In the months that have passed since Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 disappeared, there have been a number of theories put forth as to what went wrong.

We can accept that a series of errors followed by irresponsible handling of the investigation (largely on the part of the Malaysian government) made the recovery of the missing plane all but impossible.

While it won’t give the families of the 239 missing passengers the closure they still seek, perhaps the theories put forth in recent days can finally give the world some idea as to what became of the missing jetliner.

The Australian Transport Safety Board released a 55 page report about the incident based largely on similar disasters observed in the past.

Through a series of comparisons, Australian officials have worked out what they feel to be the most realistic scenario for Flight MH370.

Flight #MH370 likely on autopilot when it crashed into Indian Ocean, Australian officials say http://t.co/flY8L5yxY6 pic.twitter.com/LA7xykwcF5

— Reuters Top News (@Reuters) June 26, 2014

“Given these observations,” said the board in its report, “the final stages of the unresponsive crew/hypoxia event type appeared to best fit the available evidence for the final period of MH370’s flight when it was heading in a generally southerly direction.”

A suffocation scenario means that the crew and passengers would have already died before the plane sank into the depths of the ocean.

Australian officials also believe that the plane was likely on autopilot during and after the crash.

Australian authorities: #MH370 lost oxygen while on autopilot http://t.co/oXoclNPqzl pic.twitter.com/gqxhUgSZDj

— Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) June 27, 2014

The only way to truly confirm (or dismiss) the findings by these officials would be to finally find the missing jetliner.

But with so little evidence to go on, hope is dwindling.

It has been noted that the report released by Australian officials offers no new evidence in the case of the missing plane. Only theories.

Missing Malaysia plane was flying on autopilot, Australian official says http://t.co/0dwkdEugaz

— Huffington Post (@HuffingtonPost) June 26, 2014

Perhaps what theories are shared in the report can be used to better determine where the plane could have crashed.

With the plane believed to be resting miles beneath the waters of the Indian Ocean, searchers will need all the possible help that can be had to finally locate Flight MH370.

Image via YouTube