Quote:
Originally Posted by Holger
Ah, I thought the direction after the turn was known. It always looked like that on the graphics. And I also thought the turn was registered and the contact was lost after the turn. Otherwise: how do we know it turned?!
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We can only surmise based on information given and that information is constantly being changed. Based on the latest, "authorities" know the turn was entered into the computer and the turn happened after the transponder was shut off. How they can be sure, I don't know. I'm only saying the theory posed by the article is
possible.
Quote:
Originally Posted by quattrorunner
But then there is the radar thing still. Why was it invisible?
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Two types of radar. The plane became invisible to civilian radar, the ATC, once the transponder was turned off. Military radar or primary radar "sees" objects by reflecting a beam off of it. The plane apparently was still visible to the military radar as it flew westward over Malaysia.
The linked article appears possible and is less complex than many other theories out there. One problem I have with it, however, is if a fire started the whole sequence, it would have been automatically reported by the ACARS system immediately, not just at the 30 minute scheduled reporting time. To make the theory work, the ACARS would have to be the first casualty of the incident.