Part 4/8:
Despite a rocky start hindered by fuel concerns, flight 708 eventually took off, climbing to its cruising altitude of 31,000 feet. However, as they ascended through layers of clouds, the pilots faced a significant threat: potential icing on the wings and engines, a critical hazard that could lead to catastrophic failure. The MD-82 was equipped with an anti-icing system, which required the engine to divert some airflow to maintain safe conditions, thereby reducing its thrust.
Engaging this system while managing the aircraft's weight left the pilots in a precarious position. They attempted to climb higher to avoid subsequent storm systems but did so without first consulting performance tables that would have revealed their limitations.