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The original was posted on /r/conspiracytheories by /u/No-Manufacturer-2425 on 2024-01-23 00:49:15+00:00.

Theory Overview: This conspiracy theory proposes that the Boeing 737 Max incident on January 5, 2024, involving the fuselage door plug ripping off mid-flight, was not an accident but a deliberate act of sabotage. The theory further suggests that an insider, potentially related to the empty seats next to the damaged fuselage, intentionally rigged the door to release at a safe altitude.

Key Components of the Theory:

1. Insider Involvement: An individual with access to the aircraft and knowledge of its operations, possibly an employee or contractor, deliberately tampered with the door plug. This person knew how to manipulate the fasteners or the door mechanism to ensure it would fail during flight.

2. Empty Seats as Part of the Plan: The theory posits that the empty seats adjacent to the door plug were a critical part of the sabotage plan. By ensuring these seats were unoccupied, the saboteur minimized the risk of serious injury or fatality when the door plug detached, indicating a controlled and calculated act.

3. Choice of Safe Altitude for Release: The door plug was rigged to release at an altitude that was high enough to cause decompression, yet low enough to avoid catastrophic consequences. This suggests a detailed understanding of aircraft safety protocols and flight dynamics.

4. Motive: The theorized motives behind this act could range from an attempt to expose safety flaws in the Boeing 737 Max, to personal vendettas, or an effort to undermine Boeing's reputation further. This act could be seen as a statement or protest against perceived ongoing safety negligence.

5. Execution and Timing: The saboteur would have had to execute this plan during a period when the aircraft was accessible but not under close scrutiny, such as during routine maintenance or overnight storage. The timing of the sabotage relative to the flight schedule was meticulously planned.

6. Previous Safety Issues as a Cover: Given the 737 Max's history of safety issues, a new incident might not immediately raise suspicions of foul play, making it a suitable target for such a sabotage attempt.

7. Implications: If true, this theory would have profound implications for airline safety, security protocols, and the trustworthiness of individuals with access to critical aircraft systems.

Conclusion: This conspiracy theory paints a scenario of deliberate sabotage, meticulously planned and executed to exploit the troubled history of the Boeing 737 Max and to make a dramatic statement without causing loss of life. It suggests a complex interaction of motives, opportunities, and deep knowledge of aircraft operations.

How it was done

1. Flawed Design: The initial premise is that the door plug was poorly designed, making it inherently prone to failure under certain conditions. This could be due to various factors such as material choice, structural design, or engineering oversights.
2. Human Intervention to Exacerbate Flaw:

• Designers' Involvement: In this scenario, the designers of the door plug, knowing about the inherent flaw, could have either intentionally designed it to fail under specific circumstances or neglected to address known issues during the design phase.
• Installation or Maintenance Complicity: Alternatively, individuals involved in the installation or maintenance of the door plug, aware of its flawed design, might subtly adjust it to make it more likely to fail. This adjustment would be minor enough to avoid detection during routine checks but sufficient to ensure failure during flight.

1. Subtle Manipulation: The key aspect here is the subtlety of the manipulation - making a slight change that would not be visually apparent or detectable during standard maintenance procedures. This manipulation would rely on a deep understanding of the door plug's design and its vulnerabilities.
2. Plausible Deniability: Since the door plug was already flawed, any additional manipulation to weaken it further might be indistinguishable from the inherent design issues. This creates a situation where it's challenging to differentiate between a failure due to original design flaws and one due to deliberate exacerbation of those flaws.
3. Motivation: Such actions might be motivated by various factors - from attempting to expose the flawed design or to cause reputational damage, to more personal or vindictive reasons.
4. Investigation Challenges: This scenario would pose significant challenges for investigators. Distinguishing between a failure due to inherent design flaws and one caused by subtle human intervention would require a detailed forensic analysis of the door plug, its design history, installation records, and maintenance logs.
5. Implications for Safety and Trust: Regardless of the cause, such an incident has serious implications for aviation safety and public trust in aircraft manufacturers and airlines. It underscores the importance of robust design processes, thorough testing, and rigorous maintenance practices.