The Secret History of Antarctica: Death on the Ice

The West stands on the brink of war against Saddam Hussein’s regime, but the human shields are in the line of fire. British Airways gave us the following statement: "Our hearts go out to all those caught up in this shocking act of war just over 30 years ago, and who had to endure a truly horrendous experience. The records (released by the Government last year) confirmed British Airways was not warned about the invasion...

What must it have felt like to be a child hostage? Stephen hears the remarkable tale of one of the youngest captives, and also asks how the Flight 149 family members left behind coped with the ordeal. British Airways gave us the following statement: "Our hearts go out to all those caught up in this shocking act of war just over 30 years ago, and who had to endure a truly horrendous experience...

The US Embassy finds itself under siege. As the international pressure on Saddam Hussein intensifies, he makes a sudden announcement that creates a dilemma for many of the human shields. British Airways gave us the following statement: "Our hearts go out to all those caught up in this shocking act of war just over 30 years ago, and who had to endure a truly horrendous experience. The records (released by the Government last year) confirmed British Airways was not warned about the invasion...

The hostages have now become human shields – scattered at strategic locations across Iraq and Kuwait. They have been put in the line of fire and are living in constant fear of being bombed. When food supplies run dangerously short, they are forced to take drastic measures...  British Airways gave us the following statement: "Our hearts go out to all those caught up in this shocking act of war just over 30 years ago, and who had to endure a truly horrendous experience...

The hostages are faced with the impossible decision of whether to follow the official advice and stay in a hotel occupied by the Iraqi army, or risk everything to make a run for it. The Captain calls a secret meeting of his crew, but has he left it too late to escape? This episode contains descriptions of graphic violence...

The Flight 149 passengers and crew are now stranded in war-torn Kuwait.

Listen to the whole series ad-free now by subscribing to the Crowd Stories channel on Apple Podcasts. When Flight 149 departed London Heathrow on 1 August 1990, the passengers and crew had no idea of the trauma that lay ahead. A routine stopover in Kuwait turned into a hostage crisis. Hear from the hostages themselves as they recall the horrifying realisation that their holiday had taken a very dark turn...

Coming soon - The Secret History of the Estonia. A tale of secrets, smugglers and spies and how 852 people died on a ferry.  From the team behind The Secret History of Flight 149, journalist Stephen Davis investigates the tragic sinking of the passenger ship The Estonia, uncovering a mysterious trail that leads back to the Cold War. Episodes released weekly from January 9th 2023, with the whole series available ad-free on the Crowd Stories channel on Apple Podcasts...