In what was probably the most mystifying mystery of the travel world in the last few years, the final moments of Malaysian Airlines Flight 370 have been traced and pieced together in a National Geographic documentary series.
While flying from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing on 8 March 2014, MH370 and its 239 passengers went missing. It is believed that the plane changed course for some reason shortly after leaving Malaysian airspace and flew without a navigation system activated for six hours before plunging into the Indian Ocean.
The subsequent search – one of the largest-ever underwater search operations – turned up only three wing fragments.
The Nat Geo series worked closely with Perth-based film company Electric Pictures and the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, and is the only crew to have been granted access to information found during the investigation.
Using the latest data from underwater systems and expert opinions, they have managed to recreate what they believe may have happened to the plane in its final hours.
“Drain The Oceans uses a range of data – from bathymetric sonar scans to video footage and photogrammetry – with sophisticated computer-generated graphics to create highly accurate three-dimensional models of the bottom of our oceans, lakes and rivers,” said Electric Pictures CEO and executive producer Andrew Ogilvie.
“This process allows the filmmakers to recreate natural wonders, shipwrecks, ancient ruins and other human artefacts that can be found on the sea floor – revealing them in unprecedented detail, as if they were on dry land.”
According to Drain the Oceans, the plane ran out of fuel in its right engine, for which the pilot had to make a hard-left turn to compensate. The left engine failed shortly after and the autopilot shut down, putting the plane into a long, slow spiral descent into the ocean.
Malaysian investigators weren’t able to find out what happened to the plane and still have not ruled out unlawful third-party interference. A French airline authority is also investigating the ‘authenticity’ of the technical data used in the investigation.
Drain the Oceans also provides theories on the mystery of HMAS Sydney, explores the recreated remains of ancient underwater cities in the Mediterranean and uncovers the lost wonders of ancient Egypt.
Read more here.
Have you seen Drain the Oceans? Do you think the theory is sound?
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