Missing B777 Creates Int'l Anxiety Over Potential Cause Of Aircraft Loss

There is little evidence to suggest what have occurred to a missing Boeing 777-200 that disappeared from enroute monitoring about two hours into a flight to Beijing.

Crewed by an exceptionally experienced 18,000 hour Captain and a 2000+ FO, MH370's has created a disappearance offers little explanation as to why an aircraft suddenly vanished with no warnings or alerts from the flight crew or the aircraft systems.

The only evidence discussed, thus far, are two large 'oil slicks' found in the South China sea and reports of some pieces of debris that are being reported in the last several hours--without verification that they once belonged to the B777. Complicating the scenario is the recent revelation that at least two passengers and possible others, were on board the aircraft with stolen passports (discovered AFTER departure) -- thereby raising the spectre of potential terrorism -- an issue already criticized, heavily, by Interpol.

The NTSB has already gotten involved and stated that, "The National Transportation Safety Board has a team of investigators en route to Asia to be ready to assist with the investigation of the March 8 Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 event. The Boeing 777 went missing on a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing.

Once the location of the airplane is determined, International Civil Aviation Organization protocols will determine which country will lead the investigation. Because of the lengthy travel time from the United States, the NTSB has sent a team of investigators, accompanied by technical advisers from Boeing and the Federal Aviation Administration, to the area so they will be positioned to offer U.S. assistance. The team departed from the US tonight (Saturday). The country that leads the investigation will release all information about it."

FMI: www.malaysiaairlines.com, www.ntsb.gov