• SECONDS FROM DISASTER

  • Friday 1 June at 20:00 PM CAT
  • National Geographic Channel

DESCRIPTION

CGI, forensic science and eyewitness accounts combine to re-enact some of the world’s worst disasters.

Blending advanced CGI, re-enactments, archival footage, forensic science, dramatic eyewitness accounts and expert testimony, we recreate in gripping detail the final moments behind some of the most calamitous disasters of modern time.

Comet Air Crash
In early 1954, one of the world’s first passenger jet airliners, the British-made de Havilland Comet, crashes into the Mediterranean 20 minutes after leaving Rome for London. Post-mortem examinations show that many of the 35 people who died suffered highly unusual injuries. Investigators hoped to find answers by piecing together the plane. Three months later a second Comet crashes and victims exhibit the same bizarre injury patterns. What brought down the Comets, and what could have caused such strange injuries?

Montserrat
With its crisp sandy beaches, fertile greenery and picturesque scenery, Montserrat is a true Caribbean paradise. The tiny island suffers a fright in 1995 when its Soufriere Hills Volcano erupts for the first time in over 300 years. Experts establish an exclusion zone around the volcano but on June 25, 1997 it erupts again, expelling tonnes of lava, killing 19 people and devastating several villages. We re-enact the final moments before tragedy struck.

Chicago Flight 191
On 25 May, 1979, a McDonell Douglas - DC10 aircraft, packed with holiday and business travellers takes off from Chicago’s O’Hare Airport in the U.S. Only 31 seconds after take-off, the plane loses power from one of its engines and crashes into a nearby trailer park, taking the lives of 273 people. Hundreds of witnesses claim to have seen an engine separate from the wing upon take-off, but the three-engine DC10 should have been able to fly using just one engine. What caused the pilots of the DC 10 to lose control of their plane so quickly? Join us as we unlock the mystery behind one of America’s most catastrophic air accidents.

Go to Episode Guide for more information.

EPISODE GUIDE

  • Seconds From Disaster: Comet
    In 1954, a plane en-route from Rome to the UK crashes into the Mediterranean, killing everyone onboard. Post-mortem examinations reveal strange injuries to many victims.
  • Seconds From Disaster: Chicago
    In Chicago in 1979, a packed aircraft crashes into a trailer park community – 31 seconds after take-off – killing 273 people. The cause of the crash propels aviation maintenance rules into the future.
  • Seconds From Disaster: Twister
    In 1974, a storm erupted into 148 tornadoes, killing 315 people and destroying thousands of homes. With a team of scientists, Professor Tetsuya Fujita investigates the worst storm of the 20th century.
  • Seconds From Disaster: Montserrat
    In 1995, for the first time in over 300 years, the Soufriere Hills Volcano in Montserrat erupts. Two years later, a second eruption occurs, this time with deadly results.
  • Seconds From Disaster: Challenger
    On 28 January 1986, the Space Shuttle Challenger was trying to make history by putting the first civilian in space, but 73 seconds into its fateful flight the shuttle was engulfed in a ball of flames.
  • Seconds From Disaster: Puerto Rico Gas Explosion
    In November 1996 a commercial building in San Juan, Puerto Rico, exploded due to a natural gas leak, killing 33 people. Investigations revealed that an inactive gas line leaked though a corrosion hole caused by excavation damage.
  • Seconds From Disaster: Hindenburg Air Ship
    The largest airship ever built and the pride of the Nazi government, the Hindenburg met its fatal demise in May 1937. Approaching Lakehurst naval station in New Jersey, fire broke out. In under a minute the airship was destroyed.
  • Seconds From Disaster: TWA 800 Plane Crash
    It's July 17th, 1996, and TWA flight 800 from New York to Paris is running 90 minutes late. In less than 30 minutes the Boeing 747 explodes, killing everyone on board and prompting the biggest crash investigation in US history.
  • Seconds From Disaster: Singapore Hotel New World
    In March 1986, the Hotel New World, a popular Singapore budget hotel, collapsed. In less than a minute the occupants were buried under a huge pile of debris. Rescue teams eventually saved 17 people, but 33 died.
  • Seconds From Disaster: Gare De Lyon
    In June 1988, an out-of-control train ploughed into the back of a packed commuter train at a Paris station. Fifty-six people died in what, at the time, was the worst disaster in French railway history.
  • Seconds From Disaster: Hyatt
    In 1981, at the Hyatt hotel in Kansas City, suspended walkways come away from their fixings, plummeting onto revellers below and leaving 114 dead and 186 injured. What caused this structural failure?
  • Seconds From Disaster: Schiphol
    A fully loaded El-Al 747 cargo flight takes off from Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport on October 4, 1992. As it climbs, the two engines on the right wing fall to the earth and the jumbo jet ploughs into a crowded apartment block.
  • Seconds From Disaster: Everglades
    On May 11, 1996, ValuJet Flight 592 en route to Atlanta takes off, with no one aware there's a fire in the cargo hold. Nine minutes into the flight, the jet crashes into the Florida Everglades, killing all 110 people on board.
  • Seconds From Disaster: The Kursk
    The Kursk, a Russian submarine, is on a military exercise when two explosions send her plunging to the bottom of the sea. What caused the tragedy? Theories include sabotage, friendly fire and a collision with a US submarine.
  • Seconds From Disaster: Titanic
    Take a look at one of the most monumental disasters in maritime history – the sinking of the Titanic – a catastrophic event that claimed the lives of more than 1,500 people.
  • Seconds From Disaster: King's Cross
    November 18, 1987: during rush hour at King's Cross, Britain's busiest Underground rail station, a carelessly discarded match sparks the deadliest fire in the Underground's history, killing 31 people.
  • Seconds From Disaster: Nairobi
    Nairobi, Kenya, 7 August, 1998. Terrorists detonate a truck bomb at the rear of the US embassy, killing 213 people and injuring 4,000 more. The embassy in Tanzania is also hit, resulting in an FBI manhunt for Osama bin Laden.
  • Seconds From Disaster: Munich Olympics
    The 1972 Munich Olympics were meant to show the world a new Germany but instead ended in the massacre of 11 athletes. Examine how an audacious rescue operation culminated in severe bloodshed.
  • Seconds From Disaster: Sampoong
    In less than 20 seconds, a five-storey exclusive department store in Seoul crashes to the ground, killing hundreds of people.
  • Seconds From Disaster: Queens Air Crash
    Shortly after the 9/11 terrorist attacks a commercial flight crashed into a residential area of New York. Discover the cause of this disaster and how it rocked the aviation industry.
  • Seconds From Disaster: The Bismarck
    Naval historian Andrew Lambert takes a closer look at the Royal Navy's battle with Bismarck and how it changed the course of World War Two.
    Next Showing:  
    Friday 1 June at 20:00 PM CAT - National Geographic Channel
    Repeats:  
    Friday 1 June at 23:00 PM CAT - National Geographic Channel

