Seconds from Disaster

In 1982, a flight that had been delayed on the tarmac finally left the United States capital, Washington, D.C., only to meet disaster when it struck a bridge spanning the River Potomac. The impact forced the aircraft into the water, and the river quickly engulfed the cabin, claiming the lives of every passenger except five. All but five of those aboard drowned beneath the surface, leaving just a handful of survivors. The incident raises the stark question: how did this happen? The reasons for the crash don't become clear, and the tragedy continues to prompt inquiry into the chain of events that led to the loss of so many lives.

In 1987 a devastating fire erupted at King's Cross underground station. The blaze began when a discarded match landed on the wooden escalator, igniting the timber and spreading rapidly through the station's corridors. As the flames grew, smoke filled the platforms and stairways, trapping commuters and staff. When the alarm finally sounded, the fire had already claimed thirty‑one lives, many unable to find a way out of the smoke‑filled tunnels. The incident underscored the hazards posed by wooden escalators within the Tube system and remains one of the most tragic events in the network's history. Even today, the memory of that night serves as a stark reminder of how a single careless act can lead to catastrophic loss.

In 1987 a devastating fire erupted at King's Cross underground station. The blaze began when a discarded match landed on the wooden escalator, igniting the timber and spreading rapidly through the station's corridors. As the flames grew, smoke filled the platforms and stairways, trapping commuters and staff. When the alarm finally sounded, the fire had already claimed thirty‑one lives, many unable to find a way out of the smoke‑filled tunnels. The incident underscored the hazards posed by wooden escalators within the Tube system and remains one of the most tragic events in the network's history. Even today, the memory of that night serves as a stark reminder of how a single careless act can lead to catastrophic loss.

The programme follows an inquiry into what happened to NASA’s Space Shuttle Columbia, examining the vehicle’s ultimate fate. It scrutinises the shuttle’s final moments as it plunged back into Earth’s atmosphere, where it broke apart in a catastrophic failure. The investigation centres on that breakup and the resulting loss of the seven astronauts who were aboard. Through interviews and archival material, the documentary pieces together the sequence of events that led to the disintegration. It highlights how the re‑entry phase turned fatal, leaving no survivors among the crew of seven. The focus remains on uncovering the circumstances surrounding the tragedy without venturing beyond the established facts.

The programme follows an inquiry into what happened to NASA’s Space Shuttle Columbia, examining the vehicle’s ultimate fate. It scrutinises the shuttle’s final moments as it plunged back into Earth’s atmosphere, where it broke apart in a catastrophic failure. The investigation centres on that breakup and the resulting loss of the seven astronauts who were aboard. Through interviews and archival material, the documentary pieces together the sequence of events that led to the disintegration. It highlights how the re‑entry phase turned fatal, leaving no survivors among the crew of seven. The focus remains on uncovering the circumstances surrounding the tragedy without venturing beyond the established facts.

In 1996, ValuJet Flight 592 met with disaster when it crashed into the Florida Everglades, resulting in the loss of every one of the 110 people on board – passengers and crew alike. The tragedy unfolded in the vast, swamp‑filled landscape of the Everglades, leaving no survivors. In the aftermath, investigators turned their attention to uncovering the cause of the crash, scrutinising every piece of evidence in an effort to determine what had gone wrong. Their inquiry aimed to piece together the sequence of events that led to the aircraft’s fatal impact, seeking answers that could prevent similar incidents in the future.

In 1996, ValuJet Flight 592 met with disaster when it crashed into the Florida Everglades, resulting in the loss of every one of the 110 people on board – passengers and crew alike. The tragedy unfolded in the vast, swamp‑filled landscape of the Everglades, leaving no survivors. In the aftermath, investigators turned their attention to uncovering the cause of the crash, scrutinising every piece of evidence in an effort to determine what had gone wrong. Their inquiry aimed to piece together the sequence of events that led to the aircraft’s fatal impact, seeking answers that could prevent similar incidents in the future.