In March 2014, Malaysian Airlines flight MH370 took off from Kuala Lumpur with 227 passengers and 12 crew on board but midway through the flight, disappeared from radar and was never seen or heard from again.
The mystery of what happened to the plane and its passengers has intrigued many in the 10 years since it vanished and now, an expert from the UK has come out claiming to have located the remains of the flight in the Cambodian jungle, using Google Maps. Ian Wilson, who says the remains of the aircraft are scattered on the jungle floors, said he measured the sighting on Google Maps and found dimensions consistent with the missing aircraft.
He said: “Measuring the Google sighting, you’re looking at around 69 metres, but there looks to be a gap between the tail and the back of the plane. It’s just slightly bigger, but there’s a gap that would probably account for that.”
Daily Star)
But even if the images captured by Wilson and Boyer are flight MH370, which it cannot yet be confirmed, it doesn’t explain why or how the plane got there. There is, however, a number of theories that have emerged over the years about what might have happened to the doomed plane.. Here are just a few:
Pilot Suicide/Mass Murder
Perhaps the most popular and one of most compelling, this theory suggests that the plane was deliberately crashed by the pilot, Captain Zaharie Ahmad Shah as part of a practised and executed act of mass murder-suicide. Several pieces of evidence and circumstances have contributed to the formation of this theory.
For example, the flight deviated significantly from its intended route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing. After losing communication with air traffic control, the plane made several course changes before it inevitably ran out of fuel. Zaharie also had a home flight simulator and data retrieved from the simulator showed that he had practiced flying a route that closely resembled the one taken by MH370, ending in the southern Indian Ocean.
AFP/Getty Images)
There were no distress signals or calls for help from the cockpit or passengers, suggesting that the crew and passengers could have been incapacitated or unaware of the unfolding situation.
While the pilot suicide theory is compelling and backed by several pieces of circumstantial evidence, it remains unproven. No definitive motive has been established, and without the recovery of more evidence, such as the plane’s black boxes, the true cause of MH370’s disappearance remains a mystery.
Sabotage/Cyber Attack
Some theories suggest that someone could have tampered with the aircraft’s systems either before or during the flight. This could include disabling communication systems or manipulating the aircraft’s avionics to steer it off course without detection. Early in the investigation, the possibility of a terrorist hijacking was considered, especially given the presence of two passengers with stolen passports. However, these individuals were later identified as Iranian asylum seekers with no known terrorist link
Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Modern aircraft are heavily reliant on computerized systems for navigation, communication, and operation. These systems could potentially be vulnerable to cyber intrusions and so some people believe the idea that an external party could infiltrate the aircraft’s systems, bypassing pilot control. This could be done through vulnerabilities in the communication systems or other onboard technology. Once accessed, the hijacker could manipulate the aircraft’s navigation and control systems, leading it off course. However, Boeing have dismissed this theory, claiming systems are too “robust” for infiltration to happen.
AFP via Getty Images)
Shot Down
One version of this theory suggests that MH370 was accidentally shot down during a military exercise. This could involve a missile or a jet fighter from a nearby country’s military. Another version says the plane was deliberately shot down due to perceived threats or as part of a covert operation. This could be linked to concerns about the plane being used as a weapon (like in 9/11) or was carrying sensitive cargo or passengers on board.
Many believe that the show down theory involves a cover-up by the military or government to hide the mistake or the intentional act. This could include tampering with radar data, withholding information, or planting false leads to misdirect search efforts. However, no concrete evidence supports the claim that MH370 was shot down as wreckage and debris that have been found do not show signs of explosive impact or missile strike.
Debris from MH370 has been found on various shores along the Indian Ocean, including 32 pieces by a US amateur investigator Blaine Gibson, which aligns with the southern flight path suggested by satellite data. The condition and distribution of the debris do not definitively support or rule out any one of these theories but are consistent with a controlled descent into the ocean.
Earlier this month Malaysia’s, prime minister Anwar Ibrahim pledged to reopen the investigation if there is enough evidence. Anwar then told a press conference in Melbourne: “We have taken the position that if there is a compelling case, evidence that it needs to be re-opened, we’re certainly happy to reopen. Whatever needs to be done must be done.”
Transport Minister Anthony Loke said Texas-based firm Ocean Infinity had said they could scour an area of the Indian Ocean on a no-find, no-fee basis. Mr Loke did not say if a fee was payable if the plane wreckage was found.