Who's to Blame?: The Continuing Search for Flight MH370

Leash Alaine
Mr. Michael Freeman
Christian Perspectives: Intolerable Tolerance
March 18, 2014

Who's to Blame?

      It was only a little over two weeks ago when a Boeing 777 flight to China from Malaysia suddenly vanished in thin air. Two hundred thirty-nine passengers boarded the international flight to China with expectations to see family and friends in only approximately three to four hours from their departure city. The search has increased to two point twenty-four million square miles of air from where flight MH370 was last seen on the airport controllers' radars (Demick 1). Because so much time has passed since the flight vanished in flight, relatives of the two hundred thirty-nine passengers began to find blame on Malaysia Airlines and threatened the country of China, last Tuesday, that they would go on a hunger strike if the country did not take part in the two point twenty-four million square miles search (Duncan 1). 

MH370 Takes Off from Malaysia's Airport

      The countries that have been contributing to this search are now China, Kazakhstan, Australia, Indonesia, the United States, and of course the airlines' country -- Malaysia (Demick 5-6). This search has helped some of the passengers' relatives come to ease at the known fact that the world does care to search for their loved ones on MH370. The main question that has yet to remain for Malaysia, China, and the relatives is this: who's to blame? Also, was there an engine blowout, a hijacking, a suicidal attempt from one of the airplane pilots, or just a devastating mistake on the Chinese controllers on the Beijing International Airport's control tower? 

      People have a tendency to feel anger towards a group or organization when something disrupts their family home life. Sure there is some understanding as to why some of the relatives are angry over this matter of not searching immediately when the plane vanished in the past two weeks. However, one needs to realize that it is uncommon for a plane to vanish in the air without a reason. 

Relatives of passengers onboard Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 sit on chairs and wait after a meeting with the airline's representatives at Lido Hotel in Beijing yesterday. 

      An ethical side to this event of MH370 is that people should not let their emotions control their desire to blame others for this event. The facts are necessary. Recently rumors about North Korea has surfaced informing people that North Korea could very well have played a role in the disappearing MH370 ("North Korea" 2). It is very easy for countries to rally against North Korea because of all the terror that its government has done to its people. This fact does not explain why North Korea should all of a sudden be assumed to cause the disappearance of MH370. I Thessalonians 5:21a calls for people to "test everything". Paul encourages people to not be so quick to blame others and to find the facts rather than spread rumors (based on my understanding of the scriptural verse). 

      If I had a relative who was on flight MH370, I most definitely would choose to blame the controllers at the Malaysian and Beijing airports for not doing their job better at keeping track of the flight on their radar. Patience is another thing that must be learned from this event. I know that I would want to immediately find answers as to why the flight disappeared but being willing to wait and "trust" God that He can protect flight MH370 from danger is the only last thing that is realistic (Romans 12:12). All of man's doing will not be enough to solve this mystery, only God can. 

      A closing remark to this unsolvable case can be that man needs to fully trust that God can protect their loved ones from danger. God is the only one who can control the situation of flight MH370. Romans 8:25 emphasizes that there is always hope in God in crisis such as this. The responsibility that man needs to have is "patience". 

Works Cited:

China Starts Search for Missing Flight MH370 Airplane in Chinese Territory. Digital       
      image. The Malaysian Insider. THE MALAYSIAN INSIDER, 18 Mar. 2014. Web.
      18 Mar. 2014.      

Demick, Barbara. "China Starts Search for Missing Flight MH370 Airplane in Chinese 
      Territory." Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times, 18 Mar. 2014. Web. 18 Mar.    
      2014.

Duncan, Maxim. "Angry Chinese Families Threaten Hunger Strike over Missing Plane.
      "Reuters. Thomson Reuters, 16 Mar. 2014. Web. 18 Mar. 2014. 
Holy Bible: English Standard Version. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2001. Print.

"North Korea Hijacking Malaysian Plane Still on the Table after China Deploys 21 
      Satellites." ETN Global Travel Industry News. ETurboNews, Inc., 18 Mar. 2014. 
      Web. 18 Mar. 2014.

.