Preliminary report:
Crash involving Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777-200
flight MH17
Hrabove, Ukraine
17 July 2014
The Hague, September 2014
The reports issued by the Dutch Safety Board are open to the public.
Category: Malaysia Airlines
MAS Flight Returned to Kuala Lumpur due to Cabin Pressure Issues
Malaysia Airlines flight MH70, en route from Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Malaysia, to Tokyo’s Narita Airport, had to return and make an emergency landing at 1:00 p.m. on August 23.
The decision for returning was made after the crew reported cabin pressure maintenance issues inside the plane. According to Azharuddin Abdul Rahman, director-general of Malaysian Civil Aviation Department, “It was not able to maintain the right pressure differential for the comfort of the passengers.”
The Boeing 777-200 aircraft safely landed back just 50 minutes after it took off. No one was hurt.
The passengers were accommodated in another flight which took them to their destination with a 2.5 hours delay.
Potentially unsafe situation in Crimea area lives up to potential. Statement from Maylaysia Airline, Partial Manifest, Cargo
ICAO’s take is that the air traffic control region where the passenger plane came down was believed to be under the control of the Ukraine, and they will be pointing blame at the Ukraine for its internal strife.
The Ukraine is saying…but the ICAO said it was safe.
Other countries were already avoiding the hot zone. We should ask the ICAO why they were professing it was safe when it was so obviously not.
Let’s all remember that greasing the wings of airline commerce does not mean greasing up the safety glasses too.
Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Safety measures failed because of corporate optimism, cutting corners and who knows what other reasons. Prepare for the mudslinging and blame throwing to begin. Someone pulled the trigger, and someone let it happen. Someone will be held accountable.
Now…Here is Malaysia’s Friday statement.
Cargo manifests, hedging on the passenger manifest, and a news clip (including 25 minutes with CBS and President Obama) and a partial translation of that raw smoke video we have seen 37 times and wondered about.
Friday, July 18, 08:20 PM GMT +0800 Media Statement 4 : MH17 Incident
Media Statement 4: MH17 Incident
1. Flight plan
MH17’s flight plan was approved by Eurocontrol, who are solely responsible for determining civil aircraft flight paths over European airspace. Eurocontrol is the air navigation service provider for Europe and is governed under ICAO rules.
The route over Ukrainian airspace where the incident occurred is commonly used for Europe to Asia flights. A flight from a different carrier was on the same route at the time of the MH17 incident, as were a number of other flights from other carriers in the days and weeks before. Eurocontrol maintains records of all flights across European airspace, including those across Ukraine.
In April, the International Civil Aviation Organization identified an area over the Crimean peninsula as risky. At no point did MH17 fly into, or request to fly into, this area. At all times, MH17 was in airspace approved by the ICAO.
2. Altitude
MH17 filed a flight plan requesting to fly at 35,000ft throughout Ukrainian airspace. This is close to the ‘optimum’ altitude.
However, an aircraft’s altitude in flight is determined by air traffic control on the ground. Upon entering Ukrainian airspace, MH17 was instructed by Ukrainian air traffic control to fly at 33,000ft.
3. Nationalities
Following this afternoon’s press conference, Malaysia Airlines can confirm that a further 16 passengers’ nationalities have been verified. The latest breakdown of nationalities of those on board the flight is as follows:
· 189 Netherlands
· 44 Malaysia
· 27 Australia
· 12 Indonensia
· 9 UK
· 4 Belgium
· 4 Germany
· 3 Philippines
· 1 Canada
· 1 New Zealand
Four passengers’ nationalities remain to be verified.
4. New flight route
Following this incident, Malaysia Airlines now avoids Ukrainian airspace entirely, flying further south over Turkey.
-end-
And below, take a look at an update of the raw news video with translation; families in distress; speculation about the terrorist/separatists.
Note ICAO was reportedly denying war zone warning and Ukraine was denying war, but the NOTAM warnings were ALREADY up by US, Britain and European aviation authorities.
Missed the flight. Second Chance.
CBS News Special Report: American on Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 – 25 Minutes
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#MH17 Public Statements
FROM THE FAA:
On the evening of July 17, the Federal Aviation Administration issued a Notice to Airman (NOTAM) prohibiting U.S. flight operations until further notice, in the airspace over eastern Ukraine, due to recent events and the potential for continued hazardous activities. The restricted area includes the entire Simferopol and Dnepropetrovsk flight information regions (FIRs). This action expands a prohibition of U.S. flight operations issued by the FAA in April, over the Crimean region of Ukraine and adjacent areas of the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. No scheduled U.S. airlines are currently flying routes through this airspace.
The NOTAM reads:
FDC 4/2182 (A0025/14)–null AIRSPACE SPECIAL NOTICE UKRAINE POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS SITUATION -SIMFEROPOL (UKFV) AND DNEPROPETROVSK (UKDV) FLIGHT INFORMATION REGIONS (FIR)
UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE, DUE TO RECENT EVENTS, ALL FLIGHT OPERATIONS BY UNITED STATES (U.S.) OPERATORS WITHIN THE SIMFEROPOL (UKFV) AND DNEPROPETROVSK (UKDV) FIRS ARE PROHIBITED. EVENTS HAVE INDICATED THE POTENTIAL FOR CONTINUED HAZARDOUS ACTIVITIES. THIS ACTION EXPANDS A PROHIBITION OF U.S. FLIGHT OPERATIONS ISSUED BY THE FAA INITIALLY AS A NOTAM ON APRIL 3, 2014, AND LATER AS SFAR NO. 113 OVER THE CRIMEAN REGION OF UKRAINE AND ADJACENT AREAS OF THE BLACK SEA AND THE SEA OF AZOV. THE PROHIBITIONS DESCRIBED IN THE SPECIFIED AIRSPACE CONTAINED IN THIS NOTAM AND THE ASSOCIATED JUSTIFICATION FOR THIS SPECIAL NOTICE WILL BE RE-EVALUATED BY 31 OCT 2014. 18 JUL 00:30 2014 UNTIL 1410312359. CREATED: 18 JUL 00:41 2014
ICAO:
ICAO Monitoring Loss of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17
?The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) expresses its deep regrets following the loss of the passengers and crew aboard Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17. ICAO is closely monitoring reports on this tragic incident and is coordinating with all relevant parties.
