In this special presentation of The UnXplained, host William Shatner takes us into the perplexing world of disappearances that defy conventional explanations. From aircraft vanishing without a trace to people going missing in remote locations, this episode explores some of the most intriguing unsolved mysteries.
“Mysterious Disappearances,” airing on Friday April 5, begins by addressing the enigma of modern jetliners mysteriously disappearing from radar screens. One such incident involves Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, which vanished in 2014 with 239 passengers on board. Despite extensive searches, the aircraft and the remains of the passengers have never been found, leaving investigators with more questions than answers.
The show also examines the phenomenon of people going missing in the vast wilderness of Alaska, a state with a disproportionately high number of disappearances. The episode explores the challenges of searching for individuals in such rugged and remote terrain, and the impact these disappearances have on loved ones left behind.
The UnXplained presents a range of other puzzling cases, each with its unique twists and lingering questions. One story involves the disappearance of Lauren Spierer, an Indiana University student who vanished in 2011 after a night of partying. Despite extensive searches and media attention, her whereabouts remain unknown.
Another featured disappearance is that of Amelia Earhart, the pioneering aviator who vanished in 1937 while attempting to circumnavigate the globe. Despite extensive searches and theories, the fate of Earhart and her navigator, Fred Noonan, remains a mystery.
The episode also includes the strange case of Roanoke Colony, where Virginia Dare, the first English child born in the Americas, and over 100 other settlers disappeared without a trace in the late 1580s. The only clues left behind were the words “Croatoan” and “Cro” carved on a stockade and a tree. The fate of these early colonists remains one of American history’s greatest enigmas.
The UnXplained “Mysterious Disappearances” airs on Friday, April 5, 2024, at 9:00 PM on the History Channel.
