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The aircraft, a Boeing 777, took off at 2:00 AM on September 10, starting a grueling 15-hour journey across the globe. On board were 342 passengers and 15 crew members, a mix of families returning from visiting relatives, students heading back to university, and business travelers. The plane was filled to capacity and had approximately 140,000 kilograms of fuel at the outset of the journey.
At the helm was Captain Rustom Palia, known as "Rusty," a seasoned pilot with 23 years of experience and 3,500 hours logged on the Boeing 777. Alongside him were two first officers, Vickers and Diaz, and Captain Shushan Singh. This diverse team faced an unknown challenge ahead that would test their mettle and skill.