ICAO recently issued a State letter advising States and their air operators of a potentially unsafe situation arising from the presence of more than one air traffic services provider in the Simferopol Flight Information Region (FIR). The loss of MH17 occurred outside of the Simferopol FIR and ICAO stands ready to support the accident investigation upon request.
IATA
From Malaysia Airlines
Friday, July 18, 04:15 AM SGT +0800 Statement by Prime Minister Najib Razak: Malaysian Airlines flight 17
Yesterday evening, I was informed of the terrible and deeply shocking news that a Malaysia Airlines jet went down in eastern Ukraine.
Malaysia Airlines has confirmed that the jet was Malaysia Airlines flight 17, which was on a scheduled flight from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur.
The flight departed Amsterdam at 12.15pm, local time. It was scheduled to arrive in Kuala Lumpur at 6.10 am, local, Malaysian time.
The aircraft was a Boeing 777-200.
The aircraft’s flight route was declared safe by the International Civil Aviation Organisation.
And International Air Transportation Association has stated that the airspace the aircraft was traversing was not subject to restrictions.
Malaysia Airlines has confirmed that the aircraft did not make a distress call.
The flight was carrying a total number of 295 people – comprising 280 passengers and 15 crew members.
Malaysia Airlines is in the process of notifying the next-of-kin of the passengers and crew. All possible care will be provided to the next-of-kin.
The Government of Malaysia is dispatching a special flight to Kiev, carrying a Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team, as well as a medical team.
According to information provided by Kiev Air Traffic Control, the location of the plane’s emergency locator beacon is 48 degrees 7 minutes and 23 seconds North; and 38 degrees 31 minutes and 33 seconds East.
The Ukrainian authorities believe that the plane was shot down.
At this early stage, however, Malaysia is unable to verify the cause of this tragedy.
But we must – and we will – find out precisely what happened to this flight.
No stone can be left unturned.
If it transpires that the plane was indeed shot down, we insist that the perpetrators must swiftly be brought to justice.
Emergency operations centres have been established. In the last few hours, Malaysian officials have been in constant contact with their counterparts in Ukraine and elsewhere.
And I will be speaking to a number of world leaders over the coming hours.
I have had several conversations with the Prime Minister of the Netherlands.
I have also spoken to the President of Ukraine. He has pledged that there will be a full, thorough and independent investigation, and Malaysian officials will be invited to take part.
The Ukrainian president also confirmed that his government will negotiate with rebels in the east of the country, in order to establish a humanitarian corridor to the crash site.
Just now, I received a call from President Obama.
He and I both agreed that the investigation must not be hindered in anyway.
An international team must have full access to the crash site.
And no one should interfere with the area, or move any debris, including the black box.
This is a tragic day, in what has already been a tragic year, for Malaysia.
As we work to understand what happened, our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of those onboard the flight.
I cannot imagine what they must be going through at this painful time.
The flight’s passengers and crew came from many different countries.
But today, regardless of nationality, we are all united in grief.
ENDS
Friday, July 18, 12:30 AM SGT +0800 Media Statement 1: MH17 Incident
Media Statement 1: MH17 Incident
Malaysia Airlines confirms it received notification from Ukrainian ATC that it had lost contact with flight MH17 at 1415 (GMT) at 30km from Tamak waypoint, approximately 50km from the Russia-Ukraine border.
Flight MH17 operated on a Boeing 777 departed Amsterdam at 12.15pm (Amsterdam local time) and was estimated to arrive at Kuala Lumpur International Airport at 6.10 am (Malaysia local time) the next day.
The flight was carrying 280 passengers and 15 crew onboard.
More details to follow.
Ends.
Statement by Prime Minister Mark Rutte in response to the Ukraine air disaster
News item | 17-07-2014
I am deeply shocked by the dramatic reports of the air disaster involving Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur over Ukrainian territory. Much remains unclear as regards the cause and circumstances of the crash and those on board the aircraft. I have just spoken to the Ukrainian president.
I am now on my way back to the Netherlands to monitor and address the situation from The Hague.
Our thoughts are with those who were on board the aircraft and their family and friends.
Statement Minister Opstelten on flight MH17
News item | 17-07-2014
Response by Minister Opstelten the messages about the crash of flight MH17.
I am deeply shocked by the tragic news about the crash of flight MH17 from Malaysian Airlines from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur over Ukrainian territory. Here are casualties from many countries, while there are also many Dutch.
My thoughts are with all the relatives and friends of the people who were in that plane and who are now in limbo.
The images that you and I have seen are of course terrible. But still many are unclear about the facts and circumstances.
There is obviously researched. Once the situation gives cause to reveal additional information. Malaysian Airlines gives an explanation as soon as possible so I understand now.
I am aware that this research can never go fast enough, but everyone does at this time every effort to inform family and friends. As well as possible For relatives of passengers of flight MH17 is as soon as possible a phone announced by Schiphol for more information and care. Is directly communicated. Once known
Here I must leave it at that, I’m going back to be informed by my team. Closer to me
Second statement of Prime Minister Mark Rutte on flight MH17.
