As the title suggests, MH370: The Plane That Disappeared promises to delve into the mystery of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, which vanished in 2014. However, this mini-docu series is as much about the numerous conspiracy theories that surround it as it is about the plane’s disappearance.

The documentary begins with the premise of exploring what happened to the crew and 239 passengers on the fateful night of March 8, 2014. Across three condensed episodes, the creators present three conflicting theories in an attempt to explain the aircraft’s mysterious disappearance. While I didn’t expect Netflix to solve one of the most perplexing aviation mysteries of our time, I was equally unprepared for any sort of romanticising and capitalising on the tragedy and pain of the missing passengers’ families.

The series does not shy away from personal stories, bringing the grief, frustration and relentless quest for answers of the affected families to the forefront. The interviews with the relatives play a key role in transforming the Boeing 777’s disappearance from distant news story into a deeply personal narrative.

This emotional connection is what allows audiences to empathise with those who have been most affected by the mystery, making them more invested in uncovering what happened.

However, the actual evidence available is sparse, and the theories presented are built on shaky ground. As a result, some critics argued that the documentary’s reliance on speculative and sensationalist elements overshadows the factual aspects of the investigation.

Despite its shortcomings, the documentary does offer perspectives from different angles, providing a comprehensive look at the various hypotheses that have emerged over the years. It also offers a glimpse into the followers and popularity of such theories.

The documentary’s use of visuals, including the dramatic reconstructions, and interviews succeeds in informing the audience in an accessible way. The explanations offered are simple for those unfamiliar with aviation jargon to understand, and the narrative is absorbing even to people who are not particularly interested in aviation mysteries.