Razak said that UK officials provided data from an analysis 'never before used in an investigation of this sort.' The families of the 239 passengers on board have been notified and officials say they believe firmly that all passengers are dead. Australian search teams report finding two objects. Sightings come shortly after a Chinese plane similarly reported seeing several objects in the new search area.
NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Published: Monday, March 24, 2014, 6:26 AM
Updated: Monday, March 24, 2014, 12:56 PM
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EDGAR SU/REUTERS
Malaysia's Prime Minister Najib Razak said Monday that Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 plunged into the Indian Ocean west of Australia. Razak said officials reached that conclusion based on new data provided by U.K. recovery teams.
Missing Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 plummeted in a "remote location" in the southern part of the Indian Ocean, killing all 239 passengers on board the doomed jet, Malaysia Prime Minister Najib Razak somberly announced Monday.
Razak did not disclose the specifics from new data obtained UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch that led officials to the shocking conclusion, which capped two-week international hunt as well as unending theories and speculation. He added that there would be no miracle recovery in the gripping mystery.
"It is therefore with deep sadness and regret that I must inform you that, according to this new data, flight MH370 ended in the southern Indian Ocean," Razak said. "Malaysia Airlines have already spoken to the families of the passengers and crew to inform them of this development."
U.K. officials used "a type of analysis never before used in an investigation of this sort" to chart the jet's path along the southern corridor, terminating in a "remote location" in the Indian Ocean west of Perth, Australia, Razak said.
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Just before the announcement at 10:00 p.m. in Malaysia, the victims families were informed of the devastating news via text message, according to reports.
"For them, the past few weeks have been heartbreaking," Razak said. "I urge the media to respect their privacy and allow them the space they need at this very difficult time."
A group of grief-stricken relatives, who had gathered at a hotel near airport in Beijing to hear the announcement, let out ear-piercing wails and shrieks as their worst fears were confirmed. The heart-wrenching moment left them inconsolable and many on the verge of passing out — several were so overcome with emotion that they were carried out on stretchers.
For them, the past few weeks have been heartbreaking; I know this news must be harder still.
"This is a blow to us, and it is beyond description," said Nan Jinyan, whose brother-in-law Yan Ling, a medical company engineer, was aboard the doomed flight.
Nan said that once Razak announced he was addressing the media, he expected the worst.
Meanwhile, tears streamed down the face of a woman who collapsed to her knees and yelled "My son! My son!"
GREG WOOD/AFP/GETTY IMAGES
An RAAF Orion aircraft returns to Pearce Air Base in Bullsbrook, Australia, after assisting in the continuing search for missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 in the southern Indian Ocean.
One man had to be restrained after kicking a member of the media and threatening to "beat him to death" for filming the emotional scene.
Razak said that officials would convene Tuesday to unveil more information.
Multiple reports of debris found in the southern Indian Ocean had raised hopes that the seemingly endless search for Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 may be making progress — but now has started the grieving process for the families.
LEADING SEAMAN JUSTIN BROWN/AFP/GETTY IMAGES
Australia’s HMAS Success is shown in photo taken from an RAAF AP-3C Orion in the southern Indian Ocean as part of the Australian Maritime Safety Authority-led search for the missing Malaysian plane.
Australia Prime Minister Tony Abbott informed parliament and Malaysian officials Monday that two "objects" were located by an Australian P3 Orion search plane about 15,000 miles off the coast of the Perth, according to news.com.au. The first of the two was gray or green and circular, while the other was orange and rectangular in shape.
“A few minutes ago, the [Malaysian] prime minister received a call from the prime minister of Australia who informed him that the Australian search aircraft had located two objects in the Australian search area, one circular and one rectangular,” Hishamuddin Hussein, Malaysia's acting transport minister, told a media briefing Monday.
“HMAS Success is in the vicinity and it is possible that the objects could be received within the next few hours or possibly by tomorrow morning.”
This comes on the heels of a Chinese search team that also discovered debris.
