Second MH370 interim report released on anniversary of plane’s disappearance

As MH370's disappearance marks its second year, the Malaysian International Civil Aviation Organisation Annex 13 Safety Investigation Team unveiled its Second Interim Statement today, to provide information on the progress of the investigation. Chief Investigator Datuk Kok Soo Chon said the statement was issued pending a final report that would be completed, in the event the wreckage of the Malaysia Airlines aircraft is found or the search for the wreckage is terminated, whichever came first. He said at this time, the team was working towards finalising its analysis, findings, conclusions and safety recommendations on eight relevant areas associated with the plane's disappearance. The eight areas are Diversion from Filed Flight Plan Route, Air Traffic Services Operations, Flight Crew Profile, Airworthiness & Maintenance and Aircraft Systems, Satellite Communications, Wreckage and Impact Information (following the recovery and verification of a flaperon from the aircraft), Organisation and Management Information of the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA), Malaysia and MAS, and Aircraft Cargo Consignment. "New information that may become available before the completion of the final report may alter these analysis, findings, conclusions and safety recommendations. "To-date, the MH370 wreckage has still not been found despite the continuing search in the South Indian Ocean. However, a flaperon was recovered in the French island of Réunion on 29 July, 2015, and was determined to have been a part of the MH370 aircraft," he said in a statement. The statement was released at 3pm today to the public, as Malaysia marks the second anniversary of the MH370 tragedy. Kok also read out the brief statement, which had been made available to MH370 families earlier, in a live telecast on RTM1. MH370 left the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) for Beijing on 12.42am. Less than 40 minutes later, radar contact with the aircraft was lost after it passed the Igari waypoint. The plane and its 227 passengers and 12 crew have been missing ever since. A team was formed on April 25, 2014, to investigate the plane's disappearance, consisting of 19 Malaysians and seven accredited representatives of seven safety investigation authorities from seven countries. The team released its first interim statement and the Factual Information on the Safety Investigation for MH370 to the public, on the first anniversary of the disappearance of MH370. – March 8, 2016.]]>