Flight MH370 “ended in Indian Ocean” – update two
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It is almost certain that flight MH370 crashed into the southern Indian Ocean, Malaysia’s Prime Minister has said.
Citing analysis of satellite data from Inmarsat and the UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB), Najib Razak told a news conference yesterday that the aircraft’s journey ended at a remote location, approximately 2,500km southwest of Perth.
“Based on their new analysis, Inmarsat and the AAIB have concluded that MH370 flew along the southern corridor, and that its last position was in the middle of the Indian Ocean, west of Perth,” the PM told reporters in Kuala Lumpur on Monday.
“This is a remote location, far from any possible landing sites. It is therefore, with deep sadness and regret that I must inform you that… flight MH370 ended in the southern Indian Ocean,” he added.
The revelation will come as no surprise, as the investigation has increasingly focused on this remote part of the world in recent days. Australian, Chinese and French teams have all separately identified debris floating in the area, although none have been positively identified as being related to the missing Boeing 777.
According to Malaysia’s Bernama news agency, Malaysia Airlines’ CEO, Ahmad Jauhari Yahya, was seen crying as the announcement was made. MAS issued a statement shortly following the PM’s statement.
“It is with deep sadness that Malaysia Airlines earlier this evening had to confirm to the families of those on board flight MH370 that it must now be assumed the flight had been lost. As the Prime Minister said, respect for the families is essential at this difficult time,” the airline said.
“When Malaysia Airlines receives approval from the investigating authorities, arrangements will be made to bring the families to the recovery area and until that time, we will continue to support the ongoing investigation.”
Based on the debris sightings, the multinational search teams scoured three areas of ocean totalling approximately 68,600km² yesterday. The international team included 10 vessels from Australia, 10 from China and six from Malaysia, plus other aircraft and ships from Japan, the UK and UAE.
Flight MH370 was carrying 227 passengers and 12 crew members from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing when it went missing on 8 March 2014.
MAS denies SMS insensitivity
Malaysia Airlines (MAS) last night admitted it had informed some of the passengers’ families of the Malaysian PM’s address by SMS text message. But it added that it had done so only after trying all other means of communication.
“We informed the majority of the families in advance of the Prime Minister’s statement in person and by telephone. SMS were used only as an additional means of communicating with the families,” the airline said in a statement. “Those families have been at the heart of every action the company has taken since the flight disappeared on 8th March and they will continue to be so.”
The BBC had earlier reported that waiting families had been effectively informed their relatives had died with an SMS that read:
“Malaysia Airlines… deeply regrets that we have to assume beyond any reasonable doubt that MH370 has been lost and that none of those on board survived.”
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