What is Mayday about?

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

Name: Mayday
Genre: Documentary, Drama, Crime
Released: 2003-09-03
Rating: 8.203
Cast: Stephen Bogaert

TV Show TV-14 2003 46m/ep 8.2 /10 Returning

A 5 Original

Created by André Barro, Bernard Vaillot

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Not Currently Available On (6 platforms)

Streaming availability last verified: February 03, 2026

About Mayday

Mayday reconstructs real aviation disasters by piecing together cockpit voice recordings, air traffic control transcripts, eyewitness testimony and expert interviews. Each episode stages a dramatized retelling of the moments before, during and after a crash, then walks through the technical investigation that follows. The show mixes on-scene interviews with forensic analysis and reenacted cockpit sequences to clarify how mechanical faults, human actions and procedural gaps combined in each event. It keeps to documented evidence and expert commentary, explaining the sequence of events without revealing investigative conclusions before presenting the official findings.

Created by Bernard Vaillot and André Barro, Mayday premiered in 2003, with Stephen Bogaert as the series narrator. The format blends documentary interviews with scripted reconstructions, relying on official transcripts and aviation sources rather than fictional embellishment.

As a television documentary series, Mayday has no box office numbers. Its reach is measured by broadcast ratings, international syndication, DVD releases and streaming availability, which helped the show build a steady global viewership across multiple seasons.

The series has had a noticeable effect on public understanding of aviation safety. Its clear, technical reconstructions and emphasis on how small errors or design flaws compound into major failures made it a regular reference for aviation enthusiasts, flight crews and safety educators. That practical focus helped demystify accident investigation for general audiences while highlighting the importance of post-incident reforms.

Audience reception has been strong, reflected in an 8.201/10 average from 272 votes on the referenced platform. Viewers and critics often praise the methodical approach, attention to technical detail and measured tone. Recurring themes include human factors, systems reliability, maintenance and regulatory oversight, and each episode tends to close with lessons or changes prompted by the investigation, underscoring how accidents reshape safety practices.

Details

Release Date: September 03, 2003
Episode Length: 46m
Rating: TV-14
User Ratings: 273 votes
Type: TV Series
Seasons: 26
Episodes: 236
Network: 5, Discovery, Sky History, National Geographic Channel, National Geographic
Status: Returning Series
Genres: Documentary, Drama, Crime
Country: Canada
Studio: Cineflix Productions
External Links: View on IMDB

Official Trailer

Cast

Stephen Bogaert

Self - Narrator (voice)

Created by: André Barro, Bernard Vaillot

Seasons (26 seasons, 236 episodes)

Season 1

6 episodes - 2003

Season 2

6 episodes - 2005

Season 3

13 episodes - 2005

Season 4

10 episodes - 2007

Season 5

10 episodes - 2008

Season 6

3 episodes - 2007

Season 7

8 episodes - 2009

Season 8

2 episodes - 2009

Season 9

8 episodes - 2010

Season 10

6 episodes - 2011

Season 11

13 episodes - 2011

Season 12

13 episodes - 2012

Season 13

10 episodes - 2013

Season 14

11 episodes - 2015

Season 15

10 episodes - 2016

Season 16

10 episodes - 2016

Season 17

10 episodes - 2017

Season 18

10 episodes - 2018

Season 19

10 episodes - 2019

Season 20

10 episodes - 2020

Season 21

10 episodes - 2021

Season 22

10 episodes - 2022

Season 23

10 episodes - 2023

Season 24

10 episodes - 2024

Season 25

11 episodes - 2025

S26

Season 26

10 episodes - 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

Mayday is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video, Peacock, and Peacock Premium. You can also rent or buy it on Amazon Video.

Yes, Mayday is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video.

Yes, you can buy on Amazon Video.

Mayday has 26 seasons with a total of 236 episodes.

With a rating of 8.2/10 from 273 viewers, Mayday is highly recommended and considered excellent by most viewers.

Mayday stars Stephen Bogaert.

Mayday was created by André Barro and Bernard Vaillot.

Mayday was released on September 03, 2003.

Mayday is a Documentary, Drama, and Crime series.

Yes, Mayday dramatizes major real-life air disasters. Each episode is reconstructed from cockpit voice recorders, air traffic control transcripts, eyewitness accounts and interviews with aviation experts.

The series is narrated by Stephen Bogaert, who appears as Self - Narrator (voice) in the Top Cast credits.

The reconstructions are grounded in official sources like cockpit voice recorders and air traffic control transcripts, plus expert interviews, so they aim to closely reflect what happened. They present a dramatized reconstruction, which means some scenes are staged to match the available evidence.

Mayday depicts real aviation accidents, including onboard emergencies and fatalities, so some episodes can be graphic or upsetting. Parental discretion is advised for younger viewers and anyone sensitive to crash footage or detailed accounts of accidents.