Why MH370 could still happen again – because despite international efforts to tighten aircraft tracking standards, many countries have yet to mandate new safety measures designed to prevent another aircraft from disappearing.
READ: HUGE AMOUNT OF DATA MISSING
In response to MH370’s disappearance, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) introduced the Global Aeronautical Distress and Safety System (GADSS), which became applicable in November 2018. This system was created to ensure that aircraft in distress could be tracked every minute and, in the event of a crash, the location would be known within a six nautical mile radius.
UK aerospace engineer Richard Godfrey explains:
“The Standards became applicable in Nov 2018 and were intended to provide some degree of certainty that either the ATC or the Operator was receiving regular position reports from an aircraft in flight.”
Two key technologies underpin the GADSS initiative:
- Autonomous Distress Tracking (ADT) – allows for continuous tracking of an aircraft in distress.
- Location and Data Recovery (LADR) – ensures critical data is recoverable post-crash.
Although all new aircraft over 27,000 kg produced after January 1, 2024, must be equipped with distress tracking systems, countries have until January 1, 2025 to finalize certifications. However, these systems are not yet universally mandatory for older aircraft.
While new Boeing models now feature crash-survivable ELT‑DT beacons and Airbus began integrating similar systems into A330neo, A350, A320, and A220 aircraft in 2023, legacy aircraft such as the Boeing 747, 757, and Airbus A340 require retrofitting. This process is inconsistent across airlines and regions.
Godfrey highlights a critical gap and thus why MH370 could still happen again.
“The ADT Retrofit isn’t mandatory for all airlines in all countries. It depends on the country of operation and whether the flight is national or international or transoceanic.”
Implementation of the GADSS ADT standards varies globally. According to Godfrey, many major aviation countries have not yet complied.
- Implemented: All European countries, most South American, most Asian, and all Middle Eastern countries.
- Not implemented: USA, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Australia, New Zealand, and all African nations, as well as Russia, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, and North Korea.
Until the ICAO standards are universally adopted and enforced, aviation experts caution that another tragedy like MH370 is not just possible—it remains a real and present danger.
What the full story of why MH370 could still happen again.
