A Bowl of Mystery

The disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 has captivated the world for years, leaving behind a trail of speculation, heartache, and unanswered questions. In MH370: Mystery Solved, investigative journalist and aviation expert Larry Vance takes readers on a comprehensive journey into the tragic event, offering what he believes to be the definitive explanation for the aircraft's fate.

The book opens with a recap of the March 8, 2014 incident, when MH370, en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing, vanished from radar. Vance carefully walks through the early search efforts, the heartbreak of families, and the international efforts that ensued. What immediately sets MH370: Mystery Solved apart is Vance’s assertion that, despite years of investigation and numerous theories, the key to solving this mystery lies in aviation forensics, specifically, the debris found from the Boeing 777.

Vance, who has spent decades analyzing aircraft accidents, presents a compelling case based on the wreckage recovered from the Indian Ocean. He highlights key pieces of evidence, such as the condition of the flaperon found on Réunion Island in 2015, which he argues points to a deliberate crash rather than a mechanical failure or fire. The flaperon, in Vance’s view, demonstrates signs of being deliberately deployed, indicating that someone in the cockpit had control of the aircraft up until the very end.

One of the strengths of Vance’s writing is his ability to make complex aviation concepts accessible to general readers. He avoids drowning the reader in technical jargon, instead breaking down the forensic evidence in a way that allows anyone to follow his line of reasoning. He walks readers through the various theories that have been posited over the years, including pilot suicide, hijacking, and catastrophic system failures, before dismantling them one by one.

A key argument that Vance makes in MH370: Mystery Solved is that the plane did not simply crash after running out of fuel, as some theories have suggested. Rather, he contends that Captain Zaharie Ahmad Shah, the pilot, was responsible for deliberately steering the aircraft into the ocean in a controlled descent. Vance's analysis of the debris and the flight path, which took MH370 far off its intended course, strengthens this hypothesis.

The book also delves into the psychological profile of Captain Zaharie, although Vance treads carefully here, avoiding sensationalism. He references known facts about Zaharie's personal life, but stops short of making bold claims about his mental state, instead focusing on the physical evidence that supports his theory of pilot involvement.

For readers hoping for a sensational revelation or a wild conspiracy theory, MH370: Mystery Solved may not satisfy. Vance is methodical and measured in his conclusions, relying heavily on scientific evidence rather than conjecture. The book’s strength lies in its forensic detail and its focus on the recovered debris, particularly the analysis of how certain parts of the plane were broken or torn. The writing can be a bit dry at times, especially when Vance is deep into the minutiae of aircraft design and the specifics of the Boeing 777, but for those truly interested in understanding what happened to MH370, this level of detail is essential.

Critics of the book may point to the fact that it leans heavily on the theory of pilot suicide without fully addressing alternative possibilities, such as a catastrophic event that incapacitated the crew and passengers. However, Vance’s argument is supported by years of research, his own expertise, and the physical evidence, making it a hard case to dismiss outright.

In conclusion, MH370: Mystery Solved is a meticulously researched and well-argued account of what likely happened to the ill-fated flight. While it may not answer every question surrounding the disappearance, Vance’s detailed forensic analysis offers the most plausible and scientifically grounded explanation to date. For those who have followed the MH370 story closely, this book provides closure, if not complete satisfaction, by focusing on hard evidence rather than speculation. It is a must-read for aviation enthusiasts, those fascinated by true mysteries, and anyone still searching for answers about one of the most puzzling aviation disasters in history.