1000 posts and 50 pages down, perhaps time to summarize the VERIFIED facts we know more than 50 hours after the event:
- Transponder response ceased after 17:21 UTC (01:21 LT), about 40 minutes into the flight
- There was no verified communication with the aircraft after this time
- Last reported position, altitude, speed and heading as reported by FR24 correct
- There was no significant weather in the area of last contact
- No unusual ACARS messages received
- At last known position aircraft had a remaining endurance of approximately 6.5 hours, equating to a range of about 5000 kilometres
- Subsequently aircraft did not enter any area with civilian primary radar coverage
- There were two passengers with confirmed false identities on board, further two suspect.
- Same airframe suffered substantial wingtip damage in a ground accident in Shanghai in August 2012 which was repaired
- Till now no part of the aircraft had been located.
- ... ?
Last edited by andrasz; 9th Mar 2014 at 20:54.