No ‘health issues’ with missing MH370, says MAS

KUALA LUMPUR — There were no “health issues” with the Boeing 777-200 aircraft used on the missing Malaysia Airlines (MAS) flight MH370, said MAS group chief executive officer Ahmad Jauhari Yahya.

In a statement released today (March 11), the CEO said the aircraft underwent maintenance on Feb 23, before it departed for Beijing on March 8 and was due for maintenance on June 19.

Mr Ahmad Jauhari said the maintenance of the aircraft was carried out at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport hangar.

“There were no issues on the health of the aircraft,” he said, adding that the aircraft, bearing registration number 9M-MRO, was delivered to MAS in 2002 and has recorded 53,465.21 flying hours.

“All MAS aircraft are equipped with a continuous data-monitoring system called the Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System (ACARS).

“ACARS transmits data automatically and there were no distress calls relayed from MH370.”

Beijing-bound MH370 disappeared off the radar at 1.20am on Saturday, along with 12 crew members and 227 passengers.

Despite a massive search and rescue operation mounted by 10 nations, including the United States and Australia, the aircraft has not been found.

The SAR teams initially began their search along the flight path of MH370.

However, they have since expanded their search area beyond the flight path and are now focusing on the west coast of the peninsula, along the Strait of Malacca.

“Authorities are also looking at a possible attempt by MH370 to make an air-turn back to Subang,” Mr Ahmad Jauhari said.

The last known position of MH370 before it disappeared was 065515 North (longitude) and 1033443 East (latitude).

Debris and oil slick discovered in the South China Sea have been examined and tested and showed that they did not originate from MH370.

Mr Ahmad Jauhari added that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s special envoy to China, Tan Sri Ong Ka Ting, was assisting and coordinating all operational matters with MAS. THE MALAYSIAN INSIDER