Not to add to conspiracy theories, and not that I think this happened, but
what if someone just tossed beeping flight recorders and/ or debris in strategic places?
What if the purpose was to " corral " all important search boats and other high tech equipment and personnel into one spot, perhaps leaving other areas more vulnerable?
This has also been on my mind since the pings were "randomly" picked up...
I also am beginning to wonder if it has landed and major hostage negotiations are on-going. No super power is going to give a terrorist air time by admitting that, as dependant on where the aircraft (theoretically) landed, could cause a bit of a stramash...
Someone further above quoted 3 links with 3 countries - they won't want it to be known if they have something as big as this parked on their land?
Not tin foil hatting - just thinking out loud.
(In my pyjamas & tin foil just doesn't co-ordinate with them)