Mayday (2003)
S05E03 Southern Storm (Southern Airways Flight 242)
Episode Overview
On April 4, 1977, Southern Airways Flight 242, en route from Huntsville, Alabama, to Atlanta, Georgia, encounters a violent thunderstorm that unleashes massive hailstones. The fierce impact leads to the failure of both engines on the DC-9-31. In a desperate bid for safety, the crew attempts an emergency landing on a highway in New Hope, Paulding County, Georgia. Tragically, the aircraft collides with a gas station, resulting in a catastrophic explosion that claims the lives of 62 passengers and crew, along with eight individuals on the ground. Two more succumb to injuries later on.