Warning: This article contains spoilers for Alien Earth season 1, episode 5. The Maginino crashed due to a plot by Boy Cavalier, the CEO of the Prodigy Corporation, who sabotaged the ship to steal Weyland-Yutani property. Cavalier enlisted Chief Engineer Petravvic, who caused the fire and unleashed facehuggers on the crew. Seventeen days before the Majinino was to reach Earth, Petravvic ensured the ship crashed into Prodigy City, Newam, allowing Cavalier to claim its contents.
Petravvic, tempted by a better payday, was killed by the cyborg and security officer Morrow, the ship's lone human survivor who secured himself in the impact room. Meanwhile, acting captain Zei and navigator Tang were killed by an adult xenomorph, which hatched from science officer Bronky's corpse. Both Bronky and Captain Dinsdale fell victim to the facehuggers Petravvic released. Before Petravvic's death, he also killed security officer Clem, who became a host for the blood-sucking ticks, Species 19.
Despite needing Petravvic to guide the Majinino to Newam, the crew's deadly cargo sealed their doom. One tick escaped, planting embryos in Science Officer Chabuzo's thermos. Teioelis, the "eye," managed a brief escape and attempted but failed to attach to the xenomorph. Crew members in cryosleep perished on impact, and many others died during earlier alien captures.
Weyland-Yutani did not send a more capable team due to the need for discretion, avoiding drawing attention from powerful global corporations. This mission's failures likely informed the hidden Nostromo mission two years later. The episode also reveals Marrowth adopted by the Utani family, explaining his loyalty and role in the company.