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Aviation Mysteries: Malaysia Airlines MH370 Is Not Alone

By Patricia Didelot
Published on: 03:45 PST, Mar 19, 2014

As the days go on and the aviation mystery that has become Malaysia Airlines MH370 continues to be unsolved, we cannot help, but think of past disasters that either went unsolved or took decades to find a resolution.

We still don’t know what exactly happened when the ill-fated Malaysian airliner went missing more than a week ago after the co-pilot calmly signed off with a routine “Alright, goodnight” the last known communication received from anyone on MH370.

Reports that a new course had already been punched into the Boeing 777 system have surfaced as the latest theory in what experts say is one of the most baffling aviation mysteries in many, many years.

But Malaysia Airlines MH370 is not alone, unfortunately, and other aviation mysteries continue to capture the imagination of generations.

Amelia Earhart

The first aviation mystery that comes to mind is that of American pioneer Amelia Earhart, who vanished from the face of the earth in 1937 while over the Pacific Ocean. She has never been found.

What makes this story fascinating, is the fact that she was a woman, flying alone, which has made her an icon and role model for generations.

The fact that Earhart’s remains has never been found has led to hundreds of conspiracy theories, false leads as to the possible location of the wreckage of her plane. Many think she was shot down and captured by the Japanese, others believe she faked her own death. In all likelihood we will never know what happened to Amelia Earhart.

Flight 19

During World War II, the US Navy sent Flight 19 — comprised of five torpedo bombers and 14 crew members — over what we know as the Bermuda triangle, never to be seen or heard from again.

A crew of 13 men was sent on a search and rescue mission later on. They also went missing, making Flight 19 part of the list of most mysterious aviation disappearances in history and making the Bermuda Triangle a legendary and feared area.

Egypt Flight 990

In 1999 an EgyptAir flight took off from Los Angeles and crashed into the Atlantic Ocean killing all 217 people on board.

The mystery that surrounds this case came from conflicting conclusions in the investigation as Egyptian authorities said the Boeing 767 went down due to mechanical problems.

However, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) suggested the pilot committed suicide. His last words caught by the black box were “I rely on God.”

EgyptAir retired the number 990 from its flight list and discontinued the Los Angeles route.

B47 Stratojet

The nuclear aircraft went missing in 1956 while flying over the Mediterranean Sea and has never been found, putting it on the list of greatest aviation mysteries.

The B47 bomber was carrying two nuclear bombs — which have never been found either — when it went down creating all kinds of conspiracy theories as to the real reasons for its disappearance.

Pan Am Flight 7

The defunct Pan Am Airlines labeled Flight 7 the “Clipper Romance of the Skies”, one of the most luxurious ways to travel back in 1957, but it was added to the list of mysterious aviation disappearances while flying from Los Angeles to Hawaii.

When the wreckage was finally located after days of searching, more questions than answers arose as it was found miles off course and autopsies on the deceased revealed carbon monoxide poisoning. Some believe is was a purposeful act of insurance fraud by a crew member.

Flying Tiger Line Flight 739

The military is not immune to aviation mysteries and in 1962, 96 soldiers and 11 crew took off over the Pacific Ocean and never returned.

The Navy conducted one of the largest search and rescue operations in their history, but no trace of the Lockhead Constellation was ever recovered.

Flying Tiger Line suggested that the airplane had been hijacked and sailors on a Liberian tanker reported seeing a fireball in the sky indicating a possible explosion. Both theories were never confirmed.

TWA Flight 800

On July 17, 1996 TWA Flight 800 took off from JFK Airport in New York en route to Rome and 12 minutes later exploded into a fireball and crashed into the Atlantic Ocean near East Moriches killing all 230 passengers on board.

Even though the wreckage was recovered, Flight 800 is still considered an aviation mystery as the true facts of what happened to it are shrouded with murky facts.

The 16-month investigation included painstakingly rebuilding the Boeing 747-100 piece by piece and concluded that an act of terrorism had, most likely, taken the plane down, although the FBI was unable to prove the claim. Other suggestions indicated the government covered up a missile strike from a US Navy ship.

In 2000, the official report suggested that a short in one of the circuits was the cause of the crash.

As search and rescue crews continue to look for the missing Malaysian MH370 airliner which disappeared without a trace and new theories come forth as to the baffling manner in which the Boeing 777 vanished, family members hold on to the hope that their loved ones will be found some day and investigators wonder if this will become the latest unsolved aviation mystery.

[Image via Bing]

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