Invisible Ice or a Terrorist Bomb
Summary
This episode examines the 1985 crash of Aero Flight 1285, which killed 256 US soldiers in Gander, Canada. Investigators clashed over whether the cause was ice contamination and weight errors or a terrorist bomb, with dissenters citing physical evidence like engine damage. The controversy fractured the Canadian Aviation Safety Board and obscured critical safety warnings about de-icing. Consequently, a similar preventable crash occurred in 1989, highlighting how narrative bias can endanger lives.
Topics discussed
Intro ads for Public Health, Mistplay, and Whoop
The 101st Airborne in Gander before the crash
Introduction to the AeroFlight 1285 investigation conflict
The takeoff sequence and immediate crash
Investigation challenges: missing black box data
The weight miscalculation: 12,000 lbs of error
The role of invisible ice and aerodynamic stall
Geopolitical context and the terrorism theory
Evidence cited by dissenters: metal, paint, and CO
Official rebuttal: tractor damage and compressor stalls
Narrative bias and the fractured safety board
The Dryden crash: consequences of ignored warnings
Conclusion on confirmation bias and closure
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