It has taken place in Ukraine where MH17 flight, en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, crashed. Terrible disaster On board were 283 passengers and 15 crew members. Among the passengers were at least 154 Dutch.
The worst case scenario has become reality. We are struck by one of the largest aviation disasters in Dutch history.
The Netherlands is shocked by this tragic event.
Our thoughts go out to the families, who are facing. With an intense sadness
We live very with them.
The relatives of the victims to the extent known to be informed.
There is still much uncertainty about the exact cause of the disaster.
Believe me that we are doing everything to find out. The facts as soon as possible
Also everything is being done to repatriate the deceased. Asap
Survivors and relatives of victims in a special issue of Foreign Affairs rightly. The number is: 070-3487770
There is currently a consular assistance team en route to Kiev to strengthen. NL embassy
There is also a team of the Dutch Embassy in Malaysia present at the airport in Kuala Lumpur to accommodate. Relatives there
You’ll have lots of questions, I understand very well, but many questions we can not answer at this time.
Tomorrow we hope to have more information available and you will be informed about naturally.
MH17 Another Malaysia Airlines tragedy of infinite magnitude. Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 Shot Down in Ukraine
Ukraine’s Ministry of Interior confirmed that a Malaysia Airlines plane en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur crashed in the Ukraine near the Hrabovo village at Torez, near Shakhtersk, 25 miles from the Russia border in a location where Ukrainian troops and pro-Russian rebels have been in conflict.
None of the 285 passengers or 15 crew is reported to have survived. It is being reported that the plane was shot down by a BUK surface-to-air missile but Ukrainian rebels deny involvement. The plane was at 33000 feet when it disappeared from radar.
The wreckage was seen on the ground at 17.10. The plane involved was Boeing 777-200, registration 9M-MRD.
Raw Video
The flight plan has been released:
(FPL-MAS17-IS
-B772/H-SDFGHIJ3J5M1RWXY/LB1D1
-EHAM1000
-N0490F310 ARNEM UL620 SUVOX UZ713 OSN UL980 MOBSA DCT POVEL DCT SUI L980 UTOLU/N0490F330 L980 LDZ M70 BEMBI L980 PEKIT/N0480F350 L980 TAMAK/N0480F350 A87 TIROM/N0490F350 A87 MAMED B449 RANAH L750 ZB G201 BI DCT MURLI DCT TIGER/N0490F370 L333 KKJ L759 PUT R325 VIH A464 DAKUS DCT
-WMKK1137 WMSA WMKP
-EET/EDGG0017 EDWW0023 EDUU0036 EPWW0052 UKLV0135 UKBV0153 UKDV0225 URRV0255 UATT0347 UTAK0411 UTAA0432 UTAV0507 OAKX0518 OPLR0601 OPKR0616 VIDF0631 VABF0725 VECF0747 VYYF0926 VOMF0930 VTBB1013 WMFC1051 REG/9MMRD PBN/A1B1C1D1L1O1S2 SEL/QREJ DOF/140717 RMK/ACASII EQUIPPED)
A NOTAM is a notification issued to pilots before a flight, advising them of circumstances relating to the state of flying.
Did Malaysia not have NOTAM, like the FAA NOTAM below?
B0447/14 (Issued for EISN PART 1 OF 2) – POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS SITUATION UKRAINE AIRSPACE, PARTICULARLY
OVER
CRIMEA, THE BLACK SEA, AND THE SEA OF AZOV.
DUE TO THE POTENTIAL FOR CONFLICTING AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL (ATC)
INSTRUCTIONS FROM UKRAINIAN AND RUSSIAN AUTHORITIES AND FOR THE
RELATED POTENTIAL MISIDENTIFICATION OF CIVIL AIRCRAFT, IRISH
AIRCRAFT OPERATORS ARE STRONGLY ADVISED TO AVOID, UNTIL FURTHER
NOTICE, THE AIRSPACE OVER CRIMEA, THE BLACK SEA, AND THE SEA OF
AZOV, WITHIN THE FOLLOWING LATERAL LIMITS:
454500N 0345800E-460900N 0360000E-460000N 0370000E-452700N 0364100E-
452242N 0364100E-451824N 0363524E-451442N 0363542E-451218N 0363200E-
450418N 0363418E-445600N 0363700E-443100N 0364000E-424400N 0361600E-
424700N 0340000E-424800N 0304500E-434100N 0303200E-441500N 0302400E-
444600N 0300900E-455400N 0322500E-454900N 0324700E-455400N 0330600E-
455600N 0332700E-455900N 0332900E-THEN ALONG THE CRIMEA BORDER TO
454500N 0345800E.
UNILATERAL ACTION TO ESTABLISH A NEW SIMFEROPOL (URFV) FIR THAT
INCLUDES BOTH UKRAINIAN SOVEREIGN AIRSPACE OVER THE CRIMEAN
PENINSULA AND INTERNATIONAL HIGH SEAS AIRSPACE MANAGED BY UKRAINE
CONTRADICTS INTERNATIONAL LAW AND ICAO ANNEX 11 STANDARDS.
END PART 1 OF 2. 01 JUL 08:45 2014 UNTIL 01 AUG 00:01 2014. CREATED: 01 JUL
08:56 2014
B0447/14 (Issued for EISN PART 2 OF 2) – UKRAINE NOTAM A0528/14, PUBLISHED 28 MAR 20:14 2014, REJECTS NOTAM
A0907/14 PUBLISHED BY THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION. UKRAINE CONTINUES TO
PROVIDE AIR TRAFFIC SERVICES (ATS) IN THE AIRSPACE DESCRIBED IN THE
PARAGRAPH ABOVE AND RUSSIA IS ALSO PROVIDING ATS IN THAT AIRSPACE.
