SEPANG: There will be no let up in the search for the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 aircraft since last Saturday.
The search and rescue operations (SAR) which entered the sixth day, saw the authorities expanding the search and rescue area.
Acting Transport Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein who held a press conference to announce the progress on the missing aircraft said as of now there was no sighting of objects or items related directly to the missing aircraft.
Hishammuddin, who is also the Defence Minister, said the only clue currently on the table is where the authorities are focusing, which is the two areas -- South China Sea and the Strait of Melaka.
He said the SAR areas would be expanded as long as there are no debris or indication of the aircraft found during the operation.
"We will inform you where and when," he said adding that more countries were expected to be involved in the SAR due to the expansion of the search area.
Currently, the countries involved in the SAR are China and Vietnam, with Thailand and Indonesia expected to join the operation.
Hishammuddin said currently 43 ships and 40 aircraft were involved in the SAR with 26 ships and 25 aircraft deployed in the South China Sea and 17 ships and 15 aircraft in the Strait of Melaka.
"We are grateful for the assistance from around the world. With every passing day, the task becomes more difficult. As always, our thoughts and prayers are with the families of those on the flight," he said.
MAS Flight MH370, carrying 227 passengers and 12 crew, went missing en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing about an hour after taking off from the KL International Airport at 12.41am on March 8.
It should have landed in Beijing at 6.30am the same day.
Hishammuddin also stressed that Malaysia had never slowed down the search operation for the missing aircraft.
"Some claim that Malaysia had slowed down the search. That is not true. In fact, we have intensified the search. Again, let me be clear, there is no real precedence for a situation like this.
"The plane vanished. We extended the search area because it is our duty to follow every lead. We owe it to the families. And we will not give up," he said.
Hishammuddin said he had also proposed that the military conduct a technical briefing for the media tomorrow so as to ensure a better understanding of the technical capabilities of assets deployed in the SAR operation by Malaysia and other foreign countries.-- BERNAMA
UPDATE BY YAHOO
UPDATE [6:25pm]: In today's press conference, acting Transport Minister Hishamuddin Hussein said that the Chinese ambassador to Malaysia has confirmed that the release of Chinese satellite imagery of alleged MH370 debris was 'an accident' and 'a personal behaviour' which is now under investigation. He added that an MMEA plane was deployed but found nothing and that the government of China neither authorised nor endorsed the release of satellite images. Full story here.
Hishamuddin added that:
1. There was no passenger on board MH370 with flight experience.
2. Every single name on the passenger manifest is being investigated by local and international forces.
3. Reports of engine plane flying for 4 hours after last transmision are not true. "Based on records, the last transmission was at 1:07am local time. It did not run beyond that." Hishamuddin said Rolls Royce and Boeing was called in to assist and that they have verified this. Full story here.
5. Reports that police have searched the crew's homes are untrue.
6. Reports that search and rescue efforts have slowed down are untrue. "That is totally untrue. In fact, we have intensified the search," he said.
7. Currently 43 ships and 40 aircraft are involved in the search and the capabilities of all assets will be released tomorrow.
8. Hishamuddin also says he is still confident in Malaysia's radar capabilities and that this has now 'been verified by the FAA and NTSB.'
9. Hishamuddin also said all information that is not verified will affect search and rescue operations, using the information on the satellite images as an example. "We had to send our assets to check and it turned out to be untrue," he said, adding that it affected operations.
Hishamuddin added that:
1. There was no passenger on board MH370 with flight experience.
2. Every single name on the passenger manifest is being investigated by local and international forces.
3. Reports of engine plane flying for 4 hours after last transmision are not true. "Based on records, the last transmission was at 1:07am local time. It did not run beyond that." Hishamuddin said Rolls Royce and Boeing was called in to assist and that they have verified this. Full story here.
5. Reports that police have searched the crew's homes are untrue.
6. Reports that search and rescue efforts have slowed down are untrue. "That is totally untrue. In fact, we have intensified the search," he said.
7. Currently 43 ships and 40 aircraft are involved in the search and the capabilities of all assets will be released tomorrow.
8. Hishamuddin also says he is still confident in Malaysia's radar capabilities and that this has now 'been verified by the FAA and NTSB.'
9. Hishamuddin also said all information that is not verified will affect search and rescue operations, using the information on the satellite images as an example. "We had to send our assets to check and it turned out to be untrue," he said, adding that it affected operations.
