Malaysia Airlines Flight 370

Quick Facts: Who was Malaysia Airlines Flight 370?

Subject:

Malaysia Airlines Flight 370

Known for:

The 2014 disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, a major aviation mystery.

Verified Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 (MH370 / MAS370) was an international passenger flight from Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Malaysia to Beijing Capital International Airport in China. On 8 March 2014, the Boeing 777 operating on the route disappeared from radar with 227 passengers and 12 crew members on board. The cause of its disappearance has not been determined. It is widely regarded as the greatest mystery in aviation history. The crew of the aircraft last communicated with air traffic control (ATC) around 38 minutes after takeoff while flying over the South China Sea.

Career & Major Achievements

The aircraft was lost from ATC's secondary surveillance radar screens minutes later, but was tracked by the Malaysian military's primary radar system for another hour as it deviated westward from its planned flight path. It left radar range 200 nautical miles (370 km; 230 mi) west-northwest of Penang Island in northwestern Peninsular Malaysia. Relying mostly on the analysis of data from the Inmarsat satellite with which the aircraft last communicated, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) initially proposed that a hypoxia event was the most likely cause given the available evidence, although no consensus has been reached among investigators concerning this theory. At various stages of the investigation, possible hijacking scenarios were considered, including crew involvement, and suspicion of the aircraft's cargo manifest. Many disappearance theories regarding the flight have also been reported by the media.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

With all 227 passengers and 12 crew aboard presumed dead, the disappearance of Flight 370 was the deadliest incident involving a Boeing 777, the deadliest of 2014, and the deadliest in Malaysia Airlines' history until it was surpassed in all three regards by Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 on 17 July 2014. The search for the missing aircraft became the most expensive search in aviation history. It focused initially on the South China Sea and Andaman Sea, before a novel analysis of the aircraft's automated communications with an Inmarsat satellite indicated that the aircraft had travelled far southward over the southern Indian Ocean. Several pieces of debris washed ashore in the western Indian Ocean during 2015 and 2016; many of these were confirmed to have originated from Flight 370. After a three-year search across 120,000 km2 (46,000 sq mi) of ocean failed to locate the aircraft, the Joint Agency Coordination Centre heading the operation suspended its activities in January 2017.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 2014: 2014 Milestone — On 8 March 2014, the Boeing 777 operating on the route disappeared from radar with 227 passengers and 12 crew members on board.
2. 2015: 2015 Milestone — Several pieces of debris washed ashore in the western Indian Ocean during 2015 and 2016; many of these were confirmed to have originated from Flight 370.
3. 2017: 2017 Milestone — After a three-year search across 120,000 km2 (46,000 sq mi) of ocean failed to locate the aircraft, the Joint Agency Coordination Centre heading the operation suspended its activities in January 2017.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Malaysia Airlines Flight 370

True or False: “The initial investigation concluded that the aircraft was definitely hijacked by crew members.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): While hijacking scenarios were considered, no definitive cause of disappearance has been established among investigators.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• 2014 League of Legends World Championship — Historical peer (Born in 2014) (2014): The 4th League of Legends World Championship, held in Asia in 2014.
• Adolfo Suárez — Historical peer (Died in 2014) (2014): Key architect of Spain's transition to democracy, serving as Prime Minister 1976-1981.
• A. P. J. Abdul Kalam — Historical peer (Died in 2015) (2015): Visionary aerospace engineer, scientist, and former President of India.
• Abdullah of Saudi Arabia — Historical peer (Died in 2015) (2015): King of Saudi Arabia, known for his role in modernizing the kingdom's governance.
• Abbas Kiarostami — Historical peer (Died in 2016) (2016): Master Iranian filmmaker known for blending fiction and documentary styles.
• Agnes Nixon — Historical peer (Died in 2016) (2016): Pioneering soap opera writer and producer, creator of 'One Life to Live' and 'All My Children'.
• Abdul Halim of Kedah — Historical peer (Died in 2017) (2017): Sultan of Kedah and Yang di-Pertuan Agong, a pivotal Malaysian royal figure.
• Adam West — Historical peer (Died in 2017) (2017): American actor best known for portraying Batman in the 1960s and extensive voice work.

Frequently Asked Questions about Malaysia Airlines Flight 370