Malaysia Jet missing-Officials conclude crash in Indian ocean/all lives presumed lost

[JonDuke]

Changed my mind.

[Ryan Coke]

I would prefer to not discuss security related specifics.....I hope you understand why.

I know you were trying to be vague, and I appreciate that, but I would rather stay away from anything to do with that.

[JonDuke]

Very fair. I deleted my question.

[puffnstuff]

So I havent been keeping up, and TBH theres a lot to wade thru, but is there a synopsis somewhere that is somewhat concise about what is actually known to be fact at this point. And then perhaps a 'this is a possibility' sort of thing, that details some of the theories about what might have happened?

[atb]

Originally Posted by puffnstuff

So I havent been keeping up, and TBH theres a lot to wade thru, but is there a synopsis somewhere that is somewhat concise about what is actually known to be fact at this point. And then perhaps a 'this is a possibility' sort of thing, that details some of the theories about what might have happened?

Both WSJ and The Guardian have decent summaries:

The Guardian: http://www.theguardian.com/world/201...ons?CMP=twt_fd

WSJ: http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/...40913530288966

[nik-]

Al Qaeda apparently knew of a Malaysian hijacking plot.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worl...ost-plane.html

[Ducay]

Multiple experts are saying that it takes someone with "intimate" understanding of the 777 to be able to shut down ACARS and the transponder. Implications on "whodunnit" aside, I think the scariest part of that is that if they were smart enough and able to do that, they probably turned off data recorders as well.
Meaning we'll probably never know what happened, even if we miraculously find wreckage.

[JonDuke]

From the most recent Press Conference... (at 4am yyc time)

• Search area expanded, nature of search has changed.
• Numbers of countries involved in SAR operation have increased from 14 to 25 countries.
• Foreign ministry have met representative from countries coved by northern/southern airway corridor.
• Both northern/southern corridors being treated equally the same.
• US, China & France are asked to provide further satellite data.
• Surveillance aircraft & vessels are required for southern corridor.
• Aircraft movement consistent with deliberate action
• Refocusing on all crew, passenger & ground staff of MH370.
• Pilot's flight simulator is being examined by export & police.
• Co-pilot & pilot did not request to fly together
• MH370 is airworthy, complies to the safety bulletin issued by Boeing.

Q&A

• Inmarsat received 6 ping back from aircraft. Last communication is at 8:11 am MYT / 12:11 am UTC.
• Fuel for typical KL – Beijing flight for 6.5 hours. Extra fuels are for emergency situation. MH370 had fuel for up to 7.5-8 hours.
• No SOP was breached despite the aircraft (unidentified at the time) flew past military radar.
• Investigation & background check was performed on the passenger, crew & ground staff. Some foreign intelligence agencies have cleared the background check.
• Authorities deny reports that the aircraft have landed somewhere.
• The aircraft turn back is not pre-determined.
• Immediate financial assistance is given to the families.
• No additional fuel was carried by the aircraft apart from the required + emergency diversion.
• Authorities denied the report that Pilot moved out from the house the day before the incident.
• Pilot’s flight simulator has been taken in for investigation.
• RMP defend the decision of not investigate pilot & co-pilot earlier.
• Information of aircraft altitude is available, is being corroborated with the radar service operator.
• Both possible corridors are being investigated.
• Flight re-enactment was performed with Boeing 777 simulators.
• The cargo manifest reveals no hazardous material.
• 2 Iranians with the stolen passports have been cleared and are not associated with any terrorist groups.
• The aircraft’s minimum speed, maximum speed, location, altitude has been gleaned from the 6 satellite ping back. Concurred by independent interpolation from both US & UK investigator.

[JonDuke]

Originally Posted by Ducay

Multiple experts are saying that it takes someone with "intimate" understanding of the 777 to be able to shut down ACARS and the transponder...

Perhaps someone with 33 years experience, 18,000+ flight hours and a flight simulator in their living room?

[FlameOn]

[Ducay]

Originally Posted by JonDuke

Perhaps someone with 33 years experience, 18,000+ flight hours and a flight simulator in their living room?

Well, that really has nothing to do with it. Really just need someone who is a trained pilot and/or has read the appropriate parts of the manual.

A terrorist with flight training and who researches how to do this on a 777 ahead of time could also have done it.

I really hate how having a good flight simulator setup is somehow indications of planning for a takeover of the plane. Tons of commercial pilots have setups for doing sims at home, as do thousands of non-pilots who want a better experience in the game.

[Tyler]

Originally Posted by FlameOn

Photoshopped. That's their Airbus A380.

[JonDuke]

Originally Posted by Ducay

Well, that really has nothing to do with it. Really just need someone who is a trained pilot and/or has read the appropriate parts of the manual.

A terrorist with flight training and who researches how to do this on a 777 ahead of time could also have done it.

I really hate how having a good flight simulator setup is somehow indications of planning for a takeover of the plane. Tons of commercial pilots have setups for doing sims at home, as do thousands of non-pilots who want a better experience in the game.

I don't at all think that having a sim in your house implicates you are planing a nefarious deed.

After 9 days and about 215 hours of being missing, we still know next to nothing. What we do know, however, is that the plane was commandeered by someone with extraordinary knowledge of the aircraft, and in this case, whether true or not, the captain is the easiest and most logical person to point at.

[Table 5]

I guess at this stage, we should hope it was hijacked and landed somewhere, since that way there's still a glimmer of hope that some/all of the people on board are alive. This limbo must be hell on the families though.

[nik-]

ACARS had already been shut down when the last verbal communication came from the cockpit.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/201...abled-malaysia

[Fozzie_DeBear]

I can't imagine that the plan was to crash the plane on purpose...why go through all this trouble unless you wanted the plane and/or the crew for a secondary purpose?

Maybe its piracy...
Maybe they want the plane as a weapon...

Just so bizarre...

[corporatejay]

Originally Posted by Fozzie_DeBear

I can't imagine that the plan was to crash the plane on purpose...why go through all this trouble unless you wanted the plane and/or the crew for a secondary purpose?

Maybe its piracy...
Maybe they want the plane as a weapon...

Just so bizarre...

That's my thinking too. you don't hijack a plane and then crash it so no one knows. If it's terrorism, they'll want to me make it a spectacle. Bigger concern would be using this plane for more activities (i.e. another 9-11).

[Acey]

Originally Posted by Table 5

I guess at this stage, we should hope it was hijacked and landed somewhere

Call me sinister, but I think it'd be better if she's down in the water. If they've somehow managed to land this thing and intend to crash into something... a lot more lives could be lost.

[jeffman]

I think it won't be able to crash it into anything. If the plane does resurface, it will be swarmed by fighter escorts if it enters an airspace given the circumstances

[Acey]

Yeah I don't know about that. Again, I don't subscribe to this theory at all... but I'm of the opinion that if they've made it this far, they can execute the final leg of the plan. Scrambling jets takes time, and everybody over there has already proven their massive incompetence up to this point. Have fun catching up to a jet flying 90% the speed of sound and needs to only hit some sort of populated area.