Selects: The Disappearance of Flight MH370, Part I
In this episode of Stuff You Should Know, the hosts explore the mysterious disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 in March 2014. They detail the sequence of events that unfolded after the aircraft departed from Kuala Lumpur, including its final radio contact, unexpected course changes, and eventual disappearance from civilian radar screens.
The hosts explain the various technologies used to track commercial aircraft, including primary and secondary radar systems, and how Inmarsat's satellite network provided crucial data about MH370's final hours. They also discuss the leading theory about what happened to the aircraft, based on precise timing of events and flight path analysis, while examining why the fate of the 239 people aboard remains unknown despite extensive investigation.
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1-Page Summary
The Timeline and Details of the MH370 Disappearance
Malaysian Airlines Flight 370 departed from Kuala Lumpur for Beijing on March 8, 2014, at 12:42 a.m. After routine communications and reaching cruising altitude, the flight made its final radio contact at 1:19 a.m. Two minutes later, the aircraft disappeared from civilian radar screens during a handover between air traffic control centers.
The Malaysian military later tracked the aircraft making an unexpected sharp turn and crossing the Malay Peninsula towards the Andaman Sea. Though they observed this unusual behavior until about 2:22 a.m., there was a crucial delay in notifying authorities about the deviation.
The Technologies Used to Track Commercial Aircraft
Chuck Bryant and Josh Clark explain that commercial aircraft are tracked through multiple systems. Secondary radar works with aircraft transponders to provide detailed flight information to air traffic control, while primary radar detects physical presence but offers limited data. When MH370's transponder stopped transmitting, the Malaysian military could only track it through primary radar for about an hour.
Inmarsat's satellite network proved crucial in tracking MH370 after radar contact was lost. Through analysis of satellite handshakes and signal data, investigators could estimate the aircraft's trajectory over the Indian Ocean.
Investigation Into MH370's Disappearance and Leading Theory
The leading theory, supported by the precise timing of events, suggests a deliberate diversion by someone on board. The transponder was turned off exactly between air traffic jurisdictions, and the sharp turn the aircraft made could only have been executed manually, not by autopilot.
Inmarsat's data analysis reveals that MH370 continued flying for hours on autopilot until fuel depletion. The final satellite communication occurred at 8:19 a.m., triggered by the auxiliary power system as the engines shut down. The lack of emergency locator transmitter signals and the absence of wreckage have left the fate of the 239 occupants unknown, making MH370's disappearance one of aviation's greatest mysteries.
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Actionables
- You can enhance your personal safety awareness by creating a travel plan for your next trip that includes check-in times with a trusted contact. This mirrors the importance of tracking and communication highlighted by the flight's disappearance. For example, share your itinerary with a family member and establish regular intervals to update them on your location, especially when transitioning between different areas or modes of transportation.
- Improve your understanding of technology's role in safety by researching how GPS tracking works and then using a GPS tracker during your outdoor activities. This is inspired by the use of satellite networks in tracking the flight. You could purchase a personal GPS device and take it with you when hiking or traveling to remote areas, ensuring that you can be located in case of an emergency.
- Develop critical thinking skills by analyzing complex situations using the information available, similar to how investigators pieced together the flight's path. Start by choosing a real-world mystery or problem, gather all the information you can find, and then try to construct a plausible explanation or solution. This exercise will help you practice sifting through data, recognizing patterns, and making informed decisions.
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The Timeline and Details of the Mh370 Disappearance
The mysterious disappearance of Malaysian Airlines Flight 370 (MH370) remains one of the biggest aviation mysteries to this day.
Mh370 Flight Path and Timeline, March 8, 2014
MH370 was scheduled to fly from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing on March 8, 2014. It departed at 12:42 a.m., a slight delay from its scheduled 12:35 a.m. departure time. Pilots Captain Zaharie Ahmad Shah and First Officer Farik Abdul Hamid reached their cruising altitude of 35,000 feet and made routine radio contact with the Kuala Lumpur control center, where Captain Zaharie made an unconventional additional radio transmission, confirming they were still at that same altitude.
