Originally Posted by
MechEngr
There's no evidence it was under deliberate control for any hour's time.
4 changes of course.
One to head back towards Malaysia
One overhead Penang to track toward the Andaman sea about 30 minutes later,
Then probably a third to track south west towards the Indian Ocean and a fourth event further south. But at least 3 deliberate course changes that happened about 30 minutes after each other.
Things on fire might have wires melt, short circuit, make unexpected connections.
An inflight Fire will make an aircraft uncontrollable within 30 minutes.
Also, there are air currents that rise over islands and would nudge the plane away from them. no need for someone to be at the controls for that.
If the A/P is disconnected the plane will enter a spiral dive within seconds.
For a pilot to do this would require disabling, killing, or locking out the other flight crew member, and there would have had ample chance to chop through the door to regain access. It seems unlikely for this to have continued for so long. (Note to self - if the pilot purposely depressurizes the plane without explanation, open the cabin doors and kick the slides and ELRBs out as markers while the hand-held oxygen cylinder holds out. Maybe that will trigger an emergency response from Navy or Air Force.)
That text confirms to me you are not an airline pilot in several ways.