From:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1999_South_Dakota_Learjet_crash
1980 Bo Rein crash
Robert Edward "Bo" Rein, a noted football coach for North Carolina State and then Louisiana State University (LSU) (where he had been hired only six weeks before) was flying with a pilot from Shreveport, Louisiana to Baton Rouge, Louisiana on January 10, 1980 in a Cessna 441 Conquest twin-turboprop, registered N441NC. The flight was supposed to last 40 minutes, but after flying east and climbing to avoid a thunderstorm, the plane lost contact with air traffic control and was seen on radar to climb to 40,000 feet (12,000 m).
The Conquest was eventually intercepted by two Michigan Air National Guard F-4C Phantoms from Seymour-Johnson AFBin Goldsboro, North Carolina, and a pair of F-106 Delta Dart interceptors from the 48th Fighter Interceptor Squadron atLangley AFB aircraft in Virginia.[8]
When intercepted, the Cessna was over 1,000 miles (1,600 km) off course and flying at an altitude of 41,600 feet (12,700 m), 5,000 feet (1,500 m) higher than its maximum certified ceiling. The fighter pilots could not see anyone in the cockpit.
The plane continued out over the Atlantic Ocean where it ran out of fuel, descended to 25,000 feet (7,600 m) and then entered a spin, crashing into the water.[9][10] The military pilots spotted some debris, but no wreckage was ever recovered. The bodies of Rein and pilot Lou Benscotter were never found. The most likely reason given was that the two men apparently lost consciousness due to slow depressurization of the cabin.[11]
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Some interesting concepts here &
potential similarities:
AutoPilot/Captain/FO/Someone climbed above the maximum certified ceiling. (confirmed?)
Crash left some debris, but no wreckage was ever found. (possible)
So, they were following this 1980 flight and
never found any wreckage. If the same is true with this flight, the chances of ever finding anything are slim and none, and slim left town...
We may never have any answers, but (IMO) the most logical at this point is that any remains are at the bottom of the Indian Ocean...
Honestly, I'm not even sure that any other possibilities make any sense at this point... If it was a hijacking, it still is probably in the ocean... If it was a suicide, it probably is in the ocean... If it was mechanical, it probably is in the ocean... If zombies took over the plane, it probably is in the ocean...