Also possible, but I lean toward Post #26 this thread. Malaysia may heve been forced to shoot down the plane.
I think the spooks should be finding out whether the guys travelling on stolen passports are qualified in heavy aircraft, specifically the 777.
Did the captain invite them into the cockpit? Or maybe some more babes that then let the bad guys in.
Next question:
It is only 1,600 miles farther to Iran than to Beijing.
Since one needs fuel to an alternate plus 45 minutes, it is conceivable the aircraft had enough fuel on board.
OK, so did it?
So then how to get there?
Dive to below radar coverage after turning off the transponders and any other equipment that talks to the ground automatically.
Fly the required distance below radar coverage. At some point put the transponder on an Iranian military code and climb back to an altitude that does not cause fuel exhaustion.
Land in Iran.
Now you have the tool to deliver either an EMP or some other surprise.
James Bond stuff?
Yes, but there is James Bond stuff going on all over the world already.