My Theory of What Could Have Happened to Malaysian Airlines Flight 370
It’s just a theory. I could be completely wrong. Conspiracy theories are certainly going to abound until we know for sure what happened to the missing Boeing 777 Malaysian Airlines Flight 370. The first time I heard an expert address the subject over the weekend, I was immediately struck with the recent history of the plane and the pilots. The First Officer was new to the plane. He had been trained in a simulator in preparation for the 777, a very common and required practice. His name is Fariq Abdul Hamid. In all likelihood, he’s a Muslim.
This shouldn’t surprise us since Islam is the largest practiced religion in Malaysia, “comprising approximately 65% Muslim adherents, or around 19.5 million people, as of 2013. Article 3 of the Constitution of Malaysia establishes Islam as the ‘religion of the Federation.'”
I don’t know if either the Captain or the First Officer had anything to do with the disappearance of the plane, but it’s something to consider given what we know of some past history.
You may recall what happened in 1999 to EgyptAir Flight 990. The National Transformation Board (NTSB) “proposed handing the investigation over to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, as the evidence they had gathered suggested a criminal act had taken place and that the crash was intentional rather than accidental.” Information from the plane’s voice recorder led to this determination:
“The cockpit voice recorder (CVR) recorded the Captain excusing himself to go to the lavatory, followed thirty seconds later by the First Officer saying in Egyptian Arabic Tawkalt ala Allah, which translates to ‘I rely on God.’ A minute later, the autopilot was disengaged, immediately followed by the First Officer again saying, ‘I rely on God.’ Three seconds later, the throttles for both engines were reduced to idle, and both elevators were moved three degrees nose down. The First Officer repeated ‘I rely on God’ seven more times before the Captain suddenly asked repeatedly, What’s happening, what’s happening?”
I could be completely off base, but it’s something to consider. One of the Malaysian Airlines Flight 370 pilots could have taken one for Allah and the peaceful religion of Islam. And if the motivation was based on some sick Islamic duty, don’t be surprised if it’s covered up. The Egyptians did not accept the determination of the cause of the crash by the NTSB. The Obama administration might also participate in a coverup if Islam is the cause.
“Details concerning the sudden, Saturday disappearance of Malaysian Airlines flight 370 continue to trickle in. Azharuddin Abdul Rahman, the head of Malaysia’s Civil Aviation Authority, said the missing Boeing 777 carrying 227 passengers an “unprecedented mystery.”
“In short: We have no idea where the plane is, where the passengers are, or if they’re even alive.
“Here’s what we do know: The flight disappeared on Friday night/Saturday morning en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing. The plane was at cruising altitude (35,000 feet) and weather was more or less clear. Air traffic controllers in Vietnam say contact with the crew disappeared about 120 nautical miles east of the Malaysian town of Kota Bharu, and radar signals suggest the plane may have turned around before losing contact.
“And yet, nearly three whole days later, there are still no signs of the jet or its passengers. And an oil slick spotted in the South China sea originally thought to be a clue turned out to be a false lead.”
Read more: Fast Company