Re: Missing Malaysian Flight
Whatever did happen, it happened so quickly that the pilot had no time to warn ATC, or anyone else. Every system in the plane has multiple backup sources so something possibly knocked out the entire aircraft. Also possible that the transponder and backup sources were "disengaged" (shut down, destroyed, etc". so all ATC saw was a blip and then nothing. Hard to say with no evidence but those two pop in my head quicker than other theories.
As far as AF447 (Someone mentioned above), that was ultimately the crew not identifying the problem, misunderstanding the aircraft was stalling, and therefore did not act accordingly to correct the stall which caused a CFIT. Could this have happened here? Sure, but as of right now I doubt the same thing occurred, IMO.
Interesting to note, this is only the fourth hull loss for the Boeing 777. First was in 2008 when ice blocked the fuel lines in flight BA38 on approach to LHR. Everyone survived and was evacuated.
Second was a EgyptAir 777 that suffered an electrical fire at the gate. Again, everyone was evacuated and survived.
Third was the OZ 214 crash at SFO last year. 3 people out of the 307 died and out of that only 1 was a direct cause of the crash.
This current accident makes for a fourth hull loss of a 777.
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