Is it possible Swissair 111 wasn't an accident?

[Rudy]

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/201 ... ml?cmp=rss

An investigator looking into the crash of Swissair Flight 111 near Peggys Cove, N.S., says he was prevented by senior RCMP and aviation safety officials from pursuing his theory that an incendiary device might have been the cause.

"There was sufficient grounds to suspect a criminal device on that plane," retired RCMP sergeant Tom Juby, who was an arson investigator assigned to the Swissair file, told CBC's The Fifth Estate.

"I'm convinced that the investigation was improperly done," he said.

The flight from New York to Geneva crashed into the Atlantic Ocean on Sept. 2, 1998, killing 229 passengers and crew. The plane carried a Saudi prince, a relative of the former shah of Iran and high profile UN officials. A half a billion dollars of diamonds and gems were also never found.

The Transportation Safety Board (TSB) of Canada said that it was an accident caused by a fire in the cockpit, likely sparked by an electrical fault.
But Juby said high levels of magnesium — a key ingredient in an incendiary device — were discovered in the cockpit area. Several other investigators and a federal scientist who The Fifth Estate spoke to supported Juby's informed suspicions.

Metallurgist Dr. Jim Brown discovered suspicious levels of magnesium and other elements associated with arson in melted wiring from the section of the plane that suffered the greatest fire damage.

"There was a lot of magnesium. More than I would have expected," he said.

Instead, the TSB was focused on the crash being the result of an accident. Any hint of criminal activity meant it would be forced to drop the probe and turn it over to the RCMP.

Juby said the RCMP did not support his findings and that he was pressured to stop his own inquiries. He said the RCMP brass ordered him to remove any reference to magnesium or a suspected bomb from his investigative notes.

Juby said he has tried but failed to set the record straight inside the RCMP for years. He said the system failed too.

"If Canada can't follow through on 229 potential homicides, then you know, what happens when there's only one?" he said.

The RCMP and the TSB repeatedly refused to comment about Juby's allegations.

[Mig29]

Very, very interesting article!!!

I'm sure this is going to spark a lot of interest to some people, not so many here maybe - but never the less, my dad's theory may just prove to be right!

[invertedattitude]

Where's my tinfoil hat

[Jastapilot]

Well, there must be some substance to the allegation if the 5th Estate feels compelled to air the documentary. I guess my immediate question is was there high levels of Magnesium and if so where did it come from? I doubt there's many if ANY parts of an airliner made of the stuff.

** edit **

A quick google search proved me wrong. Magnesium is used with Aluminum alloy, and is used in airliners... hmm.

[Pavese]

Well, there must be some substance to the allegation if the 5th Estate feels compelled to air the documentary. I guess my immediate question is was there high levels of Magnesium and if so where did it come from? I doubt there's many if ANY parts of an airliner made of the stuff.

** edit **

A quick google search proved me wrong. Magnesium is used with Aluminum alloy, and is used in airliners... hmm.

And laptop frames.........

D

[ahramin]

I doubt there's many if ANY parts of an airliner made of the stuff.

Magnesium is very light. Magnesium-aluminium alloys are frequently used in engines and wheels. The FAA looked into allowing magnesium parts in the cabin but I don't remember seeing any final rule.

[AEROBAT]

5XXX and 6XXX aluminum alloys like 5052 and 6061T6 are alloyed with magnesium. I would be surprised if the didn't find magnesium in an aircraft. Where do they get these overpriced investigators?

[Expat]

Then why did they tell him to shut up?
And where are the diamonds???

[iflyforpie]

Also, depending on how much got grandfathered into the MD-11 from the DC-10, lots of airliners of that era had entire assemblies made from magnesium alloys. These were primarily large complex castings that would account for quite a bit of volume in comparison to aluminum skins, floor beams, frames, and stringer.

On the 727, the entire Kruger Flap assemblies were made from magnesium (one U/S assembly I pilfered made for some pretty good bonfires ), as was much of the door opening mechanisms and the exit hatches IIRC as well.

