[skeeter]

If that map is anywhere near accurate, the plane would have just recently reached cruising altitude when contact was lost.

[publius911]

If that map is anywhere near accurate, the plane would have just recently reached cruising altitude when contact was lost.

Here is the problem. "Just recently" up to now is in the mind of the speaker.
Looking at the data from previous identical flights determines that "cruising altitude" was established anywhere between 18 and 22 minutes into the flight.

That is significantly inconsistent with the often reported "fact" that the flight was "about 2 hours" into its journey when contact was lost.

[publius911]

If that map is anywhere near accurate, the plane would have just recently reached cruising altitude when contact was lost.

Which map might that be?
I have seen at least two, possibly three maps of the intended flight path, up to 400 miles(!) apart, east to west, when reaching the Gulf of Tonkin.

[Ouderkirk]

Couple of muslims at the controls...what could possibly go wrong?

Shout Allah akbar and push the yoke forward...

[edcoil]

I don’t believe there was not a submarine in the area.