America has so many stories to tell. And nobody brings them to your home like Smithsonian Channel.

Smithsonian Channel HD

While landing at a notoriously tricky Alaskan island airport, the pilots of a twin turboprop can't stop their plane.

Air Disasters

Disaster At Dutch Harbor

Air France Flight 296 fails to regain altitude after performing a fly-by during an air show at Mulhouse-Habsheim Airport.

Pilot vs. Plane

Northwest Airlines Flight 255 crashes shortly after take-off in Detroit in 1987; a fatal preflight error caused the second-deadliest plane crash in the U.S. history.

Alarming Silence

On August 22nd, 1985, 55 people died aboard British Airtours flight 28M when its engine catches fire as it accelerates.

Panic on the Runway

The U.S. Aviation Weather Center in Kansas City, Miss.; the importance of accurate weather forecasting to the aviation industry.

Cruel Skies

Watch TV Networks, Shows and Movies | DIRECTV

The latest movies and must watch shows!

Watch It Welcome to Derry on the HBO Max app, included with an HBO Max subscription.

Data/messaging rates may apply for app download/usage. HBO Max subscription required.

Welcome to your ultimate entertainment destination. Watch new episodes of Jeremy Renner in the new season of Mayor of Kingstown and more all in one network.

Watch exclusive originals like the adventure drama Robin Hood and Hollywood hit movies.

MGM+ is a trademark of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Lion Corp. All copyrights, trademarks, and other intellectual property or proprietary rights are the property of their respective owners.

Watch visionary original series like Power Book IV: Force, Outlander: Blood of My Blood, BMF, The Couple Next Door and much more.

Watch Hollywood hits like Civil War and behind-the-scenes exclusives when you add CINEMAX to your current DIRECTV package.

Statistically, traveling by airplane is safer than driving and other forms of transportation, but when something goes wrong during a flight, it can be catastrophic with potentially hundreds of lives at stake. This series examines some of the world's worst air disasters, using official reports, transcripts and interviews with people involved to tell the stories of midair mishaps and discover what went wrong in each case. Episodes include a discussion of how the weather affects flights -- including stories of aviation disasters and near-misses -- and a New Year's Eve flight that fell from the sky into the Florida Everglades.

S2 E5 | Alarming Silence

E402 | Disaster At Dutch Harbor

E7 | Pilot vs. Plane

E5 | Alarming Silence

E4 | Panic on the Runway

E3 | Cruel Skies