MH370 - Search ends in June 2018?
I've highlighted a few things in this article of interest. [Article follows below my comments.]
* Investigators still divided between whether mechanical fault or deliberate intent to divert aircraft.
* At least three pieces of wreckage confirmed as coming from the aircraft. I have heard multiple reports of located wreckage that don't compare with each other. The numbers differ wildly in regards to how many pieces; an article says 20 pieces were recovered, and then attempts to show only 6 on the entire search map included with the article. I, at that point only had six too. The question is - where is the written metology report from Toulousse, France, on the flaperon identity, which would affirm or negate this part from the investigation? Equally concerning is why the Acting Minister of Transportation, Mr Hussein, refused [on video] to respond to that question in a press conference TWO YEARS after MH370 performed its 'magic act.'
Yet we are expected to believe there is no conspiracy and everything is above board. Then it's really quite simple, Mr Hussein - provide the written evidence of the validity of the flaperon part. If there is no hanky panky involved/cover-up, I see no reason for this crucial report to be written AND released to the public.
03 Mar 2018 06:55PM (Updated: 03 Mar 2018 07:37PM)
Malaysia says new search for flight MH370 to end mid-June -
KUALA LUMPUR: A search by a U.S. firm for missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 is expected to complete its survey by mid-June, the Southeast Asian nation said on Saturday (Mar 3), as families marked the fourth anniversary of one of aviation's greatest mysteries.
Flight MH370, carrying 239 people, disappeared on its way from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing on Mar 8, 2014.
Australia, China and Malaysia ended an unsuccessful AUS$200-million (US$159.38 million) search across a 120,000 square-kilometre area in the Indian Ocean in January 2017, despite investigators urging authorities to extend the operation 25,000 sq km north of the search area.
Earlier this year, Malaysia agreed to pay U.S. firm Ocean Infinity up to US$70 million if it found the plane within 90 days. The search vessel, the Seabed Constructor, began its search on Jan 23.
The 90-day agreement, however, did not include days for the search vessel to travel to a port for refueling, Civil Aviation Authority chairman Azharuddin Abdul Rahman said.
"The vessel has a working cycle of 26 days before it needs to refuel and resupply," Azharuddin said at a memorial event marking the fourth year of the plane's disappearance.
Plans to recover the Boeing 777's wreckage or its flight recorders, in the event the aircraft is found, will be finalised in two weeks, and will involve several Malaysian and Australian agencies, he said.
Malaysia will take custody of any parts recovered from the seabed, he said.
The Seabed Constructor has completed the first part of its search, covering 8,200 sq km, and has now moved into a new area, Ocean Infinity said in its weekly update on Tuesday.
It has not yet made any significant findings, the firm said.
Saturday's memorial event featured talks and musical performances, as families paid tributes to the passengers and crew aboard the aircraft.
"We want to remind everyone that MH370 is not history, it's the future," said Grace Nathan, a lawyer whose mother, Anne Daisy, was on the plane.
"It's very important in the interests of aviation safety that we find MH370, so that we can prevent something like this from happening again," she said.
Investigators are divided on whether the aircraft suffered a mechanical failure or whether it was deliberately diverted over the southern Indian Ocean.
Debris has been collected from Indian Ocean islands and Africa's east coast and at least three pieces have been confirmed as coming from the missing plane.
(Reporting by Rozanna Latiff; Editing by Sam Holmes) Source: Reuters
