Missing Airliner

[Straightshooter2]

The ACARS was supposedly disabled but ARINC engineers designed that system so that a portion of it still operates even when turned off. This is the system that would report the aircraft out of the gate, off the ground, on the ground and in the gate automatically. Prior to that, we had to get the official times from the flight crew by radio or written down and turned in to Operations. If this aircraft landed anywhere, the system should have automatically sent a message showing on the ground and a message showing when the wheels stopped.

To me, erratic changes in altitude and heading plus climbing above max recommended flight level indicate someone trying to get used to the controls and flying the aircraft at night. This would not be normal for an experienced flight crew. To me, this is looking more and more like a hijacking and not a flight crew initiated event.

CW

 

[moe smith]

To me, erratic changes in altitude and heading plus climbing above max recommended flight level indicate someone trying to get used to the controls and flying the aircraft at night.

You're assuming there actually were erratic changes in altitude. We really don't know there were, do we? We're told there were, but in the same burst of info they also told us the plane dropped 40,000 feet in a minute, which, even if it were possible would almost certainly not be survivable. Then, after miraculously pulling out of a meteoric dive the plane then headed west, then northwest, then west, then turned (get this) either north or south!

Huh? It turned? We declare that we know it turned but we can't figure out if it went North or South, right or left? Was there a cloud in our way or were we in the middle of some unreported magnetic polar flip at the time!

There has been so much inaccurate information about this incident reported over the last week that there shouldn't be any question what story wins this years Bullitzer Prize.

Why "news organizations" are willing to peddle "a high ranking source", "a source not authorized to speak", "the (?) Malaysian military" The? Really? Who is The"? Get some people at the mike willing to put their John Hancock on the bank note. There are no credible sources. The media, which normally is a fantastic retail source for compost has assumed the role of wholesaler on this one.

Even supposed official statements are clouded by confusion, like Rolls Royce "Rolls-Royce concurs with the statement made on Thursday, 13 March by Malaysia's Transport Minister Hishammuddin Hussein regarding engine health monitoring data received from the aircraft." That statement by the way was a denial that they received any data from the engines after the transponder was lost. In fact, another statement suggested they didn't receive any further data after 14 minutes prior to the loss of the transponder. Yet the media has, all day continued on with the narrative that the plane communicated for 5 hours. I suppose "We haven't been able to find anyone who is willing to go on record with the truth about what they know" is a pretty tough sentence for them to choke out of their mouths.

They have no shame.

 

[BigBill]

I think our government won't let the rest of the world know about what our advanced technology can do.

I heard on the news the US told them to look in the Indian ocean. The country there seemed arrogant towards the US suggestion.

 

[rojodiablo]

No plane or wreckage yet? Someone stated they had enough fuel to fly to Antartica?

I still think someone wanted someone on the flight dead.

This is my thought also. Some computer savvy tech folks on board. Did someone bring stuff to sell/ trade somewhere? Was there someone on board who was traveling low key who was not well appreciated by someone else, and they REALLY wanted to be rid of that person??

I hope they find this dang plane quickly and get back to the Ukraine situation.

I believe we are now down to a fuchsia pastel colored line in the sand, and there are an awful lot of tanks lining up on the sidelines for this weekends' repatriation party.

With the bang up job we are doing there, I can not imagine why the media is so captivated by a plane which was obviously taken by aliens.........

 

[LVSteve]

There has been so much inaccurate information about this incident reported over the last week that there shouldn't be any question what story wins this years Bullitzer Prize.

Consider Bullitzer Prize stolen. +100 on the rest of your post.

 

[rojodiablo]

I think our government won't let the rest of the world know about what our advanced technology can do.

I heard on the news the US told them to look in the Indian ocean. The country there seemed arrogant towards the US suggestion.

That was because of the engine telemetry signals which are received via satellite in real time and relayed to Boeing, Airbus, etc. computers for enhanced engine performance data collection.
Evidently around 4hrs of data collection post transponder signal termination. Usually they do not track those signals for the location, but rather simply to read operating conditions on the engines. I guess they just back pedaled and figured which satellite picked up at what time, and worked from there.

 

[moe smith]

This just popped up on breakingnews.com

"The Associated Press is reporting an anonymous Malaysian official said investigators have concluded that the missing Malaysia Airlines flight was hijacked. This has not yet been confirmed."

Perfect example of what is being passed off as "news".

An anonymous official said un-named investigators have concluded the plane they can't find was hijacked by people unknown. But, of course, none of that is confirmed!

Where in blue blazes do they get these writers, Washington?

 

[LVSteve]

"Don't worry about accuracy, just be first". It's in big letters on the walls of all media offices.

 

[Straightshooter2]

You're assuming there actually were erratic changes in altitude. We really don't know there were, do we?

No we don't. My assumption is based on what has been reported and 34 years with Delta. If what's reported changes, I'll change my ideas of what happened. In actuality, until the plane is found and the flight data recorders are retrieved, everything is an assumption.

CW

 

[moe smith]

If what's reported changes, I'll change my ideas of what happened.

