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“What The HELL Is GOING On?!” | The Insane Story Of South African 295

2026-07-11 · 15:00 UTC ·Mentour Pilot ·1 min read

Brief

South African Airways Flight 295 (the Boeing 747 'Helderberg') is reconstructed in a Mentour Pilot presentation that recounts the 28 November 1987 in‑flight cargo‑hold fire which destroyed the aircraft. The video outlines recovered evidence, timeline and crew communications, notes the official inquiry found no definitive ignition source, and highlights persistent unanswered questions and competing theories.

Why it matters

On 28 November 1987, South African Airways Flight 295 — Boeing 747 'Helderberg' — suffered a catastrophic in‑flight cargo‑hold fire that destroyed the aircraft and killed everyone on board.

Key details

  • The official inquiry into the Helderberg could not identify a definitive ignition source for the cargo‑hold fire, leaving unresolved hypotheses such as hazardous or undeclared cargo, electrical fault, or deliberate act.
  • Mentour Pilot's source‑based video (published 2026-07-11) reconstructs the timeline, presents recovered evidence and communications, and summarizes competing theories and remaining mysteries.
Source evidence

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In 1987, South African Airways Flight 295 was scheduled on an international flight. A Boeing 747 named Helderberg experienced a catastrophic in-flight fire in the cargo area.

The official inquiry was unable to determine the cause of the fire, leading to mass speculation and debate surrounding what exactly happened that day. This is everything we do know about South African Airways Flight 295

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Below you will find the links to videos and sources used in this episode.

SOURCES

Mentourpilot #pilot #aircraft

Channel: Mentour Pilot
Published: 2026-07-11
Video URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rre2AYAURkw