Flight Safety Detectives

Latest Episodes:

Aviation Safety and UAPs in Space - Episode 282 Jul 16, 2025

Show notes

Former US Air Force and NASA Flight Surgeon Dr. Gregory Rodgers discusses first-hand experiences with the NASA space shuttle program. Among his efforts, he helped change NASA procedures that endangered shuttle crews.

Among his efforts to improve space safety, Dr. Rogers tried to convince NASA to add a repair kit to Shuttle missions to deal with the ongoing issue of protective heat-resistant tiles being damaged during missions. Part of his effort was to write the book "Impact," a fictional novel about a shuttle that was severely damaged and unable to return to Earth. The book was published in 1995. The shuttle in the book was Columbia, which was lost in 2003 due to heat shield damage sustained shortly after liftoff.

He also shares details of a flight test of a disc-shaped vehicle with USAF markings that displayed extraordinary flight characteristics. He kept this 1992 experience to himself for over 30 years until speaking publicly about it in May 2025.

John Goglia adds his experience at the NTSB investigating a possible collision between either an unknown exotic aircraft or a UAP and a general aviation aircraft off the coast of Florida. The wreckage had paint transfer marks that could not be associated with any known aircraft.

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Air India Investigation Facts and Logic Must Prevail - Episode 281 Jul 15, 2025

Show notes

Yesterday’s special episode generated a lot of questions about the Air India preliminary report. Facts in hand, the Flight Safety Detectives tackle them head on.

The preliminary report does not identify any issues with the aircraft that directly contributed to the crash. It focuses on the actions taken by the flight crew.

Hear more detail on why the design of fuel cutoff switches makes it unlikely that a mechanical or electrical issue led to the engine shutdown. The most logical cause was action taken by at least one flight crew member.
John Goglia, Todd Curtis and Greg Feith address concerns and questions generated from previous Flight Safety Detectives episodes. They continue to use the facts in the preliminary report to describe what happened, particularly the actions taken and statements made by the pilots.

The analyses provided by others online and in the media, particularly by airline pilots, often lack a depth of understanding of the aircraft technology, how it works and how it could fail. The detectives continue to provide sound analysis of available information.

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Who Turned Off the Engines?!?- Episode 280 Jul 14, 2025

Show notes

The preliminary report on the June 12, 2025, fatal crash of an Air India 787 is most notable for what is unstated, vague, and even misleading. The detectives start with the omission of who turned off the engines just after takeoff. Their list of unanswered questions grows from there.
This crash appears to not be an accident, but rather an intentional act by at least one member of the flight crew. The engines were shut down shortly after takeoff. Although at least one pilot took actions to restart both engines, neither engine could generate thrust before the aircraft crashed less than a mile from the airport.
The report has telltale signs that those writing the report had motives other than to provide factual information about the event and the investigation. Errors and vaguely worded statements in the report make it appear that someone other than an aviation safety professional wrote or approved the report.

Just a few of the issues Greg Feith, John Goglia and Todd Curtis highlight:

The report did not specify which pilot shut down the engines just after takeoff, even though the voice and data recorders likely had enough information to determine that.
The report does not say whether other people were in the cockpit other than the two pilots.
No reason is given as to why Air India was excluded from the investigation.
An aviation psychologist is listed as one of the subject matter experts on the investigation team, implying that a psychological or even psychiatric issue was a factor in this crash.

In summary, the report points to an event that was not an accident, but a deliberate action.

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Experts Raise Alarm Over Air India 787 Crash Investigation Ahead of Preliminary Report - Episode 279 Jul 10, 2025

Show notes

India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau plans to issue a preliminary report on the June 12, 2025, fatal crash of an Air India 787 tomorrow. Todd Curtis, Greg Feith, and John Goglia detectives have serious concerns about the credibility of this investigation and the upcoming preliminary report.

They discuss several irregularities with the investigation, including the unusual decision not to include Air India as a party to the investigation. John and Greg have learned through their networks that the Indian authorities have limited the involvement of key parties including Boeing, the NTSB, the FAA, and engine manufacturer GE.

Since the crash, no specific service bulletins, airworthiness directives, or special inspections related to the aircraft or the engines involved have been issued by the Indian authorities, Boeing, GE, or others. Little information has been released by the Indian authorities, including basic facts about who was flying the plane and details about the background of the flight crew, especially the first officer.

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Air India Crash and 737 Max Plug Door Blowout Updates - Episode 278 Jul 09, 2025

Show notes

An update on the Air India crash investigation, with focus on the flight data recorders installed and recovered from the aircraft.

John explains the identical dual flight data and voice recorders installed on the plane. Viewer questions led to further investigation and clarification of the Enhanced Airborne Flight Recorders (EAFR) installed on the plane.
In other news, the NTSB has issued more than 30 findings related to the January 2024 Alaska Airlines door blowout event. The findings reveal how the manufacturing process of the Boeing 737 Max allowed a plug door to be reinstalled on the aircraft without the bolts that secure the door to the fuselage.
Todd shares his insights from his time as a Boeing engineer. He highlights the complexity of the manufacturing process that involves Spirit in Wichita, Kansas making the fuselage and shipping to Boeing in Seattle for final assembly.

Todd and John discuss each of the NTSB findings and the story they tell about what went wrong and what went right in this event.

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The High-Stakes Flight into Oshkosh - Episode 277 Jul 02, 2025

Show notes

AirVenture 2025 is approaching fast. With it comes the transformation of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, into the busiest airport in the world. Pilots flying in must be prepared for the unique air traffic procedures.