Well, you won't have to wait long for that. At every turn what's being reported changes. My point was that what has been reported hasn't been the truth. But with 34 years at Delta I'm sure I don't have to suggest to you that you don't recover from a 40,000 foot drop in altitude in a minute's time. do I. Besides, it's official, as of just a few minutes ago Malaysian officials have "concluded" it was a hijacking. Now, if they could only figure out how, who, why, and where we all could go home. That is, unless they find something like the FDR or CVR pointing to a mechanical. But heck, what are the chances of that happening at this point?

My best friend steps into the cockpit of a 747 every week to fly from San Fran to that neighborhood, and has for many years. So, FWIW there is more than a cursory interest in the final determination of this incident at this end.

 

[BigBill]

It's been 8 days now. This needs to be solved and put to rest. You would think things would be bloated and floating by now unless they were buckled up.

The US knows the Indian ocean first hand, isn't that we're the solid rocket boosters fell from every shuttle launch?

 

[steveno]

I wonder if this much effort was put into finding Amelia Earhart would we had found her by now?

if this airplane had landed somewhere intact it would have been found by now. you can't keep an airplane this big hidden or a secret for very long if at all.

 

[williamlayton]

First and foremost.
An investigation that is worth its salt--never--goes in with preconceived notions.
This investigation has looked at every angle to come to the conclusion of a hijack or take-over. That is good work---otherwise one could just work to prove a theory and we have seen the results of that many times in our system.
Will we find the plane if it is not at rest on the floor of the ocean ?
I think, yes !
If it has crashed in the ocean---the rest of the story, as is Amelia's dissappearnce--we will never know and all kinds of theory will surface. To be certain, the correct theory may be advanced but will never be proveable for lack of evidence in the face of what seems reasonable.
Who did it and why---at this point---is useless unless the plane can be found. This information, with all of the possibilities, is immaterial without the plane.
Chance of finding this plane, if it is crashed, are a needle in a haystack but may turn up at some time in history, by accidential finding.
Blessings

 

[moe smith]

If this was a hijacking, I wouldn't think it's over. If it were, and the airplane had crashed, we'd most likely be hearing boisterous claims of credit. We're not. This would almost have to be part of larger plan.

 

[feralmerril]

I would think were this a SUCCESSFUL hijacking or terrorist try, we would have heard a group brag or try to use the hostages for bargaining by now.
My best guess is it was a hijacking that went wrong and the plane was lost in the ocean no doubt with passengers and crew fighting the hijackers and whoever loosing control.
It would take a 7,000 ft uncontrolled airfield to land that plane safely, a group and facilitys to keep the passengers for barganing chips etc. Wasnt this tried in 1976 in Entebbe? Operation Entebbe - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[moe smith]

I would think were this a SUCCESSFUL hijacking or terrorist try, we would have heard a group brag or try to use the hostages for bargaining by now.
My best guess is it was a hijacking that went wrong and the plane was lost in the ocean no doubt with passengers and crew fighting the hijackers and whoever loosing control.

It would depend on your definition of success. It certainly failed to reach it's original destination which, if hijacked, certainly could be portrayed as a win for the hijackers. They've taken credit for fires, floods, tornadoes and hurricanes, why the silence here?

 

[feralmerril]

Because whomever tried is dead and shark bait. Could be one of the pilots or terrorist offed the other and thought he might make a grand entrance to some radical group by bringing them a prize offering. Probley a number of reluctant passengers didnt go for the idea. Maybe the pilot or hijacker shut off all systems and the pressure system and the passengers were too busy screaming for air rather than calling home. I had a pulmonary embolism and was fighting for air so bad I couldnt make the phone a couple feet away!
I/we hope all are alive on a jungle strip but were they I believe we would have got demands by now.

 

[moe smith]

Here's a question. How can this "new map" that's being cited all over tv and the internet possibly be accurate?

https://twitter.com/Duenes/status/444894409943822336/photo/1

For example. The red radial line is supposed to define where the airplane may have flown to 7 1/2 hours after takeoff. Ok. How then is it possible to take the same amount of time to fly to Laos as it would to Kazakhstan? Shouldn't the radial lines be equal distance from the point of origin as opposed to centering the satellite for this possible final fix? Or am I missing something here?

 

[LVSteve]

Here's a question. How can this "new map" that's being cited all over tv and the internet possibly be accurate?

https://twitter.com/Duenes/status/444894409943822336/photo/1

For example. The red radial line is supposed to define where the airplane may have flown to 7 1/2 hours after takeoff. Ok. How then is it possible to take the same amount of time to fly to Laos as it would to Kazakhstan? Shouldn't the radial lines be equal distance from the point of origin as opposed to centering the satellite for this possible final fix? Or am I missing something here?

I think it has more to do with the orbit of the satellite(s?) and its (their?) field of view. The satellite receiver has an omnidirectional antenna, so it cannot determine the angle of arrival. However, put together the sightlines of the satellite and the fuel and range of the aircraft and those are the lines you get.

 

[Sebago Son]

Unless it's in the belly of the mothership, my guess would be that we haven't seen the last of this plane....