Malaysian Airlines flight MH370

The Plane Vanishes

The fate of Malaysian Airlines flight MH370, which disappeared over the South China Sea on Saturday, continues to baffle the authorities of ten countries involved in the search and rescue missions.  Some 40 ships and 34 aircraft have been involved in the effort so far (Business Insider, March 11).  False alarms have been registered – the report of an oil slick, and the appearance of various objects (passenger life jackets; an airplane door).  A salvaged object retrieved by a Vietnamese rescue helicopter provided false assurance – it was not a life raft from the plane.