I know there are more important things to discuss in light of today's match

[LadyG -keeping the spirit of the unbeatables alive]

But why didn't the plane continue on its path to China where the chance of reaching land was greater and they had enough fuel to reach, rather then changing course completely towards the Southern Indian Ocean ?

[R.C. Celebrating the return of Trophies]

we'll never know unless they get hold of the black box and that's looking unlikely what with the weather conditions around what they think was wreckage.

[Rich]

www.awimb.com/fudforum/index.php?t=tree&rid=6153&S=6 e9ef205afaedc8bb0663e8861c3dd67&th=563209&goto=38534 73

I would think it hugely unlikely that aircraft malfunction/fire would cause both positioning systems to be turned off and alter the course of the aircraft so dramatically.

As you say, were there an emergency, one would make for the nearest airport, not a huge expanse of ocean.

Pilots were in a suicide pact - it's the only option.

[Dr Evil daveo'o]

What absolute scum.

[Berni]

I'm with Sir C on this one. I don't believe anything I'm being told by anyone about this.

Pilot suicide my hairy hole.

[PSRB]

waited for the co pilot to go to the loo, he pulled the main bus switch preventing the box from recording anything and then stuck the airplane into a nose dive and plane broke up killing everyone on board. All because he had massive gambling debts

I do think that the fact it flew for miles in an odd direction makes it far more likely the pilots were under duress or incapacitated

[Berni]

My guess is that there was some sort of event that incapacitated the pilots and, rather than risk it falling onto something or being a terrorist attack, someone shot it down and doesn't want to own up to it. That's very much just my guess, though.

[Rich]

would have been heard in the cockpit/will be heard if the recorder is recovered).

Also, no terrorist organisation has claimed responsibility and what would the motive of a terrorist be? Why would you demand that the plane be flown miles out to sea (unless the pilots did this to protect people on the ground).

I think they were c**ts and decided to call it a day, as well as taking down all the innocent people on board.

[David Pleat AHADF (Royal Welsher and monkey lover)]

the plane wasn't on AutoPilot is a mystery.

[David Pleat AHADF (Royal Welsher and monkey lover)]

[Rich]

heading pretty much NNE.

[LadyG -keeping the spirit of the unbeatables alive]

Especially as the change of course came just over an hour after leaving KL, just doesn't make sense.

[Sir Charlie of Nicholas]

[The Tony]

Which would explain why not of the 150 Chinese on board with their sophisticated mobile phones were able to make a text or call...

[Berni]

direction first rather than just ditching it in the Gulf of Thailand or the Malacca Straits (which would have been simpler, no?)?

Nah. Makes no sense whatsoever.

[David Pleat AHADF (Royal Welsher and monkey lover)]

satellite images are clear and as some are saying. Ships lose cargo there regularly in storms.

[Dr Evil daveo'o]

[Sir Charlie of Nicholas]

decompression.

[The Tony]

Ie knew no one would survive so took the decision to switch to a course were the plane would crash without harming anyone else.....

[Rich]

[Sir Charlie of Nicholas]

If it's still controllable the pilot will be looking to get it on the ground, whatever's wrong with it.

[Berni]

[PSRB]

Surely you'd try and ditch it near a coast?

[Monty91]

[Peter]

[LadyG -keeping the spirit of the unbeatables alive]

Not one person sent a message or made a call when the plan turned away from China?