“The Directoire Technique determined that the protest wasgroundless. It was thus rejected in its entirety. The hit had been awarded and confirmed by the referee, whose decision is final according to article t. 42 of the Rules.”
I also thought about that possibility for 2 reasons:
(1) FAA had warned of "Cracking and Corrosion Problem on Boeing 777s". It ordered checks on hundreds of U.S.-registered 777s after reports of cracking in the fuselage skin underneath a """"satellite antenna."""" , which could potentially cause """"rapid decompression"""" and loss of structural integrity of the airplane.” The directive, first drawn up in September, was approved in February and was due to take effect on """" April 9."""" http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/missing-jet/faa-warned-cracking-corrosion-problem-boeing-777s-n50591
(2) I just remember Helios 522 crashing near Athens on 14 Aug 2005. Investigation concluded all passengers and crews fell unconscious due to hypoxia caused by human error. It was revealed the maintenance crew had turned the cabin pressure control switch from auto to manual, which the pilot should have corrected to auto, and the cabin was slowly depressurized as the plane was climbing up to its cruising altitude above 30,00 feet. Oxygen mask dropped down for passengers, but the cockpit crew fell unconscious without knowing what was going on, and therefore, weren't able to maneuver the plane down to altitude safer to breath. Then everyone aboard asleep, it just kept flying around until it ran out of fuel.
Youtube Video
But I think I have to rule out that hypoxia theory as many data became available.
Let's say a crack on the fuselage caused a sudden depressurization in the cockpit and cabin. The first things the pilot need to do is to make a quick descent, send out MAYDAY, dial in the emergency squawk code 7700, communicate with the ground control, and then to punch in the nearest and safest destination to the auto pilot computer (if not flying manually).
In contrast, the pilot (or someone else) killed the transponder and ACARS in a different timing, punched in at least 4 new auto-pilot way-points, made a sharp 100 degree starboard turn back going away from where it came from, and made a weird up and down maneuver as to reach 45,000 feet at highest and 2,000 something at lowest. Maybe a fuselage crack blew off the satellite antenna as it was warned by FAA, but since the transponder located in the nose corn doesn't rely on satellite, it's impossible for both to die from a single incident.
Now, the hypoxia theory doesn't make sense to me though we really need to find the plane and the black box to resolve the biggest mystery of the industry,
