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Flight 123 was overseen by an experienced crew. First Officer Utaka Sassi, at 39, was on the verge of being promoted to captain, flying under the supervision of seasoned Captain Masami Takahama, who had over 12,000 flying hours since the 1960s. Along with Flight Engineer Hiroshi Fukada, this team had logged thousands of hours on the Boeing 747 and were well-acquainted with the aircraft's operation. Passengers boarded the plane under the oppressive summer heat, unaware of the grave danger that lay ahead.