Part 5/8:
Investigators dug deeper, tying the South African government's controversial use of commercial airlines to transport military supplies during an arms embargo into the flight's narrative. There were implications that potentially hazardous cargo might have included weapons or flammable materials, igniting rampant conjecture about the true contents of the cargo compartment.
A Desperate Descent
As smoke filled the cabin and panic set in among passengers, the pilots were forced to make life-and-death decisions amid chaos. They attempted to call for emergency landing instructions. Minutes ticked away, and with the fire raging uncontrollably, they faced the unthinkable—opening the doors mid-flight to alleviate some pressure, only to be met with a black abyss outside.