RathereBeFlying has it true for my money. Story falls into journalistic category of "too good to check". I would have thought it would stall rather than spin if it had been C of G in the matter, and anyway, was there really a survivor? There will be no official report, btw.
Plane-wise, DRC recalls one of The Death Ship, by B Traven, terrific 1930s thriller about crocked ships sent out with desperate crews for the purpose solely of sinking and insurance being claimed.