MH370 disappeared after taking off from Kuala Lumpur. Debris suspected to be from MH370 drifted to Reunion Island. The search took place near Australia. Photo: Quora

On March 8, 2014, Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 departed from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing. But after 38 minutes of travel, at 1:20 a.m., the plane lost contact with air traffic controllers over the East Sea.

The fate of the Boeing 777 and its 239 passengers and crew is still unknown.

French investigative journalist Florence de Changy has investigated missing planes for a decade and is the author of an explosive book about the MH370 mystery.

“It was shocking for the families,” she said.

The official information has been imposed on them so strongly that they have no choice but to stick to it and the only thing they can ask for is to continue searching for MH370. They are worried that if they start to doubt the government, it will disrupt the negotiations.”

On March 2, 2024, The Sun newspaper published an exclusive interview with Ms. Florence, in which she raised questions about the official version of the disappearance of MH370.

Investigative journalist Florence de Changy. Photo: Elizabeth Leech

Flight path: The mysterious key

Official information is that the plane still emitted radar signals while passing over Malaysia and disappeared over the Andaman Sea.

Satellite analysis is said to have shown the plane turned around and likely plummeted into the Southern Indian Ocean.

A possible crash site has been identified 2,400 km southwest of Australia.

The search there was the most expensive in aviation history.

However, apart from the controversial debris, there is no trace of the plane.

Ms. Florence found evidence from intelligence sources and affirmed: “I am more certain than ever that there was no accident in the South Indian Ocean. The plane continued to fly until 2:40 a.m.”

Question of fragments

Investigators said the first piece of debris found on July 29, 2015 was a piece from the right wing known as the flaperon.

Debris believed to be from MH370 washed up on Reunion Island in 2015. Photo: EPA

Debris washed up on a beach on Reunion Island, a French territory near Mauritius, about 3,500 miles from Malaysia.

But Ms. Florence said: “There are many good reasons to see that the debris is not from MH370.

“First, they never even determined the origin of the flaperon. This is shocking. Second, they said the flaperon suffered two consecutive shocks, but that’s also inconsistent with a accident at sea” – Ms. Florence said.

“In addition, just because the piece of composite material broke does not mean it can float. In the fiercest ocean on the planet, it must travel up to 16 km/day in a straight line for more than 500 days to reach Reunion. I am sure that the piece is not related to MH370″ – the investigative journalist said.

Captain: Guilty or innocent?

Suspicion initially fell on captain Zaharie Ahmad Shah, 52 years old, who was said to have a chaotic love life.

The Malaysian Prime Minister at that time even hinted that Zaharie could be behind a murder-suicide plot.

But Ms. Florence said: “I think the captain is innocent. He has been at the center of numerous accusations and smear campaigns. I talked to people who knew him and looked at confidential police reports about him. I believe he is a good person and had nothing to do with the fate of the plane.”

Relatives of passenger MH370 desperately wait for news of their loved ones in a hotel in Beijing, March 9, 2014. Photo: Reuters

Commodity: Is it a cover?

According to the cargo manifest, on MH370 there were 4.5 tons of fresh mangosteen and 2.5 tons of small electrical appliances.

“Mangosteen doesn’t mean anything,” Ms. Florence said. March is not mangosteen season, and the volume is ridiculous. Then I discovered that mangosteen was on every MH370 flight the following month.”

“The biggest hub for illegal trade between Africa and China is Kuala Lumpur airport. Mangosteen can be a cover for all sorts of things, including rhino horn or ivory,” said Ms. Florence.

Regarding electrical items, she said, according to official reports, these items were not inspected through scanners, and “that is a big problem”.

Ms. Florence said that the cargo could force the plane to make an emergency landing. She also added: “I believe there has been action to confiscate the goods. If you are surrounded by military aircraft, you must obey orders.”