FURTHERMORE, UKRAINE NOTAM A0520/14, PUBLISHED 28 MAR 16:59 2014,
CREATES A PROHIBITED AREA OVER THE CRIMEAN PENINSULA FOR OPERATIONS
BELOW FL290, AND UKRAINE NOTAMS A0524/14 AND A0569/14 CLOSE VARIOUS
ATS ROUTE SEGMENTS. RUSSIAN FEDERATION NOTAM A0912/14 REJECTS AND
DIRECTLY CONFLICTS WITH UKRAINE NOTAMS A0520/14 AND A0524/14.
CONSEQUENTLY, THE POTENTIAL EXISTS FOR CIVIL AIRCRAFT TO RECEIVE
CONFUSING AND CONFLICTING ATC INSTRUCTIONS WHILE OPERATING IN THE
DISPUTED AIRSPACE.
OPERATIONS ARE NORMAL IN ALL OTHER UKRAINE FIRS.
HOWEVER, IRISH OPERATORS FLYING INTO, OUT OF, OR WITHIN LVOV (UKLV),
KYIV (UKBV), DNEPTROPETROVSK (UKDV), AND ODESSA (UKOV) FIRS, AS WELL
AS AIRSPACE IN SIMFEROPOL (UKFV) FIR THAT IS OUTSIDE THE LATERAL
LIMITS OF THE AIRSPACE OVER CRIMEA, THE BLACK SEA, THE SEA OF AZOV
DESCRIBED IN THE FIRST PARAGRAPH OF THIS NOTAM, SHOULD REVIEW
CURRENT SECURITY/THREAT INFORMATION AND NOTAMS.
THE CONTENT OF THIS NOTAM SAFETY WILL BE RE-EVALUATED BY 30 JUN 2014.
END PART 2 OF 2. 01 JUL 08:45 2014 UNTIL 01 AUG 00:01 2014. CREATED: 01 JUL
08:56 2014
Malaysia Airlines Media Statement:
Media Statement : MH17 Incident
Released at 12:30am/18 July 2014
Malaysia Airlines confirms it received notification from Ukrainian ATC that it had lost contact with flight MH17 at 1415 (GMT) at 30km from Tamak waypoint, approximately 50km from the Russia-Ukraine border.
Flight MH17 operated on a Boeing 777 departed Amsterdam at 12.15pm (Amsterdam local time) and was estimated to arrive at Kuala Lumpur International Airport at 6.10 am (Malaysia local time) the next day.
The flight was carrying 280 passengers and 15 crew onboard.
More details to follow.
-end-
Tracking Down #MH370 or Physics of an Air Space Game of Marco Polo
The guessing/math triangulating the path of Inmarsat’s pings was the only thing experts seemed to agree on regarding to pinning down the location of Malaysia Airlines flight 370. Yet at the location, at least, the location according to the data laying out the path according to Inmarsat’s analysis, nothing was found in the recent search of the ocean floor off the coast of Australia. The engineers and mathematicians involved may have done their best but the guess seems to have been faulty or otherwise off somehow. If you will pardon the circular reasoning, if only we knew how it was off, we would know how it was off.
Investigators have come up with two maps that can be drawn based on the ping data, based on the speed. The variation is due to considerations of the pings which do not indicate the speed or direction the plane was moving, but only the probable distance between plane and satellite. See Inmarsat’s global representation …
However, there is opposition to the Inmarsat calculations which is presented by * Michael Exner (founder of the American Mobile Satellite Corporation) **Duncan Steel(physicist and visiting scientist at NASA’s Ames Research Center) and satellite technology consultant ***Tim Farrar which presents other data that should be considered. See the Dopplar shift jpg…
My pragmatic response to these experts is a major simplification: just that the plane did not disappear into a textbook, under textbook conditions. The pings occurred in a real atmosphere, with atmospheric variations that were not and possibly could not have been taken into account. Not only are the speed, direction and height of the aircraft factors that must be taken into account, but also the quality of the atmosphere, density, weather, etc, plus factors that a non-mathmatical, non-scientist like myself would not even know how to bring into the picture. In this search at least, the untested math used is as vulnerable as statistics is to presenting a defective or imprecise representation, or a representation which would only be true under certain conditions.
For further study on this, * Michael Exner, the Atlantic Official Explanation article, input from physicist **Duncan Steele (who calculates “a uniform ring radius based on the aircraft-satellite range given the elevation angle and the satellite’s altitude, and the latitude of the sub-satellite point, the aircraft being taken to be at the same latitude in this simplified geometry; and satellite consultant***Tim Farrar.
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Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 Complete Preliminary Information #MH370
Friday, May 02, 09:30 PM MYT +0800 Media Statement 30 – MH370 Incident
Malaysia Airlines wishes to make further clarification on the following matters:
1) Malaysians On Board
Malaysia Airlines confirms that 38 passengers of the 239 persons on board MH370 on 8 March 2014 were Malaysians. The names of the 38 Malaysians on board had been earlier shared in the Passenger Manifest which has been made public previously. Please see attached document for names of all Malaysian passengers onboard MH370.
2) Exchange of Signals and Aircraft in Cambodia
On the exchange of signals between ground and the aircraft soon after Ho Chi Minh Air Traffic Control advised that radio contact had not been established with MH370, as carried in the recently released MH370 Preliminary Report, Malaysia Airlines clarifies that what was referred to as signals was actually the aircraft displayed on the ‘Flight Following System’ screen. This was based on the aircraft projection at that point of time and not the actual aircraft position.
When KL-ATCC (Kuala Lumpur Air Traffic Control Centre) Watch Supervisor queried Malaysia Airlines OPS (Operations) on the status of MH370, Malaysia Airlines OPS informed KL-ATCC Supervisor that MH370 was still sighted over Cambodian airspace in the Flight-Following System, which is based on a flight-projection.
