[Pasture Farm]

Aliens 

lol

[doganjo]

It would seem I was taken literally so I have changed the title to 'concerned' - I am upset for the people involved, as I am for any other incident where there is loss or harm to human life, but I am also concerned about the many implications of such an incident.  That was why I started this discussion, to see what concerns other people have.

It would appear the pilots have been ruled out as the cause of the ACARS and transponder being switched off.

One final thing: if this aircraft flew low over land, and people on board knew there was a problem, why did no-one try to make a phone call?

[Hamish Crofter]

It's a fascinating mystery at this stage especially given the technology in aircraft these days and Malaysian are not a Micky mouse airline. They are a very reputable airline.
You just know that someone somewhere has already started writing a book about the mystery.

Bad things just happen and no doubt not one of those passengers on board ever dreamed this would happen to them. Air travel is incredibly safe given the number of flights around the world everyday. It just comes down to your out look on life. I travel all over the world regularly on flights, you just can't think about these things as you will be a nervous wreck. Tomorrow I'll be taking two long haul flights back from Afghanistan to home in the UK, I will not think twice about it. I have been on a light aircraft that caught fire and a military helicopter that had to ditch in the middle of the night in the desert in Southern Afghanistan. I'll not think twice about getting on my flights tomorrow. If my number is up there's little I can do about it. Ps distasteful though the remark was about Muslim airlines it may help to point out that most of them are in the best and safest list of commercial airline companies including Emirates who are about the best in the world. British airways are rubbish!

[Lesley Silvester]

I heard on Radio 2 news today that the pilot's home is being searched and that it is suspected he might be involved. Has this now been ruled out?

[doganjo]

I heard on Radio 2 news today that the pilot's home is being searched and that it is suspected he might be involved. Has this now been ruled out?

No, they ruled them out to start with and that's what I know when I wrote that, but I've just watched the news and apparently the Pilot is now being re-investigated - a top US security agent said he thought 'there was something going on with the pilot'  I've no idea what that means.

[Lesley Silvester]

I didn't hear it all but it was something to do with finding out he had an interest in something that could be relevant. Not a lot of help, I know.

[rispainfarm]

They are saying the pilot was very fascinated with politics and that only that morning he had gone to court to see a political leader (of which party I don't know) be put in prison. Apparently this upset him greatly. I don't think this would have been the reason  behind what happened though, if it was the pilot, this sort of disappearance takes along time to plan I would have thought.  What worries me (and its my mind in overdrive) that this was a dry run for something more sinister, so similar to others, I am watching the news all the time for updates. It is truly amazing though how such a massive plane can literally disappear, even if it had gone down in rainforest, you would think that it could be seen by satellite.  I hope we find out what happened one day not too far away.

[SallyintNorth]

Sometimes there's something in a story that connects with one very deeply.  The reason isn't always evident.

I remember being very upset, for months possibly even years, by a story I saw on a TV reconstruction, where a woman had been abducted by a man who had hidden in her car and then forced her to drive herself and him to an out-of-the-way place.  It wasn't what happened then that upset me so much, it was the part where she was being forced to drive at gunpoint - she had been driving as slowly as she dared, as erratically as she dared, with her hazard warning lights going, trying to alert some passer-by or other driver to her plight.  There had been plenty of passers-by and other drivers - the story started in a supermarket carpark - but no-one, not one person, had so much as called the police.  It still makes me feel hollow, empty and hopeless to think about that.

[Rosemary]

I just keep hoping that it will all turn out OK in the end. And if it's not OK, it's not the end. 

[plumseverywhere]

I think its everytime I hear someone say "they will be using the plane for something else", it makes me cold. remembering 9/11 and the ripples, thinking of those poor people if they are still alive - children as well - what on earth must they be feeling.  Yes, i would say i am affected by this, when I wake up in the morning I check my phone for news.  My husband on the other hand, can put things into a little box in his head 'nothing has happened yet, it doesnt' affect us...' etc (although 9/11 troubled him terribly, as much as everyone else, unlike him to show emotion)

[rispainfarm]

I agree plums, it makes me wonder if it's not the plane that was wanted but all those people on it or whatever awful reason.

[shygirl]

Sometimes there's something in a story that connects with one very deeply.  The reason isn't always evident.

I remember being very upset, for months possibly even years, by a story I saw on a TV reconstruction, where a woman had been abducted by a man who had hidden in her car and then forced her to drive herself and him to an out-of-the-way place.  It wasn't what happened then that upset me so much, it was the part where she was being forced to drive at gunpoint - she had been driving as slowly as she dared, as erratically as she dared, with her hazard warning lights going, trying to alert some passer-by or other driver to her plight.  There had been plenty of passers-by and other drivers - the story started in a supermarket carpark - but no-one, not one person, had so much as called the police.  It still makes me feel hollow, empty and hopeless to think about that.

that's why I was pulled over by the coppers on the motorway at 1am coming back from down south. my fullbeam kept coming on on its own and had flashed a cop car by accident. they followed me for 5 miles before pulling me over to check I was ok. they thought I was in trouble.
(it was the sheep in the back I was worried about but they never mentioned him) 

[Lesley Silvester]

 


Good that they checked though.

[SallyintNorth]

(it was the sheep in the back I was worried about but they never mentioned him) 

   Love it.  And also love that they followed you and checked that you were ok 

[Penninehillbilly]

OH recently did some work for an 'aviation lawyer' or some such thing, anyway he said they often carry top secret stuff on passenger liners, and it's been hijacked for that, reckoned the people would be OK - but I can't see them feed 200+ people for so long.
wonder what they'll make of this debris seen in the ocean? I've been told it will be shipping containers, so many are lost every year.