Originally Posted by
Icarus2001
GBO please answer the point about the Transponder being switched off as the modes changed through to OFF.
That alone shows there was no failure.
A transponder will also cease transmitting during failures.
For example, if the transponder loses the air data input from the AIMS cabinet, it will be unable to transmit that data. Monitoring will then disable the transponder.
The left transponder is usually the primary transponder.
The air data for the left transponder is from the left AIMS cabinet.
The left AIMS cabinet is next to the oxygen bottle.
The left transponder is NOT situated near the oxygen bottle.
The oxygen bottle was repressurised prior to flight.
An oxygen bottle rupture would cause extensive damage to the P105 left wire integration panel/left AIMS Cabinet.
An outside observer cannot determine the lack of transponder returns was due to the transponder being turned OFF manually (at a slower than normal speed) or due to a failure.
It is unknown why the Prime Minister of Malaysia reported the lack of transponder returns was ONLY due to it being switched off. This comment, along with the multitude of other misinformation being spruiked, deflected the blame from the Malaysian Government (accident scenario) onto a scapegoat pilot (hijack scenario) unable to defend himself.