The last few moments of a flight's descent are typically smooth as the aircraft lowers to the ground-- so what would cause a plane to suddenly pick up speed and shoot back into the sky? In this week's episode of Take to the Sky: the Air Disaster Podcast, join Stephanie as she shares the story of China Airlines Flight 140, which questions just where the line between a plane's technical configuration and human error might be.

When we think of the air disasters that capture our curiosity and grip our hearts the most, these stories often involve large commercial jets. But sometimes air disasters don’t just involve airplanes. In this episode of Take to the Sky: The Air Disaster Podcast, Shelly details the 2016 hot air balloon disaster that shocked and forever changed the community surrounding Lockhart, Texas, and reignited a debate about the oversight needed to ensure the safety of these adventure rides in the sky.

When it comes to aviation, mechanical issues are part of the equation, and there is plenty of troubleshooting that happens at 35,000 feet. When the crew of United Airlines Flight 173 faced a frustrating issue that put a safe landing in jeopardy, they had no idea that their attempts to fix the problem would lead to a whole new set of catastrophic consequences. In this week's episode of Take to the Sky: The Air Disaster Podcast, join Stephanie as she shares how United 173 permanently changed the conversation about the role of communication in aviation safety.

The automation onboard Qantas 72, an Airbus A330, was supposed to help keep everyone safe on October 7, 2008. But when that same automation goes terribly awry, it is up to the decisive thinking of the flight crew to try and save everyone onboard. Join Shelly in this episode of Take to the Sky: the Air Disaster Podcast as she shares what happened to the flight as well as the devastating psychological scars that were left in the wake of such an air disaster.

Charter flights can be a quick, convenient way to travel to a destination, and that is why the White family boarded their King Air flight as they prepared for a trip home. In this week's episode of Take to the Sky: The Air Disaster Podcast, Stephanie shares how quickly a routine trip shifted into the stuff of nightmares, testing the mettle of one of the passengers and threatening the lives of everyone on board.

On October 4, 1992, El Al Flight 1862, a Boeing 747 cargo jet, sets off from Schipol Airport in Amsterdam- but it never lands at its final destination in Tel Aviv. Join Shelly in this episode of Take to the Sky: The Air Disaster Podcast as she talks about the flight that crashed into a nearby residential neighborhood, leading investigators to determine why all 747 aircraft- and their passengers- may suddenly be at risk.

As two families and their guide prepared to leave a great vacation behind and return home, they boarded Nature Air Flight 9916 to begin their journey. Within moments, their plane was back on the ground. This week on Take to the Sky: The Air Disaster Podcast, Stephanie shares how this New Year's Eve flight changed lives, communities, and aviation safety. Are charter flights safe for the general public? Don't miss this episode as we explore that question through the lens of a memorable air disaster.

2020 was an unforgettable year for many reasons, but for us it’s because we started Take to the Sky: the Air Disaster Podcast! In this Layover Episode, Shelly and Stephanie toast to a year of exploring air disasters and learning about their legacies. We’ll tell you which episodes made us the saddest, surprised us the most, and have stayed with us long after the episode was over. Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram and let us know if we mention any of your favorites!

On January 9, 1989, British Midland Flight 92 set off for Belfast, Northern Ireland. But shortly into the flight, the brand new 737-400 aircraft experienced what everyone thought was a catastrophic mechanical failure. Join Shelly in this episode of Take to the Sky: The Air Disaster Podcast as she shares the unfortunate and terrifying sequence of events that unfolded in the air over the village of Kegworth, forever changing pilot and cabin crew communication and passenger air safety procedures that still remain in place today.

On May 6, 1937, crowds formed near Naval Air Station Lakehurst in New Jersey to welcome the first Zeppelin transatlantic flight of the year. History knows what happened next: just moments before landing, the Hindenburg burst into flames as onlookers watched in horror. This is one of the most well-documented disasters in aviation, and in this week's episode of Take to the Sky: The Air Disaster Podcast, Stephanie takes us into the reasons why the airship exploded and how it changed flight safety for all of us.