The Snallygaster is a legendary creature from Maryland, described as a half-reptile, half-bird with a metallic beak, razor-sharp teeth, and sometimes octopus-like tentacles. It is said to swoop silently from the sky, stealing farm animals and children. The creature has been part of folklore since the 1700s and was first reported in newspapers in 1909.
On December 3, 1990, Northwest Airlines Flight 1482 mistakenly turned onto an active runway at Detroit's Wayne County Airport. Five seconds later, another plane, Northwest Flight 299, collided with it during takeoff. The collision resulted in the death of 7 passengers and 1 flight attendant, with 10 others seriously injured. The incident was attributed to pilot error and poor air traffic control instructions.
Air Florida Flight 90 crashed on January 13, 1982, due to the pilot's failure to de-ice the wings before takeoff. Despite recognizing the error, the pilot attempted to use the exhaust from another plane to defrost the wings, which failed. The plane lost lift shortly after takeoff, crashed into a bridge, and plunged into the Potomac River, killing 74 people, including the pilots.
On a British Airways flight from Heathrow to Dubai in 2015, a passenger's liquid fecal excrement created such a strong odor that the pilot decided to return to Heathrow after only 30 minutes in the air. Passengers were given free hotel rooms and rebooked on a new flight the next day.
The Screaming Skull of Burton Agnes Hall belongs to Anne Griffiths, who was attacked and beaten by robbers. Before dying, she wished her head to be buried in her beloved home. When her family buried her in the churchyard, the house was plagued by groans and poltergeist activity. Her skull was eventually exhumed and bricked up in a wall, where it remains without further disturbances.
In 2017, United Airlines Flight 3411 forcibly removed Dr. David Dow from his seat to make room for airline employees. Security officers physically dragged him out, causing injuries including a broken nose and concussion. The incident, captured on video by passengers, led to public outrage, a lawsuit, and a settlement with Dr. Dow.
More can go wrong on a flight than just dying—though that’s likely the top concern. Strange and bizarre incidents might make you reconsider flying altogether.Darkness Syndicate members get the ad-free version. https://weirddarkness.com/syndicate)Info on the next LIVE SCREAM event. https://weirddarkness.com/LiveScream)Info on the next WEIRDO WATCH PARTY event. https://weirddarkness.com/TV)IN THIS EPISODE: They say it’s actually safer to fly than to drive on our country’s highways – and seeing how Chicagoans drive, I might tend to believe it. But when something goes wrong in your car, you don’t plunge 30,000 feet to your demise. And while it may be safer than driving, there are still a lot of things that can not go as planned and leave you screaming towards your doom. (Scares in the Skies) *** Sightings of a strange flying creature have been reported in Maryland since back in the 1700s… but even stranger is the unfortunate name this creature has been tagged with. What the heck is a Snallygaster? (What The Heck Is a Snallygaster?) *** Of course, more can go wrong on a flight than just you dying – although that probably should be at the top of the list of things to avoid when traveling by air. But some other strange and bizarre things have also happened in the skies that might make you re-book your next vacation on a train instead. (It Happened Mid-Flight) *** In many cultures there are stories of screaming skulls haunting and terrorizing people. What could this phenomenon be, and are all the incidents related? (The Screaming Skulls)CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)…00:00:00.000 = Disclaimer and Show Open00:02:37.599 = What The Heck Is A Snallygaster?00:09:32.428 = Scares In The Skies00:29:56.404 = It Happened Mid-Flight00:41:28.839 = Screaming Skulls00:45:05.929 = Are Angels Real?00:47:56.696 = Show Close00:50:26.478 = BloopersSOURCES AND REFERENCES FROM THE EPISODE…“What The Heck Is a Snallygaster?” by Kathy Weiser-Alexander for LegendsOfAmerica.com:https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/75e9z8ay)“Scares in the Skies” by Christopher Dale for ListVerse.com: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2ta9ezmj)“It Happened Mid-Flight” by Shannon Quinn for ListVerse.com: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/f784t3jb)“The Screaming Skulls” from MJWayland.com: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2bby8vzx)Weird Darkness theme by Alibi Music Library. = = = = =(Over time links seen above may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for the material I use whenever possible. If I somehow overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it in these show notes immediately. Some links included above may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.)= = = = ="I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46= = = = =WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2025, Weird Darkness.= = = = =Originally aired: July 05, 2021SOURCES PAGE: https://weirddarkness.com/HorrorInTheSkiesTRANSCRIPT: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/49kyej8r)