MH370: Malaysia's civil aviation chief resigns over failings during disappearance of plane
Air traffic control shortcomings highlighted in new report
Your support helps us to tell the story
This election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.
The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.
Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.
The head of Malaysia’s civil aviation authority has resigned to take responsibility for shortcomings during flight MH370‘s disappearance.
The passenger jet disappeared with 239 people on board en route to Beijing from Kuala Lumpur on 8 March 2014.
In a statement announcing his resignation, Azharuddin Abdul Rahman said a new report released on Monday had highlighted failures by air traffic control to comply with standard operating procedures, but had not suggested the aviation authority was to blame for the loss of the aircraft.
“Therefore, it is with regret and after much thought and contemplation that I have decided to resign as the chairman of civil aviation authority of Malaysia effective 14 days from the date of the resignation notice which I have served today,” he said in the statement.
Monday’s report highlighted mistakes made by Kuala Lumpur air traffic control. It said controllers failed to initiate standard emergency phases, and that there was no record that they took any action to alert the air force or kept a continuous watch on the radar display.
Investigators said the controls of the Boeing 777 aircraft were likely deliberately manipulated to take it off course but they were unable to determine who was responsible.
The document was prepared by a 19-member international team.
“We cannot exclude that there was an unlawful interference by a third party” such as the pilots being held hostage, said Kok Soo Chon, head of the MH370 safety investigation team.
Mr Kok said investigators did not believe the disappearance was orchestrated by the pilots, while cautioning that definitive answers could only come if and when the jet’s wreck was finally located.
So far only fragments have washed ashore, and two massive searches of the ocean have been called off.
New Malaysian transport minister Anthony Loke said the government has formed a committee to investigate and take action against any misconduct based on the report findings.
The report said there was insufficient information to determine if the aircraft broke up in the air or during impact with the ocean.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments