MH370 was flown into water: crash expert

A section of wing from missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 shows evidence it was extended upon landing, suggesting a rogue pilot brought it down, an air crash expert says

World expert air crash investigator Larry Vance believes no other theory can explain the fate of the doomed aircraft.

• "Somebody was flying the airplane into the water," he told 60 Minutes on Sunday.

The Australian search has been based on the theory the jet was not under human control when it crashed with 239 people on board, en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing on March 8, 2014, after it inexplicably veered off course and headed south over the Indian Ocean.

Vance believes a small section of wing, called the flaperon, found a year ago off the coast of Madagascar, shows "definite evidence" it was extended at the time of landing - and the extending can only be activated by a person.

• The failure to find floating debris could also be explained by a slow, controlled landing, he said.

Australian Transport Safety Bureau crash investigator Peter Foley agreed the crash could have been the work of a rogue pilot.

Foley said analysis from French authorities showed it was possible the plane was in a "deployed state".
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• The flaperon is in the hands of the French, and Malaysian investigators have been unable to take possession of it, a year after its discovery.

"I think it's been a frustration for the investigation," Foley said.

Foley conceded if the plane was piloted until the end, it could have landed outside the current search area.

"There is a possibility there was someone in control at the end and we're actively looking for evidence to support that," he said...
  stuff.co.nz/ AAP
1/8/16
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Related:

• Evidence of “planning” by MH370 pilot to crash the plane is a fabrication, his sisters say. Her brother had not even used his simulator for a year because it was defective.

• FBI investigation on MH370 captain offers no new clue to aircraft location. This type of scenario is not new and has been reported in the media previously

• Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 pilot flew similar doomed route on home simulator, New York magazine reported

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• Malaysia Airlines Flight 370: Search for missing plane to be suspended not shut down

• Aircraft debris thought to be from MH370 to be examined

• Suspected MH370 debris to be analysed in Tanzania

• Officials say debris found on Australian island not from MH370

• Australia confirmed the affiliation of MH370 was found in the wreckage of a Mozambique

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• Malaysia Airlines Flight 370