Prisoners of the Snow on ABC: Release date, time, what to expect, and more details

A harsh wind howls as snowflakes fall relentlessly, and the biting chill of frostbite threatens to consume hope—this is the backdrop of Prisoners of the Snow. Fans of gritty, real-life survival stories will be in for a treat as ABC presents the documentary, set to air on May 22, 2023, at 9:01 pm ET with next-day streaming available on Hulu.

The documentary will narrate the terrifying ordeal of the 1972 Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571. The plane, carrying a rugby team and their loved ones to a match in Chile, met with an unfortunate end as it crashed into the remote, snow-covered Andes Mountains. Of the 45 passengers, only 16 emerged from the snowy graves, their spirits hardened by the brutal trials they had endured.

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An icy preview: What to expect from Prisoners of the Snow

The trailer of Prisoners of the Snow paints a chilling image of the survivors' ordeal. The documentary will promise to uncover the grim realities of the crash – from surviving the initial disaster and two avalanches to battling near starvation.

Faced with unimaginable choices, the survivors are expected to reveal how they were forced to consume the bodies of their deceased friends, their only option to stay alive.

Nando Parrado and Roberto Canessa are showcased as the ones who eventually led the group to their miraculous escape and rescue, a testament to their unyielding determination and perseverance.

In addition to the survivors' accounts, the documentary will incorporate interviews with mountaineers, adventurers, and survival experts who have studied their experiences. These experts will provide additional insight into the extreme challenges the passengers faced, enhancing the viewers' understanding of the survivors' extraordinary ordeal.

The documentary will not only present a riveting survival story but will also explore the profound psychological and emotional impacts of the survivors' experiences. Through the lens of Prisoners of the Snow, viewers will gain a deeper understanding of the human capacity for resilience and survival under the most extreme conditions.

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Prisoners of the Snow: The main players in the tale of survival

Prisoners of the Snow will feature new interviews with five of the crash survivors: Nando Parrado, Roberto Canessa, Carlitos Páez Rodríguez, Eduardo Strauch, and Roy Harley. Each of them will bring forth their firsthand accounts and stories of determination and perseverance that inspired the popular series Yellowjackets.

ABC News contributor Chris Connelly, who helms the interviewing process, lends his empathetic approach to uncover the raw emotions and profound insights from the survivors' accounts

The documentary is produced by ABC News Studios, under the stewardship of Mike Kelley. David Sloan, Muriel Pearson, and Erica Baumgart serve as senior executive producers, executive producers, and senior producers respectively, their collective efforts resulting in a gripping portrayal of a survival story that defies belief.

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In the face of adversities, that anyone can only imagine, these survivors’ stories stand as a testament to the resilience of the human spirit. They are the true Prisoners of the Snow, and their story will be a chilling reminder of the thin line between life and death

As the clock strikes 9:01 p.m. ET on Monday, May 22, 2023, on ABC, viewers will witness snow-laden peaks of the Andes, where survival is a relentless battle against nature. Prisoners of the Snow will promise to be an unforgettable journey that explores the boundaries of human endurance and the spirit's unyielding will to survive.