This plane

[GazLaz]

I think if it is the plane that they have found its likely that there was some sort of fire or loss off pressure that caused all on board to die and the plane just flew until it ran out of fuel.

[River Don]

I think if it is the plane that they have found its likely that there was some sort of fire or loss off pressure that caused all on board to die and the plane just flew until it ran out of fuel.

It doesn't explain why the co pilot calmly contacted them and said "alright goodnight" long after communication systems had started to be switched off by someone. Or why he failed to sign off with the correct information at that time.

It all points to some sort of hijack.

[IDM]

They think they have found some of the remains 1500 miles off the coast of Australia. Wonder what it was doing down there.

Those images prove nothing yet - could just be a whale?

[IC1967]

It could be a whale before they are able to confirm what it is.

[afro goal machine]

It could be a whale before they are able to confirm what it is.

boom boom !

[ravenrover]

They are going to go on hunger strike because they think the authorities aren't giving them all the info they can, I don't think they think it will help them find the plane. I've seen the shit they eat in china, a hunger strike would be a blessing out there.

I've eaten "the shit they eat in China" lots of vegetables not much meat but very tasty. I don't normally like lamb but I had some of the best I have eaten in Mongolia when I was working there, boiled to remove the fat and then slow roasted it just fell apart.

[BigColSutherland]

Sichuan cuisine is some of the finest in the world.

[BillyStubbsTears]

Korean food is the dog's b*llocks.

[Donnywolf]

Philipino food IS the dog !

[Sprotyrover]

Aussies  not looking very hard since they got the call from Uncle Sam!

[MrFrost]

Well, looks like I was wrong.

[GazLaz]

Could still be a long time before all the questions are answered.

[Jenny]

It took 2 years to find the Air France black box didn't it?

It is just all so bizarre, hopefully the truth will reveal itself in a reasonable timescale so that the families can get some sense of closure.

[GazLaz]

It's not that bizarre really. It was either hijacked but you wouldn't have expected them to just fly till the fuel ran out and ditch in the sea. Or there was some sort of electrical fire on board causing decompression the pilot tried a U turn and the plane flew itself until it ran out of gas.

[Jenny]

The latter theory seems the most plausible at the minute, although for that to be the case it would have all had to have happened really quickly given no may day call... And as you said, you wouldn't expect a hijack scenario or a pilot suicide in these circumstances.

[DaveDRFC]

If it has been flying on it's own until it ran out of fuel with everyone on board unconscious then the CVR (if they ever find it) won't tell them much as it only records 2 hours data then writes over itself. Obviously in most accidents 2 hours of cockpit voice is more than enough. Not sure if the FDR works in the same way but that might at least tell them something. I really have no idea what's gone on, but I think with the deliberate alterations to the flight plan (if they did actually happen) and the fact it's ended up in such a remote place so far from it's intended destination then pilot suicide, after incapacitating everyone else on board by altering the cabin pressure, looks as likely as anything. Although the fact that no one will confirm what it had in it's cargo bay is a bit worrying. Will certainly make for interesting viewing on Air Crash Investigation in a few years time.

[BigColSutherland]

If it has been flying on it's own until it ran out of fuel with everyone on board unconscious then the CVR (if they ever find it) won't tell them much as it only records 2 hours data then writes over itself. Obviously in most accidents 2 hours of cockpit voice is more than enough. Not sure if the FDR works in the same way but that might at least tell them something. I really have no idea what's gone on, but I think with the deliberate alterations to the flight plan (if they did actually happen) and the fact it's ended up in such a remote place so far from it's intended destination then pilot suicide, after incapacitating everyone else on board by altering the cabin pressure, looks as likely as anything. Although the fact that no one will confirm what it had in it's cargo bay is a bit worrying. Will certainly make for interesting viewing on Air Crash Investigation in a few years time.

Seems a bit of a drastic suicide method. Taking 200+ people with you.

[DaveDRFC]

Didn't say I agreed with his methods, but seems just as likely as most of the other theories going around. Plus it's happened before. Surely if it was such a massively technical problem that it took out everyone on board it wouldn't keep flying for another 7 hours? Also the fact there was no May Day call is very odd. We'll probably never find out anyway.

[BigColSutherland]

It certainly is a mystery Dave. I think they'll work it out eventually, but could be a few years yet.

[Muttley]

Anyone else think it's a bit strange that with all the advances of technology we've had over recent years these "black box" recorders can only hold 2 hours worth of data and the batteries only last 30 days?

[bobjimwilly]

Anyone else think it's a bit strange that with all the advances of technology we've had over recent years these "black box" recorders can only hold 2 hours worth of data and the batteries only last 30 days?

I agree it's strange. Why do they need batteries anyway? Surely everything could be saved to some sort of hard disk that doesn't required batteries?

[Filo]

Anyone else think it's a bit strange that with all the advances of technology we've had over recent years these "black box" recorders can only hold 2 hours worth of data and the batteries only last 30 days?

I agree it's strange. Why do they need batteries anyway? Surely everything could be saved to some sort of hard disk that doesn't required batteries?

The data is saved to disk, the batteries are required to power the locating beacon

[BigColSutherland]

The obvious solution for me is cloud storage - surrounded by the bloody things.

[bobjimwilly]

The obvious solution for me is cloud storage - surrounded by the bloody things.

boom tish

[BillyStubbsTears]

Heard a radio interview with an aviation expert earlier. The interviewer was astonished that a pilot might be able to turn off the location transponder, meaning that the plane was to all intents and purposes, untraceable. He wondered why no one had thought about what would happen if a captain turned to the dark side or went doo lally and did this. The expert said that it just wasn't be something that should have happened. But there were no systems to stop it happening.

Reminded me of the finest line in Dr Strangelove. The mad air base leader, General Ripper has sent the bombers to attack Russia at his own initiative. The President quizzes the head of the Air Force about how this could have happened.

President Merkin Muffley:
General Turgidson, I find this very difficult to understand. I was under the impression that I was the only one in authority to order the use of nuclear weapons.

General Turgidson: That's right, sir, you are the only person authorized to do so. And although I, uh, hate to judge before all the facts are in, it's beginning to look like, uh, General Ripper exceeded his authority.

1:56 here
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=RbfXhCzUgWs

Genius

[IC1967]

Am I the only one that is sick and tired of hearing about this plane in the news. The plane has crashed in the sea. There are no survivors. The chances of finding the black box is a million to one. It's time to move on. If any debris or the black box is found then that is the time to do a news update. Otherwise please find something else to report on. That is all.

[RobTheRover]

What,  and stop divertng people away from the real issues like the corrupt heart of the government?

[IDM]

Am I the only one that is sick and tired of hearing about this plane in the news. The plane has crashed in the sea. There are no survivors. The chances of finding the black box is a million to one. It's time to move on. If any debris or the black box is found then that is the time to do a news update. Otherwise please find something else to report on. That is all.

You probably are, yes.

I guess the families of the missing/dead are desperate to know what happened.  Also, the aviation industry and travellers who fly on this aircraft type will certainly be interested to know the cause, of what we assume as ultimately a crash.

If you are sick and tired of hearing about it, why post on a thread 2 weeks after the previous post? Why not just ingnore it?

[IC1967]

I'm with Robtherover. I'd much rather the news organisations spent their time keeping our politicians in line. The recent expenses debacle with Mrs Miller is the latest example of  poor judgement and double standards by our politicians.

[GazLaz]

The "million to one" price on finding the black box seems fair. Can I have a pound on?