#MH370: Australia Checking 2 Objects in Search for Plane

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Australia’s prime minister said Thursday that two objects possibly related to the missing Malaysia Airlines flight have been spotted on satellite imagery in the Indian Ocean and an air force aircraft was diverted to the area to try to locate them.

The Orion aircraft was expected to arrive in the area Thursday afternoon, Prime Minister Tony Abbott told Parliament in Canberra. Three additional aircraft are expected to follow for a more intensive search, he said.

Abbott called it “credible information,” adding that after “specialist analysis of this satellite imagery, two possible objects related to the search have been identified.”

But Abbott cautioned that locating the objects could be extremely difficult and “it may turn out that they are not related to the search for flight MH370.”

He did not say where the objects were. Military planes from Australia, the U.S. and New Zealand were covering a search region over the southern Indian Ocean that was narrowed down on Wednesday from 600,000 square kilometers (232,000 square miles) to 305,000 square kilometers (117,000 square miles).

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Malaysia Airlines’s 20th Media Statement On MH370 Flight Incident – Sunday, March 16, 5:15 PM MYT +0800

The current general enquiry number +603 7884 1234 for the MH370 incident will change effective Monday, 17 March 2014 at 12.00 noon.

Moving forward, families of passengers and crew of MH370 may call +603 8777 5770. This is a dedicated number for families only.

For media queries, kindly contact +603 8777 5698/ +603 8787 1276.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the passengers and our colleagues on board MH370 as well as their families and loved ones.

马来西亚航空公司MH370航空事件

媒体声明二十

(2014年3月16日下午5时15分发布)

MH370航空事件目前的公众垂询专线+603 7884 1234将于2014年3月17日，星期一中午12时更改。

MH370航班的乘客与机组人员家属，请拨打专门为家属开放的专线+603 8777 5770。

媒体咨询，请联络+603 8777 5698/ +603 8787 1276。

我们仍然与MH370失联客机的同事及乘客的家属同在，一起为MH370 祈福。

#MH370: Missing Plane Has Not Landed At Diego Garcia

There were reports that MH370 was re-directed to Diego Garcia following confirmation that the aircraft had made an ‘air turn back’.

However, acting Transport Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said that the Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 did not land on Diego Garcia, British India Ocean Territory as what is claimed.

According to the New Straits Times, the acting Transport Minister said that there was also no ransom sought by any party, to date.

Datuk Seri Hishamuddin, who is also the defense minister said, “No, there has not. And that makes it very difficult for us to verify whether it is hijacked or terrorist (act of terrorism). (We look into) all possibilities. We don’t take (anything) for granted”.

Malaysia Airlines’s 14th Media Statement On Flight MH370 Incident – March 12, 1:00 PM MYT +0800

Malaysia Airlines’ primary focus at this point in time is to care for the families of the passengers and crew of MH370. This means providing them with timely information, travel facilities, accommodation, meals, medical and emotional support. All these costs are borne by Malaysia Airlines.

We have deployed teams of caregivers consisting of trained MAS staff and volunteers from Mercy Malaysia and Tzu Chi Foundation. These caregivers are stationed at five different locations at Beijing and four different locations in Kuala Lumpur.

As of now, we have 115 family members in Kuala Lumpur and they are taken care of by 72 different caregivers. At least one caregiver is assigned to each family together with a Mandarin translator for the families from China.

The caregivers have been keeping the families updated on the search and rescue efforts as well as provide emotional support.

Equal amount of initial financial assistance are being given out to all families of passengers and crew over and above their basic needs. This amount is extended to families of all crew and passengers in Malaysia as well those from other nations.

We regret and empathise with the families and we will do whatever we can to ease their burden. We are as anxious as the families to know the status of their loved ones.

Malaysia Airlines’s 13th Media Statement On MH370 Flight Incident – March 11, 11:30 PM MYT +0800

Malaysia Airlines has become aware of the allegations being made against First Officer, Fariq Ab Hamid which we take very seriously. We are shocked by these allegations.

We have not been able to confirm the validity of the pictures and videos of the alleged incident. As you are aware, we are in the midst of a crisis, and we do not want our attention to be diverted.

We also urge the media and general public to respect the privacy of the families of our colleagues and passengers. It has been a difficult time for them.

The welfare of both the crew and passenger’s families remain our focus. At the same time, the security and safety of our passengers is of the utmost importance to us.

Malaysia Airlines 12th Media Statement On MH370 Flight Incident – March 11, 5:29 PM MYT +0800

This statement is in reference to the many queries on the alleged five (5) passengers who checked-in but did not board MH370 on 8 March 2014 from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing despite having valid tickets to travel.

Malaysia Airlines wishes to clarify that there were four (4) passengers who had valid booking to travel on flight MH370, 8 March 2014, but did not show up to check-in for the flight.

As such, the issue of off-loading unaccompanied baggage did not arise, as the said four passengers did not check in for the flight. Hence, the above claim is untrue.