The Disappearing Act: The Impossible Case of MH370

by Florence de Changy

Overview

‘People often say that non-fiction books read like fast-moving thrillers, but this one genuinely does… This is a splendid book – and highly recommended.’ Daily Mail
  
A remarkable piece of investigative journalism into one of the most pervasive and troubling mysteries of recent memory.

01:20am, 8 March 2014.

Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, carrying 239 passengers, disappeared into the night, never to be seen or heard from again.

The incident was inexplicable. In a world defined by advanced technology and interconnectedness, how could an entire aircraft become untraceable? Had the flight been subject to a perfect hijack? Perhaps the pilots lost control? And if the plane did crash, where was the wreckage?

Writing for Le Monde in the days and months after the plane’s disappearance, journalist Florence de Changy closely documented the chaotic international investigation that followed, uncovering more questions than answers. Riddled with inconsistencies, contradictions and a lack of basic communication between authorities, the mystery surrounding flight MH370 only deepened.

Now, de Changy offers her own explanation. Drawing together countless eyewitness testimonies, press releases, independent investigative reports and expert opinion, The Disappearing Act offers an eloquent and deeply unnerving narrative of what happened to the missing aircraft.

An incredible feat of investigative journalism and a testament to de Changy’s tenacity and resolve, this book is an exhaustive, gripping account into one of the most profound mysteries of the 21st century.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780008381561
Publisher:	HarperCollins Publishers
Publication date:	02/04/2021
Sold by:	HarperCollins Publishers
Format:	eBook
Pages:	432
Sales rank:	695,077
File size:	19 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Florence de Changy is an award-winning foreign correspondent for Le Monde, covering the Asia-Pacific area. She has also worked for Radio France and RFI on their current affairs segments. She is based in Hong Kong.

Table of Contents

Maps x

Foreword xiii

1 Flight MH370 1

2 Where Is the Plane? 13

3 Malaysia Boleh! 38

4 Australia Takes Charge 58

5 Alternative Scenarios 85

6 The Families' Committee Launches a Private Investigation 118

7 Counter-investigation in the Maldives 149

8 Will the Réunion Flaperon Solve the Enigma of Flight MH370 168

9 Some Debris Surfaces in the Gulf of Thailand 198

10 A New Wave of Debris on the East Coast of Africa 210

11 Could the Captain Have Run Amok? 236

12 Not Everyone Is Buying the Official Narrative 257

13 The Official Version Is Looking Shaky 279

14 The Simple Scenario: A Crash in the South China Sea 308

Epilogue 347

Addendum: A few (very) instructive examples of airline crashes 385

Acknowledgements 419

Index 421

Editorial Reviews

‘Totally brilliant, if unnerving, The Disappearing Act, must be read by anyone wishing to understand one of the greatest mystery of the 21st century.’ Edward Jay Epstein, New York Times bestselling author and investigative journalist

‘With ruthless forensic skill, Florence de Changy has dismantled and discredited the official versions of what happened to the ill-fated flight MH370.’ Victor Mallet, Financial Times Paris bureau chief

‘Based on dozens of clues about the disappearance of MH370, gathered from a wide range of sources, this book hints at an international cover-up where our loved ones have just been collateral damage. For years, the families have been longing to know what really happened whilst being shamelessly strung along by the governments involved. This book brings us closer to the truth than we have ever been. As unpleasant and painful as the real truth may be, The Disappearing Act proves beyond doubt that the official version served to the families was just an incredible string of lies. The authorities must give us answers.’ Ghyslain Wattrelos, author and spokesperson for the families of the missing MH370 passengers

‘This is the definitive book on the disappearance of MH370, which at last demystifies the world’s greatest aviation secret. Florence de Changy was a journalist on the spot who has followed the saga from its opening stages with professional tenacity and an open mind. Her dispassionate and clear-headed unravelling of the evidence and events, which are brought together for the first time into a comprehensive account, makes for a thrilling read and her astonishing conclusions are compelling, if terrifying.’ Clare Rewcastle Brown, Editor, The Sarawak Report

‘In this eerie yet brilliant work of investigative journalism, de Changy pieces together the truth behind the greatest mystery in the history of modern aviation.’ New Statesman

From the Publisher