Pakistan

Flight MH370: Missing jet crashed in Southern Indian Ocean, says Malaysian PM

All 239 people on board were presumed dead, say airline officials, but search will continue.

Agencies March 25, 2014

Students gather around a three dimensional artwork, based on the Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, that was painted on a school ground in Makati city, Philippines, March 17, 2014. PHOTO: REUTERS

KUALA LUMPUR:

Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370, which disappeared over two weeks ago en route to Beijing, crashed thousands of miles away in the southern Indian Ocean, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak said on Monday, citing new satellite 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 the new analysis of satellite information from British company Inmarsat and UK’s Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB), they have concluded that the 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.”

All 239 people on board were presumed dead, airline officials said.

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,” the Malaysian premier solemnly added.

After the announcement, there were hysterical scenes at the Beijing hotel where many of the relatives of those on board are staying. More than 150 of the passengers were Chinese. People wailed, cried and dropped to the floor. One woman shouted out: “It’s not possible, it’s not possible.”

But the search is still on

Malaysia Airlines vowed to the relatives of the 239 people on board the missing jet that the search for the jet would continue.

“On behalf of all of us at Malaysia Airlines and all Malaysians, our prayers go out to all the loved ones (of those on board) at this enormously painful time,” said the airline’s statement.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 25^th, 2014.