777 down

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by gordner

There are multiple drone types that are fully autonomous and some operate in commercial airspace for HOmeland security on border patrols. these are not ground controlled drones, but fully autonomous with human interaction only in an emergent event. My brotehr is an ATC controller and deals with him all the time. The funny thing is it was very quietly done when they began rating them for commercial air zones, they were not very open about it at all, but they are there.
The MD80 was retrofitted witth a customs avioncis package, it was a private 19 seat aircraft with a 13 hour plus range due to fuel mods. It was far from a standard aircraft, but the systems were in place for auto take off as well. However very few destinations are rated to the proper category to accomodate it, so it is not a very utile system. Truth be told I do not think they had ever used the auto take off feature, and very very seldom were able to use auto land as well. Mostly going into corpoprate airports.
I only contracted on the aircraft for a while years ago, but a pilot ran me through the autoflight system as I had never seen another like it. He showed me a ground to ground flight plan that theoretically the aircraft could carry out autonomously. They had definitely never used it to that degree though.
My point is simply that the technology is out there. One of the biggest issues, from my very light research on the systems, is that people and machines react very differently to emergencies. Basically if all aircraft are automated, everything works well but if you have a mix, when seperation is lost on aircraft it is harder to ensure that the reaction of the machine and the human pilot in the other aircraft will not drive them together. Hugely simplified of course but that is apparently one of the larger hurdles to overcome.

I believe the only US airspace that allows operation of UAVs is in a MOA, or Military Operating Area. The FAA is working on new regulations that govern the use of UAVs in civilian airspace but they are not yet complete.

Technology to auto takeoff and land has existed for decades, my employer converted a single engine piston airplane to do so quite a few years ago (with NASA funding). But it doesn't yet have the capability to deal with the incredible number of variables, both known and unknown, that a pilot can.

[daepp]

My Occum's Razor(ish) explanation - works for me:

Pilot attended a trial of his hero, a Muslim leader, who Pilot felt was wrongly convicted
Pilot input (not plane) is usually to blame per most of those in the know here
Pilot boarded the plane right after the trial
Pilot input needed to disable comms
Pilot was a Muslim with a grudge
Pilot made no mayday calls
Copilot not skilled enough

- therefore -

Muslim pilot is a suicide terrorist!
(Seems like dejavu all over again)

[GH85Carrera]

My best GUESS from early on has not changed.

Pilot sees co-plot leave the cockpit to go to the head.
Pilot locks the cockpit door.
Pilot put on O2 mask and depressurizes airplane.
Everyone else is dead in short order.
Pilot flies into one of the most remote part of the planet.
Pilot has second thoughts about suicide and can't fly it into the ocean.
He knows he can't go back with a planeload of dead people so he flies until the fuel is gone and rides it into the ocean, or he kills himself and there is no one left to fly the plane.

There are many things that may forever be a mystery. His motivation to make it a total mystery and not announce to the world his motivation is at the top of my mystery list.

[daepp]

To tell the world, he'd need a microphone. His mic only went to ATC or MAS. And MAS is beholden to Malay government. Malay government appears inept, and maybe corrupt. It will be interesting to hear the CVR, if we ever get to.

But I think it's hard to discount that he had just come from that trial. And if you look at the history of that sodomy accusation and the number of times he was found guilty and not-guilty, it seems like it would have been quite maddening!

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by daepp

To tell the world, he'd need a microphone. His mic only went to ATC or MAS. And MAS is beholden to Malay government. Malay government appears inept, and maybe corrupt. It will be interesting to hear the CVR, if we ever get to.

I keep going back to that. There are no doubt tapes of the ATC executing their emergency procedures once the transponder was turned-off and comms where lost.

The controllers would have awakened everyone in their chain of command and no doubt every controlling agency along and around the intended route of flight.

I guarantee every controller on earth has a emergency procedures binder an arms length away for just this exact scenario.

It won't explain the why of this event, but it will help with the rest: What was done by the air traffic control organization?

[gamin]

Hope I didn't miss a post about this, but I have read that the capt's wife and kids moved out of their house the day before the flight (they were separated but living under the same roof), that he was having relationship problem with girlfriend, and that a close friend of his said that he was not in mental shape to fly that day for the reasons mentioned. Devastated by wifey moving out and might have gone for a final "joy ride." Food for thought, or comment.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by gamin

Hope I didn't miss a post about this, but I have read that the capt's wife and kids moved out of their house the day before the flight (they were separated but living under the same roof), that he was having relationship problem with girlfriend, and that a close friend of his said that he was not in mental shape to fly that day for the reasons mentioned. Devastated by wifey moving out and might have gone for a final "joy ride." Food for thought, or comment.

