MH370 made sharp turn, not a loop turn back, DCA

Ana Ghoib Syeikh Malaya 12:19 PG
Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) director-general Azharuddin Abdul Rahman has dismissed reports that the missing Malaysia Airlines (MAS) flight MH370 made a loop during the air turn back.

"The aircraft did not make a loop, it is not true," he said, referring to the different aircraft's trajectory which had been leaked to the public, at the routine press conference today.

It was also attended by acting Transport Minister Hishammuddin Hussein, MAS chief executive officer Ahmad Jauhari Yahya and Malaysian Armed Forces chief Zulkifeli Mohd Zin.

Recordings of the Malaysia military radar had indicated the possibility that MH370 could have made an air turn back to KL International Airport (KLIA).

The diagram released by the Ministry of Transport however showed that MH370 made a sharp turn, and not a loop as claimed by several parties.

Azharuddin also commented on the cooperation with Boeing Company, saying the aircraft manufacturer also joined the search team to trace the location of MH370.

"Boeing together with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) and investigation team from Australia and China are here and can be contacted via phone and email," he said.

Boeing team to join probe

Meanwhile, Hishammuddin said the Boeing team would join the three investigation teams announced today.

"I believe that they will come forward. We have nothing to hide. Let us follow the procedures and structure that we have established," he added.

The international search for the missing Boeing 777-200ER jet is a race against time as its black box signal is due to die out on April 7, 30 days after it disappeared from civilian radar on March 8.

Flight MH370, carrying 227 passengers and 12 crew, left the KLIA at 12.41 am on March 8 and disappeared from radar screens about an hour later while over the South China Sea.

It was scheduled to land in Beijing at 6.30 am on the same day.

- Bernama