much less load if no passengers and cargo, carrying only a bomb, therefore longer range.
Singapore Airlines Airbus makes it from Newark to Singapore because its business class only, 100 passengers/luggage +crew.
I read on another forum that Australia has strongly suggested that it was something in the cargo which led to the hijack.
They may repaint it and hip-hop it all over the place for cover, Iran, North Korea maybe for a nuke, Venezuela, Cuba.
It might end up right at our back door.