handling Departure Weather Delays
May 5, 2026

Spirit Airlines Collapse, A Near-Miss at United, & Handling Departure Weather Delays

This week on the Black Box Aviation Podcast, we are covering the most critical headlines in aviation. From the abrupt shutdown of Spirit Airlines to a chilling near-miss incident at United, we break down what’s really happeni...
Gamers to Air Traffic Control & The Hidden Truth of Aviation Insider Threats
April 28, 2026

Gamers to Air Traffic Control & The Hidden Truth of Aviation Insider Threats

In this episode of The Black Box Aviation Podcast , Tom and Mike dive into the evolving landscape of aviation safety and the unique ways the industry is recruiting the next generation of professionals. From high-stakes securi...
Sky King: The 2018 Sea-Tac Stolen Q400 Incident | The Untold Story of Richard Russell
April 26, 2026

Sky King: The 2018 Sea-Tac Stolen Q400 Incident | The Untold Story of Richard Russell

In 2018, the world watched in disbelief as a Horizon Air Q400 was stolen from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport by a ground service agent with zero piloting experience. On this episode of The Black Box Aviation Podcast , T...
MEOW! Chaos on Guard & The Airline Merger Madness
April 21, 2026

MEOW! Chaos on Guard & The Airline Merger Madness

In this episode of the Black Box Aviation Podcast, Tom and Mike break down the recent controversy surrounding "cats on the radio" and the unprofessional antics on the emergency guard frequency. We examine the safety implicati...
Doors Open & Close Calls: Surviving Unexpected In-Flight Emergencies
April 14, 2026

Doors Open & Close Calls: Surviving Unexpected In-Flight Emergencies

In this episode of the Black Box Aviation Podcast, Tom and Mike break down a series of recent "hair-raising" incidents that highlight the unpredictable nature of flight operations. We start with the wild Cape Air story where ...
Iran Rescue Ops: F-15E Down, Artemis Moon Mission & Pilot Radio Skills
April 7, 2026

Iran Rescue Ops: F-15E Down, Artemis Moon Mission & Pilot Radio Skills

In this episode of the Black Box Aviation Podcast, Tom and Mike break down the high-stakes military rescue operation following a recent F-15E Strike Eagle shoot-down in Iran. We examine the complex coordination of search and ...
NTSB Warnings: LaGuardia Crash Investigation, ATC Staffing Crisis & TSA Funding Chaos
March 31, 2026

NTSB Warnings: LaGuardia Crash Investigation, ATC Staffing Crisis & TSA Funding Chaos

In this episode of the Black Box Aviation Podcast, Tom and Mike pull back the curtain on the critical safety failures currently plaguing the U.S. aviation system. We break down the NTSB’s urgent investigation into the LaGuard...
F-35 Missile Strike, TSA Shutdown Chaos & The $27K Tarmac Rule
March 24, 2026

F-35 Missile Strike, TSA Shutdown Chaos & The $27K Tarmac Rule

Aviation News, TSA Shutdown, F-35 Stealth Fighter, Jet Fuel Prices, DOT Tarmac Rules, Airline Industry Trends, Pilot Podcast. In this packed episode of the Black Box Aviation Podcast, Tom and Mike break down the high-stakes w...
LGA Runway Collision: The Air Canada CRJ-900 & Fire Truck ATC Analysis
March 23, 2026

LGA Runway Collision: The Air Canada CRJ-900 & Fire Truck ATC Analysis

"I messed up." Those are the chilling words from the LaGuardia tower moments after an Air Canada CRJ-900 collided with an airport fire truck on an active runway. In this emergency "Hot Topic" episode, Tom and Mike—both profes...
Pilot Hiring 2026: Southwest Apps, Checkride Failures, and Legacy Forecast
March 17, 2026

Pilot Hiring 2026: Southwest Apps, Checkride Failures, and Legacy Forecast

The major airlines are on a hiring spree in 2026, but are you prepared for the "scrub"? In this episode of the Black Box Aviation Podcast , Tom and Mike break down the current pilot hiring landscape. We go deep into the South...
Aviation Crisis: KC-135 Crash, Oil Volatility, and P-3 Orion Missions
March 15, 2026

Aviation Crisis: KC-135 Crash, Oil Volatility, and P-3 Orion Missions

Breaking down the KC-135 mid-air collision in Iraq and why jet fuel prices just spiked 50%. Tom and Mike analyze the technical and geopolitical fallout. In this urgent Monday release, we dive into the high-stakes world of mil...
Incoming: Iranian Intercepts, Jet Fuel Jolts, and the Evacuation Dilemma
March 10, 2026

