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