"Good Night Malaysian 370": A Decade Later, Still the Greatest Aviation Enigma
Nearly a decade has passed since the utterance of "Good Night.
Malaysian Three Seven Zero," the final transmission from Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 before vanishing. Despite proposing an advanced aircraft-tracking tool post-disaster, its implementation remains outstanding.
Flight MH370, a vast Boeing 777, took off from Kuala Lumpur for Beijing on March 8, 2014, and lost contact minutes later, baffling the world with its disappearance along with 239 people aboard. Subsequent extensive searches yielded no substantial wreckage, just scattered fragments on the African shores.
The mystery spurred a push for rigorous tracking, hindered by financial concerns and debates over cockpit control. Even with technological advancements, modern airplanes, including older models in active service, aren't universally equipped with one-minute interval tracking systems—postponed till 2025, leaving a gaping hole in aviation safety.
The lack of consensus and financial calculation contributed to the delay of the tracking rule, initially set for 2021 but now deferred to 2025. Some airlines have begun upgrading, but many planes remain non-compliant.
Experts insist that the industry can't afford to dismiss such critical safety measures. Despite past proposals and technological proposals, many planes could fly without these crucial systems, potentially masking future incidents similar to MH370.
Airbus has begun installing compliant emergency transmitters on new widebody jets since April 2023, but many older aircraft lack these systems. Continuous tracking solutions are available and employed, but mandatory widespread installation has yet to be realized.
The unresolved vanishing of MH370 looms over the aviation community, serving as a reminder of the essential need to advance safety and provide closure for those affected by such tragedies.
Flight MH370, a vast Boeing 777, took off from Kuala Lumpur for Beijing on March 8, 2014, and lost contact minutes later, baffling the world with its disappearance along with 239 people aboard. Subsequent extensive searches yielded no substantial wreckage, just scattered fragments on the African shores.
The mystery spurred a push for rigorous tracking, hindered by financial concerns and debates over cockpit control. Even with technological advancements, modern airplanes, including older models in active service, aren't universally equipped with one-minute interval tracking systems—postponed till 2025, leaving a gaping hole in aviation safety.
The lack of consensus and financial calculation contributed to the delay of the tracking rule, initially set for 2021 but now deferred to 2025. Some airlines have begun upgrading, but many planes remain non-compliant.
Experts insist that the industry can't afford to dismiss such critical safety measures. Despite past proposals and technological proposals, many planes could fly without these crucial systems, potentially masking future incidents similar to MH370.
Airbus has begun installing compliant emergency transmitters on new widebody jets since April 2023, but many older aircraft lack these systems. Continuous tracking solutions are available and employed, but mandatory widespread installation has yet to be realized.
The unresolved vanishing of MH370 looms over the aviation community, serving as a reminder of the essential need to advance safety and provide closure for those affected by such tragedies.