Mh370 Departed Kuala Lumpur For Beijing at 12:42 Am, Flying At 35,000 Feet With Routine Radio Contact Until 1:19 Am
At 1:19 a.m., as the aircraft was transitioning from Kuala Lumpur's air traffic jurisdiction to Ho Chi Minh's, Captain Zaharie responded with "Good night Malaysian 370" but notably did not read back the frequency typically relayed by pilots for such handovers. Two minutes after this final verbal communication, MH370 disappeared from civilian radar screens as it was supposed to appear on Ho Chi Minh's radar.
The Loss of Contact and Disappearance From Radar
MH370's transponder, which relays the plane's location to radar systems, stopped transmitting as it moved from the control of Kuala Lumpur to that of Ho Chi Minh, leading to its disappearance from civilian radar screens.
Mh370 Disappeared From Radar Screens
Malaysian Military Tracked Mh370 Turning Sharply and Reversing Direction but Didn’t Notify Authorities Immediately
Thereafter, MH370 made a sharp turn, deviating from its flight path, and crossed over the Malay Peninsula towards the Andaman Sea. The Malaysian military noted this abrupt change at approximately 2:22 a.m. and observed the aircraft until it vanished from the primary radar. However, crucially, there was a delay in notifying authorities about this abnormal behavior. Ho Chi Minh air traffic control took 18 minutes to contact Kuala Lumpur, while international protocol requires notification within five minutes ...
Here’s what you’ll find in our full summary
The Timeline and Details of the Mh370 Disappearance
Additional Materials
Actionables
- You can enhance your personal safety awareness by creating a travel plan for your next trip that includes check-in times with a trusted contact. Just as investigators pieced together MH370's path, outline your route and schedule, and share it with someone who can raise the alarm if you deviate from the plan without notice. For example, if you're going on a road trip, let a friend know your expected arrival times at certain checkpoints.
- Improve your problem-solving skills by participating in online simulations or games that involve crisis management. Similar to how the military tracked MH370's unexpected change in direction, these simulations can teach you to quickly adapt to new information and make critical decisions under pressure. Look for games that require you to analyze data and make strategic choices, which can be found on various gaming platforms or mobile apps.
- Cultivate a habit of critical thinking by anal ...
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The Technologies Used to Track Commercial Aircraft
Understanding the intricacies of aircraft tracking technologies is essential, as Chuck Bryant and Josh Clark explain. Their significance became well-known during the investigation of the ill-fated flight MH370.
Secondary Radar and Transponder Systems
Secondary Radar Uses Transponders to Send Aircraft Information to Air Traffic Control
Chuck Bryant describes how secondary radar functions by emitting a narrow beam detected by an aircraft's transponder. This device sends back critical information, such as the aircraft’s speed, direction, and identification, to air traffic control.
MH370 Transponder Stopped After Kuala Lumpur Airspace Departure
Josh Clark clarifies that the transponder's signal is what enables air traffic control to see an aircraft like MH370 on their radar screens with key details. Although, after departing Kuala Lumpur airspace, MH370’s transponder ceased to transmit information, which Kuala Lumpur failed to detect promptly. Additionally, its Satellite Data Unit (SDU) was shut off, further removing the aircraft from surveillance.
Primary Radar and Its Limitations
Radar Coverage Gaps Over Remote Oceans
Primary radar, which Josh Clark compares to secondary radar, detects an aircraft's physical presence through a radar beam, yet lacks the detailed data provided by a transponder. Significantly, over vast spans such as oceans, primary radar fails to track planes, and this became a pivotal issue when MH370 vanished from the radars.
Malaysian Military Tracked MH370 On Primary Radar For an Hour After Secondary Radar Disappearance
Notably, MH370 was subsequently tracked on primary radar for about an hour after the transponder halted because the Malaysian military managed to trace it.
