[1] The plane crash was the culmination of these efforts and the end of the show's transformation from a minor daytime rural drama into one of the biggest soaps in the UK, on an equal footing with the likes of the BBC's EastEnders and the aforementioned Coronation Street.
Beckindale is partly demolished, and four regular characters are killed, when a Niklovic 745X wide-body airliner travelling to Canada from Eastern Europe suffers a catastrophic failure at altitude and burning debris crashes into the village and surrounding countryside.
Eric Pollard's marriage with new wife Elizabeth had been falling apart during the previous few months as she discovered that he was responsible for a series of cheque frauds and theft of antiques whilst attempting to frame her son Michael.
Despite reporting her suspicions to the police, Eric had managed to dissuade them that he was responsible and that she was suffering from the menopause, however Elizabeth remained determine to expose her husband, regardless of the consequences to him or her.
During 1993 she had fallen in love with American wine merchant Josh Lewis and was planning to leave him on the night of the plane crash, preparing a letter for Chris explaining what she had done.
Frank Tate had divorced his wife Kim earlier in the year following her affair with rival Neil Kincaid, enabling her to set up her own stables with her settlement.
Alan Turner had arranged a fundraising night at the Woolpack pub in order to help raise money for Seth Armstrong's prostate complaint.
Lynn Whiteley, who was attending the event, began winding up former boyfriend Archie Brooks by insinuating he was in a same-sex relationship with his best friend Nick Bates, resulting in both of them walking out of the pub.
The village itself was partially isolated at the time the plane crash occurred, as the main bridge into it was temporarily out of action due to repairs being completed by the local water company.
Viewers did not learn the truth until some seventeen years later, when Eric confessed to his then wife Valerie that he had intended to kill Elizabeth, but she ran away from him and was struck by debris from the plane.
Outside, Alan Turner picks up a plane ticket with the name Kurshkov on it, he notices more wreckage in the field together with Angharad and Bernard McAllister and it becomes clearer what has happened.
Whilst mourning his dog's death, however, he heard the cries of Nick Bates' baby daughter Alice who had been left home alone when Eric had attempted to stop Elizabeth from reporting him to the police.
Kim's stables were completely destroyed and she moved back into Home Farm and rekindled her relationship with Frank, eventually resulting them getting remarried later in the year (although they would separate for good 18 months later).
Annie remained in a coma for some months- she woke up upon hearing the voice of newlyborn granddaughter Victoria but was initially unable to remember the crash or her deceased husband Leonard.
[4] According to The Independent, the episode proved to be "brilliant television", as it "allowed the writers to get rid of much dead wood, and reinvent the soap virtually from scratch.
Book-ended by an introduction and conclusion from actor Norman Bowler (Frank Tate), it included episodes 1829-1832 which centred around the crash and subsequent rescue of the villagers.
In the 5 January 1994 episode of Channel 4 soap Brookside, character Mick Johnson (Louis Emerick) was seen reading a newspaper with the front page headline "AIR DISASTER TOLL RISES - Village Mourns As Many Die", reflecting the events in Emmerdale.