Originally Posted by
galaxy flyer
Is none of the above an option?
A. If it flew toward Langkawi and crashed, why do they have "pings for hours afterwards?
B. ATC cannot take remote control of airliners
C. Do you think US, Israeli, Russian, Chinese, Indian spy satellites haven't scoured the Earth looking for it. And don't offer camo, multi-spectrum analysis has been pretty well matured.
D. Shot down means ELT went off unless disabling is possible. Certainly wreckage would be visible. I will admit UA 93 style smoking hole would be hard to find.
E. There aren't any unknown airports in the Andamans and India has strong military presence there.
F. Possible it's in the Taklamakn desert, but to what end would the Chinese keep it secret--150 Chinese are onboard.
G. Ledgerwood simply is wrong, the possibility of joining up is very remote and could not be assured on departure from KL. Departure times would have been coordinated to put the two near enough to rendezvous. A mere 10 minutes off would have ended it. Radars can detect planes quit close, 500' by one report. Shah apparently hasn't had extensive formation training or experience--it's more difficult than you think and definitely not something for amateurs.
Any other ideas?
GF
Galay, I think "A." is plausible. Take a look at the the ILS to RW03 at Langkawi (WMKL/LGK). It's a 12,500' runway with 9538' available beyond the GS. If they had programed the approach to the airport and had become incapacitated (for what ever reason) while at altitude, the airplane would have "naved" the approach, with the missed approach heading steering them in the direction of the Indian Ocean. This could account for all the "pings".
"H." The F/O was a "green horn" with this being (according to news reports) his first trip after IOE on the airplane. At best, he would not have been very much help to the Captain and if the Captain had become incapacitated, he's be on his own. My thoughts and prayers to all that are effected here.
Sincerely,
fbh