MH370 flight dived rapidly when it vanished, new report claims

New analysis of the final moments of doomed Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 has suggested the aircraft plunged at an increasing speed with no human intervention. The report by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, which is spearheading the search into the missing plane, found the aircraft also appeared to be out of control when it disappeared. A pilot would typically extend the flaps during a controlled ditching. Analysis of wing flap debris showed the aircraft was not configured for a landing. Peter Foley, who is leading search operations, said: “You can draw your own conclusions as to whether that means someone was in control.”

You can never be 100%. We are very reluctant to express absolute certainty.

Peter Foley, MH370 search operations leader

Flight MH370 disappeared in March 2014 en route to Beijing from Kuala Lumpur with 239 passengers and crew on board in one of the world’s greatest aviation mysteries. In recent months, some have been pushing the theory that someone was still controlling the plane at the end of its flight. If that was the case, the aircraft could have glided much farther. The question is crucial because if the aircraft glided the debris field could be outside the 120,000 sq km (46,330 sq mile) search zone which has almost been exhausted. Some believe gliding might explain why the plane has not been found.

Asia-Pacific