Don't know where I picked up the info you just posted, but I recall it being within a few days after the incident. This info when combined with an apparent "trained pilot" programming maneuvers, etc. and other evasive tactics with no communications has led me to a similar conclusion.

[scottbombedout]

Originally Posted by gamin

Hope I didn't miss a post about this, but I have read that the capt's wife and kids moved out of their house the day before the flight (they were separated but living under the same roof), that he was having relationship problem with girlfriend, and that a close friend of his said that he was not in mental shape to fly that day for the reasons mentioned. Devastated by wifey moving out and might have gone for a final "joy ride." Food for thought, or comment.

And yet the report I read said the family had moved as they were on the way to their holiday home.

[ossiblue]

Originally Posted by gamin

Hope I didn't miss a post about this, but I have read that the capt's wife and kids moved out of their house the day before the flight (they were separated but living under the same roof), that he was having relationship problem with girlfriend, and that a close friend of his said that he was not in mental shape to fly that day for the reasons mentioned. Devastated by wifey moving out and might have gone for a final "joy ride." Food for thought, or comment.

Yes, that is the most current story circulating, all based on the information of one unidentified "friend" who, himself, says it is all speculation on his part. The story was reported in the New Zealand Herald and picked up by other news sources around the world. It is simply an elaboration of the pilot suicide theory which was proposed from the beginning.

Now, all that being said, it is the one theory that can account for all the unusual circumstances in this incident and do so in the simplest possible way. As information has been withdrawn or changed because of reliability, pilot suicide is the only one that can withstand the appearance of new data, to date. Here's the ringer--if wreckage is never found, there can never be a determination of a mechanical cause. Unless the flight data recorder is recovered and the data show a malfunction of some sort, a mechanical cause cannot be supported. Since there is no evidence of an outside person or group hijacking the plane, that only leaves one theory that is the simplest, pilot suicide. I'm afraid that's what this whole incident will be hung on.

I'm prepared for years to pass with no physical evidence of cause and the pilot will be the defacto villain. I hope I'm wrong.

[flipper35]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

I believe the only US airspace that allows operation of UAVs is in a MOA, or Military Operating Area. The FAA is working on new regulations that govern the use of UAVs in civilian airspace but they are not yet complete.

Technology to auto takeoff and land has existed for decades, my employer converted a single engine piston airplane to do so quite a few years ago (with NASA funding). But it doesn't yet have the capability to deal with the incredible number of variables, both known and unknown, that a pilot can.

I would normally tend to believe that, but we had Pierre-Cédric Bonin fly a perfectly good Airbus into the water and I am pretty sure the computers would not have. For Every Sully out there we have many Pierre-Cédric Bonin types. Of course if the Airbus sticks mirrored the movements of the other the other pilot may have figured out to knock someone in the head and take over.

That being said, I would rather take my chances that I would have someone closer to Sully's abilities up front than a computer.

Glen, I don't think he ever donned a mask either. Program the computer to fly south after you lock the door and depressurize. If suicide is indeed what happened.

[Crowbob]

Originally Posted by daepp

To tell the world, he'd need a microphone. His mic only went to ATC or MAS. And MAS is beholden to Malay government. Malay government appears inept, and maybe corrupt. It will be interesting to hear the CVR, if we ever get to.

But I think it's hard to discount that he had just come from that trial. And if you look at the history or that sodomy accusation and the number of times he was found guilty and not-guilty, it seems like it would have been quite maddening!

The world is pretty much attuned to the story, microphone or not.

[Don Plumley]

Since conjecture is free, here's my scenario.

Pilot mad at government, wants to fly the plane into the Petronas towers or other landmark to make a point. After co-Pilot makes the hand off from Malay control, he steps out to take a leak. When he comes back, he notices the flipped breakers before the pilot is able to incapacitate him. A struggle ensues. Pilot kills/disables the co-pilot, depressurizes the plane and kills everyone else. But he is wounded in this process/does not mask correctly/etc. and the plane flies on the last designated course until it runs out of fuel.

I'm unconvinced that a bad cascade of mechanical problems prevented any communication. The sequence of turning off the breakers to me means something nefarious was in play.

[berettafan]

I think the wino has it right. Makes sense.

