A lmost a year has elapsed since the disappearance of the Boeing 777-2H6ER aircraft which operated as Malaysia Airlines flight 370, which mysteriously disappeared on Saturday, March 8, 2014; and all 239 people aboard the airplane are now presumed dead, according to this statement released by the Director General of the Department of Civil Aviation in Malaysia.
In his capacity as the Chairman of the MH370 High Level Technical Task Force, Azharuddin Abdul Rahman said in the announcement that “It is therefore, with the heaviest heart and deepest sorrow that, on behalf of the Government of Malaysia, we officially declare Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 an accident in accordance with the Standards of Annexes 12 and 13 to the Chicago Convention and that all 239 of the passengers and crew onboard MH370 are presumed to have lost their lives.”
Despite the search and rescue mission involving 160 assets inclusive of 65 aircraft and 95 vessels as well as experts from 25 countries, the search — which covered the South China Sea, the Straits of Malacca, the Andaman Sea and the southern Indian Ocean — unfortunately has yet to yield the location of the missing aircraft.
There were 227 passengers, two members of the flight crew, and ten members of the cabin crew aboard the aircraft, whose registration number was 9M-MRO.
An interim statement detailing the progress of the safety investigation is expected to be released on or around the one year anniversary of the accident, as the search underwater for the wreckage continues.
“We once again express our deepest sympathy to all those who have been affected by this terrible accident”, said Azharuddin Abdul Rahman. “It has been a frustrating time for all who have tried their best in the search for MH370. We have never wavered in our commitment to continue our efforts to find MH370 and bring closure for everyone, most of all for the families of the passengers and crew of MH370. This declaration is by no means the end. We will forge ahead with the cooperation and assistance of the Governments of China and Australia. MH370, its passengers and its crew will always be remembered and honored.”
My thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of the 239 people aboard the airplane.
