Stephanie Hubka Podcasts

There are many mysteries in the world around us, and the world of aviation has its fair share of incidents with open questions and dead ends. In this week's episode of Take to the Sky: the Air Disaster Podcast, we take a look at one of the USA's most shocking and least-understood air disasters: Northwest Orient Airlines Flight 2501. Join Stephanie …

When the AFIS officer on duty has trouble calling up the overdue arrival of Trigana Air Flight 267 on August 16, 2015, no one, at first, was worried. But the mystery only deepens once the plane is found - but west of the regular approach path. In episode 115 of Take to the Sky: The Air Disaster Podcast, join Shelly as she shares the troubling path …

As Avianca Flight 52 prepared for landing, a series of traffic-related delays kept their aircraft circling above JFK Airport longer than expected. Although the crew was prepared for bad weather and a wait before they could land, they weren't prepared for what came next-- and neither were the passengers onboard. Join Stephanie as she shares a story …

Shortly after takeoff on March 1, 1978, the flight crew of Continental Airlines Flight 603 hears a loud boom and knows instantly what that sound means: it is no longer safe to takeoff, and instead, the takeoff will be rejected. But now, the plane won't stop. Join Shelly for this incredible episode of Take to the Sky: The Air Disaster Podcast as we …

As the United Kingdom came into view below British Midland Flight 542, passengers onboard were excited to reunited with friends and family again-- and the flight crew was baffled by the sudden failure of an engine that, in turn, rendered the plane uncontrollable. In this week's episode of Take to the Sky: the Air Disaster Podcast, Stephanie shares …

On November 24, 2001, as winter weather conditions worsened, the pilots of Crossair Flight 3597 struggled to visually locate the airport runway on final approach to Zurich. And when faced with a crucial decision to continue or abandon the approach, the captain chooses to keep going. In our latest episode of Take to the Sky: The Air Disaster Podcast…

Flying through the skies above Hawaii, a quick trip between islands turned into a terrifying brush with death when a piece of the plane's fuselage ripped off in midair. In this week's episode of Take to the Sky: The Air Disaster Podcast, join Stephanie as she shares how one flight crew found themselves facing the unthinkable-- and how aviation hist…

When the two pilots and flight engineer of a civilian DHL A300 cargo plane took off from Baghdad International Airport on November 22, 2003, they were rocked by what came next. Within minutes, the plane’s left wing is struck by a blast, and now the flight crew is faced with an impending catastrophe. Join Shelly as she walks us through the gripping …

Safe air travel is the responsibility of everyone on board, and no one takes safety more seriously than flight crews. When the flight crew on Eastern Air Lines 401 noticed a possible issue with their aircraft, they immediately went into troubleshooting mode to ensure the problem could be fixed. In this week's episode of Take to the Sky: The Air Dis…

Everything was normal for the takeoff of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 409 on January 25, 2010 as it departed Beirut, Lebanon, for Addis Abbaba, Ethiopia. But what happens in the cockpit of Flight 409 over the next four plus minutes will confuse and divide aviation experts for years to come. Join Shelly in this episode of Take to the Sky: The Air Disas…

After losing three engines and plummeting toward the North Atlantic Ocean, the worst was yet to come for the passengers and crew of Flying Tiger 923. Join Stephanie for the second part of this truly incredible story! Don't miss a single legacy: join our Patreon for exclusive air disaster stories, layover episodes, and surprises! Visit our website a…

More than a few passengers were nervous about their flight on September 23, 1962, but as Flying Tiger Flight 923 took off from Gander, Newfoundland, no one knew that just a few hours into their transatlantic journey every single person's life would hang in the balance between threatening storm clouds above and the unforgiving ocean below. In Part 1…

September 29, 2006 was supposed to be a celebratory flight for the 2 flight crew and 5 passengers onboard an ExcelAire private Legacy 600 business jet. But everything changed in a moment when the plane suffers serious damage, and it soon emerges that this jet may have collided with a Boeing 737 Gol passenger jet carrying 154 people. Join Shelly in …

There are many ways to experience air travel, and for 18 passengers onboard Chalk's Ocean Airways Flight 101, their trip from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida to Bimini, Bahamas was a quick but exciting journey on a seaplane. Less than a minute after takeoff, thrill turned to terror for the passengers and crew. In this week's episode of Take to the Sky: the…

On February 4, 2015, a taxi’s dash cam caught the unimaginable on video: the image of a turbo prop passenger plane summersaulting into the Keelung River in Taipei, Taiwan. Join Shelly in this episode of Take to the Sky: The Air Disaster Podcast for this tragic story as we discuss the shocking investigation that uncovered why this tragedy never shou…

As an Airbus A340 touched down on runway 24L in the middle of a Toronto thunderstorm, the crew and passengers alike were glad to be back on the ground. But for the people on board Air France Flight 358, the nightmare was just beginning when the plane failed to stop and careened toward the end of the runway. Join Stephanie as she tells the story of …

It was called the “safest helicopter in the world.” But on March 12, 2009, a Sikorsky S92 helicopter operating as Couger 91 faced every sea pilot’s worst nightmare while flying over the North Atlantic Ocean: oil pressure problems. Join Shelly in this episode of Take to the Sky: The Air Disaster Podcast for an unforgettable story of an over-water fl…

