The Black Box Aviation Podcast

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


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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.

  • The Fatal Flaw: How a last-minute coordinate change in the FMS (Flight Management System) sent the crew on a collision course.

  • Whiteout Conditions: Why experienced pilots couldn't see a 12,000-foot volcano directly in front of them.

  • The "Orchestrated Litany of Lies": The investigation, the cover-up, and the dark shadow cast over the McDonnell Douglas DC-10.

  • The Recovery: The harrowing mission and the psychological toll on the salvage crews.

From "Sector Whiteouts" to the "Mahon Inquiry," we break down the CRM failures and the technical errors that changed aviation safety forever.

Connect With Us:📧 Email: [email protected]📲 Text Hotline: 203-699-6792

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If you enjoyed this deep dive, please follow the show and leave us a 5-star rating—it helps more aviation fans find us!

#Aviation #AirDisasters #MountErebus #AirNewZealand901 #DC10 #AviationPodcast #TrueCrimeAviation #FlightSafety #PilotLife #BlackBoxAviation


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