The puzzling disappearance of Malaysian Airlines Flight 370 has all the earmarks of terrorism, says Rep. Peter King.
It's still a mystery . . . Basically, though, you have a lot of indicators of potential terrorism here," the New York Republican, who is chairman of the House Counterterrorism and Intelligence Subcommittee, told "The Steve Malzberg Show" on Newsmax TV.
"[There's] the fact that you have a two passengers flying on stolen passports, the fact that the plane just disappeared, that there was no communication whatsoever, the fact that Malaysia is known to be a hotbed of al-Qaida activity in the past.''
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On Saturday, the Malaysian passenger jet — headed to Beijing from Kuala Lumpur with 239 people aboard — vanished in the skies over southeast Asia. There were no distress calls made and no indication that anything was wrong.
Despite a massive search effort, no trace of the aircraft has been found.
Investigators are looking at terrorism, an electrical issue, or the possibility of a pilot suicide.
"If it was a terrorist attack, we have to make sure that it's not part of a larger coordinated series of attacks," King said.
"There are so many aspects that have to be looked at here . . . It could still very well be just an accident – an electrical explosion.
"Because of something this unusual, really nothing can be ruled out at this stage."
King urged travelers all over the world to be extra-vigilant when flying.
"Whether or not we actually increase the precise level of security, we should be much more alert during this time," King said.
"That's just common sense that every airport be much more concerned and much more alert, much more discerning. First of all, we should be that way all of the time. It is a practical matter.
"Human nature is human nature, but certainly at this time, until this is resolved, every airport in the world, especially I'm concerned about the U.S., we should certainly be on our guard even more than we are usually."
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