Conspiracy Theories
What caused the Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 disappearance? Was Flight 370 shot down, possibly by a Russian-made surface-to-air missile? Was it a pre-meditated pilot-induced mass murder-suicide by the pilot Zaharie Ahmad Shah? Was the plane having mechanical issues that caused it to break down and crash? Let's examine every one of these theories to find out the truth.
Theory 1
The first conspiracy suggests that Flight 370 disappeared due to being shot down by a Russian-made surface-to-air missile, which could be unlikely, but “Aviation experts report that it is virtually impossible that all tracking systems on a modern passenger jet would fail unless there was a catastrophic event” (Noory and Wayne 1). Planes are designed to alert their locations in case something is wrong, and for a huge passenger jet to go missing and fail to send any alerts supports that fact that a catastrophic event, such as being shot out of the sky by a missile is a possible reason. Accidental shoot downs have happened before, for example, in “July 1988, the United States Navy missile cruiser USS Vincennes accidently shot down an Iran Air flight, killing all 290 passengers and crew” (Wang 190). Another instance, “in September 1983, a Korean Air Lines flight was shot down by a Russian fighter jet” (1). There have been several incidents when a country’s military unintentionally shot down civilian aircraft, so it could have happened again without us knowing. Although, this conspiracy theory is not true due to lack of evidence.
Theory 2
The second theory suggests that Flight 370 disappeared due to being a pre-meditated pilot induced mass murder-suicide. In this case, Pilot Zaharie Ahmad Shah was responsible for a mass murder-suicide. Shah had a past with cheating and affairs, that drove his wife to leave him. The absence of his wife and family caused depression. According to the character analysis, “Pilot Zaharie Ahmad Shah, who was reportedly clinically depressed, deliberately changed direction and speed to avoid 'giving a clear idea where he was heading', claims aerospace engineer Richard Godfrey” (Bunyan 1). The suggestion that Shah was "clinically depressed" introduces a critical aspect of his mental health status, shedding light on the seriousness of his condition and its potential impact on his actions. His depression could have affected his actions driving him to change direction and speed of the plane leading him to causing the plane’s disappearance and everyone’s death. This theory is most likely the solution, there are several pieces of evidence listed above in the character analysis supporting captain Shah hijacked the plane on a suicide mission after his wife left him.
Theory 3
The third theory suggests that Flight 370 disappeared due to being hijacked. As the previous theory, the plane could have been hijacked by the captain of the plane or a terrorist. According to Science Insights, “a 9/11-like hijacking is possible, with terrorists forcing the plane into the ocean” (Wang 190). This could have been a possible explanation for the plane changing direction and communications being lost. However, this conspiracy theory is not true due to lack of evidence.
Theory 4
The fourth theory suggests that Flight 370 disappeared due to mechanical issues. Sometimes, people make mistakes. Flight 370 would not have been the first plane to disappear due to mechanical issues. For example, “In January 2008, a British Airways 777 crashed about 1,000 feet (300 meters) short of the runway at London's Heathrow Airport. As the plane was coming into land, the engines lost thrust because of ice buildup in the fuel system” (Wang 190). The plane’s captain, Capt. Sullenberger, had plenty of communication with air traffic controllers before ending the six-minute flight in the Hudson River. Another example of mechanical issues, “In April 2011, a Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 made an emergency landing shortly after takeoff from Phoenix after the plane's fuselage ruptured, causing a 5-foot (1.5-meter) tear” (1). The reason causing the tear resulting in structural failure was unknown. It could have been a failure of the airframe or the plane's engines, which is unlikely, given the extensive history and secure safety record of the aircraft. It could have also been the continual pressurization and depressurization of the cabin for takeoff and landing which poses a greater threat to the plane's structural stability. Although there have been numerous examples of a plane failing due to mechanical issues, the theory that Flight 370 disappeared due to mechanical issues is not true due to lack of evidence.
As a result...
The cause behind the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 remains a complex and debated issue. Multiple theories have surfaced, ranging from the possibility of the plane being shot down by a Russian-made surface-to-air missile to potential mechanical failures leading to a tragic crash. Among these theories, one stands out the most, which is the suggestion that the flight disappearance might have been a pre-meditated pilot-induced mass murder-suicide by Captain Zaharie Ahmad Shah.