“Good night Malaysian three seven zero” (Devlin 1). These were the last words heard before the tragic loss of 239 passengers aboard the MH370. The plane disappeared March 8, 2014 (1). After this event, hundreds of conspiracy theories surfaced, and all were trying to prove what happened. The plane has not been found almost five years later. The particular three that will be discussed are:
- The plane was remotely hijacked
- There was a mystery passenger not a counted for
- The pilot was suicidal (“MH370 conspiracy theories”1)
Zarahie Shah, a family man, and avid cook, and an ambitious pilot. “Shah’s friends and family would described the fifty-three year old man as an “aviation geek” or someone who “loved to fly” (Hackel 1). In Morgan’s article in the Daily News, a friend who was interviewed said he was “one of the finest pilots around” (Morgan 1). Shah invested time and money into aviation of all variety. Before his disappearance, he owned a remote controlled plane and an elite flight simulator. He developed his craft of flying through “fifteen years of experience along with 18,265 hours of flying” (1). Shah continuously developed his skills. He was an avid practitioner of any type of aviation.
The Penang native loved to stay busy. Zarahie Shah was always doing something with his hands, “Shah’s Facebook page was filled with images of him cooking his native cuisine and eating with his friends and family” (Sutton and Thornhill 1). Sutton and Thornhill were privileged with and interview from some friends of Shah. His friends insisted he was “good-hearted” and that he would never do anything like a suicide mission in a large aircraft (1). He always had to be doing something with his hands. Anytime he was off from work, he was cooking flying, or playing with his kids. There was never a dull moment in Shah’s life. We have virtual evidence that shows exactly that (1). He kept the public updated on his social media platforms. His Facebook was continuously active with his current status.
Zarahie loved life. His sister told Oliver Holmes, from The Guardian, that he “loved life and loved his lifestyle” (Holmes 1). His sister confidently told us about the positivity that Shah had for life in an interview with The Guardian .(1) Sakinab, his sister, said he had a “passion for life, for family, and above all for flying” (1). He had significant compassion for others around him, family or not. Sakinab told us that he would always be on call to help them when he was needed (1). She said that, “family is constantly reminded of him for all his help; installing a new tv, framed pictures, and leaking windows that were repaired by him” (1). He never said no to his family when they needed him. His family was priority. Sakinab’s purpose through the whole interview was to “let the world know that he was a loving man that would stop at nothing to render help when it was needed” (1). His family refuses to believe it was suicide. He had nothing to kill himself over. He was loved and appreciated by his family. His sister had totally faith in him. She did not believe the news. She still believes that he is innocent.
Shah had “strong sense of loyalty” (Holmes 1). Especially for his employer, he loved his job, which does explain why he loved his employer. There is not motive for him to want to kill him and 238 other people. His dream was to be a commercial pilot. Malaysian Airlines helped him accomplish that dream. Oliver Holmes recorded Sakinab, Shah’s sister, saying that he had an “umblemished flying record” (1). His respect for Malaysian Airlines showed in amount of hours in the air and his commitment to his job. Shah had spent over “18,000 hours of flying since 1981, when he joined the airline carrier” (1). His sister didn’t see how someone who invested so much into his job, could want to end his life on an airplane - something he prides himself in. The hours he was not on the job were devoted to helping out and spending time with his family. His loyalty rested in the people around him. The people close to him had nothing but good things to say about him.
The disappearance of the Malaysian Airlines Flight shook the world. Conspiracy theories started surfacing. A common theory that is talked about is that the plane was remotely hijacked. Boeing, a very famous industry for designing airplanes, “set up an un-interruptible auto-pilot” inside of the plane (Webb 1). With the particular auto-pilot, “it could have been controlled from the ground” which would not allow the pilot to regain control from the air (1). The reason behind placing the auto-pilot was to “avoid 9/11 from happening again” (1). It is also an ongoing rumor that “the plane was carrying sensitive material to Beijing which was subjected to two kidnap attempt” (1). The first hacking was believed to have come from the US to stop the “sensitive material” from getting to China (1). The US was going to “fly it back to the San Diego Naval base” (1). In the midst of the US attempting to gain control, another unknown source “hacked it again and took control of the plane” flying it to the unknown location (1). This theory takes a lot of thinking through. To have a commercial airline flying “sensitive material to China” would knowingly put civilians in danger. For one hijack to occur, then another person follows right behind to also hijack the plane, was a stretch. Boeing’s systems are highly secured. This theory is far out there and most likely least to occur.
The second theory that is not talked about a lot, but actually makes sense. A “secret passenger?” (Wood 1). This would explain the disappearance of the plane and not being able to find a trace of anything. Two hours before the flight, “228 seats were sold on the plane. This did not include the two kids sitting with their parents” (1). With the four people not boarding the plane, that would make “the final number 224 recorded on the flight” (1). If you add the two children and the “twelve crew members you get 238 people on board, not 239 as recorded.” This theory required intricate observance to catch something as little as a one number difference. It is believed that “the extra passenger was involved with large external operation to take over the cockpit once in the air” (1). Carter and Laura Ware, in a personal interview, shared their opinions about the mystery passenger. Carter stated that he “believes that the plane is in Pakistan” (Ware 1). I proceeded to argue that the plane would have multiple trackers in the cockpit, in the passengers luggage, or anywhere. Mrs. Laura believes that the plane will show up in five years after being scrapped by Al-Qaeda. They both believe that “the plane was taken over by the mysteriously unaccounted for passenger, flown to Pakistan, the passengers and pilots were killed, and now the plane is being used for something like war or explosives” (Ware 1). The plane would have some sort of tracker that they could have tracked. But if the passenger was part of Al-Qaeda, he would have known how to disarm the trackers in mid air. The last know location of the plane was in the air, in the middle of the transition between flight towers from Penang to Beijing. It was perfectly timed for the disappearance, almost like it was planned out.
