777 down

[EMJ]

Originally Posted by porwolf

Could it be rapid decompression leading to the pilots being incapacitated and plane continues flying? It happened before:

Helios Airways Flight 522 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This would make sense. No one tried to contact anyone. But why would it fall off the radar? And where's the wreckage?

[flipper35]

Sounds like the course change is normal according to the Aviationist:

Between 17:19 and 17:20 the aircraft turned right, changing heading from 25 to 40 degrees. Someone said this is a sign the aircraft was turning back to Kuala Lumpur or had already experienced an in-flight problem. However, the change in heading was probably performed in accordance with the FPL (Flight Plane) as the plane did the same, at the same position, on Mar. 4, 2014.

The Aviationist » What we know and what we don’t about the mysterious Malaysia Airlines MH370 disappearance

[jyl]

Search area thus very large and uncertain, since if military radar info is correct plane turned west from Gulf of Thailand and overflew Malyasia or Thailand before being detected in the Malacca strait off Malaysia's west coast. If plane was flying low as last military radar contact suggested, then it could have continued flying low and have traveled away from the last location.

Map
Map: Malaysia Airlines Flight 370

However, I am wondering how reliable the Malaysian military radar contact is. If they did detect a plane, how did they identify it as the 777 in question?

Unfortunately, the ocean on the west side of Malaysia is much deeper than the Gulf of Thailand. 1000 meters with some 4000 meter depths. If the plane did crash into the ocean there, the delay in searching that side of Malaysia will mean debris has dispersed more, beacon batteries may be getting drained.

[flipper35]

The Helios flight the captain did talk about problems with warning lights with HOC prior to passing out but didn't piece things together.

That reminds me of the Air France flight where no one put the pieces together in time, even though it should have been obvious to the pilots.

The incident with North Korea and its missiles a few days ago is just weird as well. I am not saying they shot it down, but an odd coincidence.

[red-beard]

How much reserve would a plane of this type carry?

Using roughly the distance to Beijing, and turning west 1/2 way to Vietnam, the plane could have made it to Oman, Yemen or even Somalia, using the reserve. It definitely could have made it to Sumatra, Sri Lanka or India.

[gordner]

Reserve varies with the distance to your secondary and tertiary landing airports...secondary further away, more reserve fuel. It is possible they were bunkering fuel as well, with wide variances world wide on jet fuel cost occasionally airlines will accept the cost of weight of additional fuel to avoid fueling where prices are high.

Flying low as indicated by the military radar rapidly increases fuel burn though....

[gordner]

Was there wreckage found today as posted earlier?

[berettafan]

air pirates attempting to take the plane to Somalia and hold the passengers hostage?

[EMJ]

Originally Posted by gordner

Was there wreckage found today as posted earlier?

Nothing reported on the major outlets.

[Head416]

Flying low as indicated by the military radar rapidly increases fuel burn though....

Did they say it was flying low? I don't remember reading that part.

[red-beard]

Last I saw was they were flying "lower", about 1000M below normal altitude.

[ossiblue]

CNN has been reporting for several hours that the Malaysian military radar confirms that the plane changed course at approximately 1:22 am when ATC contact was lost over the Gulf of Thailand, yet they tracked it for over an hour in a westward flight until it was lost at 2:41 am over the Straits of Malacca. This report seems to be credible as more and more resources are being diverted to the western side of the Malay peninsula. If this radar report proves to be true, it supports my earlier posts as to where the plane may be found or, at least, the fact it won't be where they originally looked. Why this wasn't reported or confirmed earlier is a puzzle as I was able to find it with a little digging yet, it was downplayed and later said to be a misunderstanding.

So, based on the new information, the plane could be anywhere from Malaysia to India, having been able to fly at lower altitude for who knows how long. It doesn't explain why it happened, but it may explain the mystery of the lack of evidence of its demise.

[Bill Douglas]

Another... odd think to add to the pool of odd things about it. If it did end up in the sea, in the new area, there is a LOT of shipping going on around there and it would have been reported.

[intakexhaust]

Somebody knows something... ya think? Foul activity somewhere. Two Iranians with bogus passports, one way tickets. Military tracking info kept hush. Granted they have their reasons for doing so but I'm leaning towards sabotage or a clever hijack.

[HHI944]

[Aurel]

The clues keep pointing me towards the hijacking:

1. It is now known that the plane made an abrupt turn and flew an hour or so before the transponder got turned off.

2. If a catastrophic event had caused the transponder to turn off, then the crash location would be known and the debris would be found at that location.

3. If the plane kept flying after that with transponder off, then it means it was hijacked.

Time will tell if I am right...

[intakexhaust]

Terrorist theory -
We know two had stolen passports and scrupulous purchased tickets. We learn one of them has a clean record... and so what difference does that make? They dupe security and board plane.

One has a transmission cloaker built in a PC laptop chassis. Prior to baggage inspection and boarding, the device is off and has its battery removed. Physical and quick xray inspection looks normal.

During flight, most passengers are asleep. Terrorist activates jammer.

Terrorist awaits for pilot or crew member to temporarily leave locked cockpit for various reasons.
Terrorist makes his move, takes a ball point pen to the jugular, storms cabin, locks door and takes over.

Plane is taken off course, radio, transponders any or all and down.

[BGCarrera32]

Originally Posted by red-beard

How much reserve would a plane of this type carry?

Using roughly the distance to Beijing, and turning west 1/2 way to Vietnam, the plane could have made it to Oman, Yemen or even Somalia, using the reserve. It definitely could have made it to Sumatra, Sri Lanka or India.

Agreed.

[Lusso1]

Terrorists usually claim credit for their acts. That's the whole reason they do things.

Anybody remember the series "Lost"?