Seconds from Disaster

- Season 2

(2005)

Space shuttle Columbia disintegrated at re-entry as the result of a hole in its left wing after being struck by a piece of foam at lift-off.

The Town of Galtür in Austria was devastated by an enormous avalanche, that penetrated a zone that should have been safe according to computer models.

After severe engine trouble on a new Boeing 737-400, pilots shut down the wrong engine and crash just 900 m away from the runway on a motorway embankment.

In 1980 Mount St. Helens erupted sideways instead of the expected upwards and caused large devastation and killed 57 people.

On March 6. 1987 a British Ferry, the Herald of Free Enterprise capsized just 1 km out of the Harbour of Zeebrugge because her bow doors were left open and let water enter the car deck.

On January 17th 1995 Kobe was hit by a 7.2 earthquake. Although the city had been build to withstand a much stronger earthquake over 6000 people lost their lives, mainly due to the Japanese wooden frame houses.

On July 19, 1989, a United Airlines DC-10 experienced a catastrophic failure of the titanium fan disk in its tail engine, resulting in fluid loss in its three hydraulic systems and thereby becoming uncontrollable.

Series of terrorist explosions tear through night clubs on the popular island resort of Bali killing 202 people. What made this peaceful paradise a target?

On 15 March 1986, a six storied building containing a bank, a hotel and a night club collapses in Singapore killing 33 people. 17 people can be rescued. It turns out a catastrophic miscalculation at the time of construction had been made.

After an hour delay, TWA Flight 800 takes off from JFK then 12 minutes later explodes south of Long Island killing all 230 passengers and crew on-board. What caused it to blow out of the blue?

On 27 June 1988, a runaway train crashes into a commuter train killing 56 people. A passenger pulling the emergency brake at an earlier station and the train driver mishandling the situation cause the crash.

On May 6, 1937 the Hindenburg was completely destroyed while attempting to land at Lakehurst, NJ, in stormy weather. It is concluded that sharp turns caused straps to snap rupturing hydrogen tanks that were ignited by static electricity.

On November 21, 1996 a gas explosion resulting from a leaking line in the street destroyed the Humberto Vidal shoe shop in San Juan leaving 33 people dead. The gas company failed to detect the gas because personnel was improperly trained.

A recreation of the Hyatt Regency walkway collapse, the deadliest structural failure in US history before 9/11.

On October 4, 1992, a 747 cargo plane of Elal crashes into an apartment house in Bijlmermeer near Amsterdam killing 43 people including the 3 man crew caused by losing two engines due to metal fatigue in the engine suspension.

During a naval exercise, an exploding torpedo rips through the torpedo bow and the ensuing fire explodes cruise missiles which sinks the submarine and kills all aboard.

A carelessly discarded match caused the worst fire in London Underground's history, killing 31 people. How did this small fire erupt into a deadly fireball?

In 1998 Al Qaeda exploded a bomb truck at the rear of the American embassy in Nairobi bringing down a neighboring office building and killing 213 people and wounding a around 4000 others.

A plane takes off for Atlanta from Miami and explodes just seconds from take off. The Valujet crashes into the Florida Everglades with no survivors. A senseless tragedy that could have been avoided.