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Online discussion among pilots has centred on unconfirmed secondary radar data from Malaysia that suggested the aircraft was climbing at a speed of 353 knots, about 100 knots too slow, and that it might have stalled.
If this is the case it could be similar to Air France which stalled and crashed in the Atlantic. Conflicting speed data and choosing the wrong data source to fly with.
This aircraft had automation that can deal with huge up and down drafts, so it may come down to pilot error.