Apartheid and the Helderberg air disaster
Summary
Forensic scientist David Klatse discusses his investigation into the 1987 Helderberg air crash, arguing that the plane was carrying illegal rocket fuel that ignited during the flight. He details evidence of a cover-up, including the missing radio tape and the suppression of the full cockpit voice recorder, which revealed the fire started hours before the crash. Klatse asserts that the pilot was ordered to continue flying to avoid exposing the contraband, leading to the disaster.
Topics discussed
Sponsor reads and introduction
Guest background as forensic scientist
The Helderberg inquest and media controversy
The 'smoking gun' in the court transcript
Context: The crash and initial search
The missing ZUR radio tape
Cockpit voice recorder: The first fire
Geopolitics: The proxy war and illegal cargo
Ammonium perchlorate and the flight path
Why the pilot was ordered to continue
The disappearance of the critical tape
Forensic evidence: Scorching and toxic gases
Destruction of manifests and witness deaths
Suppression of the flight engineers' report
Analysis of cockpit tape anomalies
Why the tape wasn't overwritten
TRC testimony and accountability
Legal issues and witness intimidation
Theories on the cause of the crash
Trivia and the name of the aircraft
Political interference and public debate
Conclusion and final thoughts
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