From Earhart to MH370

It seems that Malaysian Airlines Flight MH370 is all set to become yet another mystery in the history of aviation. This case has brought back the memories of Amelia Earhart who tried to circumnavigate the globe in 1937 in Model 10 Electra plane. Her plane was lost over the Pacific Ocean. Her disappearance is still shrouded in mystery. Since then the world has heard every possible theory that a human brain can come up with.
Amelia was lost in 1937 when the technology was not advanced but the disappearance of MH370 has emerged as a big question mark over modern technology. First, I would like to extend my deepest sympathy to the families of the lost passengers and crew. And no matter what we say or do for them, we will never fathom their agony.
Aviation technology has come a long way since the day man succeeded in flying. It is not only the aviation industry that has changed but we also see difference in people’s behavior at airports. During the past 30 years, we have witnessed a change in people’s outlook toward this interest i.e. from romanticizing every aspect of this industry to a deep sense of mistrust and suspicion.
However, all the hassles that one experiences like long queues, X-ray machines and baggage handling are forgotten the minute one enters the aircraft. The last thing any passenger wants is to sit next to a hijacker regardless of his motives but there is something even worse than a “traditional” hijacker. It is to fly with a pilot whose intention is not to get them to their destination but to take his own life and of the passengers. In the article, I am not blaming the crew of MH370 or questioning the high quality of Malaysian Airlines.
I am also one of those who are puzzled over the disappearance. If the plane is not found and the Black Box and Cockpit Voice Recorder are not found, then this will be the mother of all mysteries. The Boeing 777 is one of the most advanced carriers and has the most reliable engines in aviation industry. So, what really happened to Flight 370?
According to the latest official news, the transponder was turned off and the plane made a drastic change in its course heading west back to Malaysian airspace instead of flying over Vietnam and continue to its final destination. Did Malaysian military radars see the plane on their screens? They must have. It is a Jumbo Jet. And the other question is if they did, then why didn’t they try to communicate with it because if the transponder was turned off, then it should have been considered an unknown target and should have been interrogated and electronically challenged and even intercepted by air force jets. Any radar no matter how primitive should have easily detected the plane. Commercial planes fly at higher altitudes and can’t hide from radars. Commercial planes are not terrain followers and don’t need to hide. They are built to be seen.
We have heard many rumors about the plane. I don’t think it is hijacked. In that case, the pilots will have time to say something to the ground control or initiate the hijack code 7500 or the emergency code 7700 on the transponder. Was there a sudden lack of oxygen that incapacitated the crew and they ran out of fuel but why the transponder was turned off?
There is also a possibility that one of the pilots might have left the cockpit giving other the chance to close the doors and take the suicidal dive. But again this can happen only if both of them have the same intention. If only one of them locked the other out of the cockpit, then any of the crew would have called the ground and alerted them. The mystery could be solved if someone could come forward and let the authorities know about any conversation that took place between him/her with the crew or any passenger. The longer it takes to find the plane, the more complicated the case will become. The plane will eventually be found but we will never find passengers or crew alive. With such a disaster, there will be many changes to the way crew are monitored. And finally, why don’t the aviation experts install cameras in the cockpits and the airline center can monitor the cockpit activities if needed. As for violating crew privacy then crew should know that the life of a passenger is more important.

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