Duke787

Isn't it possible that these two were involved in the criminal underworld (drugs, child labor, sex worker smuggling, etc.) which explains their shady behavior - and it's just a coincidence they were on this flight?

I go back to my earlier post - you don't commit an act of terror in silence - you commit it to be known by the world and for your cause to get its day in the sun - and that hasn't happened yet which makes me doubt that this was an act of terrorism.

At this point if group XYZ claimed responsibility it would look like they were just trying to get attention to themselves. If you had committed this act of terrorism and wanted the world to know you would've claimed responsibility a long time ago.

kxl19

Regarding the Ukrainian passport issue, the MAS CEO at the press conference that just ended clarified that there are only 2 passports in question, not 4.

Additionally, the press conference had two Malaysian military officials speaking suggesting that they have radar data that might indicate the plane may have tried to turn back. Press had a lot of questions about this new revelation, the officials said they're still analyzing the data as it comes in, it's was too early for them to say anything more. The sea search is being expanded to the West coast of Malaysia, including near Penang.

This one hit close to home, as I've spent a lot of time in KUL/SIN, still have friends and family there, and this flight (in general) could have been one I may have booked.

DownUnderFlyer

They were also purchased in Thailand on the 6th. Not sure whether this was done in person or online / over the phone.

invisible

Google Latitude, before they closed it, has an option to have real-time information update. Obviously it requires internet connectivity.

However in 5-10 years, when all (or most) aircrafts will be coming wifi onboard, independent RT location updates from from the plane would be much easier.
Yes, it was UA's 777 EWR-HKG.

enzian

Not sure what to make of this. Two more Europeans on the passenger list who were not aboard?

http://www.straitstimes.com/breaking...de-turn-back-a

My heart goes out to the families. I just hope they find the plane soon. Why is it taking so long? This is not the open Atlantic like the AF plane.

freddo

May the Lord have mercy

I just saw that the leading steward on this flight was one I had a couple of months back on LAX-NRT. He was super friendly and one of the best MAS crew ever on all my flights.

#PrayForMH370

Custix

I took an aviation weather class back in college, and something my professor said one day stuck with me.

"I sometimes find it hard to understand how, despite doctors having to go through sometimes decades of education to even start practicing medicine, how easily we put pilots in the air. A doctor can only kill 1 person at a time."

Certainly nothing yet to suggest pilot error in this case, quite the contrary actually so far. It's just tough to conceptualize that as we lie flat in F seats on a transcon, it only takes a few seconds for the entire plane to disintegrate for whatever reason.

Makes me look at the other fora on here rife with posts splitting hairs on points irregularities, the horrid SM 2015, etc. (myself included) and just realize that it's good to be alive. I've been on this route and could've been on this plane, as many FTers could have been.

We're 80 pages in. Let's all go kiss/call/talk to our families.

kettle1

The one thing I can say is that FT is a great forum. I posted about 5 minutes after this news hit (I have an alert for airline news on my computer) and look where it went 1,190 posts and almost 250,000 views.

^^^ To Flyer Talk and the mods on this thread. Many may have been up 24 hours or so, as this thread is not visited as much as many of the others.

Click on google or ask.com and guess what thread falls in the top when an event in the air happens. Flyer Talk.

By the way FT had this posted about 2 minutes before it was reported on CNN or Fox News. I missed being the first to post as people on here care about getting news out fast. Good news or bad.

I sometimes bit** and complain on other threads, but horrible things like this bring the FT community together.

Dr. HFH

Presumably you refer to MS 990, which was a 763ER.

mike1968

Unfortunately the junior AF pilots were trying to react to "crazy" flight control indicators and were "pulling up" which is what caused the plane to stall and drop in a nose up Position. Basically the pitot tubes iced over giving all sorts of false readings. Had the pilots pushed down they likely would have gained speed to keep the plane airborne. From what I remember AF HQ got all sorts of "bizarre" telematic readings from the plane, which lead them to believe it broke up in flight. However it was later attributed to the frozen pitot tubes and plane was intact to the end.

This was similar to what happened on Aero Peru 603 in which duct tape was left on the sensors before take of. In 603 the pilots were able to communicate that their flight instruments were going haywire...so seems like an issue with pitot tubes/flight sensors would be remote given the suddenness of the disappearance.

Dr. HFH

Presumably because the passports were [reportedly] stolen in Bangkok and the tix were purchased in Bangkok.

farulg

Was watching the press conference myself. The turnback was already mentioned yesterday, but the expanded search to the Straits of Malacca is interesting. Why would they do a sea search in an area several hundred km away?

tranthutrang

According to the reporter of Thanh Nien (a well-known daily newspaper in Vietnam) who is on a Vietnamese military plane, the oil slick area today is 4 times bigger than yesterday.

m.thanhnien.com.vn/story/tuong-thuat-cuoc-tim-kiem-may-bay-mat-tich-sid-300184 (in Vietnamese)

invisible

If satellite photos does not show the plane (or what was left from it), I wonder what could happen to the plane of this size that nobody can locate it in 200ft depth water with clear sky....

Alba

Firstly, the moderators on this website are doing an exemplary job on this particular thread; the moderator notes on each page defining the rules and the moral standards that must be upheld. I salute each and every one of you with gratitude. I cannot imagine being at either airport and having to deal with a situation like this. Let's all abide by these rules...

Having gone through most of the 79 pages, it is interesting for me as a non-aviation person, to see the views of many more experienced individuals. I now know about the stolen passports and many other issues.

It is odd that there was no mayday signal, from what I understand, so the plane's disappearance off radar and all communications lost seems to me clearly that no one had an opportunity to react.

I am flying tomorrow and I so appreciate pilots that take these jets up in the air and land them on a dime, isn't it something remarkable that we humans have achieved! Meantime, I will pray for all of those involved in this awful tragic event, God bless you all.