It started off like any other flight: a typical takeoff, a climb into the sky, leveling off for a smooth ride. Less than an hour into the flight, Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 disappeared from radar, leaving the world to spend almost a decade searching, questioning, and grieving. In our 100th episode of Take to the Sky: the Air Disaster Podcast, Ste…

On August 21, 1995, Atlantic Southeast Airlines Flight 529 is sailing above the state of Georgia when suddenly, the left propeller blades snap. Join Shelly as she shares how the flight crew uses all their skills and might to keep the plane in the air for as long as they can. Don't miss a single legacy: join our Patreon for exclusive air disaster st…

When a plane crashes to the ground, investigators begin the challenging task of determining the one thing that can lead to safer skies: the reason for the accident. In this week's episode of Take to the Sky: the Air Disaster podcast, Stephanie takes a look at a shocking crash, a frustrating lack of evidence, and how a somewhat unlikely investigator…

While on final approach to Sumburgh Airport on December 15, 2014, Loganair Flight 6780 is struck by lightning – and the pilots must fight to keep the plane from crashing into the sea. Join Shelly for this latest episode as she shares the heart-stopping story of what happened next and the unforgettable investigation that forever changed the design o…

For a flight crew, there's nothing quite as jarring as an unexpected warning in the cockpit. In this week's episode of Take to the Sky: the Air Disaster Podcast, Stephanie takes us through the incredible series of events that started 39,000 feet above the ground and resulted in one of the most frightening landing sequences imaginable. Don't miss a …

When the rising star of Chapecoense, a Brazilian football team, boarded LaMia Flight 2933, the team was on its way to fulfilling dreams of winning an upcoming football final. But sadly, Flight 2933 never makes it to the airport. In episode 95 of Take to the Sky: the Air Disaster Podcast, Shelly shares the heartbreaking story of a talented team on a…

On June 18, 1972, just a day before a planned strike in response to working conditions, the flight crew of British European Airways (BEA) Flight 548 found themselves facing a surprising emergency just minutes after takeoff. In this episode of Take to the Sky: the Air Disaster Podcast, Stephanie takes us through a timeline that led to one of the UK'…

While inflight on June 10, 1990, British Airways Flight 5390 experiences an explosive decompression. If that emergency wasn’t enough to deal with, the crew must face an even greater – and more urgent – danger in the cockpit. Join Shelly in this episode of Take to the Sky: The Air Disaster Podcast for this amazing story of a crew working together to…

With less than an hour before landing, South African Airways Flight 295 seemed prepared for a safe arrivial after a 10-hour flight from Taiwai to Mauritius. Instead, the sound of the onboard smoke detector signaled a terrifying end to an otherwise uneventful flight. Join Stephanie in this episode of Take to the Sky: The Air Disaster Podcast as she …

Seven minutes after takeoff, United Airlines Flight 629 explodes in the sky. In this episode of Take to the Sky: The Air Disaster Podcast, Shelly walks us through the investigation that followed, which soon takes a chilling turn. And when the cause of the explosion is finally revealed, investigators and the public are horrified. Don't miss a single…

Korean Air Flight 801 had all of the makings of a safe flight: crew experienced with both commercial flights and successful emergency landings, a safe aircraft, and a clear route. Just 20 minutes before landing, what should have been a routine descent turned into anything but the smooth landing everyone expected. Join Stephanie in this episode of T…

On June 1, 1999, American Airlines Flight 1420, with 145 people onboard, tried to land in a dangerous thunderstorm. But when the aircraft overshot the runway, it led to a deadly disaster that revealed industry-wide pressure placed on pilots to land at any cost. Join Shelly for this latest episode as we dive into what happened and why this unforgett…

On April 4, 1975, the first of 30 flights that operated as part of Operation Babylift left Saigon with a single mission: to carry some of the youngest and most vulnerable of those impacted by the Vietnam War to safer places. In this week's episode of Take to the Sky: the Air Disaster Podcast, Stephanie shares how the first flight took a tragic turn…

Air disasters are never soulless or faceless, and we believe that air disasters are best understood and remembered through the stories of those who lived, those who died, those who were left behind. In the second part of our two-part episode, we share stories of Pan Am Flight 103's victims, their families, and the communities that were changed fore…

In part one of this special two-part episode of Take to the Sky: the Air Disaster Podcast, we explore the bombing of Pan Am 103, which claimed the lives of 270 people, as well as the complex and complicated investigation that followed, and why some believe the complete truth about who is really to blame has yet to be discovered. Don't miss a single…

As Flash Airlines Flight 604 climbed into the air on its way to a quick layover stop in Cairo, the plane began to bank sharply to the right. In this week's episode of Take to the Sky: the Air Disaster Podcast, Stephanie shares how the right bank went from bad to worse to better- and how a few shocking factors contributed to an air disaster with tra…

In September 1989, a group of scientists and pilots known as the Hurricane Hunters took off in NOAA 42, a government research plane, to gather important information on the rapidly growing hurricane Hugo. In this episode, Shelly shares the harrowing story of the flight that would change everything about how the Hurricane Hunters entered and endured …

