Watch the news - B777 missing

[rustyrobot]

Well - f**k me. Looks like the most logical solution wasn't the correct one.

Investigators have concluded that one or more people with significant flying experience hijacked the missing Malaysia Airlines jet, switched off communication devices and steered it off-course, a Malaysian government official involved in the investigation said Saturday.

No motive has been established and no demands have been made known, and it is not yet clear where the plane was taken, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to brief the media.

The official said that hijacking was no longer a theory.

‘‘It is conclusive,’’ he said.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/asia/98...e-was-hijacked

[Dave h]

http://www.pprune.org/rumours-news/5...-lost-190.html

WTF

How long till theres a new meme like the aliens one; "I'm not saying that Borat did it...but"

[SMOKEU]

The mystery just keeps on getting stranger and stranger.

[Dave h]

From the press conference Malaysian PM

15 March 2014
PM Najib Razak’s Press Statement on MH370

Seven days ago Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 disappeared. We realise this is an excruciating time for the families of those on board. No words can describe the pain they must be going through. Our thoughts and our prayers are with them.
I have been appraised of the on-going search operation round the clock. At the beginning of the operation, I ordered the search area to be broadened; I instructed the Malaysian authorities to share all relevant information freely and transparently with the wider investigation team; and I requested that our friends and allies join the operation. As of today, 14 countries, 43 ships and 58 aircraft are involved in the search. I wish to thank all the governments for their help at such a crucial time.

Since day one, the Malaysian authorities have worked hand-in-hand with our international partners – including neighbouring countries, the aviation authorities and a multinational search force – many of whom have been here on the ground since Sunday.

We have shared information in real time with authorities who have the necessary experience to interpret the data. We have been working nonstop to assist the investigation. And we have put our national security second to the search for the missing plane.

It is widely understood that this has been a situation without precedent.
We have conducted search operations over land, in the South China Sea, the Straits of Malacca, the Andaman Sea and the Indian Ocean. At every stage, we acted on the basis of verified information, and we followed every credible lead. Sometimes these leads have led nowhere.

There has been intense speculation. We understand the desperate need for information on behalf of the families and those watching around the world. But we have a responsibility to the investigation and the families to only release information that has been corroborated. And our primary motivation has always been to find the plane.

In the first phase of the search operation, we searched near MH370’s last known position, in the South China Sea. At the same time, it was brought to our attention by the Royal Malaysian Air Force that, based on their primary radar, an aircraft – the identity of which could not be confirmed – made a turn back. The primary radar data showed the aircraft proceeding on a flight path which took it to an area north of the Straits of Malacca.

Given this credible data, which was subsequently corroborated with the relevant international authorities, we expanded the area of search to include the Straits of Malacca and, later, to the Andaman Sea.

Early this morning I was briefed by the investigation team – which includes the FAA, NTSB, the AAIB, the Malaysian authorities and the Acting Minister of Transport – on new information that sheds further light on what happened to MH370.

Based on new satellite information, we can say with a high degree of certainty that the Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System (ACARS) was disabled just before the aircraft reached the East coast of peninsular Malaysia. Shortly afterwards, near the border between Malaysian and Vietnamese air traffic control, the aircraft’s transponder was switched off.

From this point onwards, the Royal Malaysian Air Force primary radar showed that an aircraft which was believed – but not confirmed – to be MH370 did indeed turn back. It then flew in a westerly direction back over peninsular Malaysia before turning northwest. Up until the point at which it left military primary radar coverage, these movements are consistent with deliberate action by someone on the plane.

Today, based on raw satellite data that was obtained from the satellite data service provider, we can confirm that the aircraft shown in the primary radar data was flight MH370. After much forensic work and deliberation, the FAA, NTSB, AAIB and the Malaysian authorities, working separately on the same data, concur.
According to the new data, the last confirmed communication between the plane and the satellite was at 8:11AM Malaysian time on Saturday 8th March. The investigations team is making further calculations which will indicate how far the aircraft may have flown after this last point of contact. This will help us to refine the search.

Due to the type of satellite data, we are unable to confirm the precise location of the plane when it last made contact with the satellite.

