I've flown two planes where the ACARS is integrated with the FMS, at least the control head.

Unfortunately I see where you're headed with this. If there's a physical path for the electrons, a good enough software person can probably find a way in. Direct remote control would be unlikely, insertion of a malignant subroutine more feasible.

But that would require very specialized knowledge of the exact gear involved...I doubt the bad guys have anybody with that experience. The vast majority of black hat hackers would draw the line at helping some shadowy entity hack an airliner's control system. They're crooks but not typically mass murders, and they know the inevitable response to that ping will be delivered not virtually but in person...they don't want a leading role in the next navy SEAL movie.

Good to see that WAG's are still abundant and thriving in 2014. :rolleyes:

All those scenarios of stealing/hacking an aircraft, would be too complex to pull off without massive coordination. It's likely the simple answer, fire/smoke in the cockpit crippled the aircraft, knocked out the equipment, and the plane flew to a crash site that is perhaps a thousand miles away. It may be the case that this aircraft is never found.

That's what I've been saying all along. Terror doesn't make sense if nobody knows about it.

There are serious logical problems with every other scenario, so even if it's unlikely cockpit fire is the only thing that isn't in conflict with one or more facts.

Now if you show me a background or personal issue with one of the pilots, that would move to the top of the list. A fire might disable all comms, but a pilot could definitely do so. But I'm giving the pilots the full benefit of the doubt until proven otherwise.

I think it will be found, one way or another. With a modern US manufactured airplane involved the USG will probably not give up on this and they do have resources. Might not be this year though.

It might even be down in the jungle, not in the water, which will make it nearly impossible to find unless some local stumbles upon it.

Oh, wait, Found it! http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/...ollapse-n50821

"City officials said the buildings are destroyed. The cause of the apparent explosion is not known; members of the Joint Terrorism Task Force have responded to the scene out of an abundance of caution, authorities said."


(too soon?)

If it's the jungle, satellites will have already captured imagery of the site...eventually after enough manpower (or CPU power) is applied the imagery will be identified. A fully-loaded 777 would leave a big enough mark to spot...unlike say a C-172.

Everything I have read about him leads me to believe he had discriminating tastes:


Young blonde says missing Malaysia Airlines pilot invited her and her friend to ride in the cockpit with him for entire flight in 2011 | Mail Online

At least save the slams for after the find the airplane.

Interesting.....

A touch irresponsible maybe, but doesn't seem particularly devout or radicalized. Or maybe visitors are allowed on MH?

(I'm no avionics/airman expert by any means so please educate me since this is more of a question), If the aircraft had altered course and crossed over land, wouldn't a country's radar have picked up the aircraft and had fighters/local craft investigate it if the craft didn't respond/wasn't scheduled to be flying there?