Originally Posted by InfrequentFlier511
The FL450 story persists, even though it would appear to be outside the capabilities of a heavily loaded B777
Perhaps you are taking the 45k figure too literally. The slant range capabilities of radar, particulary at or close to max range aren't accurate to any great degree of precision. To be off a few thousand feet would not be unusual.
A 777 pilot posted in this thread that he had attempted the manovure in a simulator and had gotten to 43,000 and he may have still had some room to go. So the claim seems perfectly valid if you take the information to mean that MH370 soared to max altitude and apparently was at least above 40,000 feet at some time between IGARI and Koto Bharu.