Quote:
Originally Posted by jyl
A different theory. Fire, possibly electrical; attempted diversion to a different airfield to west; comm systems rapidly fail due to fire or are shut down during suppression efforts; pilots soon succumb to smoke; passengers too; plane continues on westerly course until fuel expended.
https://plus.google.com/app/basic/stream/z13cv1gohsmbv5jmy221vrfyiz3vdhbop04
My immediate impression is that this person (ex-pilot) is trying to find a scenario in which the pilots were innocent. It doesn't explain no cellphone calls or some reported course information. The hypothesized fire is required to extinguish itself? |
People need to drop the cell phone ringing and "why no one used their cell phones" ideas. Early on, the explanation for the "ringing" was explained--it is often the sound a caller receives while the cell carrier tries to locate the phone.
It is not the sound of the actual phone ringing. This is old information.
As far as passengers using their cell phones, there are several reasons. First, the plane did not have wifi available. Second, a plane at 35K feet, flying at 600mph, is out of the range of cell towers (and the tower signal is focused downward though it does extend in all directions), assuming they are around, and flying too fast to connect even if they can find a signal. Third, they are in an area where the cell towers do not exist--over the open ocean. Closer to land, assuming the northern course, they are in an area where little cell service is located. Finally, if the theory of eliminating the passengers is true (hypoxia), then there would be no one alive to try and call.
Lack of cell phone calls from the plane is non-issue, IMO.
Reading the pilot's article does make sense given the "new" information that the ACARS system and the transponder may have been turned off together rather than one before the other, as originally reported. A program into the auto pilot for the left turn, pilots overcome, plane flies on last programmed course until fuel is gone. Possible.