China’s state news agency reported early Monday that a Chinese plane spotted two large floating objects and several white, square-shaped ones in a part of the Indian Ocean where satellite imagery has shown other potential debris.
The crew of a Chinese Ilyushin-76 plane spotted the possible plane debris from 33,000 feet on their way back to Perth, according to the Xinhua News Agency. A U.S. Navy P8 Poseidon went to investigate, but could not find the objects.
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China has redirected icebreaker Snow Dragon toward the latest find, and that ship was due to arrive early Tuesday. Six other Chinese ships have been directed toward the search zone along with 20 fishing vessels that have been asked to help, Lei said.
Relatives of passengers aboard the missing plane were avidly following news reports of the latest sightings, desperate for any word on the fate of loved ones. About two-thirds of the 239 people on board Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 are Chinese.
“We’re eager to learn more about this,” said Wang Zhen, who is staying at a hotel near Beijing. His father and mother, Wang Linshi and Xiong Yunming, were both aboard the flight as part of a group of Chinese artists touring Malaysia.
JASON LEE/REUTERS
A family member of a passenger on Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 looks at messages on a whiteboard marking the number of days since the Malaysia Airlines flight went missing.
On Sunday search crews followed up on satellite images provided by France that revealed possible debris from Flight 370.
But searchers combing a vast stretch of the Indian Ocean about 1,550 miles southwest of Perth, Australia, found no evidence of the plane, which disappeared during a run from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing on March 8.
Malaysian police dismissed as “mere speculations” reports that shortly before takeoff pilot Zaharie Ahmad Shah received a mysterious phone call from a woman using a cell phone obtained under a false identity.
As long as there is a glimmer of hope, our search efforts will carry on.
With News Wire Services
msheridan@nydailynews.com; or follow him atTwitter.com/NYDNSheridan
Prime Minister Najib Razak's Full Statement, below:
"This evening I was briefed by representatives from the UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB). They informed me that Inmarsat, the UK company that provided the satellite data which indicated the northern and southern corridors, has been performing further calculations on the data. Using a type of analysis never before used in an investigation of this sort, they have been able to shed more light on MH370's flight path.
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.
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, according to this new data, flight MH370 ended in the southern Indian Ocean.
We will be holding a press conference tomorrow with further details. In the meantime, we wanted to inform you of this new development at the earliest opportunity. We share this information out of a commitment to openness and respect for the families, two principles which have guided this investigation.
Malaysia Airlines have already spoken to the families of the passengers and crew to inform them of this development. For them, the past few weeks have been heartbreaking; I know this news must be harder still. I urge the media to respect their privacy, and to allow them the space they need at this difficult time."
Monday, March 24, 10:15 PM MYT +0800 Malaysia Airlines MH370 Flight Incident - Media Statement 23
Note: The communication below was shared with the family members of passengers and crew of MH370
Malaysia Airlines deeply regrets that we have to assume that MH370 ended in the southern Indian Ocean. As you will hear in the next hour from Malaysia’s Prime Minister, new analysis of satellite data suggests the plane went down in the Southern Indian Ocean.
On behalf of all of us at Malaysia Airlines and all Malaysians, our prayers go out to all the loved ones of the 226 passengers and of our 13 friends and colleagues at this enormously painful time.
We know there are no words that we or anyone else can say which can ease your pain. We will continue to provide assistance and support to you, as we have done since MH370 first disappeared in the early hours of 8 March, while flying from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing.
The ongoing multinational search operation will continue, as we seek answers to the questions which remain. Alongside the search for MH370, there is an intensive investigation, which we hope will also provide answers.
We would like to assure you that Malaysia Airlines will continue to give you our full support throughout the difficult weeks and months ahead.
Once again, we humbly offer our sincere thoughts, prayers and condolences to everyone affected by this tragedy.
Tuesday, March 25, 12:30 AM MYT +0800 Malaysia Airlines MH370 Flight Incident - Media Statement 24
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. And it is in that spirit that we informed the majority of the families in advance of the Prime Minister’s statement in person and by telephone. SMSs were used only as an additional means of communicating with the families. 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. 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.
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