→ ndr: 美國CNN另有篇報導說要中止搜尋MH370 01/17 20:40
→ prussian: 馬國兩週前就說將要停止了 01/17 20:52
[媒體名稱] 美國雅虎新聞
https://www.yahoo.com/news/q-mh370-mystery-080721095.html
[AFP] AFPJanuary 17, 2017
The case of Flight MH370 is only of only two examples of a plane carrying
more than 100 passengers disappearing without trace (AFP Photo/MANAN
VATSYAYANA)
Almost three years after Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 disappeared with
239 people aboard, the most expensive underwater search in history has
been called off, with the whereabout of the plane still a mystery.
Here are some of the key questions still swirling around MH370:
Q: Why has the search been halted?
A. The Australian-led undersea search, which was suspended Tuesday,
operated on the assumption that MH370 went down somewhere in the remote
southern Indian Ocean, based on satellite data.
The Australian, Chinese and Malaysian governments decided last year
that once the designated 120,000 square kilometre (46,000 square miles)
search zone -- four times the size of Belgium -- was fully scoured, the
plug on the operation would be pulled unless promising new leads emerged.
No plane debris was found in the area.
Q: Was the search in the right area?
A. New research by international experts published in December concluded
that the plane was not in the search zone but may be further north.
The zone was determined through analysis of signals from MH370, detected
by a satellite, which indicated its last known location as somewhere
along an arc sweeping north into Central Asia or south into the Indian
Ocean.
Many next-of-kin believed the search was too narrowly focused and wanted
it expanded.
Q: Will the search resume?
A. The December report identified an area of approximately 25,000 square
kilometres with the highest probability of containing MH370 wreckage.
But Australia and Malaysia said it did not constitute a strong enough
lead to extend the search as it did not offer a specific location for
the missing aircraft.
A wing fragment was found on Reunion island, thousands of kilometres
from the search zone in July 2015, and later confirmed as being from
MH370 -- the first proof the plane met a violent end.
Debris found off Tanzania and Mauritius were last year also confirmed as
coming from the missing jet. Several other pieces recovered mostly on
western Indian Ocean shorelines have been identified as likely, though
not definitely, from MH370.
Authorities have said the finds were consistent with oceanic currents
that could have carried the wreckage from the search area.
Q: What caused the disappearance?
A: Leading theories include a mechanical or structural failure, a hijacking
or terror plot and rogue pilot action.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau found the flight was likely out
of control when it plunged into the ocean with wing flaps not prepared
for landing.
The finding cast doubt on theories a pilot was still in charge.
A range of outlandish conspiracy ideas have been advanced. Suggestions
have included that the plane was commandeered to be used as a "flying
bomb" headed for the US military installation on Diego Garcia atoll --
and was shot down by the Americans -- or that it was flown to a Russian
facility in Kazakhstan.
Q: Why are next-of-kin so suspicious?
A: Kuala Lumpur and the airline insist they are hiding nothing, but their
credibility was damaged in the chaotic initial response.
Besides a series of contradictory early statements, there were miscues
such as the revelation that Malaysian immigration allowed two Iranian
men aboard on false passports. They were later said to be just illegal
migrants.
Malaysia's air force also took days to reveal that it had tracked MH370
flying far to the west, wasting precious response time.
Families say the government and airline have routinely stonewalled
requests for more information -- a charge they deny -- and many refuse
to believe the plane crashed.
This is particularly true in China -- 153 Chinese nationals were
aboard -- where distrust of officialdom under the Communist Party is
ingrained.
Q: How rare are cases like this?
A: The Netherlands-based Aviation Safety Network, which tracks air
incidents, reports only one other instance where a plane carrying
more than 100 people disappeared without a trace.
That was in 1962 when a turbo-prop operated by US-based Flying Tiger
Line and chartered by the US military disappeared en route from Guam
to the Philippines with 107 people aboard.
Q: What will be MH370's aviation legacy?
A: A crucial factor in the mystery was the inability to monitor MH370's
movements after tracking features were disabled as it went off course.
The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) has mandated that
airlines implement systems by November 2018 to track aircraft at least
every 15 minutes.
Some carriers such as Malaysia Airlines have already implemented the move.
The ICAO also plans to impose real-time tracking for aircraft in distress,
according to reports.
It also has banned as a fire-risk the transport of lithium batteries in
cargo holds -- MH370 carried a consignment of such batteries.
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※ 文章網址: https://www.ptt.cc/bbs/Aviation/M.1484656382.A.FAD.html
※ 編輯: ndr (174.219.9.86), 01/17/2017 20:35:19