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Future high flier? Boy, 8, pens design for how crashed planes could be found at sea and receives a reply from Delta Airlines

Eight-year-old Benjamin wrote to Delta Airlines in Atlanta, Georgia
Sent them a letter and drawing of a plane with balloons attached to it
Suggested the balloons, fitted with a radio transmitter, could be used to locate a plane at sea in the event of an emergency crash landing
Received a reply from the vice president of safety at the Atlanta-based firm

Published: 13:33 EST, 20 November 2015 | Updated: 16:35 EST, 20 November 2015

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The whereabouts of Malaysia Airlines' MH370 passenger jet baffled investigators for over six months after it seemingly disappeared without a trace in March 2014.

But an eight-year-old boy has suggested a design that could help search and rescue teams more easily locate wreckages at sea.

Benjamin wrote to Delta Airlines including a drawing of a plane with neon orange balloons attached to it, and received a reply promising to share the idea with the company’s safety experts.

An eight-year-old boy thinks he’s come up with a design that could help search and rescue teams more easily locate wreckages at sea. Benjamin wrote to Delta Airlines including a drawing of a plane with balloons attached to it (pictured above) and received a reply promising to share the idea with the company’s safety experts

His mother Laura shared the chain of correspondence with the Consumerist website.

The letter, addressed to Richard Anderson, CEO of Delta Airlines, explains how Ben came up with the idea when he was watching a TV documentary called ‘Why Planes Disappear’.

This got him thinking about how crashed planes could be located at sea.

'We could have a system that has neon orange balloons that rise up to the surface when the plane crashes in the sea,' he wrote, adding they could be weighed down with stones so they don't simply float away.

The letter, addressed to Richard Anderson, CEO of Delta Airlines, explains how Ben came up with the idea when he was watching a TV documentary called ‘Why Planes Disappear’. A Delta Airlines plane is shown

He suggested it could be made from reinforced rubber so it wouldn't burst and would be heavy enough not to float up into the air.

A radio transmitter fitted to the balloon could help search and rescue teams locate it easily.

He concluded his letter with 'And that's my idea'.

Benjamin received a reply from John laughter, senior vice president of corporate safety, security and compliance at the company.

He explained that airline manufacturers are working hard to solve problems such as airline tracking in an emergency.

The letter, addressed to Richard Anderson, CEO of Delta Airlines, explains how Ben came up with the idea when he was watching a TV documentary called ‘Why Planes Disappear’. This image shows Australian Deputy Prime Minister Warren Truss and a search area in the Indian Ocean that may have held missing aircraft MH370

'There are lots of experts thinking about ideas just like you sent us,' he writes, adding 'I will make sure I share your plans with them!'

His mother explained Benjamin was ‘so excited’ to receive the reply and a goodie bag of Delta toys.

She praised the executive for taking the time to reply and make a boy feel like his ideas are important.

WING FOUND ON INDIAN OCEAN ISLAND BELONGS TO MISSING MH370

In September, French prosocuters finally confirmed 'with certainty' that a wing part found on a remote Indian Ocean island was from missing flight MH370.

The announcement came a month after tests were first carried out on the flaperon by the French body responsible for civil aviation accident investigations.

It ended weeks of speculation about the origin of the debris that washed up on La Reunion island in July, bringing new clues about the fate of the doomed jet.

In statement that confirmed claims made by Malaysia's prime minister early last month, French investigators said: 'It is possible today to say with certainty that the flaperon discovered on Reunion island on July 29 came from flight MH370.'

The 6ft-long wing flap washed up 3,500 miles from the doomed jet's last-known location, fuelling hopes across the world that one of aviation's greatest mysteries could finally be solved.