An aviation specialist and engineer have shared insights on why locating the vanished MH370 aircraft, which disappeared mysteriously on March 8, 2014, may remain a challenging task. The Boeing 777 plane went missing with all 227 passengers and 12 crew onboard after departing from Kuala Lumpur en route to Beijing. Communication with the air traffic control was lost 38 minutes into the flight, following which the aircraft deviated from its intended course and was tracked by military radar for an additional hour before disappearing from radar screens about 230 miles off Penang Island in Malaysia.
Ismail Hammad, the chief engineer at Egypt Air, has put forth a theory based on aviation fundamentals, suggesting that the search efforts may be hindered by relying on inaccurate information. He highlighted factors such as the condition of the aircraft wreckage, potential ocean currents in the Indian Ocean around Australia, and the deviation of the aircraft’s magnetic compass, pointing to possible areas where the aircraft could be located.
Hammad emphasized the importance of considering engineering principles rather than solely relying on satellite signals for the search operation. He criticized the prolonged confusion among investigators due to this misplaced reliance. Recent search initiatives by Ocean Infinity, a marine robotics company, were resumed in December after a hiatus due to seasonal conditions.
Despite fragments found along the eastern African coastline over the years, Hammad noted that these parts lack typical damage indicators associated with a high-impact crash, suggesting a more controlled descent into calmer waters. He suggested exploring the Philippine archipelago as a potential search area, emphasizing the complexities of autopilot systems and pilot capabilities.
Hammad proposed a revised search strategy that considers the magnetic compass deviation and the historical journey of the aircraft, potentially streamlining the search process and providing closure to the long-standing mystery surrounding the MH370 disappearance.
