Part 4/9:
Ignorance of Danger
Despite the increasing distances from designated waypoints, the pilots radioed in their positions without any sense of urgency, complacently assuring air traffic control that all was well. As the aircraft continued westward, it also unknowingly flew into a potentially hostile region, where Soviet military activity heightened tensions and put every inch of sky under critical surveillance.
As Flight 007 inched closer to the far reaches of Soviet airspace, the aircraft's situation became dire. Unbeknownst to the crew, their aircraft had become an uninvited guest, and the consequences of failing to adhere to standard operating procedures would soon manifest tragically.