Etihad EY440 Ho Chi Minh City to Abu Dhabi 7 January

[Meering]

Any suggestions for the bizarre routing of this flight which, according to Flight Radar, headed SW before reaching the Malacca Straight West of Malaysia, where it then circled before heading back in the right direction, but then required a refuelling stop in Mumbai:

https://www.flightradar24.com/data/flights/ey440/#878b38f

[Left Coaster]

Shhhhh...if we told you...we'd have to kill you!

[PoppaJo]

This thread won't last long as the name has been mentioned

But to overfly the land of Thai requires certain clearances.

[sleeper]

But to overfly the land of Thai requires certain clearances

Fair enough, but why then circle extensively west of Maleysia before proceeding on course?

[Hotel Tango]

I see you're a relatively new member Meering. For your info the mods prefer these type of questions to be posted in the Spotters forum.

[Slow and curious]

To those going around in circles...

Nice try, really.

S & c

[MATELO]

The pilot dropped his keys on the inbound flight and was just having a quick scope for them.

[mr Q]

So any explanation for the routing ??
And BTW I am not a newbe nor do I want to be categorised as a spotter
Seemed like a fit and proper question before the cynics and comedians got onboard

[ACMS]

There could be many reasons why.

I'm sure it wasn't a mistake.

Next

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

<<nor do I want to be categorised as a spotter >>

Why not? I was an aviation professional most of my life and still collect numbers!

[Sir George Cayley]

No letters, just numbers

SGC

[Hotel Tango]

Seemed like a fit and proper question before the cynics and comedians got onboard

Yes but not in the Rumours & News forum. And you have a completely wrong (and somewhat snobbish) perception of what the Spectators Balcony (Spotters Corner) forum is about Mr Q.

[philbky]

Surely, as this forum is reputed to be inhabited by flightdeck and ATC "professionals" this is the perfect place to ask for an explanation, or at least an educated guess.

[lomapaseo]

this is the perfect place to ask for an explanation, or at least an educated guess

Maybe a good place to collect and discuss a few facts but I never heard of an educated guess. I'm more worried about speculative slander in place of facts

[Pistonprop]

There's nothing wrong with the question but the subject is neither RUMOURS nor NEWS. I'm surprised that three days on the Mods haven't moved it yet.