General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Most rational hypothesis on missing Malaysian 777 so far [View all]Kelvin Mace
(17,469 posts)which have battery backups and which have intact wiring. All variables in an electrical fire.
A pilot of my acquaintance said pulling the busses (electrical breakers) is standard reaction to a suspected electrical fire in an attempt to isolate the faulty circuit. The flight transponder/ACARS may have been on that circuit, but the autopilot and engines were not. If the pilots undertook emergency procedures (changing course for the nearest landing field capable of handling a fuel-heavy 777 in distress, climbing/diving to try and extinguish flames) they could then have lost consciousness and the plane could have continued on autopilot until it ran out of fuel.
Sooner or later, the plane will turn up, and we will find out the true story. The Air France flight lost over the Atlantic took about two years to figure out, and I recall a LOT of wild theories then.