The Smithsonian Channel to Premiere New Season of AIR DISASTERS

A 747 explodes in the skies above New York. An Indonesian airliner crashes in the jungle with no survivors. A Taiwanese commuter aircraft clips a highway on takeoff and plunges into a river. In the aftermath of the world's deadliest airplane tragedies, the world is often left to wonder: What happened? Smithsonian Channel's long-running series AIR DISASTERS returns with a new season to uncover the truth behind what went wrong and how to prevent these fatal crashes in the future. The 11th season of AIR DISASTERS premieres Sunday, September 30 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Smithsonian Channel.

Ten all-new episodes of AIR DISASTERS feature exclusive eyewitness accounts, archival footage, dramatic reenactments, state-of-the-art CGI and interviews with survivors, family members and air crash investigators tasked with determining the cause of the tragedy. Whether the result of an on-board fire, malfunctioning flight systems, pilot error, terrorism or manufacturing defects, each incident offers valuable lessons about air travel that aim to make flying safer.

The season premiere, EXPLOSIVE PROOF, chronicles the tragic end of TWA Flight 800, which triggers the longest and most complex investigation in NTSB history. Just 12 minutes after takeoff, the aircraft is ripped apart by a massive explosion in the skies above New York. With a possible terror attack on their hands, the FBI joins the NTSB in an urgent search for answers. Initial wreckage and recovered data provide few clues, leading to the bold decision to rebuild the entire plane. Eventually, experts zero in on an exploding gas tank, prompting questions about how the jet fuel could get hot enough to combust and precisely what sparked the blast.

Subsequent episodes of AIR DISASTERS are:

KILLER ATTITUDE

Premieres Sunday, October 7 at 8 p.m. ET/PT

After a routine flight, a Northwest Airlink commuter plane crashes in northern Minnesota, killing everyone on board. With no flight data recorder, the analysis of physical evidence becomes critical. Radar reveals the plane's trajectory may have been deliberate to avoid icing, but why did the pilots fail to slow their rapid descent? The cockpit voice recorder raises disturbing questions about an inexperienced first officer. But as investigators dig deeper, they uncover a troubling pattern of abuse by the captain that led to a breakdown in proper management and human cooperation.

DEADLY MYTH

Premieres Sunday, October 14 at 8 p.m. ET/PT

When a commuter flight to Detroit ends in a harrowing death spiral, it's up to investigators to determine the cause and provide information to help prevent it from ever happening again. Evidence rules out initial theories of an in-flight fire. A problem with the plane's propellers and a close analysis of the flight data lead investigators to the culprit behind the crash: icing. The final report raises questions around the FAA's failure to establish adequate standards for flight in icing conditions.

TURNING POINT

Premieres Sunday, October 21 at 8 p.m. ET/PT

Headed for South Korea, a Boeing 767 crashes into a hillside several miles from the runway. As the nation mourns its worst-ever air disaster, investigators face puzzling evidence: The surviving captain of the Air China flight claims that everything was normal, while air traffic controllers testify that the radio communications were anything but. Evidence reveals the crew had mishandled the precisely timed series of turns before touching down on the runway, and investigators are faced with the mystery of why the crew failed to correct the issue.

LETHAL TURN

Premieres Sunday, October 28 at 8 p.m. ET/PT

When an Indonesian airliner crashes in the jungle and claims the lives of all 234 people on board, it becomes the country's worst aviation disaster. The compact crash site indicates the aircraft came down nose first and hit the ground in one piece. It also reveals the plane was flying away from the airport when it crashed, baffling investigators. A series of human errors are uncovered, leading to a call for improved communications training for pilots and updates to Medan Airport's radar system.

STORMING OUT

Premieres Sunday, November 4 at 8 p.m. ET/PT

On its final approach to Charlotte, North Carolina, US Air Flight 1016 is suddenly engulfed in rain so intense it obstructs the view from the cockpit. The pilots abort the landing to execute a go-around, but as they do, the aircraft crashes to Earth, hurtling along a road and breaking apart. Among the survivors are the pilots, who insist severe weather is to blame. For the investigators, the extreme rain is only part of the story. While evidence shows it was a microburst that upset the plane, the mystery remains: Why didn't the crew simply fly out?

CAUGHT ON TAPE

Premieres Sunday, November 11 at 8 p.m. ET/PT

The dashcam of a passing car captures stunning footage of the final moments of a Taiwanese commuter aircraft as it banks steeply, clips an elevated highway and nosedives into the river. Investigators find no signs of pre-impact malfunction in either the plane's flight control or hydraulic systems. The search becomes even more complex when they study the wreckage and find the blades of the right propeller engine feathered, suggesting it lost power during flight. But the more clues the investigators uncover, the greater the mystery: What caused the propeller to feather, and why did the plane bank violently to the left just before impact?

Additional episodes of season 11 of AIR DISASTERS are scheduled to premiere in early 2019.

AIR DISASTERS is produced by Cineflix (Mayday 17) Inc. for Smithsonian Channel. Alex Bystram is the executive producer for Cineflix. Joy Galane and David Royle are executive producers for Smithsonian Channel.

Smithsonian Channel(TM), owned by Smithsonian Networks(TM), a joint venture between Showtime Networks Inc. and the Smithsonian Institution, is where CURIOSITY lives, inspiration strikes and wonders never cease. This is the place for awe-inspiring stories, powerful documentaries and amazing factual entertainment, available in HD and 4K Ultra HD across multiple platforms. Smithsonian Channel, winner of Emmy(R) and Peabody awards for its programming, combines the storytelling prowess of SHOWTIME(R) with the unmatched resources and rich traditions of the Smithsonian, to create programming that shines new light on popular genres such as air and space, history, science, nature and pop culture. Among the network's offerings are series including Aerial America, America in Color, The Lost Tapes, Mighty Ships, Million Dollar American Princesses, THE PACIFIC WAR IN COLOR and Air Disasters, as well as critically-acclaimed specials that include The Coronation, The Mountain Lion and Me, Earth from Outer Space and Titanoboa: Monster Snake. Smithsonian Networks also operates Smithsonian Earth(TM), through SN Digital LLC., a subscription video streaming service delivering spectacular 4K original nature and wildlife content. Smithsonian Channel is also available internationally in Canada, Singapore and Latin America. To learn more, go to www.smithsonianchannel.com, or connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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