Mayday (2003)

S13E2 Disaster on the Potomac (Air Florida Flight 90)

On January 13, 1982, Air Florida Flight 90 departs from a snow-covered runway in Washington D.C., but shortly after takeoff, it stalls at an altitude of 300 feet. The aircraft collides with a road bridge before plunging into the Potomac River, resulting in the tragic loss of 78 lives. Investigations reveal that ice accumulation on the wings and the pilots’ neglect to activate the engines’ anti-freeze system contributed to misleading engine instrument readings, leading to the disaster.