On March 8, 2014, Malaysia Airlines had a flight booked at 8 a.m. that was supposed to land in Kuala Lumpur and last about 5 hours. However, 39 minutes into the voyage, Flight 370 and its 239 passengers completely vanished from radar. The flight wasn’t expected to be unusual or difficult, as the aircraft’s communication systems hadn’t received a distress signal, signs of technical difficulties, or signs of bad weather. Without evidence or a clue for such a long time, how could this possibly happen?
One theory that is most possible is that Flight 370 crashed due to fuel exhaustion. This is what most of the investigators of this case believe. It is said that several pieces of debris were washed ashore in the western Indian Ocean in 2015-2016 and many were confirmed to have come from Flight 370. It would make sense that it could have run out of fuel while it was in the middle of its flight, causing it to crash into the southern Indian Ocean. There are still aspects of this theory that don’t quite make sense, such as why the aircraft deviated so far off course and why it likely continued to fly on autopilot for such a long time.
Another theory is that the flight was deprived of oxygen. The shift in elevation could have been too quick and sudden, causing the crew, passengers, and the pilot to lose consciousness. This would also make some sense because if almost everyone was passed out there it would explain why a distress signal hadn’t been sent. However, what’s still causing questioning to the accuracy of this theory is how and why exactly the aircraft dropped in pressure so rapidly, and what caused it. Did the cause of the intense drop have to do anything with the reason it disappeared?
The last theory is the one that an electrical fire took place. This theory would explain the lack of communication and distress signals throughout the flight because it could have damaged the aircraft’s system. This probably led to a loss of control, causing the plane to crash somewhere into the ocean. However, one thing that wouldn’t make sense about this theory is how the plane continued to fly for hours even after losing contact with the communication system.
All of these theories have aspects to it that explain what could have happened. Did Flight 370 crash because of fuel exhaustion, hypoxia for those inside the aircraft, or an electrical fire? Each theory includes details that make sense and some that don’t, making this case forever to be a mystery. What do you believe happened?