Channel 5 Slates 1972 Andes Plane Crash Docuseries

Channel 5 has slated the premiere of the new three-part series Andes Plane Crash, about the Uruguayan rugby team’s plane crash in the Andes Mountains in 1972, for January 9.

Told through the testimony of survivors, the series charts the story of how they managed to make it out alive against all the odds. Of the 45 people who boarded their plane, only 16 survived after they crashed and became stranded in one of the most unforgiving environments in the world.

Survivors participating in the series include Nando Parrado, Roy Harley, Coche Inciarte, Eduardo Strauch and Fito Strauch.

The three-parter is produced by ITN. It will air at 10 p.m. on Channel 5 beginning January 9 and become available on My5.

“The [series] is a fantastic art work,” said Eduardo Strauch. “I have seen it twice and got deeply moved each time.”

Oliver Price, producer and director at ITN, commented, “This is one of the greatest survival stories there has ever been, so it’s no surprise that there have been feature films made about it. However, hearing the real survivors talk about their experience gives an incredible unique insight into what they went through. They had to make the most astonishing decision in order to survive, but when speaking to them, you learn that there is so much more to the story.

“We wanted this to be the most complete documentary series ever made on this topic, so we also spoke to family members of those on board the plane who had to wait for news of their loved ones. This is a less well-known part of it all but is also remarkable in its own way.”

Adrian Padmore, commissioning editor at Channel 5, added, “This is an incredible series retelling a truly remarkable story of human sacrifice and the determination to stay alive. Our survivors story is emotional, terrifying and life affirming all in the same instance, tapping into the most significant decision of morality anyone could ever face.”