Flight 447

Perhaps what is the most surprising aspect of the disappearance of Air France flight 447 is the way in which it happened. For a large airliner to seemingly go "poof" and simply vanish in this day and age just seems impossible. Things like that just aren't supposed to happen anymore, not with cellphones, gps, transponders, and constant surveillance of all kinds. Even out over the middle of the ocean, it's just difficult to believe. It's the 21st century, after all.

There is no doubt that sooner or later some sort of wreckage will be found. Investigators will then begin to piece together what went so terribly--and quickly--wrong. Could lightning or even turbulence really have brought a modern airliner down? More importantly, why would the pilot even have flown into a thunderstorm?

The investigation will likely involve a major deep sea salvage operation. And though the process may take several years (like the Swissair crash investigation), the mystery of Flight 447 will eventually be solved.