TheJakartaPost
Please Update your browser
Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.
MH370: No proof crash was deliberate
Change Size
Well wishes are written on a wall of hope during a remembrance event for the ill fated Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, March 6. (AP/Joshua Paul)
C
apt Zaharie Ahmad Shah’s flight path into the Indian Ocean is just one of “thousands” of other routes on his home simulator, said Malaysia Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai.
He said the Indian Ocean flight path simulation did not confirm that the pilot of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 had deliberately flown the plane into the sea.
“Until today, this theory is still under investigation. There is still no evidence to confirm that Capt Zaharie deliberately flew the plane into the Indian Ocean.
“Yes, he had simulated the flight path, but it is one of thousands of simulations to many parts of the world.
“We cannot, just based on this, confirm he did it,” said Liow at a press conference after his ministry’s monthly assembly here yesterday.
Liow also said the Australian Transport Safety Bureau’s (ATSB) stance was that the crash was an “uncontrolled ditching”.
“The ATSB has already come up with a theory that it was an uncontrolled ditching. And this is based on views and opinions of experts. The ATSB is the leader of the team of international experts that came up with the 120,000sq km search area.
“Their theory should negate the controlled ditching theory that has been widely reported recently,” said Liow.
He urged the people not to speculate as it could hamper investigations.
“It is not wise to speculate or come up with unfounded theories that do not help the investigation.
“If you have evidence, please hand it over to the investigation team,” he said.
Recently, foreign press reports had suggested that Capt Zaharie had piloted the Boeing 777 in its final moments, which contradicts the common official stance that the jet was uncontrolled when it crashed.
The reports also pointed out that the flaperon, a section of the plane’s wings which was found on Reunion Island last year, bore details that indicated a controlled ditching.
The flaperon, however, is still being withheld by French authorities ever since its discovery on the French island in the Indian Ocean.
“The French authorities exercised their right to hold on to the flaperon, as they need it as court evidence.
“They are still investigating the flaperon pending some documentary information from authorities, including Boeing.
“We have already requested to have it returned to us as soon as they have finished,” said Liow.
MH370 vanished on March 8, 2014, while on its way to Beijing from Kuala Lumpur. There were 239 people on board.
A joint search by Malaysia, Australia and China was made in the Indian Ocean, and after 110,000sq km had been scoured in two years, the aircraft had yet to be found.
A recent tripartite meeting involving the three countries agreed to suspend the ocean search if the plane is still not found in the search area.
discussions are not transparent and not involved public participation yet. The next discussions will be in Vietnam on August 15-19. The final decision is scheduled to be reached on 2017.