The word “Cambodia” was displayed by the Flight-Following System on the screen when zoomed-in, leading Malaysia Airlines to deduce that the aircraft was flying in Cambodian airspace. The Flight-Following System did not display the name “Vietnam”, even though the aircraft was over Vietnam airspace.
The responsibility of aircraft tracking monitoring resides with Air Traffic Control Centres. For airlines, it is normal to engage flight following systems to assist its pilots to manage in weather conditions or route diversions. Such airline flight following systems are non-primary and non-positive controlling.
Flight following systems also do not trigger airlines of any abnormality. Such situations have to be pilot initiated. Unless otherwise, airlines’ operations control centres would continue to see the aircraft as flying on its normal route, based on projected or predicted positions and locations.
To make the flight-following systems work successfully and effectively, it is important to have visual depiction of the aircraft’s position, coupled with confirmation by air-to-ground communications, such as through ACARS or Satcomm or VHF or HF.
In the case of tracking MH370, Malaysia Airlines’ flight-following system indicated that the aircraft was flying, however, there was no communication from or with the pilot. Malaysia Airlines OPS attempted to communicate with MH370 after we were flag by KL-ATCC, but was never able to make contact.
3) On the Cargo Carried
About 2 tons, equivalent to 2,453kg, of cargo was declared as consolidated under one (1) Master Airway Bill (AWB). This Master AWB actually comprised 5 house AWB. Out of these 5 AWB, two (2) house AWB contained lithium ion batteries amounting to a total tonnage volume of 221kg. The balance 3 house AWB, amounting to 2,232kg, were declared as radio accessories and chargers.
Ends.
Thursday, May 01, 07:00 PM MYT +0800 Media Statement 29 by Ahmad Jauhari Yahya, Group Chief Executive Officer, Malaysia Airlines
Kuala Lumpur – 55 days since Malaysia Airlines’ flight MH370’s disappearance on 8 March 2014, a multi-nation search is still ongoing for the missing aircraft, its passengers and crew.
This enormous search mission was carried out with the support from more than 20 states, firstly in the South China Sea, in the Malacca Straits, and on land along the Northern Corridor, and since mid-March when specialised assets were deployed in the air, on the sea and underwater in the southern Indian Ocean, where top experts concluded the aircraft’s last known position was.
Despite such an intensified search operations, probably the largest one in human history, we have to face the hard reality that there is still no trace of the aircraft, and the fate of the missing passengers and crew remains unknown till this day.
Malaysia Airlines is acutely conscious of, and deeply sympathetic to the continuing unimaginable anguish, distress and hardship suffered by those with loved ones on board the flight.
We share the same very feelings and have been doing whatever we can to ease the pain of the families and to provide comfort for them.
The Joint Agency Coordination Centre (JACC) in Australia has announced early this week that the search operation in the southern Indian Ocean will be moving to a new phase in the coming weeks, and it is certainly not ending.
In this new phase, the Malaysian Government, working together with Australia and Chinese governments, other international partners and specialised companies, plans to intensify the undersea search by deploying more technologically advanced assets in the search zone.
The Malaysian Government recently announced its decision to establish an international investigation team led by Malaysia. The members will include accredited representatives from the US, UK, Australia, China, France and Singapore. Also included are representatives from relevant international organisations and the civil aviation industry.
This investigation is an independent process in accordance with ICAO standards and recommended practices. Malaysia Airlines commits itself to fully support this independent investigation and provide full information and assistance as required.
From past experience, we understand the continuing search and investigation would be a prolonged process. While Malaysia Airlines is committed to continuing its support to the families during the whole process, we are adjusting the mode of services and support. Instead of staying in hotels, the families of MH370 are advised to receive information updates on the progress of the search and investigation and other support by Malaysia Airlines within the comfort of their own homes, with the support and care of their families and friends.
In line with this adjustment, Malaysia Airlines will be closing all of its Family Assistance Centres around the world by 7 May 2014.
Malaysia Airlines will keep in close touch with the families on news updates through telephone calls, messages, the Internet, and face-to-face meetings. With the support of the Malaysian Government, the airline’s Family Support Centres will be established in Kuala Lumpur and in Beijing. The detailed plan of follow-up support and services will be informed in person to the families.
Malaysia Airlines will make advanced compensation payments soonest possible to the nominated next-of-kin who are entitled to claim compensation, in order to meet their immediate economic needs.
Such advanced payments will not affect the rights of the next-of-kin to claim compensation according to the law at a later stage, and will be calculated as part of the final compensation.
Immediately after the next-of-kin have returned home, our representatives will be in touch with them at the earliest opportunity to initiate the advanced compensation payment process.
At this very difficult time, we wish to once again thank everyone for their understanding and support, especially from the families of the passengers and crew on board.
Malaysia Airlines’ thoughts and prayers remain with the families of all those onboard MH370.
-Ends-
Below statement and attached documents were made public and shared with NOKs at 8:27pm (Malaysia local time), 1 May 2014:
Audio Below
IF ANY OF THE DOCUMENTS BELOW DO NOT SHOW IMMEDIATELY, CLICK WHERE THE MESSAGE SAYS “HERE” AND THE DOCUMENT WILL LOAD TO VIEW.
Actions Taken Between 0138 and 0614
Cargo Manifest and Airway Bill
Maps
MH370 Preliminary Report
Seating Chart
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Sara Bajc on MH370, plus some thoughts on conspiracy theories
Sara Bajc, partner of Philip Wood, a passenger who is presumed lost on Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, does not believe believe that #MH370 crashed and is at the bottom of the Indian Ocean. She believes the plane is intact because there have been no bodies, no wreckage, no black boxes found and published in the media.
