The book takes a closer look at the theories surrounding two fires that down the plane, the pilot who is said to have ignored good flying practices, common sense and international law, and theories on what was being carried on the aircraft in order to start these fires, as well as other anomalies found within the reports.
The book provides more of a logical and alternative viewpoint to the theories that have for many years been propagated as being the truth.
The book includes the views of experts in various fields, including former and current airline pilots, psychologists, fire experts and a South African Airways technical investigator who took part in this investigation.
At the launch, author Steven Webb discussed the cockpit voice recorder transcripts and the use of incorrect transcripts during the South African Airways Investigation Board hearings.
Also discussed were the words on the transcript of the cockpit voice recorder that gave rise to theories of ‘first fires’ and specific timelines to the theories of what the aircraft was carrying.
Webb said the book will show an altogether different viewpoint to the theory that this accident was a case of ‘state sanctioned murder’ – a term used by one family member and a theory supported by many.
“This book will show that what has, up to now, been considered as fact may just be fiction,” Webb said.
Graham Johns, who bought the book, said he discovered new, interesting information at the launch.
“It goes to show that some people got the story the wrong way around and I like the book because it allows you to think out of the box,” Johns said.
South African Airways Flight 295, a Boeing 747 named Helderberg, was a commercial flight from Taiwan to South Africa that suffered a catastrophic in-flight fire in the cargo area and crashed into the Indian Ocean east of Mauritius, on November 28, 1987, killing everyone on board.
