Down loading real time data is just adding another layer of complexity to the systems already in place, if the DFDR/CVR batteries lasted longer then that would be a good and cheap place to start. A simple GPS tracking system installed in a location that it is not possible to locate in flight would cost no more than $1000, i have a system on my car that allows me to track its location from anywhere in the world on a simple app.
If we know where to look we can 99.9% of time find the FDR, this case is unique and unlikely to be repeated, a classic case of the holes lining up in the cheese, it could not happen over central Europe or the US
This will come down to either a bizarre failure that very quickly overcame the crew, yet allowed the aircraft to keep flying for hours on a number of different headings at different levels and disabled the ACARS & transponder, or more likely in my view a deliberate act of an individual who knew how to disable these systems and program a random (non straight line/heading) into a functioning FMC, yet make no demands or leave any trail of prior intent.
If the aircraft was indeed flown deliberately to what is increasing likely its final resting place then the whole event was a suicide mission, with reports of the aircraft having flown as high as FL450 i can only speculate that the intent was to overcome using hypoxia any attempt at someone eventually battering the flight deck door down with an Atlas trolley.
If ? it was a member of the crew, then the loss of face had he come to his senses would probably drive the mission forward, so you climb as high as you can get the aircraft to go at max con thrust, put on your flight deck oxygen, drop the masks, after 15 minutes most are unconscious, after an hour their dead, you then re program the FMC to fly West to a waypoint then turn South with a pre programmed descent to 5000 or lower? select VNAV and set the MCP to altitude to your lower level, the aircraft will stay at the preprogrammed level until reaching your TOD point then descend until it hits the altitude restraint in the MCP and maintain that level until it runs out of fuel.
In the mind of someone acting in what we would see as an illogical manner, they may well see the other passengers and crew as unfortunate collateral damage ( wrong place wrong time), but at the same time may wish to avoid avoidable casualties on the ground (this is not a terrorist act) by ensuring the aircraft would run out of fuel at sea. The culprit then takes off his oxygen mask and joins the rest of the pax and crew on this ghost ship.
He may well figure that the chances of not been spotted are remote, so the they send up the fighters? so what everyone is dead the only change would be the location of the crash should they shoot it down, they fly along side, no one at home, it flying along not towards any centre of population, who will order a shoot down of a T7 with 229 people on board?
In the event the Indonesian military radar controller is too busy watching match of the day or porn, even if he get a radar spot its on a civilian airway no mode C/S doing what aircraft do and assumes the civi people have it in hand?
The whole thing is too deliberate to be random IMHO but guess we will know sooner or later, bizarre
