Yea, I'm in the camp of " this was done with intent of harm". If it's a terrorist plot, they will be very happy to claim it was them when they are ready.. The world need to find this aircraft for the very reasons already expressed here, the unthinkable is now possible!
There is no wreckage, nothing floating, no reply from pax.. and ACARS indications of continued flight as a primary target.. ATC tapes must be examined for sudden fast moving "primary" targets popping up on a screen..
The Navy's of the world must get out their side scanning radars and subs searching thousand of miles of debris to see if anything is new on the Indian Ocean bottom.
I say this as an example that every External tank launched by the shuttle program ended up in the Indian ocean, those 17" main engine valves survived reentry and are sitting on the bottom.
From an ATC standpoint, maybe the aircraft came out of ATC blackout and posed as another flight obtaining a new transponder code and continuing to a landing site without drawing any attention, though not likely, it is possible in that part of the world..
This means that the world will need to tighten all fueling operations for any 777, verify registrations, serials of the aircraft being fueled.. it means looking for any freshly painted 777's that were not done at known painting facilities.. All 777 operations and cargos will need to be completely inspected.. 100%. and Military's will need to be on alert for ANY targets entering the us ADIZ..
I think this aircraft is safely on the ground somewhere, pax."God bless them: are probably all dead... could it have made it to Pakistan? or other unfriendly locals.. Yes, I think so.
Obviously, our industry can not afford another 9/11 type event, It needs to be found!!!! Just saying..
