[CPONuke]

If the reports of the tracking systems shutdown occuring before handoff to VN air space are true, how was the handoff even completed? Would ATC have some idea/indication that the tracking systems were off line?

[RC one]

It remains unclear, however, whether Vietnamese air traffic controllers had any contact with the plane during the handoff, Quest said. dated 3/15/14

[fiftymegaton]

There were two tracking systems that were shutdown. The ACARS system was shutdown while still over Malaysia, however, the plane’s transponder apparently wasn’t shutoff until right before or right after the ‘handoff’ was made between the Malaysians and Vietnamese.

The pilot was made aware by people on the ground that he was about to enter Vietnamese airspace, he acknowledged and said, ‘All right, good night’ or ‘All right, roger that’(depending on which version is true). Very soon after his acknowledgement the transponder was turned off.

From what I gather, because the plane was right in between the two countries airspace, it allowed the plane a few minutes to make a drastic route change to the west-southwest. And also from what I gather by the time the ground people thought there might be in issue the plane was already many miles away in a different direction.