The last theory would make the most sense, but may not be the correct one. Zarahie Shah was the pilot flying the plane when it disappeared. It is rumored that the pilot was suicidal, and ended his life on the plane. His anonymous pilot friend said, “with everything going on in his life, he was in no state of mind to be flying” (Moran 1). Shah was one of the most experienced pilots around. He had “more that 18,000 hours of flying in the air” (1). One of his longtime friends told the Herald Newspaper in New Zealand that “his marriage was falling apart” (1). It surface that he may or may not have had an affair, but his family did not believe it. Shah was an experienced pilot and longtime veteran. “He was a fanatic for the three Fs – food, flying, family” (1). Cooking could be considered a hobby for Zarahie. “Shah’s Facebook is full pictures of food and airplanes” (Sutton and Thornhill 1). For him to commit suicide is far-fetched. His life was very smooth. He enjoyed everything about his life. If the pilot was to commit suicide it, we would have found a suicide note or something to alert his people.
“Good night Malaysian three seven zero.” These were the last words heard before the tragic loss of 239 passengers aboard the MH370. The plane disappeared March 8, 2014 (Devlin 1). After the event, hundreds of conspiracy theories surfaced, and all were trying to prove what happened. The plane has not been found almost five years later. There are three theories that remain:
- The plane was remotely hijacked
- There was a mystery passenger not accounted for
- The pilot was suicidal (“MH370) conspiracy theories” 1)
With all these theories opening possibilities for solving this mystery, the mystery passenger could be responsible for the missing airplane, pilot, and passengers.
Works Cited
Devlin, Amanda and Adu, Aletha. "What Happened to Flight MH370 and when Did the Malaysia Airlines Plane Disappear and Has the Engine Been Found?" The Sun, 28 Mar. 2019, www.thesun.co.uk/news/2100795/what-happened-flight-mh370-malaysia-airlines-plane-search-theories/. Accessed 14 Feb. 2019.
Hackel, Joyce. "Details Emerge About the Pilot and Co-pilot of Malaysia's Missing Flight." Public Radio International, 18 Mar. 2014, www.pri.org/stories/2014-03-18/details-emerge-about-pilot-and-co-pilot-malaysias-missing-flight.
Holmes, Oliver. "MH370 Pilot's Sister: 'My Brother Loved Life'." The Guardian, 17 Jan. 2017, www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jan/17/mh370-pilot-sister-my-brother-loved-life-zaharie-ahmad-shah.
Moran, Lee, and Corky Siemaszko. "Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 Pilot' in 'no State of Mind to Be Flying,? Says Friend, As Search for Missing Plane Explores Possible Debris Southwest of Australia." Nydailynews.com, 26 Mar. 2014, www.nydailynews.com/news/world/flight-370-pilot-friend-shouldn-flying-article-1.1734998. Accessed 27 Feb. 2019.
Power, Gabriel. "MH370 Five Years On: Top Conspiracy Theories About Missing Malaysia Airlines Flight." The Week UK, 7 Apr. 2014, www.theweek.co.uk/mh370/58037/mh370-conspiracy-theories-what-happened-to-the-missing-plane. Accessed 14 Feb. 2019.
Sutton, Candace, and Ted Thornhill. "Keen Chef and Inventor: Inside the Home Life of MH370's Capt. Zaharie." Mail Online, Associated Newspapers, 27 Mar. 2014, www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2582249/Keen-chef-inventor-passionate-toy-remote-controlled-aircraft-inside-home-life-MH370-pilot-Captain-Zaharie.html. Accessed 27 Febuary 2019
Sutton, Candace, and Ted Thornhill. "Keen Chef and Inventor: Inside the Home Life of MH370's Capt. Zaharie." Mail Online, 27 Mar. 2014, www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2582249/Keen-chef-inventor-passionate-toy-remote-controlled-aircraft-inside-home-life-MH370-pilot-Captain-Zaharie.html. Accessed 27 Feb. 2019.
Webb, Sam. "MH370 Was the First 'remote Hijacking?, Author Claims." The Sun, 12 Dec. 2017, www.thesun.co.uk/news/5123350/mh370-was-the-first-remote-hijacking-and-carried-out-to-stop-jet-delivering-secret-cargo-to-china-author-claims/. Accessed 11 Apr. 2019.
Ware, Carter and Laura. Personal Interview. April 15, 2019
Wood, Vincent. "MH370 'secret? Passenger: Malaysian Airlines Flight Records 'show ANOTHER Person on Board?" Express.co.uk, 8 Mar. 2017, www.express.co.uk/news/world/776375/MH370-Malaysian-Airlines-number-on-board-flight-records-conspiracy-theory. Accessed 11 Apr. 2019.
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