This isn’t news. It is one woman’s opinion. Probably the opinion of many family members of those aboard the plane. And why not? If I had someone lost aboard a missing plane, I too would probably support any kind of theory that kept hope of their survival alive. Can’t put a price on hope.
But.
What if there were a cockpit fire that emitted toxic smoke and destroyed electronics?
What if someone shot down the plane?
What if someone used some new Sci-Fi-like weapon?
What if Malaysia did track the plane on March 8 as this tabloid says?
What if the UK firm Inmarsat tracking is wrong? What if it is right?
I’ve written enough fiction (and lived in spitting distance of Hollywood’s crazy cereal of fruits, nuts and flakes) to know that the marriage of “what if” and a couple of rational-sounding factoids can birth everything from a practically real-life scenario to wildly impossible science-fiction-fantasy voodoo whacko-crazy delights. So there you have it.
You know what I believe? No one has the answers. Until someone is standing in front of me with proof, in my not-so-secret heart of hearts published in full naked glory out here on the internet, I will believe that anyone who says they think they know…is paranoid.
Now…how can I fit all of this into a tweet?
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Malaysia Search Update
Examination of salvage floating off the coast of Australia revealed riveted sheet-metal that is not believed to be part of the missing plane, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau has said.
The matter was found 6 miles east of Augusta. The search has been ongoing since Malaysia Airlines Flight 370’s disappearance on March 8, guided by data, hampered by bad weather.
The search is continuing based on analysis of the location of the pings that were detected before the black boxes’ pinger battery ran out. It had been expected to last 30 days. The Malaysia Airlines Boeing had been en route from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to Beijing and veered far off course for unknown reasons, leaving a puzzle perplexing international authorities.
Read more:
New Malaysian MH370 Investigation Team Appointed by Government
#MH370 Statement by Orion Captain regarding #Search Status
MH370: One Ping Does Not A Discovery Make. Or Does it?
Prime Minister Endorses Australian-based search
Malaysia Airlines MH370 Where Are You? Can Satellites Tell Us
Stolen Passports aboard Malaysia Airlines flight MH 370
No Mayday, then Gone
Malaysia Airlines Flight Update
Malaysia Airlines Flight Missing
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New Malaysian MH370 Investigation Team Appointed by Government
In order “…to evaluate, investigate and determine the actual cause of the accident so similar accidents could be avoided in the future” an international team has been appointed by the government of Malaysia to investigate MH370.
Australia reports debris washing ashore that may be connected to the crash. If the debris proves to be from the plane, ocean patterns may be studied to help establish positioning. If the debris is related, it will be the first hard evidence found.
The current search focuses in a 10-kilometer radius of the area of pings sourced, it is believed, from MH370’s black boxes before the ping batteries ran out.
Poor weather conditions have curtailed air searches, although ships have continued.
The position of Malaysian authorities is that the plane was deliberately diverted, but mechanical failure has not been ruled out.
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Malaysia Airlines Jet Makes Emergency Landing. No, Not that flight, Another one.
This Malaysia Airlines flight landed, but with a burst tire.
One hundred sixty-six people (159 passengers, 7 crew) were aboard the Malaysia Airlines Boeing 737-800 that returned to Kuala Lumpur after a tire blew on takeoff. Flight MH192 had to burn off fuel in order to land safely, and returned four hours at 1:56 a.m. after take-off with emergency services on standby. The big clue was pieces of the blown tire left on the runway after takeoff.
The passengers were accommodated in local hotels until the replacement jet completed the flight on Monday.
#MH370 Statement by Orion Captain regarding #Search Status
In a public statement, after the April 8 day’s search for #MH370, RAAF P3 Orion captain Flt Lt 
said that he was optimistic about the wreckage being found.
Unlike the AF447 search at a parallel point in the search timeline one month in, there has been no visual confirmation of any wreckage or debris, possibly due to tropical storms in the Indian Ocean. The official statement is that the pings have been narrowed down to a twelve mile radius, but searchers are still trying to narrow this area.
Once the area has been narrowed down, an autonomous underwater vehicle will be deployed in a grid (so-called Mowing Lawn pattern) until wreckage has been located.
If the wreckage is found soon, it will have taken twenty-three months less than the search for Air France 447. So one should be perhaps less optimistic about the search, and more determined.
Most recently, Australia announced the search area down to 75,000 sq km. Searchers plan to keep using the Ocean Shield, because it searches more area faster. Once the area is pinned down, they plan to deploy the AUV.
Moving the @MH370 Search Forward: Remus AUV
Will the Remus be deployed to search for MH370? The Remus is the platform used to search for AirFrance 447, rated to 6000 meters. The AUV device was famously designed by the Naval Oceanographic Office, the Office of Naval Research, and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution – WHOI, in support of deep-water autonomous operations.
Why would the Remus be ideal for the @MH370 search?
The video below discusses the AF447 and the Titanic search, among others.
See Remus Specs
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MH370: One Ping Does Not A Discovery Make. Or Does it?
An underwater locator beacon (ULB) such as the one on the black boxes (CVR) Cockpit Voice Recorder and FDR (Flight Data Recorder) of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 on 37.5 kHz for about 30 days at 4°C temperature. They run on lithium-ion batteries, and “mileage” may vary; 30 days is the minimum expectation. This is all relevant to today’s news because the Chinese patrol ship Haixun 01 which is one of the ships equipped with a pinger locator, has heard a ping in the South Indian Ocean.
The particular frequency was selected because it is not one that occurs in nature.
