MH 777 missing - MH370 media statement

[Jack_OC]

Nope......

And we know the people travelling on the stolen passports were transiting on to AMS, so I think this is probably a red herring.

 

[JohnK]

As to those stolen passports it is reported the tickets were purchased in Pattaya at the same time.

That does not make sense. Well not yet anyway.

 

[scaredeycat]

If we assume the plane was brought down by the group with false passports, the next question then becomes what was the method - which is in some ways an even bigger concern. Does make me nervous about flying again...

 

[mushez]

Do you need to submit your passport to the Chinese embassy if you're just transiting there?

Nope, but almost everyone needs a visa to travel to China, and that means applying and leaving at the Chinese Visa office for a period of time.

I suspect they issued the visas for the passports on the credentials in them and they could have asked for rush visas which could have been done as quickly as 4 hours in Bangkok.

I have been there and it is a Zoo at best and not surprised someone would have been issued a visa on a valid and genuine passport, not matter how stolen it was.

The question comes down to validation of the picture in the passports to those who were traveling. I know I don't look like my current 4 year old picture in my passport.

Actually I don't know any Chinese person who looks like the picture in their is cards.

 

[DrA]

Do you need to submit your passport to the Chinese embassy if you're just transiting there?

Nope......

Not entirely accurate. It depends entirely on where you're transiting from/to. I have required a visa in China a number of times just to transit from one terminal to another at PEK (both international flights, just arriving/departing different terminals).

If they were in and out of the same terminal they wouldn't require a visa. If they had to change terminals they would.

 

[amaroo]

Speculation on pprune that this incident might be co-related.
China knife attack at Kunming Train Station leaves dozens dead and at least 130 injured | News.com.au

One wonders...NPC!

 

[phily]

Conspiracy theories aside I hope the wreckage is found soon and the families find closure.

I have to disagree with you on the issue of "closure". It is one of the most over-used expressions in the media in the past 5 years or more. Many people never find closure when loved ones die unexpectedly, despite bodies being found, or perpetrators being sent to jail for life etc. Yes, it can be satisfying to be able to bury the body of a loved one, but there is so much more to it. "Closure" is a very complex and personal issue. I expect that your comment was just one of those quickies that most of us do at times.

 

[Pushka]

Closure is no more than knowing what happened rather than living a life wondering.

 

[dk4]

Not entirely accurate. It depends entirely on where you're transiting from/to. ...If they had to change terminals they would.

Nope, wrong. EU passport holders can now get a 72 hour TWOV (transit without visa) on arrival at PEK, and can stay landside for up to three days, if ticketed to, say, fly KUL-PEK-AMS.

 

[DrA]

Nope, wrong. EU passport holders can now get a 72 hour TWOV (transit without visa) on arrival at PEK, and can stay landside for up to three days, if ticketed to, say, fly KUL-PEK-AMS.

Huh. Good to know! I've been travelling through China on my Australian passport and not my UK one. This changes things

 

[dk4]

Huh. Good to know! I've been travelling through China on my Australian passport and not my UK one. This changes things

You can do with an AU passport as well...very simple and efficient. You must not leave Beijing during that time, but if you are just changing terminals you would have to get very lost for that to happen. (You must arrive from one country and be heading to a third country. E.g. MEL-PEK-LHR would be fine.)

 

[samh004]

This guy on twitter is interesting...

https://twitter.com/flyingwithfish

Certainly is.

 

[UP4014]

If we assume the plane was brought down by the group with false passports, the next question then becomes what was the method - which is in some ways an even bigger concern. Does make me nervous about flying again...

No one has claimed responsibility (yet) which is the whole point of terrorism; that is, to let people know and scare them.

Matt

 

[drron]

Then again no one has yet claimed responsibility for Lockerbie.

 

[Robbi]

Selfish people who believe they are right.

Makes no sense to us but they do not care about collateral damage to get their point across....

It can go even deeper than that, in some cases they may believe they will be rewarded in the afterlife for killing infidels; no fear of death at all, or remorse, because they believe it is good and just.

 

[whatmeworry]

I guess the 2 guys going to Holland could have been trying for asylum?

 

[browski]

No one has claimed responsibility (yet) which is the whole point of terrorism; that is, to let people know and scare them.

Matt

Not really in modern times. Noone claimed responsibility for 9/11. Scared people more that way.

 

[UP4014]

Then again no one has yet claimed responsibility for Lockerbie.

Gaddafi admitted it in the early 2000's and since the downfall of the Govt there I think they found some docs confirming it.

 

[Robbi]

No one has claimed responsibility (yet) which is the whole point of terrorism; that is, to let people know and scare them.

Matt

Another possibility of course is that the Chinese shot them down ala KAL007. They have been rattling sabres very loudly over the last few months and something could have gone horribly wrong.

 

[drron]

Gaddafi admitted it in the early 2000's and since the downfall of the Govt there I think they found some docs confirming it.

Not the same as claiming responsibility.And Gaddafi's words were 17 years after the incident.