Part 7/11:
The lack of urgency in the cockpit became glaringly apparent. After confirming that there was, indeed, smoke in the cabin—indicating that the fire had breached the compromised cargo compartment—the crew had already wasted precious minutes before initiating their return to Riyadh. In a fraught scenario, their failure to act with decisiveness compounded their critical predicament.
As the aircraft descended towards the airport, chaos erupted in the cabin. The fire spread rapidly, creating an environment of desperate panic among the passengers. Flight attendants, knowing that their actions could save lives, worked tirelessly to manage the situation, urging passengers to stay calm and remain seated. These young women, often the unsung heroes in such tragedies, faced an extraordinary challenge.