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This is an interesting article. One of the comments also gives another plausible solution. Pasting it here for convenience: "There are a number of troubles wit
by fosk 13y ago
This is an interesting article. One of the comments also gives another plausible solution. Pasting it here for convenience:
"There are a number of troubles with that theory Charles, one of which is that the plane should have followed its intended course and stayed on radar by passive reflection, but it is certainly also one of my favourite theories right now.
The lack of debris near where it disappeared from the radar opens the door to more "interesting" theories, such as kidnapping or theft.
First of all, identifying planes by transponder code is not hard ID.
It would be perfectly possible for co-conspirator plane to fly transponder-less up to the target plane, take over the transponder code, and fly decoy on the official route, while the MH370 goes elsewhere.
That means that the point of "last contact" doesn't tell us anything but the existence of an electronic device acting like a transponder at that time and place.
Turning the transponder off and tailing another transpondered plane very closely is another way to disappear from ATC without plastering the surface with debris and then you are also more or less free to go wherever you want, until somebody visually spots two planes very close.
The decoy plane does not need to be the same size, so the probability of such visual detection would be low.
Therefore, suspecting foul play, we don't have any trustworthy information about the planes whereabouts after the last visual sighting of the plane.
It would be interesting to know if there were any high-value targets on that plane, amongst the passengers or in the cargo.
If the cargo was the interesting bit, killing off all the passengers by dropping pressure and oxygen is trivial.
One interesting nugget is the rumour that "passengers phones are still ringing".
That's sufficiently implausible that nobody would take it seriously and actually follow the SS7 data.
But if true, it would be explained by the plane sitting somewhere at the edge of a jungle, for instance on the remains of an old WW2 strip, passengers dead, and cargo gone."
- mootothemax 13y agoIf the cargo was the interesting bit, killing off all the passengers by dropping pressure and oxygen is trivial. When was the last time a criminal killed ~240 people in order to steal some loot? The solution proposed would, at best, be extraordinary; flippantly adding mass murder makes it absurd.
- noobermin 13y agoI mean, it would seem easier to steal the cargo at the airport before it got on the plane, just bribe a few ground workers, I guess. Steal some passports, hijack, then divert the plane just for cargo? It wasn't the cargo; the only reason to hijack the plane would be either the people or the plane or both. Or, it was an accident.
- mootothemax 13y agoI mean, it would seem easier to steal the cargo at the airport before it got on the plane, just bribe a few ground workers, I guess. Steal some passports, hijack, then divert the plane just for cargo Exactly. Even if we want to be horrible about it and suggest beating up and possibly killing ground worker(s), that's a waaaaaaay off killing 240+ people on an airplane.
- mseebach 13y agohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels_Airport_diamond_heist http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels_Airport_diamond_heist
- rz2k 13y ago>It would be perfectly possible for co-conspirator plane to fly transponder-less up to the target plane, take over the transponder code, and fly decoy on the official route, while the MH370 goes elsewhere. Since we know nothing, a lot remains open, but that is some of the most bizarre conjecture I can imagine. A 777 flies at an altitude and velocity because it is optimal. Arrive at the right altitude and location, spoof a transponder, and replicate a believable velocity? Who could do that? The US, Taiwan, China, Japan? And yet, if any of those used something like an Aegis class missile cruiser to launch something we haven't heard of before, it would still be absurd, since this will draw more attention and resources devoted to investigating the cause than even something like the murder of JFK if it is a big enough mystery. Someone with the resources of a nation state (most likely necessary to spoof and replace a 777 at cruising altitude) could also figure out other ways to assassinate a person that are less likely to be sufficiently investigated to decipher.
- sentenza 13y agoBy method of elimination, the only nation-state that is insane enough to try something like this and has a non-zero chance to keep it under wraps is North Korea. But, given the position that the plane disappeared, it is IMO impossible to fly to North Korea without being detected. My conclusion is thus: No conspiracy.
- pdabbadabba 13y agoYes. North Korea also appears to have been too far away: http://si.wsj.net/public/resources/images/AI-CH295_MALMAP_G_20140313035406.jpg http://si.wsj.net/public/resources/images/AI-CH295_MALMAP_G_... Of course, it could have been flown someplace else.
- deleted 13y ago[deleted]
- kjs3 13y ago> Who could do that? Since transponders are trivial to spoof and interception is a matter of coordination and a radar, you're looking for anyone who has a plane that can fly ~500kts at ~35000 feet for a while. So...pretty much anyone who can afford an old Gulfstream 3 or Boeing 707. John Travolta, for example. Nation state not required.
- primelens 13y agoBut if true, it would be explained by the plane sitting somewhere at the edge of a jungle, for instance on the remains of an old WW2 strip, passengers dead, and cargo gone. _Flight 714_[1] [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flight_714 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flight_714