Two Men Uncover Mysterious Fate of Flight 980

19. Conspiracy Theories

Speculation among South American journalists and the families of the victims has raised some interesting questions about the nature of Flight 980's devastating and inexplicable crash. Perhaps the flight crashed because of an equipment malfunction or maybe the crew was new to the route and flying in bad weather. Both seem plausible. Even more interesting, however, is the theory that Enrique Mataló, then the richest man in Paraguay, was supposedly carrying $20 million on board in a duffel bag and the plane was brought down as part of a Mafia hit.

20. Could be True…

Despite the myriad theories regarding the crash, ranging from political assassination to drugs being stowed in the cargo hold, there is no conclusive evidence pointing to the reason for Flight 980's devastating end. Though a number of the theories do have the ring of truth to them. For example, in 1986, a criminal indictment was levied against 22 Eastern Airlines baggage handlers after they found out the airline had been used to deliver weekly shipments of cocaine from South America to Miami for over three years.