Flight 370 Probe Sharpens Focus on Sabotage

WSJ - Dow Jones & Company ^ | March 14, 2014 | ANDY PASZTOR And JON OSTROWER

[gandalftb]

The investigation into the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 sharpened its focus on sabotage, according to aviation and industry officials, amid strong indications that one or more people on the plane deliberately changed its course and tried to mask its location.

In the ensuing minutes, a second system sent a routine aircraft-monitoring message to a satellite indicating that someone made a manual change in the plane's heading, veering sharply to the west.

Such a turn wouldn't have been part of the original authorized route programmed in the flight-management computer. Those system-monitoring messages are suspected to have been disabled shortly afterward.

A physical disconnection of the satellite communications system would require extremely detailed knowledge of the aircraft, its internal structure and its systems.

The satellite pings stopped roughly five hours after the other systems stopped working, cutting off all identifying signals from the plane. Aviation investigators are trying to determine whether someone would have had to climb into an electronics bay located on the plane's lower deck to disable that equipment.

[GOPJ]

What do you think? Could the plane have made it to Iran or Pakistan? Does anyone know the exact amount of fuel carried if everything is topped off?

[Meet the New Boss]

The most recent info is that the Malaysian Prime Minister said that the flight was still pinging satellites at 8:11 am local time - more than 90 minutes after it would have landed at Beijing according to the original schedule.

If this info is really correct, it appears from the map that the authorities know from the satellite ping the distance from the satellite (the radius) but can not tell from the satellite ping where along the arc the aircraft was.

One theory I had was that muzzie terrorists hijacked the plane in order to use it on a suicide attack against the US base at Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean. Perhaps this was their plan, but it seems foolish because an aircraft is likely to be detected and intercepted before it got close to DG. But then again, they did manage to hit the Pentagon. On this theory, perhaps they ran out of fuel or screwed up and hit the water flying low as they approached DG before they got within radar range to be detected.

[Meet the New Boss]

Looking again at the map the southern part of the arc seems too far east for DG to be the target.

[AnonymousConservative]

Thank you.

[TexasGator]

“It’s funny that it is called “transponder” nowadays. It used to be called the IFF. Which is more common, I wonder, in the aero industrial complex?”

The transponder and IFF are two different things.

[LurkedLongEnough]

Obama’s publicized push to give Muslims greater exposure to American science, such as to NASA, makes more & more sense.

[LurkedLongEnough]

I’ve not read all the posts but your scenario is a new one to me.

It’s also the most frightening.

Seems the first counteroffer on returning the plane with hostages should be to drop them off somewhere neutral to be rescued in a separate trip.

[LurkedLongEnough]

This was a redeye flight... probably most of the passengers were asleep or trying to sleep. One possible explanation.

[usconservative]

The last thing Obama wants is a resurgence of islamic terrorism.

Sucks to be Obama because that's exactly what this incident is. I said it at the beginning this is islamic terrorism and as the days go by and more information becomes available, my theory (as we as others who've stated same) is looking more and more plausible.

[usconservative]

As bad as 9/11 was, I don’t think they had nearly the success they really intended.

Go back and watch the video's of Osama and his buddies watching events unfold during that day. The translations of those video's showed that not only did they believe their attack was wildly successful, they never imagined either tower collapsing.

[WorkingClassFilth]

Let’s hope that was not what happened.

[LibertyOh]

Pure propoganda. They would have been pleased with anything. Did the videos show their disappointment at not having flight 93 succeed? They needed to put out a message about how great they did - no matter what.

[gandalftb]

Read my post, I said Identify, not as you said in your post “Identity”. The word “Identify” is the challenge word to unknown incoming vehicles or persons.

You’re correct, the air traffic process is known as “Identification”.

Now that we’ve settled the semantics, do you have something relevant to add with your 35 years of FAA traffic control?

What is your theory?

[gandalftb]

“much fewer Muslims in a plane flying from Sri Lanka or Southern India”

OK, what are the chances you get two Muslim pilots from Sri Lanka or southern India?

[diogenes ghost]

Well, first off, I was pointing out that the acronym 'IFF' stands for 'Identification Friend or Foe', not 'Identity'.

Secondly, that IFF is used by EVERY air traffic facility in the world, not just military. The aircraft transponder is the airborne component of the 'IFF' system.

My theory? well, in addition to being a controller, I also ran an aviation consulting business for 25 years. I have read/studied literally thousands of accident reports, and been involved in a few investigations. There has been so much conflicting, erroneous, retracted and redacted, mis-reported, mis-analyzed, unattributed information that only a fool would say he had a good idea of what happened. And I ain't that fool. What a damned goat-rope.

[gandalftb]

Again, read my post, I never used the word “Identity”. I said “Identify” Friend or Foe which is the Marine Corps challenge to unknowns. I suffer from my training also.

Of course there is an unfortunate haze of factoids that are sinking or swimming.

Perhaps I am foolish enough to look through and beyond them and try to include the possible religious/political strategic hints that may be driving the tactical aspect of this mystery.

I think my theory is wandering from the possible to the probable and would appreciate anyone’s take.

[roses of sharon]

From Reddit.com

Following up on this theory(http://www.reddit.com/r/news/comments/20dopw/comprehensive_timeline_malaysia_airlines_flight/cg2l4ne), I went back to FlightRadar24 to see if there were any flights near when the last contact with MH370 was at 0215 and heading NW.

What I found is there was a Singapore Airlines Flight (SQ68) which had departed SIN and was bound for BCN. I got the flight track data from FlightAware and plotted it on Google Earth.

Here’s what I found:

MH370 & SQ68 Link Up

It looks like if MH370 turned after lost contact at 0130 and followed the track back over Malaysia and along the way points previously discussed, it would be in the position shown at 0215, which is 200NM NW of Penang.

This position is only about 30NM behind the 0215 position of SQ68 which is also a 777.

If MH370 followed SQ68 along its path NW over India (as I had speculated it did previously), after 5 hours, SQ68 is indeed over Pakistan.

Across Bay of Bengal

Across India to Pakistan

Five hours from last known 0215 position

So, by closely following SQ68 at a similar altitude and speed, it’s likely that any Indian radar operator would not notice or question two closely placed primary radar returns as long as he had the expected squawk from SQ68

[angcat]

911 was a horrible day, disaster - but it could have been 10x worse.

I have to disagree. 9/11 was the beginning of the end of our Country.

[gandalftb]

Nice work!

I am thinking of an alternate theory, given that the last Sat ping was at 0811.

If FL370 took the northern route over land as you and I have theorized it would have crashed or landed. In any case it would be found by now.

I am now leaning to a southern route over the Indian Ocean and a ditching after fuel ran out. I am working a new post on the pilot now.

[roses of sharon]

This is crazy....books and movies are being written right now entitled “Alright, Goodnight.”