Satellite Communications and Data
Inmarsat's Satellite Handshakes Offer MH370 Path Clues
Although specific explanations about satellite tracking were limited, Inmarsat's network played a key role in MH370's tracking after radar loss. Planes transmit data and maintain voice communications via satellite to ground stations. Importantly, MH370's SDU was still capable of ongoing interactions with Inmarsat's satellites despite other systemic shutdowns.
Timing and Frequency of Handshakes Helped Estimate MH370's Location and Speed Over ...
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The Technologies Used to Track Commercial Aircraft
Additional Materials
Actionables
- You can explore the basics of radio communication by using a handheld aviation scanner to listen to live air traffic control transmissions, which will give you a real-time understanding of how transponders and radar work together. By tuning into the frequencies used by your local airport, you'll hear the exchanges between pilots and air traffic controllers, providing context to the critical role of transponders in maintaining aircraft safety.
- Enhance your understanding of satellite communication by setting up a software-defined radio (SDR) to track satellite signals. With an SDR and the right software, you can receive signals from weather satellites, for example, and decode them to produce images and data, mirroring on a smaller scale how Inmarsat tracked MH370's satellite handshakes.
- Engage with online flight tracking platforms that use crowd-sourced data to track ai ...
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Investigation Into MH370's Disappearance and Leading Theory
The disappearance of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 remains one of the most significant mysteries in aviation history. Chuck Bryant and Josh Clark delve into the leading theories and satellite data that offer insights into the plane's tragic loss.
Leading Theory: Deliberate Diversion by Someone on Board
The primary hypothesis supported by the timing of the transponder deactivation is that there was a deliberate diversion by someone on board MH370.
Timing of Transponder Being Turned Off Suggests Deliberate Action, Not Accident
The transponder, which communicates with ground radar, was turned off as MH370 left Kuala Lumpur's airspace for Ho Chi Minh's airspace. The precision of this timing implies it was a deliberate act rather than a coincidence, indicating intentional human intervention.
Intentional Human Intervention Indicated by Sharp Turn and Flight Path Over Malay Peninsula and Indian Ocean
Furthermore, the Malaysian military's radar tracked MH370 making a deliberate turn and reversing course, flying over the Malay Peninsula before vanishing. The sharpness of the turn was such that it could not have been performed by the autopilot, signaling that it was made under manual human control.
The Satellite Data Analysis
Inmarsat's analysis plays a crucial role in understanding MH370's final hours.
Plane on Autopilot Flew For Hours Until Fuel Depletion After Lost Contact, Inmarsat Data Shows
After disappearing from radar screens, the satellite data unit (SDU) of MH370 communicated with an Inmarsat satellite several times. The last of seven such communications, known as "pings," occurred at 8:19 a.m., suggesting that MH370 continued to fly on autopilot until it exhausted its fuel supply.
Final Satellite "Ping" and No ELT Signal Suggest Crash in Remote Southern Indian Ocean
The final satellite "ping" occurred due to the aircraft's auxiliary power system temporarily engaging when the engines shut down from fuel depletion, enabling a log-on request. No response to a subsequent logon request at 9:15 a.m. indicates that MH370 had likely crashed by that time, with the impact destroying the plane and its ...
Here’s what you’ll find in our full summary
Investigation Into MH370's Disappearance and Leading Theory
Additional Materials
Actionables
- You can enhance your problem-solving skills by analyzing complex scenarios like the MH370 mystery. Start by gathering information from various sources about a different unsolved mystery or complex problem. Then, use critical thinking to map out possible theories and outcomes, much like aviation experts did with MH370. This exercise can sharpen your analytical abilities and help you approach problems in your own life with a more structured methodology.
- Improve your understanding of technology's role in emergencies by learning about the devices used in such situations. Research the technology behind aircraft transponders, satellite communication systems like Inmarsat, and Emergency Locator Transmitters (ELTs). Understanding these can help you appreciate the importance of technology in safety and emergency responses, which you can apply when choosing safety features for your car, home security systems, or even when planning safe travel routes.
- Develop a safety-first mindset by creating per ...
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