Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
News
Original poster

Missing Malaysia Air plane

985 replies

KenAdams · 08/03/2014 09:47

It's so sad. They still haven't found anything, but thinks it's crashed into the sea.

For anyone that hasn't heard

OP posts:
Original poster
KenAdams · 09/03/2014 23:06

No official news from Malaysia Air yet.

They had stopped the search because it was too dark to land a plane near where they saw the debris, according to some news reports.

I think they will probably start searching again soon as it's morning now.

OP posts:
TheGirlFromIpanema · 10/03/2014 00:42

Theone The route from KL to Amsterdam was probably the cheapest tbf. I've done that route before using China Southern and its a nightmare but at least £200 cheaper than the next cheapest option.

Also whenever I've transited in Beijing I've not been allowed out of the transit hall and haven't had to obtain any visa - only a landing form; so I don't think their route would have helped them get into either China or Europe any easier ime.

Original poster
KenAdams · 10/03/2014 01:02

That's very strange then. Really hope the search this morning recovers something.

OP posts:
Rosa · 10/03/2014 06:33

Nothing again this morning....I keep wondering about the tracking devices as well.

HairyPorter · 10/03/2014 06:39

Still no plane... I have limited knowledge of these things so may be silly questions- If it was a bomb, wouldn't there still be debris to be found? And is there any other reason for a plane to suddenly disappear off radar? I.e could hijackers have turned off the radar and flown the plane elsewhere and it crashed somewhere else, explaining lack of debris??

Caitlyn2014 · 10/03/2014 06:47

They have now found a few pieces of wreckage.

As for tracking devices - they are probably at the bottom of the sea along with the black box flight recorders.

I think it will be a very long time before we know all there is to know about this aircraft vanishing. I think it took about two years to get to the bottom of the Air France disaster - that too just dropped from the sky. My son and son in law are flight deck crew and even they are rather perplexed regarding what could have happened from a technical point of view. Yes, they have an idea or two but its obvious they even look upon it a mystery.

Bakingnovice · 10/03/2014 06:57

So sad for the families.

meditrina · 10/03/2014 07:08

It's over 60 hours now.

There is no confirmed wreckage (some has been ruled out); over 40 ships and 30 planes looking.

And very much a mystery - this isn't the middle of the Atlantic, it's a sea surrounded by several countries, so it's very strange that none of them seem to have had contact with the plane or had some sort of track of whereabouts of planes close to their airspace.

Rosa · 10/03/2014 07:34

Yes catlyn however with air France they found some wreckage within 24 /36 hrs I believe they knew the plane was at the bottom of the sea. From then it was a case of collecting evidence and the black box and coming to a conclusion. At least the relatives knew what had happened to the plane. I also come from a flying background and I like many others wonder how the tracking devices - just vanished as has the plane. Plus there is little or no news either the authorities haven't got a clue or they are just keeping it to themselves until they can find out more.

Original poster
KenAdams · 10/03/2014 08:54

If it broke up in mid air though, there wouldn't be a "crash site" as such.

OP posts:
Caitlyn2014 · 10/03/2014 09:14

Its just such a sensitive area, politically as well as militarily, that it may just be we never know what went on.

Original poster
KenAdams · 10/03/2014 09:58

Update on how MA are handling the operation.

I think they should be commended on their handling of the situation actually, it's been very good.

OP posts:
VivaLeBeaver · 10/03/2014 09:59

News reports are now saying authorities are investigating the five people who checked in but didnt get on the plane.

That's the first thing I thought was really odd. People don't check in and not get on. Book a ticket and not turn up maybe.....but go through check in, check your luggage in and not get on? Not so much.

Aviation law states if someone does this the bags must be removed from the hold. In practice this is a fairly big operation. Baggage handlers have to go into the planes hold and search through bags for all the suitcases. It will nearly always mean the plane misses its take off time and then has to wait for a slot on the runway.

Its the reason why you sometimes hear desperate appeals for named passengers to get to the gate.

Cynical me is wondering if the airplane just took off without removing the bags.

meditrina · 10/03/2014 10:01

They said earlier that the bags had been removed, but I suspect they are double checking if that was done properly.

VivaLeBeaver · 10/03/2014 10:03

There's either been a serious mechanical fault, they've let a bomb get on the plane somehow, or its been hijacked.....potentially by someone on a stolen passport.

Either way I'm guessing MA will have to pay out some serious compensation.

Living · 10/03/2014 10:14

people check in and don't get on board planes all the time - delays in connecting flights the most common reason.

VivaLeBeaver · 10/03/2014 11:43

If they checked in and their bags were onboard then they physically had to be at the airport?

bishbashboosh · 10/03/2014 11:51

This is so sadHmm it seems like the plane has just disintegrated

I had a dream last night it was hit by a Missile obv this is not true

Living · 10/03/2014 11:53

You don't have to be at the airport to be checked in! Most likely scenario is delayed connection arriving too late for passengers to transit. bags make it but offloaded. Or a group had a long transit, went into KL and didn't make it back in time. Or fell asleep in the lounge.

Happens all the time. It might have been a problem in this case but it wouldn't normally be significant.

Living · 10/03/2014 11:55

Living in hope it's a hijack (and hostages have been taken) but it's still not the most likely answer sadly. The whole thing is odd.

VivaLeBeaver · 10/03/2014 11:56

Good points. So maybe its nothing significant.

I've seen Internet rumours about North Korea and missiles.

funkybuddah · 10/03/2014 12:01

If a hijack/terrorist activity a group would have claimed it by now wouldnt they?
To go through all this then leave it for 3/4 days?

meditrina · 10/03/2014 12:01

There are all sorts of military watchers for N Korean missiles. I really doubt one could have flown that far unnoticed (or that if one had been seen, that the information could be suppressed for any length of time).

PartyPoison · 10/03/2014 12:11

There is a media conference which is doe to start at any moment.

Stockhausen · 10/03/2014 12:12

I wouldn't assume the 'missing' passengers is significant, you can check in online, without being there in person & I'm assuming there are a lot of business travellers, with only hand luggage on this route normally...

I think we're all entitled to wonder what's happened, we fly quite often as a family, long haul & sea planes included, so I would like to know how this happened & be reassured.

I just hope the plane has landed somewhere & there are survivors.