Malaysia Documentary Netflix

0 views

Skip to first unread message

Kathrine Selvage

unread,

Aug 5, 2024, 1:53:40 PM8/5/24

to ristworkdansa

Afew days ago, Netflix released a show about the disappearance of MH370. I just got done watching this series, so I wanted to first recap the basics, and then share my take, as I have mixed feelings.

Arguably the greatest mystery in modern aviation is the disappearance of flight MH370. In March 2014, a Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 with 239 people onboard went missing while enroute from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing. This has been the source of a lot of theories and speculation over the years, and a new Netflix show is tackling that topic once again.

The problem is, all these theories are presented, but they all seem a little half baked in terms of the details that are shared. In other words, they walk through the possible scenarios, without actually addressing a lot of the logical follow-up questions people would have.

A lot of people are calling this series reckless, and are saying it gives way too much air time to conspiracy theories. I totally get that, but honestly, is the prevailing theory about what happened any less wild?

There were definitely some interviews in the series that I think are worth taking with a grain of salt. I wish there had been more questions with the actual experts (experienced 777 captains, the aircraft accident investigator, etc.), to hash out how exactly the captain could have done this.

I watched this documentary a few days ago for the 10th anniversary of the dissaperance, and I thought it was mostly pretty good. However, it did seem like the two main people were somewhat racist. The American dude convinced himself that the Russians must have done it, and the French lady convinced herself that the Americans must have done it. Personally, I think the first and final theory are the only two theories out there...

I have to say that I agree with the french Journalist. If this plane really did a U turn and flew over Butterworth, jets would have been scrambled. According to official reports it flew through numerous airspaces. It's absolute bullshit to say that nobody knows what happened to that flight. Someone would have been tracking it (leaving Immarsat out of it).

If we are to believe the official reports, no one had tracked this plane that would have been visible on numerous military tracking devices, in fact, three of them; the Americans, the Australians and the Malaysians.

So, sticking to the facts, here it is:

1. The plane was not tracked or intercepted by any military personnel, despite the planning flying over Butterworth, near Garcia Diego and through Malaysian military radar; or no one claimed to;

2. Debris located in the South China Sea on satellite imagery was not investigated. The lady claimed she was ignored, therefore no one had confirmed to her that they checked the site of the debris.

3. The plane had 2 tonnes of mystery cargo bound for Bejing.

4. The plane's transponder went off.

I literally cannot believe the credence you have given this 'documentary' - frankly, more of a mockumentary in the Spinal Tap vein. It is reckless, irresponsible - and gives far too much time to grandiose, self-satisfied, and self-indulgent conspiracists. This show makes the Harry and Meghan doc seem like cutting edge journalism in comparison. But wait, a woman in a Florida tract-home has cracked the case wide-open but no one will listen! That's because they are listening to an "aviation journalist" with a crackpot theory (or 2) and a book to sell. And the one supposedly real journalist - from Le Monde no less - she thinks by simply repeating her opinions and conjecture, well, that's proof enough. Her super-secret source (recreated as an underground parking meet-up straight out some B novel) claims it's The Americans! I mean the French always blame the Americans, don't they? Because, AWACS! The acronym alone suggest nefarious involvement, doesn't it? Oh yes she is selling a book too.

Seriously, they should let the adults get on with the hard work of solving this. As for the families of the victims - their anguish is understandable but in an age of Google and social media where an answer to 'everything' is but a click away - sadly, sometimes it isn't.

One thing that stood out to me was on the final communication the pilot did not repeat the Vietnam ATC frequency he was being handed over to. Not sure how common this is, but it would be interesting to review this pilots historical communications to see if he typically repeated them or not. That might show his state of mind.

Kudos to you for taking notice of this "discrepancy." It is standard practice to read back any "air traffic control" instructions...including radio frequency change overs, to ensure an accurate handoff. Whether this lapse might provide any insight into a pilot's "state or mind" I leave to professionals in another field.

The woman who was a photographer and had an eye for detail was showing on her computer debris scattered off the coast of Vietnam. Why wasn't that investigated? They showed her in the beginning episode and in the last episode but I don't think they gave explanation of that debris. Did I miss something?

Hi, Lynn. I, too, was (initially at least) somewhat surprised when Ms. "satellite screen shot uber detective's" analysis was dropped as suddenly as a hot potato...though Netflix did a brief reprise toward the end. I attribute the shift to the fact that the aircraft's satellite "pings" (the only communication system not readily disabled) continued (at intervals) for 6 more hours. Hard to send such signals if you're already deep sixed and conversing with Neptune.

The most outlandish theory is that the captain flew such an outlandish route to commit suicide. I personally don't think that the plane is in the South Atlantic off the Australian coast, no matter what the Inmarsat "pings" said. This information is easy for a government agency to create. I also agree that the "debris" found is too convenient and also can't definitively be confirmed to be from MH370. I am 100% convinced that a government is involved in the downing and that all the "information" that we've been given is a distraction. Fact is that there was a group of software engineers on board on their way to China. Fact is that the were two Iranians under false passports on board and fact is that for the captain to have flown to the South Atlantic, the Air Forces of several nations would have had to ignore this plane - which was not then not flying a standard route - and these militaries would have known that. Put the then Presidents of Malaysia, China and the USA on a lie detector test and I am 100% convinced that it will show that at least one, if not all, is not telling the truth.

The true is, this case is never going to be resolve. In my opinion I don't think it was mass suicide. With the enormous technology these days doesn't matter how huge and how deep the ocean is. After years of search they should found something somewhere. Someone with a lot of power is behind these mystery. I don't believe a plane can disappear these days anywhere in the world without zero track evidence. It's just impossible to believe.

As a retired B-777 Captain I naturally have a deep interest in this unfortunate event. With regard to the theory that the aircraft was deliberately directed towards the southern Indian Ocean (after the initial convoluted flight path) and people wondering how or why the Captain would continue to fly for 6 hours awaiting fuel exhaustion, keep in mind that the plane was likely on autopilot (the normal mode of operation once airborne), with "altitude hold" and "auto throttles" engaged. It's a simple matter to activate "heading select" and dial in 180 degrees. The aircraft will maintain that heading indefinitely. Assuming that the cabin (and cockpit as a consequence) had in fact been purposely depressurized, everyone aft of the cockpit door would have used up their available oxygen supply and expired. Knowing that the aircraft would continue on to the desired vast and empty ocean to the south, the Captain would have no need to continue any further action, would simply remove his crew oxygen mask...even the more robust cockpit supply would run out before engine(s) flame out occurred...and silently and painlessly nod off and expire.

Hi, Tony. It's been 17 years since my "official" retirement flight from Tokyo to Atlanta, though I (and others) was/were asked to come back for 3 months to ensure a full flying schedule while replacement pilots were being trained on the 777. My actual final landing was in Paris. I bring this chronology up solely in the interest of "full disclosure," meaning that my current grasp of the 777 systems has had more than enough...