Plane Crash

• Original producer: Dragonfly Film and Television Productions & Map TV
• Original broadcaster: Channel 4, Discovery Channel & ProSieben

In one of the biggest aviation experiments of all time, a Boeing 727 was deliberately crashed into uninhabited desert. The aim was to recreate a serious but survivable plane crash. Instrumented crash test dummies, extensive scientific demonstrations and on-board cameras told us the fate of the ‘passengers’ on-board. Every camera and demonstration on-board was put there with the specific task of capturing a never-before-seen insight in to the crash of a passenger jet.

An international team of aviation’s elite came together to discuss the aftermath of the crash. They studied the crashworthiness of the aircraft’s airframe and cabin as well as the impact of crashes on the human body. More pertinently, they were interested in any data that could lead to increased passenger survivability and evaluation of new ‘black box’ crash recording technology.

This groundbreaking, feature-length programme answers the fundamental questions passengers ask themselves every time they board a plane: where should I sit, and will the brace position save my life? This documentary gives viewers a unique understanding of what really happens when a passenger plane crashes.

Alongside the men and women who make the pursuit of passenger safety their life ambition, The Plane Crash brings the most audacious flight of the century to the screen. A world first which truly tests the limits of passenger safety today.