On May 25th, 2008, a massive Boeing 747 freighter from Kalitta Air lined up for takeoff at Brussels Airport.
Four engines roared.

Moments later, a loud bang — a bird strike — and in just one heartbeat, the pilots had to make a life-or-death decision: abort or take off. The rejected takeoff that followed pushed physics, instinct, and runway limits to the edge. The aircraft overran the runway, broke apart in a field, and turned a routine cargo flight into a dramatic case study in decision-making under pressure.

In this episode of Error One, we unpack what really happened on that spring day in Brussels:

• Who is Kalitta Air, and why does it rely so heavily on the Boeing 747?
• What is V1 speed, and why is it such a critical moment for every pilot?
• Why did the crew abort after V1, and what errors did the crew do?
• What were the precursors for the takeoff about?
• Why was it an accident “waiting to happen”?

Featuring Nicolaus Dmoch, an aviation expert who walks us through the timeline, the cockpit decisions, and the lessons learned from one of aviation’s most intense takeoff incidents.

🎙️ Error One – stories of human error, critical moments, and the fine line between disaster and survival.

The Essence of Safety:

https://open.spotify.com/show/42UnCvGAAyNgDwe7nNwCPd?si=23fe1ea7abaa4d20

On June 24, 2021, tragedy struck Surfside, Florida. In the middle of the night, half of the Champlain Towers South condominium collapsed in seconds, killing 98 people and shocking the world.

In this gripping episode of Error One, we investigate:

• What really caused the Surfside building collapse — from years of water damage and corrosion to ignored warnings.
• The human stories of residents who lived and died inside the tower.
• The catastrophic chain of failures that turned cracks in concrete into one of the deadliest building collapses in U.S. history.
• The aftermath: billion-dollar settlements, grieving families, and sweeping changes to Florida’s condo safety laws.
• The lasting lesson: why the Surfside disaster wasn’t an accident — but a failure to act in time.

🔍 If you’ve ever wondered how a modern high-rise could suddenly collapse — and what’s being done to make sure it never happens again — this episode has the answers.

👉 Listen now, and discover how small cracks and ignored warnings can lead to catastrophic failure.

#Surfside #building #collapse #ChamplainTowers #Florida #condo #Surfsidedisaster #errorone #podcast

On March 6, 1987, the Herald of Free Enterprise, a modern roll-on/roll-off ferry operated by Townsend Thoresen, capsized just minutes after leaving the Belgian port of Zeebrugge. Within 90 seconds, the vessel lay on its side, and 193 passengers and crew were dead.

In this gripping episode of Error One, we investigate one of the deadliest maritime disasters in British history. What caused a seemingly routine voyage to turn into a mass casualty event? Why were the bow doors left open? And how did corporate culture, human error, and a race for efficiency lead to such an avoidable tragedy?

We also explore the fate of Townsend Thoresen, the ferry company behind the disaster, and how this incident reshaped global maritime safety laws.

🔍 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• What happened aboard the Herald of Free Enterprise on March 6, 1987
• How systemic failures at Townsend Thoresen contributed to the sinking
• The stories of survivors, victims, and the crew

• The long-term impact on ferry safety and international regulations
• The fall of Townsend Thoresen and its rebranding as P&O Ferries

🧠 Perfect For Listeners Who Love:

• Real disaster investigations
• Maritime history
• True stories of human error and corporate failure
• Engineering and safety failures
• Podcasts like Black Box Down, Disasterology, or Cautionary Tales

🔗 Resources and References:

• [Official Inquiry Report (Justice Sheen, 1987)]
• [BBC Archives: Zeebrugge Ferry Disaster]
• [Survivor interviews from The Guardian and ITV News]
• [ISM Code – International Maritime Organization]

📣 Help Us Grow!

If you found this episode powerful, please rate, review, and share Error One. It helps others discover stories that must not be forgotten.