logo
episode-header-image
Mar 2023
34m 51s

The Vigilante and the Air Traffic Contro...

Pushkin Industries
About this episode

Air traffic controllers are meant to stop aircrafts from flying into one another... and if they fail, computer systems are installed to warn pilots of a coming collision. But sometimes these humans and computers give conflicting and confusing advice. Who to believe?

When a cargo plane and a Russian airliner collided in just such a situation, the authorities scrambled to work out how to prevent a repeat of the disaster... but a grieving father decided to seek revenge on those he held responsible. 

For a full list of sources for this episode, go to timharford.com.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Up next
Oct 10
Schrödinger's Spy: Businessman, Fraud, or Russian Agent? - with Sam Jones
When the Financial Times uncovered the billion-dollar Wirecard fraud, it seemed like the story was over. But then the company’s Chief Operating Officer, Jan Marsalek, vanished - leaving behind clues that pointed to a double life as a secret agent. In his new podcast Hot Money: Ag ... Show More
1h 1m
Oct 3
Missing Fish and Fatal Feasts: Ritual and Ruin at the Sun King’s Table
In the gilded court of Louis XIV, 17th Century France, manners are everything. Where to sit, how to eat, what to wear - any misstep is costly. No one knows this better than François Vatel, the greatest party planner in all of France. Tonight, Vatel must deliver the ultimate banqu ... Show More
42m 18s
Sep 26
Don't Panic! Douglas Adams' Guide to Tomorrow - with Arvind Ethan David
Writer Douglas Adams, best known for The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, used science fiction and satire to warn us about potential dangers in our future, from artificial intelligence to social media and animal extinction. In this Cautionary Conversation, Tim is joined by Arvin ... Show More
37m 54s
Recommended Episodes
Sep 2023
Selects: Social Security Numbers: Less Boring Than You'd Think
Do you know that up until July 2011 an ambitious hacker with a good software program could deduce your social security number based on your date and place of birth? In this classic episode, the boys examine some of the lesser-known details of the Social Security system in the U.S ... Show More
39m 3s
Oct 2023
This Pilot Intentionally Tried To Take Down A Plane?!
As if flying isn't scary enough, a pilot was arrested for trying to shut off the engine of a commercial flight, mid flight. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. 
6m 21s
Apr 2020
Deadliest Single Aircraft Accident
Japan Airlines Flight 123 suffers a rapid decompression while cruising and loses control. With over 500 people on board an uncontrollable Boeing 747, what happened to this flight to make it the deadliest single aircraft incident? Follow us @BlackBoxDownPod https://twitter.com/bla ... Show More
34m 59s
Apr 2020
The Crash of the Concorde
The supersonic Concorde Jet erupts in flames while taking off and crashes into a nearby hotel. Air France Flight 4590 prepares for a routine flight to JFK International Airport. Everything seems normal as the plane taxis onto the runway, but disaster strikes during takeoff. Find ... Show More
34m 39s
Jul 2022
Did The Pilot Crash This Plane on Purpose? / EgyptAir Flight 990 Ends In Controversy
A Boeing 767 suddenly crashes into the Atlantic Ocean. EgyptAir Flight 990 has recently taken off from New York when crew members switch their rest shifts ahead of schedule. The captain leaves the cockpit for a moment leaving the first officer alone at the controls. Suddenly the ... Show More
45m 18s
Mar 2023
Les fantômes du vol 401
En 1991, la compagnie aérienne américaine Eastern Airlines disparaît après 65 ans de bons et loyaux services dans les cieux. Elle emporte surtout avec elle un terrible secret qui date des années 70 : le crash du vol 401. Des passagers, du personnel navigant et des pilotes ont évo ... Show More
36m 53s
Jan 2020
Kobe Helicopter Investigation
Helicopter pilots suspect that the pilot of Kobe's helicopter may have misjudged the terrain and did not slow down. Federal investigators are looking into the pilots history, helicopter maintenance records and more. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnet ... Show More
4m 53s
Nov 2019
The Trials and Tribulations of the 737 MAX
What happened with Boeing's 737 MAX aircraft and why did the CEO of the company appear before the US Congress? We learn about the flight control system that led to tragedy and the controversy surrounding it. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com ... Show More
45m 47s