One man believes he holds a crucial, yet overlooked, piece to aviation's most enduring puzzle: the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370. Mike McKay, a former oil rig worker, insists he witnessed the Boeing 777 on fire in the night sky on the evening it vanished with 239 people aboard.
The Night of the Disappearance: A Chilling Sighting
The ten-year mystery began on March 8, 2014, when Malaysia Airlines flight 370 disappeared during its routine journey from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing. While multinational search efforts scrambled, Mike McKay was having a cigarette break on the Songa Mercur oil rig off the coast of Vietnam.
McKay, then 57, reported seeing an aircraft burning at a high altitude. He immediately sent a confidential email to his superiors, detailing the event. "I observed the plane burning at high altitude at a compass bearing of 265 to 275 degrees from our surface location," he wrote, according to reports. He estimated the flames lasted for 10 to 15 seconds and noted the object showed no lateral movement, suggesting it was either falling or heading directly away from his position.
Aftermath of a Leak: From Witness to 'Fool'
McKay's attempt to help had severe personal consequences. His email, which included his workplace details, was leaked to the media. "Of course, I ended up looking like a fool," McKay stated. However, he emphasised that his own plight was insignificant compared to the suffering of the victims' families. "I sent an observation in a confidential email hoping it would help find the loved ones of the families," he explained.
Despite his sighting, official investigations shifted focus away from the South China Sea, following radar data suggesting the plane had turned back. McKay has publicly questioned this narrative, asking why primary radar data took six days to be released and querying the analysis of debris found later.
The Ongoing Search and Competing Theories
The search for MH370 has experienced multiple phases of activity and long pauses. Recent operations led by marine robotics firm Ocean Infinity were suspended in April 2025. Malaysia's Transport Minister, Anthony Loke, indicated the search was halted due to seasonal conditions and would potentially resume later in the year.
Meanwhile, other experts continue to propose new theories. Ismail Hammad, Chief Engineer at Egyptair, has challenged the authenticity of some recovered debris, suggesting the condition of the paint does not match prolonged exposure to salt water. His theory aims to redirect the search and save "money and time."
A decade after its disappearance, the fate of MH370 remains a profound mystery. While official searches wax and wane, the account of witnesses like Mike McKay serves as a persistent reminder of the human stories and unanswered questions at the heart of this tragedy.