Although Malaysia Airlines told the public that “This battery is not replaceable,” the ULB batteries had been scheduled for battery replacement in 2012, but were not replaced by Dukane Seacom, the original equipment manufacturer of the beacons. (Dukane Seacom either replaces the entire pinger or installed new batteries.) If replacement was not performed by toe OEM or other parties, the actual ping time may be less than 30 days.
One ping in an ocean does not a discovery make. The wreckage has not been located, nor the ping confirmed. But we can still hope this is a step in the right direction.
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A word to #MH370 Families on the limitation of words
A word to the families on the limitation of words.
Pain has an end, but love interrupted has no end.
If I could hold your hand, I would. Physics won’t let me reach through the page to hold your hand. I can not reach though the screen. I cannot whisper in the ear of all the families that I am here for you, even though here means a world away.
If there is a time for all things, then now is the time to cry. Cry till all the tears are gone; then tomorrow there will be one less tear to cry, and the following day, one less. Until nothing is left but the rainbow of memory.
The outpouring of empathy crosses nations. All the others who have known loss are sharing your grief. Grief is not one of those weights reduced by the number of shoulders bearing it. There is no way out from under grief—the only cure is living through it into the time of healing. So whatever it takes to choose life, let the healing begin. I know these words are less consolation than a kind touch, less than someone sitting beside you, holding your hand, providing a shoulder, an ear, a heart. You need not be desolate, alone, circling in on yourself. Mend what can be mended. When you need to speak, offer an ear. When you need help, offer a hand. Remember, this too shall pass. Remember what was good and celebrate it. Remember what was real, and let all else fall away. Let your heart be lifted. Let it be lighter from this moment on.
Latest Video Coverage of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 Search
Videos below not visible on the front page
Readers and subscribers, please feel free to tweet @georgehatcher if you have more current MH370 news.
AL Jazeera says Chinese ire over MH370 is hurting Malaysia ties.
Chinese protests put a face on the lost passengers. China officials feel public pressure from the grief and anger of the Chinese people.
The search for debris from #MH370 has been moved north based on alternative estimates of speed.
The zone of focus, 1100 kilometers away is outside of the “roaring forties” air zone, taking the search out of bad weather.
New computation of location is based on faster speeds, faster usage of fuel based on Kuala Lumpar data. Termed the most credible lead.
Pencarian beralih, pesawat bergerak lebih pantas
Families wish the information was coming faster and staged a walk-out after a disappointing press conference. Hopes are high in some areas that debris will be found on Saturday’s search.
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Arclight Films Halts the Preproduction of ‘Deep Water’ After MH370 tragedy
While the real life mystery of Malaysian Airlines flight MH370 disappearance hit the headlines, Australian film producer Alister Grierson revealed that this real life event is eerily similar to the story line of his upcoming action horror film ‘Deep water’.
Considering the sensitivity of scenario, Arclight Films on Monday announced that they have decided to pause the work on Deep water. The film company’s managing director Gary Hamilton said ‘Out of sensitivity to the Malaysia flight situation, we’ve decided to put it on pause for now’.
The film is based on the story of plane crash survivors who have to face and fight hungry sharks.
The post is an update of “Alister Grierson Says Malaysian Plane Incident Resembles the Plot of “Deep Water”
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Malaysia Airlines Media Statement
Released at 12: 30 p.m. local time
Tan Sri Md Nor Md Yusof, Chairman of Malaysia Airlines
As you will be aware, last night the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Najjib Razak, announced new evidence regarding the disappearance of MH370 on 8th March.
Based on this evidence, the Prime Minister’s message was that we must accept the painful reality that the aircraft is now lost and that none of the passengers or crew on board survived.
This is a sad and tragic day for all of us at Malaysia Airlines. While not entirely unexpected after an intensive multi-national search across a 2.24 million square mile area, this news is clearly devastating for the families of those on board. They have waited for over two weeks for even the smallest hope of positive news about their loved ones.
This has been an unprecedented event requiring an unprecedented response. The investigation still underway may yet prove to be even longer and more complex than it has been since March 8th. But we will continue to support the families – as we have done throughout. And to support the authorities as the search for definitive answers continues. I will now ask our Group Chief Executive¸ Ahmad Jauhari Yahya, to provide you will with fuller details of our support for the families.
Ahmad Jauhari Yahya, Group Chief Executive Officer, Malaysia Airlines
I stand before you today not only as the Group Chief Executive Officer of Malaysia Airlines, but also as a parent, as a brother, as a son. My heart breaks to think of the unimaginable pain suffered by all the families. There are no words which can ease that pain. Everyone in the Malaysia Airlines family is praying for the 239 souls on MH370 and for their loved ones on this dark day. We extend our prayers and sincere condolences.
We all feel enormous sorrow and pain. Sorrow that all those who boarded Flight MH370 on Saturday 8th March, will not see their families again. And that those families will now have to live on without those they love. It must be remembered too that 13 of our own colleagues and fellow Malaysians were also on board.
And let me be very clear on the events of yesterday evening. Our sole and only motivation last night was to ensure that in the incredibly short amount of time available to us, the families heard the tragic news before the world did. Wherever humanly possible, we did so in person with the families or by telephone, using SMS only as an additional means of ensuring fully that the nearly 1,000 family members heard the news from us and not from the media.
Ever since the disappearance of Flight MH370 Malaysia Airlines’ focus has been to comfort and support the families of those involved and support the multi-national search effort. We will continue to do this, while we also continue to support the work of the investigating authorities in the Southern Indian Ocean.
Like everyone else, we are waiting for news from those authorities. We know that while there have been an increasing number of apparent leads, definitive identification of any piece of debris is still missing. It is impossible to predict how long this will take. But after 17 days, the announcement made last night and shared with the families is the reality which we must now accept. When Malaysia Airlines receives approval from the investigating authorities, arrangements will be made to bring the families to the recovery areas if they so wish. Until that time, we will continue to support the ongoing investigation. And may I express my thanks to the Government and all of those involved in this truly global search effort.
