The whereabouts of flight MH370 is turning into a pantomime. I'm sure it's not intentional but that's the way it's coming across. The story has more twists and turns than the flight itself. Every day there is a different slant on things. It's in the China Sea. No it isn't, it's in the Malaccan Straits. Wait a minute, it could be anywhere between the South pole and Kazakhstan. Or maybe somewhere off Australia. Mechanical failure or terrorism? No idea. The villains are the two people with false passports who have hi-jacked it. No, wait, it could be that the pilot or co-pilot had a funny five minutes or it might be Al Qaeda. It wouldn't surprise me to read tomorrow that it was abducted by aliens. And meanwhile in all seriousness those poor relatives wait for the final explanation, which, the more time passes, can only be bad news. Apparently the plane's diversion was done with the flick of a simple switch and a "Goodnight. All's right". That simple. (Terrorists please note). Is that all it takes?
With all the world's technology and enough willing helper countries out there searching, we still are in the situation where first a plane can disappear without trace and secondly nobody has a clue where to look for it. How on earth could this happen? The aviation industry is going to have some job making sure this does not happen again. Maybe in future something similar to Skype or CCTV contact from ground to cockpit to "see" what happened may become as essential as the black box.
6 comments:
I agree Addy, you would think with all the big brains in the world of aviation there should be a way of tracking planes wherever they are and whatever the circumstances.
It's extraordinary isn't it? It happened while I was in hospital so I missed the initial excitement but it just rumbles on - and on!
Hi Addy,
It really is unbelievable that a plane with nearly 300 people can just disappear in this age where everything can be tracked by GPS and satellite. As you said those poor relatives must be going through sheer hell. Its bad enough taking in a tragedy but it must be extremely difficult to be stuck in that limbo for so long with no sign of it changing any time soon.
I find it hard to believe that no passenger could have sent a message home unless there was some communications blackspot- the alternative is not worth thinking about. Scary. Considering some of the things that have happened in recent history its unbelievable that there are not measures to stop this happening.
Rab
Yes, the anxiety and distress for the families and friends of this missing flight must feel unendurable. I hope and pray that the truth will come to light soon and that they will have the strength to face whatever actually happened. In these days of black boxes, sat nav and instant communication it seems inexplicable that nobody knows what has happened - this world we have learned so much about still holds its mysteries.
I hope all is well with you and your family and you had a good result from your hospital tests. Take care.
If it wasn't so tragic, it would be hilarious. Do you remember that Sunday Sport headline many years ago 'London Bus Found on the moon'...I fear we may have another similar coming...
The recommendation for the tracking was made 5 years ago when they lost the air France plane. But the industry is self regulated and it would cost money to implement. Although not as much as this search is costing everyone but the air industry. Ships have to report location every 6 hours, planes ought to use the same technology but more frequent reporting because of the speed. Heads should roll, but they won't. Lives don't matter when it comes to CEOs heads on a plate we only have interest in financial institutions. I hope the final moments for those lost was something better than the terror I can only imagine. Poor souls.
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