New Developments in the Swissair 111 Crash!

[SighMN]

This September there have been a lot of new reports about the Swissair 111 flight that crashed off Nova Scotia due to a cabin fire in 1998. The Canadian Transport Safety Board(TSB) came to the conclusion that it was likely caused by electrical sparking in cracked wire insulation in the attic of the aircraft. A former investigator has said he was told not to follow a lead where he found high magnesium concentrations in the coughpit/first class galley which indicated a criminal incendiary device was present. One of the enticing bits was that Swissair was carrying a large quantity of gems worth 500 million dollars current value as well as a Pablo Picasso painting. The gems were never found despite all the other items in the cargo hold with all the precious materials were found at least in part.

I always thought the sparking thoery was a bit weak considering tons of wires all over the world on tons of aircraft have aged insulation wires like Swissair. Even if the inflight entertainment system provided high power loads, and there was flammable content in the attic, I find it hard to believe that other aircraft haven't suffered the same fate.

Quite interesting reading from the Canadian news media:

Swissair crash may not have been an accident: ex-RCMP - Canada - CBC News

Oh wow here is the documentary online (anyone can watch it!) : http://www.cbc.ca/fifth/2011-2012/swissair111/

 

[samh004]

I can’t imagine the RCMP are happy he took all those notes, but good job he did!

Regarding the diamonds, well at the bottom of the ocean they were always going to be hard to find, gold could be easier though. Seems a little odd that completely went missing.

 

[SighMN]

I can’t imagine the RCMP are happy he took all those notes, but good job he did!

Regarding the diamonds, well at the bottom of the ocean they were always going to be hard to find, gold could be easier though. Seems a little odd that completely went missing.

After watching the documentary I was left a bit bewildered. That ex-RCMP investigator is a bit obsessive and I could see how his actions at such an agency may be interpreted as extreme. On the other hand, I read a bit more and people close to him say he is not in this for the money nor fame and that he genuinely believes the investigation was cut short. The documentary unfortunately didn't have the other side's story as they declined to comment which is a pity. I'm not one for conspiracy theories, but this story is compelling enough for me to pay attention.

 

[mannej]

There is a belief that SA295 may have come down due to the contents in it's cargo hold...

 

[Danger]

This September there have been a lot of new reports about the Swissair 111 flight that crashed off Nova Scotia due to a cabin fire in 1998. The Canadian Transport Safety Board(TSB) came to the conclusion that it was likely caused by electrical sparking in cracked wire insulation in the attic of the aircraft. A former investigator has said he was told not to follow a lead where he found high magnesium concentrations in the coughpit/first class galley which indicated a criminal incendiary device was present. One of the enticing bits was that Swissair was carrying a large quantity of gems worth 500 million dollars current value as well as a Pablo Picasso painting. The gems were never found despite all the other items in the cargo hold with all the precious materials were found at least in part.

I always thought the sparking thoery was a bit weak considering tons of wires all over the world on tons of aircraft have aged insulation wires like Swissair. Even if the inflight entertainment system provided high power loads, and there was flammable content in the attic, I find it hard to believe that other aircraft haven't suffered the same fate.

I just finished watching the Mayday (Air Crash Investigation) episode of 111 two days ago. Very interesting that there was no mention of a conspiracy theory or the gems or painting.

There is a belief that SA295 may have come down due to the contents in it's cargo hold...

Do you have a link to this incident? I'd be interested to have a read.

 

[drewbles]

Do you have a link to this incident? I'd be interested to have a read.

This one was also in the Mayday/Air Crash Investigation series. This was the 747 Combi being flown in SA during the time of Apartheid. There was a strong belief that they may have been smuggling weapons on a pallet in the rear top-deck in the cargo section, with them marked as 'computer parts'. No one has ever stepped forward and admitted what was really in there, and it's a pretty well known conspiracy theory.

South African Airways Flight 295 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

and

List of Mayday episodes - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (Season 5, episode 4).

I have all of these at home. It's an interesting series to be sure.

 

[mannej]

South African Airways Flight 295 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[Danger]

This one was also in the Mayday/Air Crash Investigation series. This was the 747 Combi being flown in SA during the time of Apartheid. There was a strong belief that they may have been smuggling weapons on a pallet in the rear top-deck in the cargo section, with them marked as 'computer parts'. No one has ever stepped forward and admitted what was really in there, and it's a pretty well known conspiracy theory.

South African Airways Flight 295 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

and

List of Mayday episodes - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (Season 5, episode 4).

I have all of these at home. It's an interesting series to be sure.

Thanks, drewbles. Where did you get the episodes from? Did you buy them somewhere on DVD or download them?

 

[mannej]

Thanks, drewbles. Where did you get the episodes from? Did you buy them somewhere on DVD or download them?

You can search for them on Youtube, just make sure that you click the long video (~20 minutes) on the options, otherwise you will have to watch the episode in parts.

 

[drewbles]

Thanks, drewbles. Where did you get the episodes from? Did you buy them somewhere on DVD or download them?

Let's just say I recorded them?

I just wish they could make more. It's a tragedy when aircraft crash of course, but unfortunately there are enough incidents to keep things flowing (even though investigation can take years if not tens of years).

I'm hoping the Nancy Bird makes it to one of these shows. Would be a great one seeing as the plane landed safely (and it was the first major incident of the type).