Mayday: Season 26

2026 · 10 episodes · ★ 8.0

What Season 26 of Mayday

The season opens with a private charter flight attempting to land in Aspen during heavy snowfall, and continues with a Widerøe turboprop that barely pulls away from a Norwegian island. The episodes then travel to Düsseldorf, New Zealand, Pakistan, Peru, Algeria, Nepal and India, and cover a Korean Air MD-11F that departs from Shanghai. In each case, crews face technical failures, adverse weather or errors in judgment. Re-creations are combined with interviews with experts, retired pilots and investigators, who explain what went wrong and how it could have been avoided. Stephen Bogaert's voice ties the whole story together.

10episodes

Feb 2, 2026premiered

Apr 6, 2026Latest episode

7.4 hrtotal runtime

Season 26 Episodes

26x01 Deadly Charter (2001 Aspen Gulfstream III crash)
Feb 2, 2026 · 45 min · ★ 7.8
On 29 March 2001, a chartered business jet operated by Avjet crashes into a hillside while on final approach to Aspen/Pitkin County Airport in Colorado, killing all 18 people on board. The cause of the accident was the pilots' premature descent below the minimum descent altitude.
Directing: Tim Wolochatiuk · Writing: Armen Kazazian
26x02 Norwegian Nightmare (Widerøe Flight 839)
Feb 9, 2026 · 45 min
On 12 April 1990, Widerøe Flight 839 crashes into the water shortly after takeoff from Værøy Airport in Norway, killing all five people on board. The investigation determined that the aircraft suffered a structural failure due to strong winds that exceeded its design criteria.
Directing: Tim Wolochatiuk
26x03 A Perfect Storm (Nürnberger Flugdienst Flight 108)
Feb 16, 2026 · 44 min
On 8 February 1988, Nürnberger Flugdienst Flight 108 breaks up in mid-air and crashes near Kettwig, Germany, while on approach to Düsseldorf Airport, killing all 21 people on board. The pilots suffered spatial disorientation after a lightning strike caused a total electrical failure.
Directing: Mark Mainguy
26x04 Crash Landing (Eagle Airways Flight 2300)
Feb 23, 2026 · 44 min
On 18 June 2007, the landing gear of Eagle Airways Flight 2300 fails to extend while on approach to Wellington. The pilots divert the aircraft and make a belly landing at Blenheim, saving all 17 people on board. The landing gear failed due to a fatigue crack in the hydraulic actuator.
Directing: Mark Mainguy
26x05 Peril over Pakistan (Airblue Flight 202)
Mar 2, 2026 · 44 min
On 28 July 2010, Airblue Flight 202 crashes into the Margalla Hills while attempting to land at Benazir Bhutto International Airport in poor weather conditions, killing all 152 people on board. The crash was caused by the pilots' errors in judgement and lack of professionalism.
Directing: Leo Scherman
26x06 Deadly Cover Up (Aeroperú Flight 603)
Mar 9, 2026 · 44 min
On 2 October 1996, shortly after take off, the crew of Aeroperú Flight 603 are confused by false speed and altitude readings and contradictory warnings from the aircraft's air data system. In preparation for an emergency landing, the crew descend the aircraft, but unknowingly descend too far by relying on the false readings. The aircraft crashes into the Pacific Ocean, killing all 70 people on board. The false readings and contradictory warnings were caused by duct tape over the static ports, which was used to protect the ports during maintenance, but was not removed afterwards.Note: This accident was previously featured in the episode "Flying Blind" (S01E04) and as a special in the episode "Who's Flying the Plane?" (S06E03).
Directing: Leo Scherman
26x07 Divided in Crisis (Air Algérie 6289)
Mar 16, 2026 · 45 min
On 6 March 2003, the left engine of Air Algérie Flight 6289 fails during takeoff from Aguenar – Hadj Bey Akhamok Airport in Tamanrasset, Algeria. The aircraft enters a stall and crashes into a desert near the Trans-Sahara Highway, killing all but 1 of the 103 occupants on board.
Directing: Leo Scherman
26x08 Moments from Touchdown (Yeti Airlines Flight 691)
Mar 23, 2026 · 43 min
On 15 January 2023, Yeti Airlines Flight 691 stalls and crashes into a gorge near the Seti Gandaki River during final approach to Pokhara International Airport, killing all 72 people on board. It was later determined that the pilots accidentally feathered the aircraft's propellers.
Directing: Sid Zanforlin · Starring: Shohana Sharmin, Noor Kaur Dhanda, Joel Koshy, Wilex Ly
26x09 Monsoon Approach (Air India Express Flight 1344)
Mar 30, 2026 · 45 min
On 7 August 2020, Air India Express Flight 1344 plunges down a gorge after overrunning the runway at Kozhikode International Airport in poor weather, killing 21 of the 190 people on board. The captain continued the unstabilized approach and landed too far down the runway.
Directing: Anita Ayres
26x10 Mixed Measures (Korean Air Cargo Flight 6316)
Apr 6, 2026 · 45 min
On 15 April 1999, Korean Air Cargo Flight 6316 crashes into an industrial zone shortly after takeoff from Shanghai, China, killing all 3 crew members on board and 5 people on the ground. The pilots lost altitude situational awareness and made abrupt flight control inputs.
Directing: Leslie Côté