It had to have been the pilots. Get the flight test mx records. If the transponder didn't fault on those flights it has to be proof that the pilots turned it off....(please note author's sacrasm while reading...)
I like the Defense Minister's public announcements. Could we get Don Rumsfield to comment on U.S. crashes while the investigation is still ongoing?
Yes, I know he's responsible for the investigation. Even more reason, as the former NTSB official indicates, to be very careful in his statements.