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The day began pleasantly with Captain Kevin Sullivan at the helm, joined by First Officer Pete Lipsit and Second Officer Ross Hales. Sullivan, with a storied history as a Top Gun pilot in the U.S. Navy and a seasoned captain for Qantas, was known for his hands-on flying approach and penchant for trouble. As the team of skilled pilots prepared the aircraft for departure, laughter filled the cockpit, a stark contrast to the chaos that would soon unfold.
Forty-five minutes after departure, with no sign of trouble, the aircraft was cruising at 37,000 feet over the vast Indian Ocean, and the atmosphere was light-hearted. However, unbeknownst to the crew, complications were brewing behind the cockpit doors.