Also, magnesium washers are commonly used by the bucket load as sacrificial anodes when installing steel bolts into aluminum castings.

[Expat]

If I remember well, the fire was linked to a faulty lead, and subsequent arcing and fire, in the In-Flight entertainment system. This in itself is already far fetching. Airplane systems are all breaker protected, and although possible, it would mean that the breakers did not pop, and that the FAA approved insulation was inadequate, or the wiring loom was poorly secured, etc... May be, but may be the plane maker needed a break from litigation, who knows?
These investigations carry far too many financial implications, to be fully believed, IMHO.

[Jastapilot]

I distinctly remember years ago one of the early findings of the investigation was that the IFE system was hard wired to the battery. There was no way to isolate it electrically.

[CD]

For those folks actually involved in aviation safety and aircraft accident investigation, the actual contributing factors are well documented.

For those interested, is the final report:

AVIATION REPORTS - 1998 - A98H0003

[Heliian]

Why let the facts get in the way of a good story?

[Old fella]

Just wait........ this ex-cop will have a book out in the not to distant future as he is getting some good airtime with the CBC Fifth Estate. Like the TSB indicated, they are standing by their investigation and the cause/circumstance - nuff said!!!!

This guy "was", more than likely an embarrassment to the RCMP!!!!!

[N2]

I just want to know who shot JR?

[Tubthumper]

Jimmy Hoffa.

[algore]

I happen to know this ex-RCMP officer quite well, and I put no credence in what he says at all...

[Old fella]

Having this in the national media will stir up the pot of painful memories from the dependants of the victims on this tragic accident.......... if anything else, I hope this ex-cop realizes what he is doing. But somehow I doubt it and he probably cares less.

[goldeneagle]

half a billion dollars in diamonds missing ??

I suspect there is about to be a huge bump in tourism around the area. Probably a great place to set up shop with a dive charter boat now, going to be lots of folks interested in diving there me thinks....

[r22captain]

meh just watched the episode of Fifth Estate. Was expecting more. Basically sad story of the RCMP dismissing this guys input and trying to get him to change his notes etc etc.

No hard evidence on what he suspected happening. Mentions the presence of magnesium, but like said earlier here, there's already mag in the plane's structure. Didn't really give anything saying if the levels found in this crash are elevated from levels that would be found in any other MD-11 fire.

Heard the words "incendiary device" about 200 times.

fail

[2R]

half a billion dollars in diamonds missing ??

I suspect there is about to be a huge bump in tourism around the area. Probably a great place to set up shop with a dive charter boat now, going to be lots of folks interested in diving there me thinks....

What source said half a billion ?
That would make it Piracy ,not terrorism.So close to the other pirate treasure hiden on oak island.

[goldeneagle]

What source said half a billion ?

Re-read the article in the first post carefully. Pay particular attention to the last line in the 4th paragraph.

[Gino Under]

This guy was a criminal investigator.
He had two questions to answer following the accident regarding the deaths of those on board.
Neither question was answered and his superiors told him to deny his notes and re-write them then sign the affidavit.
No matter how you slice it, that's interfering with a criminal investigation.
No matter how you slice it, the criminal investigation into the crash remains incomplete.
Now, who's to blame?

I smell rats, and they aren't an ex-cop.

Motive? How about a Saudi Prince, an Iranian connected to the former Shah and lots and lots of diamonds (likely scattered across the ocean floor).

Gino Under

[Old fella]

A bit old but there were some very serious concerns at that time..............

http://www.usatoday.com/money/biztravel ... tion_x.htm

[2R]

What source said half a billion ?

Re-read the article in the first post carefully. Pay particular attention to the last line in the 4th paragraph.

Wow, i guess i missed the obvious again,now where did i put my job application for Air Crash investigator

Many years ago the some of the underfunded spy agencies,got into bank robbing to fund their illegal operations.Could this be a black operation by rogue intelligence operations ?
Who recently got new toys outside of their government budgets ? Notice any spies in the neighbourhood with some new Aston Martins,Bentleys or Yachts.