9M-MRO, the aircraft involved in MH370. Original picture by planespotters.net.
Canberra, August 24th 2016: The Joint Agency Co-ordination Centre (JACC) said the Australian-led search for the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 is expected to wrap up in December.
The search will be suspended indefinitely if there is no new evidence found. It was originally scheduled to finish in August, but bad weather and unexpected search vessel maintenance has pushed forward the schedule.
The latest statement, jointly released by JACC as well as Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) said over 110,000 square kilometers out of 120,000 square kilometers total search zone has been thoroughly explored.
About MH370: On March 8th 2014, the airplane vanished while it is on its way to Beijing, China. No major piece of wreckage has found. It is believed to be crashed at a remote location in Indian Ocean.
A news report has just come out saying a helicopter was reported missing in Sarawak. The helicopter belongs to GCA Skyline Aviation Inc. Source: Interaksyon. It is registered in Philippines. The helicopter model is Eurocopter AS350 Ecureuil.
Director-General (DG) of Malaysian Department of Civil Aviation (DCA), Datuk Seri Azharuddin Abdul Rahman has confirmed the disappearance. He said the helicopter lost contact with air traffic control tower just after departure from Betong. “The helicopter left Betong at 4:12 PM and should have arrived in Kuching around 5 PM”, he said.
Crew and Passengers
Capt Rudolf Rex Ragas – pilot
Datuk Noriah Kasnon, Deputy Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities (MPIC)
Asmuni Abdullah – Noriah’s husband
Datuk Wan Mohammad Khairil Anuar Wan Ahmad, Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) Chairman
Datuk Dr Sundaran Annamalai, Secretary-general, MPIC
Ahmad Sobri Harun – personal bodyguard to Datuk Noriah
The Aircraft
Model: Eurocopter AS350 Ecureuil
Type: Single-engine helicopter
Registration Country: Philippines
Registration Number: RP-C6828
Operator: GCA Skyline Aviation Inc.
Search and Rescue (SAR) Team
Malaysian Transport Minister, Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai commented about SAR mission during a statement on Friday night (6 May 2016). Source
“The SAR mission is currently being led by the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) with the assistance of the Royal Malaysia Air Force (TUDM), Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM), Marine Police, Fire and Rescue Department, Malaysia Maritime Enforcement Agency (APMM) and Civil Defence Department,” – Liow Tiong Lai, Malaysian Transport Minister
THURSDAY, MAY 5TH 2016
5:00 PM: A helicopter traveling from Betong to Kuching has been reported lost at that time.
9:00 PM: The Star news portal reported, albeit briefly, about the disappearance. “More to come” has been added at the end of news report, indicating there will be more stories.
9:30 PM: We are still looking for more information on the internet and no new information has been reported. The fate of crew and passengers as well as aircraft registration number remained unknown at the moment.
FRIDAY 6 MAY 2016
12:40 AM: Sarawak Police has given a press statement at 11:30 PM yesterday. No signs of the helicopter so far. Search and rescue team has been deployed at last known location of the helicopter. Sarawak Chief Minister, Tan Sri Adenan Satem has asked people to offer their prayer. Weather was reported as bad during the time of disappearance.
10:04 AM: A team of about 100 personnel are searching for the missing helicopter. They will focus on the districts of Sri Aman, Simunjan and Betong. Personnel involved are from Marine Police, Fire and Rescue Department, Police, General Operations Force and Civil Defence Department. Source: The Star
11:45 AM: Kuala Kangsar MP, Datuk Wan Mohammad Khairil is also in the missing helicopter. Friends and relatives begins to gather at his home to learn about the new developments of the disappearance.
11:49 AM: Fire Rescue team has found debris of a helicopter at Sungai Batang Sadong, believed to be remains of the missing helicopter.
Noon: A body belonged to a woman has been found. The body was brought to SMK Sebuyau with a boat later at 1 pm. It was flown to Kuching by TUDM’s Nuri Helicopter at arrived at 3:30 PM. Source
7:47 PM: Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai said the investigation will be conducted by DCA’s Air Accident & Investigation Bureau (BSKU).
Investigations into accident will be conducted by Air Accident & Investigation Bureau (BSKU) led by Captain Datuk Yahaya bin Abdul Rahman.
8:34 AM: Second body was found, according to Farhan Sufyan Borhan, Assistant Director of Sarawak Fire Rescue Department. Source
11:45 AM: Datuk Seri Dr. Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister, tweeted about the finding of third body in the crash. The third body was later confirmed as Ahmad Sobri. Source
12:17 PM: Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai said Search and Rescue (SAR) mission today will cover 875 square kilometers, compared to 2,850 square kilometers yesterday.
Misi hari ini akan meliputi kawasan seluas 875km persegi manakala misi smlm meliputi kawasan seluas 2,850km persegi pic.twitter.com/6coQv9VLmP