In this episode, aviation experts Greg Feith, Todd Curtis, and John Goglia take us behind the scenes of the annual event and discuss the critical safety protocols all pilots must follow.

The team also revisits a powerful case study—the 2010 crash involving NASCAR legend Jack Roush. After a missed approach in his Beechcraft 390 Premier, Roush lost control and crashed. This incident underscores the importance of understanding and adhering to Oshkosh's detailed procedures.

Greg, a seasoned pilot who has flown into Oshkosh numerous times, shares his firsthand experiences and the risks pilots face when they don't follow the guidelines.

Whether you're planning to fly into AirVenture or simply want to understand how the airspace is managed during the event, this episode offers essential insights. Be sure to check out the 32-page official notice detailing these vital procedures.

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Safety Critical Information Being Withheld from Air India 787 Crash? – Episode 276 Jun 25, 2025

Show notes

Greg Feith, John Goglia and Todd Curtis find the lack of information emerging about the Air India 787 crash surprising. They wonder if safety critical information is being withheld from the aviation community and the public at large.

The flight data recorder (FDR) is in the US for analysis, while the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) remains in India. The CVR and FDR are typically read out simultaneously to marry up the data. Only when analyzed together can the data be fully understood. Assessing the recorders separately does not make sense.

Another oddity – the Indian government called for inspection of all Air India 787s immediately after the crash. What were they inspecting and do they have knowledge that impacts the safety of the other 1000+ 787s operating around the world?

The accident scene has been cleaned up. Physical evidence may have been lost. No pictures show that investigative teams were onsite to examine and document the wreckage.

The Flight Safety Detectives provide updates to the investigation of the June 12 fatal crash. They share their experiences investigating crashes to examine what the little available information from this crash might mean.

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Developing: All Killed in Helicopter Crash with Radio Tower - Episode 248 Jun 24, 2025

Show notes

Todd Curtis and John Goglia share the unfolding information surrounding a October 20, 2024 crash of an air tour R44 helicopter into a radio tower in Houston. The NTSB investigation continues.
The air tour helicopter apparently crashed into the radio tower while the pilot in command was reading back a traffic advisory about a second helicopter in the vicinity. The second helicopter was operated by the same air tour company.

The preliminary NTSB report issued less than a month after the accident. Details in the preliminary report and additional information from security cameras show that the pilot of the accident helicopter had the second helicopter in sight and made no major heading changes to avoid hitting the radio tower. Hear Todd’s assessment of the alignment of the tower and the helicopters.
John and Todd discuss general safety issues of air tour aircraft, including the fact that the ones involved in this crash often lack voice and data recorders. John notes that in his experience the NTSB might not be able to determine a probable cause due to the lack of data.

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Breaking Aviation Safety News: Air India Crash and Bombing in Middle East - Episode 275 Jun 16, 2025

Show notes

Greg Feith, Todd Curtis, and John Goglia are fresh from media interviews on the Air India crash. They regroup here to share their insights with the Flight Safety Detectives audience.

An Air India 787 crashed in Ahmedabad, India on June 12. The detectives want to put the brakes on the media, aviation commentators and social media posters who are providing bad information about the cause of the crash.

Many people speaking out, including pilots and other aviation professionals, are demonstrating little understanding of 787 systems and procedures. They are misrepresenting the limited information available about the event. This is a disservice to the public as well as aviation safety.

Boeing 787 Systems Explained

Greg explains how the 787 flap and slat system operates and how that led many commentators to misinterpret what they saw in the two videos of the crash that have been widely circulated. The main landing gear is visible in the videos, leading some commentators to speculate that the crew neglected to raise it. Greg notes that one of the videos showed clear evidence that the landing gear was in the process of being raised.

The audio of one of the videos suggested that the Ram Air Turbine (RAT) was deployed. John and Greg detail how the RAT provides critical hydraulic and electrical capacity to the aircraft. They describe several ways the system can be deployed manually or automatically.

Todd, John, and Greg all criticize the Indian authorities' management of the accident investigation. Video clips of the accident scene show that news media and others had relatively free access to the site. Evidence from the accident scene was disturbed before investigative authorities could inspect it. The lack of security may make it hard to fully understand why the aircraft crashed.

Middle East Conflict Impacts Flight Safety

A major military conflict between Iran and Israel began the day after the Air India crash, dramatically changing flight patterns in that part of the world. Flights may be disrupted further should the conflict intensify. Passengers and flight crews in that area should be prepared with alternative plans should the situation change for the worse.

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John Goglia Costars in Nathan Fielder's "The Rehearsal" on HBO - Episode 274 Jun 11, 2025

Show notes

Nathan Fielder needed an aviation expert for Season 2 of the series "The Rehearsal" so he tapped Flight Safety Detectives’ own John Goglia. John’s recommendations for how crew resource management (CRM) can reduce aviation accidents became the focus of the season.

John discusses how he was approached to be in the show, how he didn't have a clear idea of the direction it would take, and the unexpected reaction.
Season 2 of "The Rehearsal" addresses the role that enhanced CRM could play in reducing accidents. The tropic is explored in the context of comedy, absurdity, and simulations of the travel experience. Throughout, John is featured as the voice of authority.
Perhaps the most unusual aspect of the series was how seriously deeply Fielder approached the subject. He went from being a non-pilot to getting a type rating in a 737. Hear John’s insider look at how the show came together.

Stay tuned – John has invited Nathan Fielder to appear on a future episode of Flight Safety Detectives!

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