They are now saying it flew on for at least 4 hours. That’s much less than the 24 or so I was thinking, but it would both allow people to call friends and family, have it ring, and yet go unanswered.
Actually, I will add this idea: what if as part of a default shut down program, the engines stopped sending data, even though they were still operational? This would get us close to 24 hours, as these planes can stay aloft that long, perhaps longer on conservation mode.
Why not add my theory? If it is true that 24 hours or so after it disappeared cell phones were still ringing, and Chat was still enabled–both of which would likely be impossible with phones resting on the bottom of the ocean, then my initial thought was that it was hijacked, taken to parts unknown, and the fate of everyone on board also unknown.
However, why not destroy the phones?
Here is another idea, which came to me following an interview on NPR, which I am proud to say I was able to listen to for almost 5 minutes without getting pissed off (probably because there is nothing to spin here): what if a structural flaw in the Boeing [edit: which the commentator said was something Boeing had warned about] caused a rapid decompression, and the pilots only had time to start turning around before getting overcome, or in which the pilots were overcome instantly, and passengers tried to make the turn themselves, before being overcome?
Picture this: a partial turn, then automatic overrides in the system shut down all communications, switch autopilot on, and await further instructions. But no instructions are forthcoming, because everyone is dead. Because the plane is intact, all phones are intact (as I understand it, they have satellite receivers, although it’s unclear if those would continue working). They are just ringing next to people unable to answer. A ghost plane flies on for a good 24 hours, apparently due West, and eventually the fuel runs out–it’s been on conservation mode, per presets, but can’t last forever–and the plane ditches somewhere in the middle of the Indian Ocean. No one will ever find it.
Like everyone else, I have little data, but that is my guess at the moment. It’s a haunting image.
I will add, that yes I understand it would likely have flown over Indonesia. Given the thus far much less than spectacular performance of the Malaysian air traffic controllers/military, should we expect better of the Indonesians? Would they have had any NEED for elaborate air defense systems? I don’t think so.