given what is known of the flight path taken by MH370 (from the point it turned left after transponder was disabled), and what is assumed based on the possible Southern Ocean search area, how much of that path could have been programmed into the flight computers and flown automatically without further pilot inputs? Could someone have programmed the flight computers with all the waypoints/coordinates etc for it to fly the assumed routing back over Malaysia, then turn right up through the Malacca Straights following the waypoints identified on many of the maps/images already posted, and then turned due south and flown until fuel was exhausted - all without further pilot inputs? Or would should routing have needed continued inputs from someone in control of the aircraft?
I know its a really long bow to draw, but there are plenty of other crazy options being considered out there!! What if (there we go again!) someone assumed control of the aircraft (one of the pilots or another person with sufficient experience/knowledge), turned off the external communications, transponder etc, programmed the route into the flight computers, depressurised the cabin (eliminate any resistance from passengers), then as the aircraft flew around 23,000 feet over Malaysia, opened a door and exited with a parachute allowing the aircraft to climb again and follow the routing initially north west avoiding radar coverage and then turning south over the Indian/Southern Ocean? Would be a very well planned way of trying to throw everyone off the trail and expect finding the wreckage to e very unlikely. Did any of the known people on-board have jump experience (night time, high altitude)?
Then again, maybe that is just as absurd as the alien theory?