On October 14, 2004, a standard repositioning flight from Little Rock to Minneapolis went wildly out of control-- but why? In this week's episode of Take to the Sky: the Air Disaster Podcast, Stephanie shares some of the stunning decisions that risked the flight crew's lives, bringing what it means to operate an airplane safety both on and off the …

On February 19, 1985, China Airlines Flight 006, with 274 people onboard, experienced a malfunction of its number four engine while cruising at almost forty thousand feet. Suddenly, the plane entered a dive, spiraling down out of the sky. In episode 83 of Take to the Sky: the Air Disaster Podcast, Shelly shares the terrifying details of a plane out…

On December 11, 1994, Philippine Airlines Flight 434 was more than halfway to its destination when a shocking explosion led to chaos onboard. In this week's episode, Stephanie tells the story of the desperate bid to save the plane and its passengers as well as the horrific origins of the explosion-- and it's shocking ties to another well-known inci…

On June 26, 1988, Air France 296Q crashed into a forest while conducting a demonstration flight during the Habsheim Air Show. In episode 81 of Take to the Sky: the Air Disaster Podcast, join Shelly as we explore the controversial accident investigation that sought to explain how a highly automated, brand-new Airbus A320 crashed during a risky flyov…

Taking off during bad weather is rarely enjoyable, but it can certainly be a dangerous decision. In this week's episode of Take to the Sky: the Air Disaster Podcast, Stephanie takes us through the events that led to the crash of Aeroméxico Connect Flight 2431 on July 31, 2018. Was it the weather, bad decision making, or something even more surprisi…

On December 19, 1997, Silk Air Flight 185 suddenly dove from the sky and crashed into the Musi River, killing all 104 people onboard. Join Shelly in this episode of Take to the Sky: The Air Disaster Podcast as she tells the story of the terrifying crash and the shocking investigation that leads some investigators toward a disturbing conclusion and …

Very early in the morning on January 21, 1985, 65 passengers boarded a charter flight from Reno to Minneapolis for the trip home after a quick weekend away. As the plane became airborne, the entire frame began to shake violently. In this week's episode of Take to the Sky: The Air Disaster Podcast, Stephanie shares the story of devastation, shock, a…

On June 9, 2005, Ansett New Zealand Flight 703 crashed when it collided with terrain just 10 miles from the airport in Palmerston, New Zealand. Join Shelly as she shares the story of how a distracted flight crew and faulty systems led to the crash that killed 4 out of 21 people. Don't miss a single legacy: join our Patreon for exclusive air disaste…

In this week's episode of Take to the Sky: the Air Disaster Podcast, Stephanie takes us through the shocking events that contributed to the crash of Delta Air Lines Flight 1141 on August 31, 1988. As the NTSB attempted to reconstruct the airplane's configuration in search of what could have caused a crash just moments after takeoff, answers came fr…

On August 9, 2007, Air Moorea Flight 1121 crashed shortly after takeoff. Join Shelly in this episode of Take to the Sky: The Air Disaster Podcast as she shares the unexpected events that led to the crash of this Twin Otter plane and the investigation that uncovered the seemingly unconnected factors that brought the plane down – and how these same f…

In this week's episode of Take to the Sky: The Air Disaster Podcast, Stephanie shares a lesser known story connected to the events that transpired on September 11, 2001. Korean Air Flight 85 was preparing for its arrival in Anchorage, Alaska when it suddenly transmitted a code associated with a hijacking. Over the course of 90 minutes, officials gr…

When two best friends, Ruth Clifford McCourt and Paige Farley Hackel, boarded separate flights on September 11, 2001, they never knew they would both suffer the same awful fate. Join Shelly for this special 9/11 highlight episode of Take to the Sky: the Air Disaster Podcast where she shares the story of two friends whose lives - and deaths - were s…

On June 29, 2009, Yemenia Flight 626 prepared to land in the island nation of Comoros as a cold front swept through the region. Join Stephanie as she shares how a routine landing sequence turned into devastation for the crew and passengers on board and opened the door to questions about the airline's safety record and just what caused the plane to …

On New Year's Day in 2007, Adam Air Flight 574 crashed into the sea off the coast of Indonesia. Join Shelly for this episode of Take to the Sky: The Air Disaster Podcast as she walks us through the unforgettable turn of events that led to the crash and the investigation that followed, which revealed an airline whose philosophy of profit over safety…

July 31, 1973 was not an ideal day for flying; foggy conditions enveloped New England, leading to delays and cancellations throughout the region. In this episode of Take to the Sky: the Air Disaster Podcast, Stephanie takes us through the issues and decisions that led Delta Air Lines Flight 723 to make a terrifying crash landing into Boston's Logan…

On December 7, 1987, Pacific Southwest Airlines Flight 1771 crashed into a hill in San Luis Obispo County, CA, killing all 43 people onboard. Soon, the investigation into the cause of the crash became a criminal one led by the FBI. And when investigators piece together what led up to the crash, they exposed vulnerabilities within airline security p…