Mayday (2003)

The definitive documentary series reconstructing real aviation disasters through dramatized investigations, cockpit recordings, and expert analysis across 26 seasons.

Mayday - Series Information

  • Original Title: Mayday
  • First Air Year: 2003
  • Last Air Year: 2026
  • Created by: André Barro, Bernard Vaillot
  • Type: TV Series
  • Genres: Documentary, Drama, Crime
  • Content Rating (US): TV-14
  • Episode Runtime: Average runtime per episode (46 minutes)
  • Number of Seasons: 26
  • Number of Episodes: 240
  • Status: Returning Series
  • Original Language: English
  • Spoken Languages: English, French, Japanese, Russian, Spanish, German
  • First Air Date: September 3, 2003 (United States - TV-14), September 3, 2003 (Canada - 14+), September 3, 2003 (Germany - 16), September 3, 2003 (India - U), September 3, 2003 (Australia - PG), September 3, 2003 (Brazil - 14), September 3, 2003 (Mexico - A), September 3, 2003 (Spain - 12), September 3, 2003 (South Korea - 15)
  • Networks: 5, Discovery, Sky History, National Geographic Channel, National Geographic
  • Alternative Titles: Letecké katastrofy (CZ), Mayday! Desastres Aéreos (BR), Mayday: Catástrofes aéreas (ES), 空中浩劫 (CN), Air Crash Investigation (AU), Undersøgelse af flystyrt (DK), Mayday - Alarm im Cockpit (DE), Air Disasters (CA)
  • Production Companies: Cineflix Productions
  • Production Countries: Canada

Mayday - Plot

Major real-life air disasters are depicted in this series. Each episode features a detailed dramatized reconstruction of the incident based on cockpit voice recorders and air traffic control transcripts, as well as eyewitnesses recounts and interviews with aviation experts.

Mayday - Trailer

Watch the official Mayday trailer and see the series' gripping reconstructions in action.

Where to Watch Mayday

Looking for where to watch Mayday?

Mayday - Cast & Crew

Creator(s)

  • André Barro
  • Bernard Vaillot

Main Cast

  • Stephen Bogaert
  • Von Flores
  • Leon Aureus
  • Jon De Leon
  • Daniel Junghuan Park
  • Jason Weinberg
  • Daniel Falk
  • Redd Ochoa
  • Joseph Di Mambro
  • Allen Keng

Writers

  • Alex Bystram
  • Christopher Blow
  • Carl Knutson
  • Greg Gransden
  • Michael Sheehan

Executive Producers

  • Alex Bystram
  • Glen Salzman
  • John Vandervelde
  • Katherine Buck
  • Simon Lloyd

Mayday - FAQs

Where can you stream Mayday online?

Mayday is available to stream on several platforms in the United States, including Amazon Prime Video, Peacock Premium, YouTube TV, Philo, and Tubi TV. Free ad-supported viewing is also available through The Roku Channel, Plex, and Amazon Prime Video Free with Ads. Availability may vary by region.

Is Mayday based on real aviation accidents?

Yes, every episode of Mayday is based on a real air disaster. The series reconstructs actual crashes and incidents using cockpit voice recorder transcripts, air traffic control recordings, eyewitness accounts, and interviews with aviation safety experts, making each episode a factually grounded investigation.

How many seasons does Mayday have?

Mayday has 26 seasons plus a specials collection (Season 0) containing 59 additional episodes. The main seasons range from 2 to 13 episodes each. With 240 total episodes across its run, it is one of the longest-running aviation documentary series ever produced.

What is Mayday about?

Mayday dramatizes real-life aviation disasters, combining detailed reenactments with analysis from cockpit voice recorders and air traffic control transcripts. Each episode follows investigators as they piece together the causes of a crash, offering insight into aviation safety and the human factors behind catastrophic failures.

Is Mayday still producing new episodes?

Yes, Mayday is currently a returning series and remains in active production. Season 26, consisting of 10 episodes, extends the series through 2026, confirming that new episodes continue to be commissioned more than two decades after the show first premiered in September 2003.

Who are the main cast members in Mayday?

Mayday features Stephen Bogaert as the series narrator, with Von Flores, Leon Aureus, Jon De Leon, Daniel Junghuan Park, Jason Weinberg, Daniel Falk, Redd Ochoa, Joseph Di Mambro, and Allen Keng among the recurring cast portraying investigators, pilots, controllers, and other aviation personnel.

What other titles is Mayday known by internationally?

Mayday is broadcast under several titles worldwide. It is known as Air Crash Investigation in Australia, Air Disasters in Canada, Mayday - Alarm im Cockpit in Germany, 空中浩劫 in China, Mayday! Desastres Aéreos in Brazil, and Mayday: Catástrofes aéreas in Spain, among other regional titles.

What content rating does Mayday carry in the US?

Mayday carries a TV-14 content rating in the United States, indicating that the material may be unsuitable for children under 14. The rating reflects the series' graphic reconstructions of fatal accidents, distressing audio recordings, and frank discussion of human error and catastrophic mechanical failures.

More About Mayday

Explore further details, cast information, and episode guides for Mayday on these authoritative resources.

Help Us Keep Our Content Accurate.

Report an Error