The Czar is not one for conspiracy theories, and with the Air France tragedy, we fully expected that some would appear. Terrorism was a fear, but was dismissed. Then it was on again, after word that some threats came in previously. Then off again, then on again when no wreckage was found immediately, and so on.

But the Czar was troubled by a strangely underplayed news story that France was disputing the claims that Brazil’s air force found wreckage from the plane. Some of it, true, turned out to be flotsam, but there was almost an insinuation that no wreckage could be possibly have been found.

Then came insistence by a French investigator that recovery of the black boxes would be unlikely. The US Navy is not as sure, and is moving in to assist with the recovery—something we have seen the Navy is very good at—but have been asked to wait while the French slowly move in their recovery equipment…although the experts seem to think this is a waste of time. Meantime, Brazil’s Nav—who has an interest in solving this mystery—continues to pull wreckage and bodies from the water that France was not so sure would be there.

Most pilots doubt the lightning theory, and while thunderstorm up and downdrafts could easily swat a commercial craft from the sky, most pilots are in agreement that the French crew would have steered well away from this risk—as pilots in this area of the world routinely do.

The Czar begins to wonder if all these elements combine in some way.

Then, news today that Alter, the Air France pilots union, is refusing to fly A330s and A340s until specific safety enhancements are made.

Keep your eye on this. Almost as if the French government is aware, through its ownership of Air France and Airbus, that something is hinky with these planes that might be exposed if the flight data recorder or cockpit voice recorder, or large pieces of wreckage, are found.

Remember, there is no French NTSB: the government instead uses le Bureau d’Enquêtes et d’Analyses, who is ultimately part of the same folks who own Air France and Airbus. The Czar doubts there is anything like a formal coverup taking place here by the French government; rather, it would be more likely that some disappointingly pathetic mid-level beauracrats are twisting the investigation to prevent the discovery of some particuarly bad decisions made years ago, or some damaging link to a politician who either made financial profits off the crash or simply knew and withheld information. Something that cheapens the lives of the victims even further. So here we go! Stay tuned.

The Czar of Muscovy

Божію Поспѣшествующею Милостію Мы, Дима Грозный Императоръ и Самодержецъ Всероссiйскiй, цѣсарь Московскiй. The Czar was born in the steppes of Russia in 1267, and was cheated out of total control of all Russia upon the death of Boris Mikhailovich, who replaced Alexander Yaroslav Nevsky in 1263. However, in 1283, our Czar was passed over due to a clerical error and the rule of all Russia went to his second cousin Daniil (Даниил Александрович), whom Czar still resents. As a half-hearted apology, the Czar was awarded control over Muscovy, inconveniently located 5,000 miles away just outside Chicago. He now spends his time seething about this and writing about other stuff that bothers him.