South African Airways Flight 295 or Helderberg, a Boeing 747-200 Combi, that departed from Taoyuan International Airport in Taipei, Taiwan, on 28 November 1987, headed to Jan Smuts International Airport in Johannesburg, South Africa, but with a stopover for refueling at Plaisance Airport, Mauritius. But what was intended as a routine flight turned into an aviation calamity that the world of aviation continued to be wide-eyed about.
An Ill-Fated Flight Path
When the aircraft departed from and returned to course, there was an in-flight fire tragedy in the cargo compartment. The fire developed extremely quickly and triggered a procedure that resulted in the aircraft being destroyed in the air. Despite all efforts by the pilots, things later went out of control and claimed the lives of 159 individuals in the tragedy.
The Search for Answers: Seeking the Cause
After the tragedy, a thorough investigation was conducted in an effort to establish the cause of the deadly fire and crash. The investigation was officially published in the preliminary stages by Judge Cecil Margo, who addressed all the evidence that was presented. Even going a mile further, the investigation failed to produce a cause for the fire.
Conspiracy Theories and Speculation
That the fire engulfed South African Airways Flight 295 and could not be traced to a cause opened a field for speculations, conspiracy, and debate to grow. Hush regarding what the plane was carrying and confidentiality surrounding what had led to the fire onboard the aircraft created the platform for speculations and gossip regarding what had transpired onboard the doomed flight.
A Lasting Legacy: Post-Apartheid Inquiry
In the decades since the original inquiry, South Africa experienced fundamental political and social change. Post-apartheid, interest was renewed in trying to account for why the calamity had occurred once more. Another inquiry was conducted with the aim of re-considering the facts and ascertaining whether there had existed knowledge pertinent to establishing the cause of the disaster which had not been found or had been suppressed.
The Quest for Closure
South African Airways Flight 295 is a chastening reminder of the complex and nuanced nature of flying tragedies. The quest for closure and comprehension continues to drive efforts to try to piece together what happened with the in-flight fire that brought the aircraft down to rubble and took lives.
Although the actual cause of the fire and resulting crash is still unknown, the legacy of Flight 295 continues in the need for full investigations, in demanding further improvement of aviation safety, and ongoing awareness to ensure that the memory of all those whose lives were lost that day does not get lost.