However, based on this new data, the aviation authorities of Malaysia and their international counterparts have determined that the plane’s last communication with the satellite was in one of two possible corridors: a northern corridor stretching approximately from the border of Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan to northern Thailand, or a southern corridor stretching approximately from Indonesia to the southern Indian ocean. The investigation team is working to further refine the information.

In view of this latest development the Malaysian authorities have refocused their investigation into the crew and passengers on board. Despite media reports that the plane was hijacked, I wish to be very clear: we are still investigating all possibilities as to what caused MH370 to deviate from its original flight path.
This new satellite information has a significant impact on the nature and scope of the search operation. We are ending our operations in the South China Sea and reassessing the redeployment of our assets. We are working with the relevant countries to request all information relevant to the search, including radar data.
As the two new corridors involve many countries, the relevant foreign embassies have been invited to a briefing on the new information today by the Malaysian Foreign Ministry and the technical experts. I have also instructed the Foreign Ministry to provide a full briefing to foreign governments which had passengers on the plane. This morning, Malaysia Airlines has been informing the families of the passengers and crew of these new developments.

Clearly, the search for MH370 has entered a new phase. Over the last seven days, we have followed every lead and looked into every possibility. For the families and friends of those involved, we hope this new information brings us one step closer to finding the plane.
ENDS

TL,DR... plane did not crash after first reported loss of contact, it continued to fly for quite some time.

[JimO]

nearly everybody on that plane would have a cell phone surly somebody would have got a message out by now, even the old "find my iphone" trick should work

[R650R]

You mean this place .. ??

https://maps.google.co.nz/maps?q=Die...go+Garcia&z=12

Military only worry about known or possible threats. Obvious non military and not acting unusually ... won't attract attention.

Even from civilian radar stations.

I spent some time working on a USAFE base during GWII. There is no one more paranoid and no one that takes their job more seriously than the military, everything is a threat to them.
A large aircraft losing its transponder signal then making a major course deviation would be enough to wake the base commander of whatever station or vessel noticing.

Well the truth is starting to come out now, wonder how the saga will end...

Remember this is the post 911 world where unidentified aircraft just don't fly into any countries territory and even before 911 the USAF intercepted some 64 flights in the 9 months prior that were off course or lost comms, the most famous being the golfer who had heart attack in private plane on autopilot.
This is a black op of some kind gone wrong and with a 120 odd Chinese citizens on board the Malaysians aren't willing to be left hanging out to dry...

[pritch]

even the old "find my iphone" trick should work

If the person who owned the iPhone wasn't on the 'plane? Of course, if they had a Macbook or iPad at home... Then again, their phones should all be in flight mode.

There was talk that the passengers' phones were ringing, but that's apparently just the way the phone system works.

[Waihou Thumper]

nearly everybody on that plane would have a cell phone surly somebody would have got a message out by now, even the old "find my iphone" trick should work

Telecommunications experts say the odds that passengers' cellphone data can help locate the missing Malaysian jetliner are next to zero.
Locating the mobile phones of the 239 travelers on the Boeing 777 that vanished Saturday isn't as simple as activating a "Find My iPhone" app, given the speed the plane was traveling, its altitude and the fact it was probably flying over water. Many people assume smartphones to be all-powerful tracking devices. Often police, rescue units and others can use a person's phone to pinpoint the user's precise location. Even so, there are large portions of the planet that don't have the transmission towers that are necessary for mobile communications. In the case of Malaysian Airlines Flight 370, smartphones are unlikely to lead investigators to the plane.

[jellywrestler]

Telecommunications experts say the odds that passengers' cellphone data can help locate the missing Malaysian jetliner are next to zero.
Locating the mobile phones of the 239 travelers on the Boeing 777 that vanished Saturday isn't as simple as activating a "Find My iPhone" app, given the speed the plane was traveling, its altitude and the fact it was probably flying over water. Many people assume smartphones to be all-powerful tracking devices. Often police, rescue units and others can use a person's phone to pinpoint the user's precise location. Even so, there are large portions of the planet that don't have the transmission towers that are necessary for mobile communications. In the case of Malaysian Airlines Flight 370, smartphones are unlikely to lead investigators to the plane.

nice orange crayons, you had a birthday this week of month?

[R650R]

Telecommunications experts say the odds that passengers' cellphone data can help locate the missing Malaysian jetliner are next to zero.

