Conspiracy Theories
Decoding the Unknown.
Diving Deep into The Unknown
How does a plane full of people all of a sudden disappear? If this unsolved case is known to you, then you are wondering the same question. Malaysian Flight 370, also known as the MH370, disappeared on March 8, 2014. This particular flight had a total of 239 passengers, including the flight attendants and two pilots. The MH370 flight path was to depart from Kuala Lumpur and fly to Beijing. While airborne, all communication was lost, and location trackers were shut down. There are many conspiracy theories on what happened with this flight, some of which include:
​1.) Was it a mass suicide attempt by Zaharie Ahmad Shah?
2.) Was it a North Korean Hijacking?​
​Malaysian Flight 370 (MH370) is still a mystery to this day and might be forever.
The best solution for solving the conspiracy theory about the MH370 is to take all of the most up-to-date data collected and put the pieces together to form a better idea of what happened.
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Character Analysis of Zahrie Ahmad Shah:
Flying an airplane sounds pretty cool, right? Most teenagers have an obsession that excites them, which results in a dream they want to make a reality. Zaharie fell in love with aviation at a young age. Being a pilot was not a part of Shah’s vision until he was around the age of thirteen, which led him to start feeling an intense love for airplanes. This love soon turned into many hours studying, as well as learning everything needed to become a clever and satisfied pilot who was trusted by many.
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Zaharie Ahmad Shah was a well-known pilot whom people seemed to trust “Malaysian Airlines hired him in 1981, after seeing him complete his exams. Shah flew with Malaysian Airlines for thirty-three years before he and the MH370 disappeared. (“Who are the pilots of flight MH370?”). The MH370 theory that turned heads is that Shah attempted a mass suicide on March 8, 2014. Though this does not seem possible due to the trust level many had created when flying with Shah. In comparison, the average number of hours a pilot receives in thirty-three years is around “15,000 hours” (“Requirements for Obtaining Your Private Pilot Certificate”). Shah was believed to be one of Malaysia Airlines' finest, which indicates he was their go-to pilot. Research shows Zaharie had something important on his mind before departing on March 8, 2014: “Several reports have, however, suggested that his wife and children moved out of the family home the day before the flight, after his wife told him she was leaving him” (1). This may have something to do with the disappearance of MH370.
Shah has a satisfied demeanor. The number of hours Shah had before he disappeared indicates he had a promising, long-term career. Malaysia Airlines had Shah since the 1980s, which provides knowledge of his commitment to flying with them. Many pilots fly, land, and go home whenever they are off from work. Shah, on the other hand, built his own flight simulator to continue learning about his Boeing while he was home, off work. Described by friends, Zaharie was socially active, helpful to others, and positive. When they found out he was becoming the main suspect, they started to make statements, “many friends have vigorously defended him against theories he deliberately caused the disappearance of MH370 and insist he has become a scapegoat for the tragedy”(Wood). There is no evidence regarding Zahrie Ahmad Shah being unhappy or stressed out about his job, though theories point towards this factor. Mentioned above, there is a theory regarding Shah conducting a mass suicide attempt based on his family leaving him the night before the disappearance (1). Although there is no confirmation that this evidence is correct.
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The third trait Zaharie Ahmad Shah had was how clever he was. Shah had mastered flying the Boeing-777; this was due to flying it for many years prior. Zaharie wanted to make sure his routes were perfected: “Mr Zaharie built a flight simulator in his home mirroring the set-up of the Boeing 777-200 he was piloting” (1). On his at-home stimulator, he practiced routes to make sure he knew exactly what turn was needed and what direction was flown. Being a pilot, it is important to stay calm in pressure situations; some might fail in this category due to the pressure sense being elevated. With Shah’s knowledge behind his Boeing, with him having a visual at home, such pressure should not have fazed him. Though sometimes in serious situations, some things known even by feel are forgotten.
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Zaharie Ahmad Shah is known for his abilities for being an outstanding pilot who was clever, satisfied, and well-trusted. Though many have personal opinions on Zaharie Ahmad Shah, he was a good friend who seemed to have helped anyone whenever he was able. Shah was respected by many and still is due to his excellent flying skills and the tremendous number of hours he flew with Malaysian Airlines. Examples of Zaharie’s traits have been provided throughout this section.
The Dispute
The MH370 flight has been a mystery since 2014. After it disappeared, theories were proposed to explain what was believed to have happened. Although some evidence has been found, it is still not enough to clearly establish what happened with this flight. The two main conspiracy theories include an attempted mass-suicide by the plane’s pilot, Zaharie Ahmad Shah, as well as a possible North Korean hijacking.
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The first theory is that Zaharie Ahmad Shah attempted to conduct a mass-suicide attempt on March 14, 2014. News reports provide information that could lead to evidence regarding the plane's disappearance. BBC News article states, “A fellow pilot and associate of Mr. Zaharie told the New Zealand Herald, external, that he had been ‘terribly upset’ by his relationship troubles” (“Who are the pilots of flight MH370?”). This information gives the thought that Shah attempted mass suicide due to his distress stemming from his family leaving him the night prior. Although this information might have strengthened the evidence collection, it was set aside once newer details emerged.
Another reason many people believe it was a mass suicide was because of a finding made in Zaharie Ahmad Shah’s home in Kuala Lumpur. According to BBC News, “Mr. Zaharie built a flight simulator in his home mirroring the set-up of the Boeing 777-200 he was piloting. This makeshift cockpit has been a focal point of the investigation” (“Who are the pilots of flight MH370?”). Having a flight simulator was not considered valuable evidence because some pilots learn better through experience. Some might say that he built the simulator so he would know exactly what steps were needed for the completion of the mass-suicide attempt.
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Others may argue that it was not a mass-suicide attempt; instead, it was a North Korean hijacking.
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The second conspiracy theory is that flight MH370’s disappearance was a terrorist attempt by a North Korean hijacker. The aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks triggered thoughts of a terrorist hijacking when the plane’s disappearance occurred. According to the New York Post, “One well-discussed theory is that the US military either shot down MH370 or that it landed on Diego Garcia – an island in the British Indian Ocean Territory used by the US and the United Kingdom as a military base” (Llewellyn). It is possible that the US shot down the plane because of fears it had been hijacked and might be used as a weapon of mass destruction. Although no evidence has been found to prove this theory, some evidence points back to it being a North Korean hijacking. The New York Post article states, “Another hijacking theory is that the plane was flown to Kazakhstan on the orders of Russian president Vladimir Putin” (1). This information also suggests an idea that could lead to the possibility of a North Korean hijacking. There is simply not enough evidence to prove that this hijacking theory is true.
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The MH370 plane flight is still a devastating mystery to this day. Many theories have been discussed to understand what happened after Zaharie Ahmad Shah said “Goodnight” for the last time. The two theories listed above were the two main theories believed to answer what occurred in 2014. There is no confirmation of evidence available to determine what really happened on flight MH370. Unfortunately, it remains an unsolved, devastating mystery.
Conclusion
The MH370 remains a mystery to this day and may remain so forever. Different theories were discussed, including a potential mass suicide attempt by Zaharie Ahmad Shah or a North Korean Hijacking. Both of these theories have important implications for the disappearance, but different types of research may provide opposing opinions. This disappearance has shown how limited one’s understanding can be, even through advanced technology. MH370 has motivated the world to improve tracking systems and airline safety. No evidence has been found to determine what happened on flight MH370. Unfortunately, it remains an unsolved, devastating mystery.