    Saturday 2 June at 03:00 AM CAT - National Geographic Channel
  • Seconds From Disaster: Tunnel Inferno
    In 1999 a freight truck caught fire in the seven-mile Mont Blanc tunnel, creating a deadly inferno. After a 53-hour battle against the fire, 39 people had died, making it one of the world's worst road traffic tunnel accidents.
  • Seconds From Disaster: Mountain Tsunami
    In 1963, a tsunami hit Europe's tallest dam and swamped the valley, taking over 2,000 lives. A number of systematic errors led to the tragedy.
    Next Showing:  
    Tuesday 19 June at 19:00 PM CAT - National Geographic Channel
    Repeats:  
    Wednesday 20 June at 02:00 AM CAT - National Geographic Channel

    Wednesday 20 June at 14:00 PM CAT - National Geographic Channel
  • Seconds From Disaster: The Bomb In Oklahoma City
    A reconstruction of the terrorist attack on the Alfred P Murrah Federal Building in 1995, which left 168 dead and 674 injured. The programme looks at why the building collapsed and why some people died whilst others lived.
  • Seconds From Disaster: Waco Cult
    When a 51-day siege at a religious cult's ranch leads to an FBI attempt to force them out with tear gas, a fire erupts, killing nearly 80 people.
    Next Showing:  
    Tuesday 5 June at 21:00 PM CAT - National Geographic Channel
    Repeats:  
    Wednesday 6 June at 00:00 AM CAT - National Geographic Channel

    Wednesday 6 June at 04:00 AM CAT - National Geographic Channel
  • Seconds From Disaster: Fire On The Star
    In 1990 a lethal fire broke out on the Scandinavian Star ferry during the early hours while passengers slept. Many were overcome by fumes and died. Investigators piece together the events and ask whether it was accident or arson.
  • Seconds From Disaster: Fukushima
    With Japan facing the worst nuclear disaster since Chernobyl, an expert reveals the critical chain of events which led to the Fukushima crisis.
    Next Showing:  
    Monday 18 June at 19:00 PM CAT - National Geographic Channel
    Repeats:  
    Tuesday 19 June at 02:00 AM CAT - National Geographic Channel

    Tuesday 19 June at 14:00 PM CAT - National Geographic Channel
  • Seconds From Disaster: Derailment At Eschede
    Behind every disaster lies a catalogue of events, a series of trigger points that combine to create a catastrophe. Seconds From Disaster examines those pivotal moments, some of which changed the course of history itself.
  • Seconds From Disaster: The Deepwater Horizon
    A look at the series of decisions and failings that led to the the world's biggest accidental marine oil spill and the deaths of 11 rig workers.
    Next Showing:  
    Saturday 2 June at 19:00 PM CAT - National Geographic Channel
    Repeats:  
    Sunday 3 June at 05:00 AM CAT - National Geographic Channel

    Thursday 21 June at 19:00 PM CAT - National Geographic Channel
  • Seconds From Disaster: Wreck Of The Sunset Limited
    Behind every disaster lies a catalogue of events, a series of trigger points that combine to create a catastrophe. Seconds From Disaster examines those pivotal moments, some of which changed the course of history itself.
  • Seconds From Disaster: Mumbai Massacre
    On 26th November 2008, terrorists attack two luxury hotels, a Jewish study centre, a café and a train station in Mumbai, leaving 166 dead.
    Next Showing:  
    Wednesday 20 June at 19:00 PM CAT - National Geographic Channel
    Repeats:  
    Thursday 21 June at 02:00 AM CAT - National Geographic Channel

