[johnw]

One big hole in this theory is that its been widely reported [1] that a transponder was switched off before the pilots last radio contact. The pilots would have had no reason to pull the breakers before the last communication if they weren't already aware of a fire.

[1] http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/17/world/asia/malaysia-airlin...

[cornholio]

Another massive hole is that the closest airport ,at the point where communication was lost, was Sultan Mahmud in Kuala Terengganu. Long runway, approach directly from sea, can accommodate a 747 according to Wikipedia. There is no justification to go to Langkawi which is on the other side of the Malay Peninsula.

[VolatileVoid]

Never underestimate "pilot familiarity." In an emergency, a pilot is going to favor an airstrip he/she is familiar with over an unknown one. Perhaps the captain was more familiar with Langkawi?

[tom_morrow]

apparently the co-pilot was fresh off his 777 training which occurred on Langkawi.

[nl]

It's quite possible to think of reasons why they decided on that course of action. I'm no expert, but here's some based on previous incidents:

They wanted to burn off fuel.

There was a fault with the rudder

There was a fault with the control system

They pilots were dead, and the autopilot was doing something off.

[cornholio]

In an emergency, the safest way to burn fuel is to reach the closest airport and then circle it. Not head to a more distant airport which you might not reach because of the very emergency.

All hypotheses will invalidate the major premise: that the pilots chose that particular heading not randomly, but in a calculated attempt to reach the nearest airport because of an emergency. Basically, no matter where the plane would have turned, if you draw a long enough line you will find an airport. But that does not explain anything.

[ams6110]

In a dire emergency, you would just dump the fuel and not try to burn it off.

[deaks]

Except, the 777 does not have fuel dumping.

It was not required for certification because it meets the minimum required climb rate with an engine failure after takeoff at Max Gross Weight.

[gergles]

Yes it does:

http://cdn-www.airliners.net/aviation-photos/photos/7/4/7/23...

Look at the top center, at the "Fuel Jettison" switches. (This is a 777-200 non ER, but I doubt the ER model would remove this feature.)

[nickff]

Or even land heavy.

[mh370]

Yeah: http://findmh370.tumblr.com/post/79861358803/closer-airport-...

[wikiburner]

Damage from an electrical fire on board could possibly explain the first transponder going out, even if the crew wasn't aware of the fire yet.

[leoc]

You'd imagine that the transponder going out would immediately bring up a fault warning in the cockpit, though, even if the fire itself had somehow not been detected. But I suppose a sufficiently bad bug in the flight systems might be invoked to cover that.

[gnaffle]

If so, they would probably already have seen other faults as well, and at the very least have a warning about the transponder being disabled. Their last communication made no mention of any problems.

[libria]

So, is there a publically traded company that makes fireproof transponders? Because I have this hunch...

[prodev42]

there was also rumor captain grow up around that airport. i suggest research his childhood schools if possible.