Incoming: Iranian Intercepts, Jet Fuel Jolts, and the Evacuation Dilemma

In this high-stakes episode of the Black Box Aviation Podcast , Tom and Mike dive into the intensifying air power struggle in the Middle East. Tom reflects on his own harrowing experience flying a P-3 Orion in the Persian Gul...
The Fireball Over Paris: The Tragic End of the Concorde (Air France 4590)
March 5, 2026

The Fireball Over Paris: The Tragic End of the Concorde (Air France 4590)

On July 25, 2000, the "flagship of the skies" met a catastrophic end. In this episode of the Black Box Aviation Podcast , Tom and Mike break down the tragic crash of Air France Flight 4590 , the fatal Concorde flight that eve...
Is Your Flight Path Giving You Radiation?
March 3, 2026

Is Your Flight Path Giving You Radiation?

Tom and Mike explore the "silent hazard" of aviation: Cosmic Radiation. We compare pilot exposure to nuclear workers and discuss the FAA's lack of protection for crews. In this episode: Top 18 Ranking: We celebrate our Pod Ra...
The Ghost Plane: Payne Stewart and the Silent Killer at 39,000 Feet
Feb. 26, 2026

The Ghost Plane: Payne Stewart and the Silent Killer at 39,000 Feet

On October 25, 1999, a luxury Learjet 35 departed Orlando with PGA legend Payne Stewart on board. Minutes later, the cockpit went silent. What followed was a four-hour "ghost flight" across America, pursued by F-16s as the wo...
Flight Sim Mastery, Navy Checkrides, and the Pilot Stripe Mystery
Feb. 24, 2026

Flight Sim Mastery, Navy Checkrides, and the Pilot Stripe Mystery

Can virtual flying prepare you for a real-world Navy checkride? This week, Tom and Mike sit down with Wide-body Captain and simulation pro Jovan J. to explore the high-stakes world of online flight simulation. From the techni...
Air France 447: The Pilot Errors that Caused a High-Altitude Stall
Feb. 19, 2026

Air France 447: The Pilot Errors that Caused a High-Altitude Stall

The "unstallable" plane fell from 35,000 feet in just 4 minutes. On June 1, 2009, Air France Flight 447 vanished over the South Atlantic. In this episode of the Black Box Aviation Podcast , Tom and Mike analyze the official a...
ExecJet 901: Citation Latitude vs. 4 Deer (ATC Breakdown)
Feb. 18, 2026

ExecJet 901: Citation Latitude vs. 4 Deer (ATC Breakdown)

What happens when a mid-sized business jet hits a herd of deer at 100 MPH? 🎧 In this episode of the Black Box Aviation Podcast , Tom and Mike analyze the recent emergency involving ExecJet Flight 901 out of North Palm Beach C...
Pilot Career Tips & Flight Training with Ava Almquist
Feb. 18, 2026

Pilot Career Tips & Flight Training with Ava Almquist

How do you balance an airline career, a social media brand, and a healthy lifestyle? In this episode of the Black Box Aviation Podcast , we sit down with Ava Almquist (@pilot.avabelle) to discuss the modern path to the flight...
DCA Mid-Air Collision: The 2025 Potomac River Tragedy & NTSB Report
Feb. 12, 2026

DCA Mid-Air Collision: The 2025 Potomac River Tragedy & NTSB Report

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 syste...
The MD-11 Mystery & Winter Ops Chaos: Pilot Stories from the Blizzard
Feb. 10, 2026

The MD-11 Mystery & Winter Ops Chaos: Pilot Stories from the Blizzard

Why do airplanes hate the cold? In this episode, we’re breaking down the high-stakes world of Winter Aviation Operations . From Mike’s "sketchy" blizzard departure in Providence to the "cockpit gremlins" that appear when the ...
The Mount Erebus Disaster: A Fatal Error in the Flight Plan
Feb. 5, 2026

The Mount Erebus Disaster: A Fatal Error in the Flight Plan

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 supp...
From Audio to Video: Black Box Aviation’s First Studio Episode
Feb. 3, 2026

From Audio to Video: Black Box Aviation’s First Studio Episode

In this milestone episode of the Black Box Aviation Podcast , Tom and Mike officially bring the show to video for the very first time. This special episode goes behind the scenes into their home studio setups , aviation memor...
Airline Hiring Changes, Challenger Crash, and Aviation Security Concerns
Jan. 27, 2026

Airline Hiring Changes, Challenger Crash, and Aviation Security Concerns

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, a...