    Thursday 21 June at 14:00 PM CAT - National Geographic Channel
  • Seconds From Disaster: Inferno At Guadalajara
    Behind every disaster lies a catalogue of events, a series of trigger points that combine to create a catastrophe. Seconds From Disaster examines those pivotal moments, some of which changed the course of history itself.
  • Seconds From Disaster: Fire On The Ski Slope
    Behind every disaster lies a catalogue of events, a series of trigger points that combine to create a catastrophe. Seconds From Disaster examines those pivotal moments, some of which changed the course of history itself.
  • Seconds From Disaster: Explosion In The North Sea
    Piper Alpha oil rig churned out 120,000 barrels of oil a day until a lapse in communication during maintenance led to a gas leak and a ferocious fire. The resulting explosions killed 167 men and destroyed the rig.
  • Seconds From Disaster: Flood At Stava Dam
    Stava dam consisted of two basins, one on top of the other. Due to poor design they could not cope with waste from a nearby mining operation and collapsed, causing sludge to flow down the valley to the village of Stava at 90kmph.
  • Seconds From Disaster: Collision On The Runway
    The world's worst aviation accident occured when two jumbo jets collided in fog on the runway at Tenerife. Both planes, fully loaded with fuel, burst into flames leaving 583 people dead.
  • Seconds From Disaster: Pentagon 9/11
    On 11th September 2001, an American Airlines flight was hijacked by terrorists and flown into the Pentagon. The ensuing fire weakened the building and it eventually collapsed in places.
  • Seconds From Disaster: Mount St Helens Eruption
    After laying dormant for 123 years, Mount St Helens erupts. In a matter of minutes, falling ash turns day to night, 230 square miles are laid waste and 57 people lose their lives in the biggest recorded explosion of all time.
  • Seconds From Disaster: Zeebrugge Ferry Disaster
    On March 6th, 1987, the Herald of Free Enterprise set sail from Zeebrugge, but 20 minutes after leaving port the ferry began to capsize. 193 people lost their lives in Britain's worst peacetime maritime accident since the Titanic.
  • Seconds From Disaster: Kobe Earthquake
    In January 1995, the residents of Kobe, Japan, woke up to a violent earthquake rocking the city. Within 20 seconds almost 400,000 buildings were destroyed, leaving 250,000 people homeless and more than 5,500 people dead.
  • Seconds From Disaster: Sioux City
    On July 19th, 1989, United Airlines flight 232 experienced a failure of its tail-mounted engine. The plane dropped out of the sky and onto the runway at Sioux City, erupting in a massive fireball. Of the 285 passengers, 112 died.
  • Seconds From Disaster: Bali Bombing
    On October 12th, 2002, the island of Bali was stunned by the worst terrorist attacks since 9/11, as bombs exploded in Kuta Beach, a popular strip of nightclubs. 202 people lost their lives and many suffered horrific burns.
  • Seconds From Disaster: Gare De Lyon
    In June 1988 an out-of-control train ploughed into the back of a packed commuter train at a Paris station. Fifty-six people died in what, at the time, was the worst disaster in French railway history.
  • Seconds From Disaster: Puerto Rico Gas Explosion
    In November 1996 a commercial building in San Juan, Puerto Rico exploded due to a natural gas leak, killing 33 people. Investigations revealed that an inactive gas line leaked though a corrosion hole caused by excavation damage.
  • Seconds From Disaster: Schiphol
    A fully loaded El-Al 747 cargo flight takes off from Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport on October 4, 1992. As it climbs, the two engines on the right wing fall to the earth and the jumbo jet ploughs into a crowded apartment block.
  • Seconds From Disaster: Everglades
    On May 11, 1996, ValuJet Flight 592 en route to Atlanta takes off, with no one aware there's a fire in the cargo hold. Nine minutes into the flight, the jet crashes into the Florida Everglades, killing all 110 people on board.
  • Seconds From Disaster: Queens Air Crash
    Shortly after the 9/11 terrorist attacks a commercial flight crashed into a residential area of New York. Discover the cause of this disaster and how it rocked the aviation industry.
  • Seconds From Disaster: Titanic
    Take a look at one of the most monumental disasters in maritime history – the sinking of the Titanic – a catastrophic event that claimed the lives of more than 1,500 people.
  • Seconds From Disaster: Asian Tsunami
    The tsunami of 26th December 2004 was the biggest natural disaster in modern history, claiming over 200,000 lives. What made this tsunami so devastating and how can we prevent it from happening again?
  • Seconds From Disaster: Potomac
    Why did a Boeing 737 crash into the Potomac River moments after take-off from Washington National Airport?
  • Seconds From Disaster: Chicago
    In Chicago in 1979, a packed aircraft crashes into a trailer park community – 31 seconds after take-off – killing 273 people. The cause of the crash propels aviation maintenance rules into the future.
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