National geographic

Disaster Autopsy

Disaster Autopsy

Show Trailer

Season 2

00:30

Synopsis

“Disaster Autopsy” forensically dissects major engineering catastrophes, exposing the fatal flaws that led to calamity on land, at sea and in space. From the Columbia space shuttle disaster at reentry and the Deepwater Horizon oil spill to Korea’s mall collapse and Italy’s bridge failure, experts use cutting-edge research, new evidence and 3D reconstructions to rewind the day of each disaster. They examine warning signs, design choices and overlooked errors that spiraled out of control, showing how negligence and oversight turn great achievements into deadly failures. Each episode investigates the cascade of decisions — from missed alarms and flawed safeguards to poor maintenance — that ultimately brought down landmarks and changed lives, teaching vital lessons for future safety and engineering.

Clips

Show Trailere
Season 2
00:30

Episodes

Season 2

Season 2
Season 1

Critical Flaw
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Three real world disasters forensically dissected. The crash of the Boeing 737 Max, the Kielland oil rig disaster, and the Notre-Dame cathedral fire.
Point of Failure
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Three real world disasters forensically dissected. The collision of a cargo vessel that collapsed the Scott Key Road Bridge with six fatalities. The crash of Polish airlines LOT flight 007 that killed everyone on board. The chemical leak at the Bhopal pesticide factory that left half a million victims – the worst industrial accident in history.
Sequence of Destruction
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Three real world disasters forensically dissected. In modern Madrid, the Windsor Tower was consumed by fire. A garment factory disaster that killed over a thousand people in Bangladesh– the deadliest accidental collapse in history. The explosion of Chernobyl nuclear reactor that spread radioactivity across Europe.

Apollo13, Mgm Grand, Genoa Bridge
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Three real world disasters forensically analysed and dissected. Why did Apollo 13 really explode? What caused the devastating fire in the MGM Grand? Why did a road bridge in Genoa collapse?
Land, Sea, and Space
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On land, at sea, and in space, experts forensically analyze and dissect three major disasters to reveal the hidden and surprising causes. What turned a space shuttle’s return, a deepwater rig, and a nuclear plant into catastrophes?
Deepwater Horizon, Concorde, Kaprun Funicular
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Three real world disasters forensically dissected. Deepwater Horizon explosion, the Concorde crash, the funicular fire at Kaprun.
Cutting Corners
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A high-rise crane, an iconic bridge, and a busy shopping mall: What caused these landmarks to suddenly come crashing down? Experts forensically analyze and dissect these three major disasters to reveal their hidden and surprising causes.
Surfside, Kursk, Kings Cross
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Three real world disasters forensically dissected. The Surfside Condo collapse, The Kings Cross subway fire, and the loss of the Kursk nuclear sub.
3 Mile Island, Mont Blanc Tunnel, Sampoong Mall
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Three real world disasters forensically dissected. 3 Mile Island Nuclear meltdown, the Mt Blanc Tunnel fire, the Sampoong department store collapse.
Columbia, Eschede Train, Grenfell Tower
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Three real world disasters forensically dissected. Space Shuttle Columbia, Eschede High speed train crash, Grenfell Tower fire.
Titan Missile, Estonia, Piper Alpha
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Three real world disasters forensically dissected. Arkansas nuclear missile explosion, sinking of the Estonia, explosion on the oil rig Piper Alpha.
Sugar Factory, Lac Megantic Train, Suez Canal
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Three real world disasters forensically dissected. Lac Megantic train crash, Imperial sugar refinery explosion, Ever Given container ship accident.
Fukushima, Manhattan Crane, Forrestal
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Three real world disasters forensically dissected. Fukushima nuclear plant, a Manhattan crane collapse, fire on the aircraft carrier USS Forrestal.

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