Flight data recorders revealed a loud sound and then all recording ceased. Reconstruction shows cargo door area in first sequence of destruction. Eight passengers missing and not accounted for. The aircraft was a Boeing 747-121, an early 747 with high flight time and flight cycles. Boeing 747-121 series high flight time aircraft are prone to cargo door malfunctions.
Doors pop open in climb or just after.
Door popping open exposes large hole in side of nose. Large hole in side of nose can tear nose off when subjected to high air pressure loads. Nose tearing off leaves rest of plane to crash resulting in two wreckage trails. Nose tearing off is sudden and total and leaves no time for calls to ground from crew or for recorder data to continue. Cargo door would be picked up as radar return as it spun away from aircraft.