Next to zero is not absolute zero though.
Now we all know after the recent NSA debacle that they are recording EVERYTHING ever transmitted via cellphone and email etc...
Now even though phones may be switched off and most people probably did the right thing and put their phone in flight mode, some of the phones will still have been sending an administrative ping to the network like the Rolls Royce engine management system was. The telcos store this data for admin and market research purposes, data storage is very cheap. Police here have used it in fatal crashes for rough estimates of vehicles average speed when no other witnesses available. Its not an easy process though so that's why they wont do it for personal theft or burglary cases etc...
So where ever the plane was taken too there would have been pings to local cell towers from some of the phones...
Back to the engines, I reckon during the sharp deviation and big decents and climbs recorded by the military radar the engine data would have recorded use outside of normal parameters and transmitted a message before the Malaysians even knew it was missing. Even the latest trucks send a text message to dealership and owner if engine abused or if the truck rollsover they know before anyone even phones 111.
If the plane had crashed the EPIRBS in liferafts would have activated too.
Like any crime the actions of perp create a signature, modius operandi etc...
So who can:
1-Disable transponder
2-Jam civilian radar but deliberatly not the military one as that would give game away instantly
3-Have somewhere to park a 777 where no prying eyes will see or talk about its arrival
4-Stands to benefit from the situation
5-Tell a high ranking member of military to retract their statement they tracked the plane for another whole hour after missing

And after the event for possible destinations - The USAF would have the west well covered by AWACS for Deigo, Afganistan and Pakistan areas, nothing unannounced is going to get near China or Korea also.
There's too many important eyes on the skies in this area for a plane to just disappear...
Anyone whose ever flown into this area will have seen how busy the shipping lanes are here too.

[Akzle]

So who can:
1-Disable transponder
2-Jam civilian radar but deliberatly not the military one as that would give game away instantly
3-Have somewhere to park a 777 where no prying eyes will see or talk about its arrival
4-Stands to benefit from the situation
5-Tell a high ranking member of military to retract their statement they tracked the plane for another whole hour after missing

jews. From the jew s of a.

The question still remains why.
Unfortunately two hunnit civvies might be killed for the one or two they wanted.
But hey. Wtc.

Anyone ever get the feeling the government stole your chickens and replaced them with spy robots?

[Waihou Thumper]

nice orange crayons, you had a birthday this week of month?

You obviously failed English...?
Make sense, then I will reply...

[pzkpfw]

There was a case a bunch of years back, where the hijackers didn't believe the pilots about fuel levels and range, and they had to ditch in the water near some resort. I'm sure most of us have seen the video.

In this case, if it was hijackers, they seem to have known what they were doing, so I'd be surprised if they just flew half-way somewhere and - oops - landed in the sea.

But I also can't believe they flew somewhere and landed without someone (someone willing to blab) seeing it.

So my money (not that I'd bet on this) is on dirty-pilot-got-busted and went and flew into the sea on purpose.

[rustyrobot]

There was a case a bunch of years back, where the hijackers didn't believe the pilots about fuel levels and range, and they had to ditch in the water near some resort. I'm sure most of us have seen the video.

In this case, if it was hijackers, they seem to have known what they were doing, so I'd be surprised if they just flew half-way somewhere and - oops - landed in the sea.

But I also can't believe they flew somewhere and landed without someone (someone willing to blab) seeing it.

So my money (not that I'd bet on this) is on dirty-pilot-got-busted and went and flew into the sea on purpose.

I agree with what you say about anyone who was technically competent enough to disable the systems they did in the order they did could probably work out how much fuel they would need to get where ever they thought they were going.

The issue I have with pilot suicide is that he didn't need to go to such lengths just to kill himself. Could have ditched it into the see on the original flight route without all the dodging and weaving over and around radar sites.

I do think odds are the plane is now under the Indian Ocean, but haven't heard a theory of why yet which satisfies.

[pzkpfw]

...
The issue I have with pilot suicide is that he didn't need to go to such lengths just to kill himself. Could have ditched it into the see on the original flight route without all the dodging and weaving over and around radar sights.
...

Best I could come up with for that was - deliberately making it hard to find/recover.

(Of course that suits many of the ideas.)