In the meantime, Malaysia Airlines’ overwhelming focus will be the same as it has been from the outset – to provide the families with a comprehensive support programme. Through a network of over 700 dedicated caregivers, the loved ones of those on board have been provided with two dedicated caregivers for each family, providing care, support and counsel. We are now supporting over 900 people under this programme and in the last 72 hours, we have trained an additional 40 caregivers to ensure the families have access to round-the-clock support.
In addition, hotel accommodation for up to five family members per passenger, transportation, meals and others expenses have been provided since 8th March and that will continue.
Malaysia Airlines has already provided initial financial assistance of USD 5,000 per passenger to the next of kin. We recognize that financial support is not the only consideration. But the prolonged search is naturally placing financial strain on the relatives. We are therefore preparing to offer additional payments as the search continues.
This unprecedented event in aviation history has made the past 18 days the greatest challenge to face our entire team at Malaysia Airlines. I have been humbled by the hard work, dedication, heartfelt messages of concern and offers of support from our remarkable team. We do not know why, and we do not know how this terrible tragedy happened. But as the Malaysia Airlines family, we are all praying for the passengers and crew of Flight MH370.
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Malaysian Airlines Flight MH066 Makes Emergency Landing in Hong Kong
Malaysian Airlines flight MH066 had to make an emergency landing in Hong Kong after its main electrical power generator failed.
The flight was on its way from from Kuala Lumpur to Seoul when the main generator of Airbus A330-300 stopped working.
The plane, carrying 271 passengers, safely landed at the Hong Kong International Airport on Monday, March 24, before 3 am.
Malaysian Airlines maintains that even though the main generator failed, the plane’s auxiliary power unit was able to continue delivering electric power.
Alister Grierson Says Malaysian Plane Incident Resembles the Plot of “Deep Water”
Australian film maker Alister Grierson has disclosed that the plot of his recent production, “Deep Water” coincidentally resembles the mysterious story of the Malaysian Airlines flight MH370 disappearance.
The film is about the fate of survivors of a plane crash on a China-bound air flight. The director said “The similarities and timing is interesting, and I can see why anecdotally the two things link up, it’s a tricky thing.”
This coincidence becomes even more mysterious considering that the director’s previous movie, “Sanctum”, based on an underwater cave diving adventure gone wrong, was released exactly two weeks prior to the Northern New South Wales and Queensland floods.
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Malaysia Airlines MH370 Where Are You? Can Satellites Tell Us
After being in flight for forty minutes, the Malaysia Airlines MH370 vanished, but not without a trace. The disappearance occurred ten days ago on March 8, 2013. Techies world-wide are convinced that a trail is discoverable via satellite signal, as engines continued to transmit data after other communications were shut down. So is China, who has engaged the assistance of ten ships and twenty-one satellites in the search. The Boeing 777 was waylaid, misplaced or otherwise disappeared between Kuala Lumpur and Beijing.
China and Malaysia are not alone in the search. In response to Malaysia’s plea for world-wide assistance in scouring earth, wave and sky, twenty-six countries are pitching in:
Malaysia, Australia, Bangladesh, Brunei, China, France, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Myanmar, New Zealand, Pakistan, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, Turkmenistan, the United Arab Emirates, UK, the United States, Uzbekistan and Vietnam.
Australia is searching in the Indian Ocean.
Three BEA investigators with Air France Flight 447 experience are lending their expertise.
Two individuals boarded with stolen passports. Hundreds of theories about the disappearance are developing. From treachery to catastrophic failure to a dry run for a “9/11” style attack, every possible scenario has been postulated.
Malaysia Airlines is providing accommodations for relatives at the Lido Hotel where family briefings are being held at six o’clock every evening.
ICAO Statistics Suggest Air Travel Safety Has Enhanced Over the Years
The mysterious disappearance of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 has raised many concerns about the air travel safety. However, the global statistics reveal that air travel is becoming safer with time. 
As per the recent statistics released by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), the reported number of fatalities in international flight incidents was 372 in 2012. In 2013, the number reduced to 173.
In Asia alone, the number of fatalities has reduced from 161 in 2012 to 50 in 2013.
The disappeared Malaysian Airlines aircraft, Boeing 777 remained involved in only 1 fatal accident last year i.e. the Asiana Airlines Flight Crash, resulting in 3 deaths.
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Former MD, NTSB Criticizes Malaysia’s Handling of Airplane Disappearance Crisis
According to Peter Goelz ,former managing director of the United States National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), Malaysia has not abided by the protocols of the Convention on International Air Transportation, in handling the Malaysia Airlines’ (MAS) MH370 disappearance crisis.
In a recent interview, he regarded Malaysia’s conduct in this case as ‘the worst he has ever seen’.
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Updates on Malaysian Boeing 777-200 Crash
According to the aviation sources, the investigation teams will successfully locate the remains of Malaysian Boeing 777-200, which was carrying 239 people and was reportedly vanished off Vietnam.
Ronald Schleede, an ex U.S. National Transportation Safety Board investigator opines that the search teams will definitely find the lost plane, as they have all the capabilities and resources to do so.
A Vietnamese coast guard commander has said that a potential fragment from the plane was found by a helicopter, 56 miles south of Vietnam’s To Chu Island. He elaborated that the fragmented might be a part of the window or emergency door.
The air search teams have also spotted two fuel sticks, at a distance of 9 miles from Vietnam’s south coast.
The investigators say that once they are able to locate the plane, the flight deck recordings as well as other instruments and physical evidences will aid in finding the reasons behind the crash.
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