Sole Survivor, the documentary about people who have been the lone survivors of commercial airline crashes that features Comair Flight 5191 co-pilot James Polehinke, will air on CNN at 9 p.m. Thursday.
Polehinke was the only survivor of Flight 5191, which crashed during takeoff from Blue Grass Airport in Lexington on Aug. 27, 2006, killing all 47 passengers and two crew members. Sole Survivor was the first and, to date, only time he has spoken publicly about the crash.
The film, shown in Lexington at The Kentucky Theatre in July, follows the experiences of four of the only 14 sole survivors of commercial airline crashes in aviation history. It addresses the National Transportation Safety Board investigation, which found the crash was probably due to pilot error, and the conclusion of other experts that the crash was a “systems accident” with blame shared by several parties, including the pilots.
Attendees at the Kentucky Theatre screening included victims’ families and first responders to the accident. Several told the Herald-Leader, they had mixed emotions about the film, after seeing it.