The Plane

[ellisonz]

23. I think there are a couple problems with the scenario

1) The flight-time - the last ping is recorded 7 hours after take-off. How much fuel would he burn flying low and fast like that? I think that would substantially shortened the range and increased the likelihood of detection over the coastal plains of relatively flat, heavily populated Burma, Bangladesh and India.

2) Elevation - he would have needed to dramatically gain elevation to maintain that into the Himalayas and increase the chance of being spotted by radar. Given the estimated flight time, he would have needed to probably circle extensively over the ocean to not simply crash into the Himalayas. The Himalayas are of course not unpopulated so there would be a good chance of ground detection already given the time lapse since disappearance.

3) China - the PRC undoubtedly has better air defense systems - there could always of course be a coverup. Otherwise, this would be a major demonstration of weakness for a nuclear power.

Where would the final destination have been? Was an organized group or state helping them? Neither pilot is known to be a religious fundamentalist. Furthermore, why would a Malaysian purposefully crash a 777 into a Himalayan mountain?

It would be difficult to hide a 777 without existing facilities and substantial ground support given the number of eyes probably looking right now.