The Mystery of MH370: Searching for Truth in a Sea of Theories

On March 8, 2014, Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 vanished during a routine journey from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing. Despite years of investigation and millions spent, the plane has never been found in full. Only a handful of parts have washed up on distant shores, leaving more questions than answers. How does a modern Boeing 777—one of the safest and most trackable aircraft ever built—simply disappear?

In the absence of conclusive evidence, theories have filled the void—ranging from plausible to outlandish. Some offer comfort, others deepen the unease. What follows is a breakdown of the most discussed possibilities—what supports them, what undermines them, and what remains maddeningly unclear.

One of the most widely accepted theories is that the plane’s captain, Zaharie Ahmad Shah, deliberately diverted the aircraft in an act of murder-suicide. Investigators found that Zaharie had plotted a similar route on his home flight simulator. Some believe the aircraft’s unusual flight path—turning west across the Malaysian peninsula, then heading south over the Indian Ocean—was too precise to be coincidental.

Supporters of this theory point to the deliberate disabling of the transponder and communication systems, as well as the lack of any distress signal. The idea is chilling but not without precedent: the 2015 Germanwings Flight 9525 crash involved co-pilot Andreas Lubitz deliberately flying an Airbus A320 into the French Alps, killing all 150 people on board. Lubitz had previously been treated for suicidal tendencies and declared unfit to work by his doctor, information he kept from his employer.

However, there’s no definitive proof Zaharie intended harm. No suicide note, no clear motive, and those who knew him insist he wasn’t the type. His political interests and private life were scrutinised, but nothing concrete has ever emerged tying him to a planned mass murder.

Another theory suggests MH370 was hijacked—either by passengers or a crew member—and redirected for an unknown purpose. The aircraft’s deviation from its flight path supports this possibility, especially considering the deliberate shutdown of communication systems.

Historically, hijackings have led to tragic outcomes. For instance, on November 23, 1996, Ethiopian Airlines Flight 961 was hijacked by three Ethiopians seeking asylum in Australia. The hijackers demanded the plane be flown to Australia, despite insufficient fuel. The aircraft eventually crash-landed in the Indian Ocean near the Comoros Islands after running out of fuel, resulting in 125 fatalities out of 175 occupants.

In the case of MH370, no terrorist group has credibly claimed responsibility, and no ransom demands were made. If this was a hijacking, the perpetrators vanished as thoroughly as the aircraft, leaving the theory without a clear motive or message.

Could a catastrophic event have occurred on board—like a fire, electrical failure, or decompression—that incapacitated everyone? In such scenarios, the plane could have continued on autopilot until running out of fuel and crashing into the ocean.

This theory fits the “ghost flight” hypothesis, where the aircraft flew south on autopilot until it ran out of fuel, based on satellite “handshakes” with the Inmarsat system. However, this doesn’t explain the initial sharp turn away from the original flight path or the intentional shutdown of communication systems—actions unlikely during a chaotic onboard emergency.

An example is the 1998 crash of Swissair Flight 111, where a fire in the cockpit led to the loss of control and subsequent crash into the Atlantic Ocean, killing all 229 people on board.

Another controversial theory proposes that the plane was accidentally—or deliberately—shot down by military forces. The reasons range from the aircraft straying into restricted airspace to being mistaken for a threat. Diego Garcia, a U.S. military base in the Indian Ocean, is often cited in these theories.

Proponents suggest the plane was downed and the evidence covered up. A historical parallel is the downing of Iran Air Flight 655 by the USS Vincennes in 1988, where the aircraft was mistaken for a hostile fighter jet, resulting in 290 civilian deaths.

However, in the case of MH370, there is no credible evidence—such as radar data, satellite imagery, or whistleblower testimony—to support this idea. The rapid disappearance and lack of transparency from certain governments have fuelled suspicion, but concrete proof remains absent.

This theory adds a layer of conspiracy to the shoot-down idea, suggesting MH370 was diverted or taken to Diego Garcia—possibly due to sensitive cargo or passengers on board.

It hinges on speculation and distrust in official narratives. No radar data, satellite imagery, or eyewitness accounts place the aircraft near the base. While captivating, the theory remains implausible without supporting evidence.

In recent years, one name has become prominent in MH370 discussions: Ashton Forbes, a self-styled investigator who believes the aircraft was taken by “UAPs” (unidentified aerial phenomena) in what he describes as a “portal or vortex” event. His theory is based largely on a series of videos circulating online, allegedly showing the plane being surrounded by orbs before vanishing.

Many have questioned the authenticity of these videos, with several experts citing CGI artefacts, inconsistencies in shadows, and metadata issues. Expert analysis of the videos—alongside Forbes’ increasingly erratic and aggressive behaviour—has cast serious doubt on the legitimacy of his claims.

Recently, he crossed a troubling line by relentlessly harassing individuals who questioned him—including one person who conducted a detailed technical analysis of the video. His behaviour has become so extreme that it borders on psychotic, drawing condemnation even from within the UFO community.

Regardless of what one thinks of his theory, no idea should be defended with threats or personal attacks. It undermines serious inquiry and disrespects the very real grief of those who lost loved ones on MH370.

Over the years, pieces of MH370 have washed up on shores across the Indian Ocean, including Reunion Island, Mozambique, and Madagascar. These include a flaperon, wing fragments, and parts of the cabin interior. The condition of the flaperon suggested a high-speed impact with the water, and the location of debris discoveries generally aligns with southern Indian Ocean drift patterns—supporting the theory that the plane went down far from the original search zone.

In 2018, the U.S. company Ocean Infinity launched a privately funded underwater search using advanced autonomous vehicles. Though it ultimately found nothing, the mission demonstrated the international community’s continued desire to find the plane, even after official search efforts were suspended in 2017.

After more than a decade, the disappearance of MH370 remains an open wound—especially for the families of the 239 people on board. The Indian Ocean, vast and unforgiving, has offered only fragments. A wing flap here. A piece of fuselage there. The rest remains hidden beneath waves and speculation.

The world deserves answers, but in the meantime, theories continue to rise and fall—some thoughtful, some offensive, some exploitative. In the absence of definitive proof, all we can do is investigate each claim with objectivity, respect, and a clear-eyed commitment to truth.

The search for MH370 is no longer just about finding a plane. It’s about honouring the people who were lost and ensuring their story isn’t hijacked by those chasing clicks or attention.

Until we find MH370, speculation will persist. But how we search—and how we treat each other while searching—matters just as much as what we find.