They were ignored and probably threatened.
My uncle was the lead mechanic for TWA at the time. He happened to off that night. Obviously, he has followed this story and has a lot of information that I have never read or heard. He says that the theory that it was the fuel tank is baloney and that someday someone will talk. he believes it will be one of the Navy divers. He sent me an email a couple of years ago with much of the info he has collected and it’s pretty convincing. Can’t remember most of it.