Indicatif vs Conditionnel Passé

Question

L'homme s'est pu échapper, selon le dictée. Les évenements se sont passé, en fait.

Ce que je ne comprends pas, c'est que c'est écrit au conditionnel passé. Il serait montré = he would have boarded. Il est montré = he boarded. un hélicoptère se serait posé = ...would have landed. ..s'est posé = landed, ...s'était posé = had landed. Am I correct about these tenses and translations? (I don't doubt that the dictée is correct but don't understand the tenses.)

(I don't think this is the plus-que-parfait.)

Merci pour votre comprehension.

Accepted Answer

The conditional is often used when reporting something you're not certain of. It's variously known as the conditionnel journalistique, conditionnel de rumeur, or conditionnel de citation. 
If you want more explanation you can google these terms, or try this link:
https://www.intermarkls.com/single-post/2015/02/10/The-French-They-Never-Taught-You-7-The-Conditional-Doesnt-Always-Mean-Would