[nostatic]

Here is another take. My wife's sister in HK just sent this to her. Someone (?) is reporting that the flight was hijacked with a demand for the release of political prisoners in Malaysia. The Malaysian govt was negotiating with them, and the CIA and Boeing knew. Hence the reason for the 5 hours of flight. At some point the CIA and Boeing didn't want to risk the reputation of Boeing/US interests so data was leaked about the longer flight time shifting blame away from them. Demands weren't met, plane eventually crashes.

I'm not seeing anything on western outlets about this. While a bit conspiracy theory for me, it does fit much of the data. Not clear if the hijack was the pilot or someone else. Don't know that I'm buying this.

Don't shoot me...I'm just spreading more rumors I hear...

[J P Stein]

Originally Posted by nostatic

Don't shoot me...I'm just spreading more rumors I hear...

Hell, you may as well, everybody else is.

I'm surprised that Amelia Earhart hasn't entered the picture yet.......the aliens have her too, somewhere near Diago Garcia I heard.

[Cajundaddy]

Originally Posted by Don Plumley

Since conjecture is free, here's my scenario.

Pilot mad at government, wants to fly the plane into the Petronas towers or other landmark to make a point. After co-Pilot makes the hand off from Malay control, he steps out to take a leak. When he comes back, he notices the flipped breakers before the pilot is able to incapacitate him. A struggle ensues. Pilot kills/disables the co-pilot, depressurizes the plane and kills everyone else. But he is wounded in this process/does not mask correctly/etc. and the plane flies on the last designated course until it runs out of fuel.

I'm unconvinced that a bad cascade of mechanical problems prevented any communication. The sequence of turning off the breakers to me means something nefarious was in play.

Yep, this is probably the best speculative match to the very limited information we have. Transponders and com were most likely intentionally disabled or there would have been a distress call. The 1st Officer probably noted that his Captain was in a state of high anxiety and when the plane rolled into a turn mid-flight he thought WTH?? The plane was probably set to autopilot during the battle for control and just continued on that southerly course til the tanks ran dry.

It's still filled with unknowns but somewhat better than alien abduction.

[Heel n Toe]

Nothing is off the table until they find wreckage, right?

Let's go all the way out on the edge... aliens is off the edge, so this is about as far as you can go and still be a terrestrial theory...

Check out these two conspiracy theories on Veterans Today... and do not hesitate to read the comments sections, as they are just as scary/fun:

NEO – Flight 370: Another US Conspiracy? | Veterans Today

FLT 370 – A Little Bit of Prestidigitation | Veterans Today

[VaSteve]

Here is another take. My wife's sister in HK just sent this to her. Someone (?) is reporting that the flight was hijacked with a demand for the release of political prisoners in Malaysia. The Malaysian govt was negotiating with them, and the CIA and Boeing knew. Hence the reason for the 5 hours of flight. At some point the CIA and Boeing didn't want to risk the reputation of Boeing/US interests so data was leaked about the longer flight time shifting blame away from them. Demands weren't met, plane eventually crashes.



I'm not seeing anything on western outlets about this. While a bit conspiracy theory for me, it does fit much of the data. Not clear if the hijack was the pilot or someone else. Don't know that I'm buying this.



Don't shoot me...I'm just spreading more rumors I hear...

I don't understand the part about the blame shifting off the CIA/Boeing but I still smell cover up in this for some reason. Its so disfunctional, there has to be more to it. The higher the stakes the more likelihood we'll never know.

Has anyone here ever changed a flight because of the model of plane covering the route? I can't tell a 777 from a city bus.

[Sunroof]

Every morning I hear that another debris field has been sighted by satellite and the ususal photos from space provided. Ooooops, "all surface vessels were turned around again today due to terrible sea conditions", always seems to follow. Yet, sophisicated spy satellites can get a shot of a guy smoking a cigerette on the ground. What gives? No aerial photographs of ANY debris to date. You would think at a minimum that one of the search aircraft guided to the satellite locations to include taking in all drifit co-ordinates could get a snapshot of any floating debris to calm the world already! NOTHING. NADA.....

Yet we continue to get bombarded with "debris sighted" reports. I am becomming more convinced that we will never know the truth. It will go into the "who killed Kennedy" column and simply fade away as other news dominates the airwaves and diverts our attention.

[berettafan]

Originally Posted by VaSteve

Has anyone here ever changed a flight because of the model of plane covering the route? I can't tell a 777 from a city bus.

I pay more if needed to fly boeing. At some point I had read pilots saying 'if it ain't boeing I ain't going'.