KUALA LUMPUR: It is urgent to find the missing Malaysian Airlines MH-370 aircraft which has been missing for about 10 hours now, aviation attorney Mary Schiavo was quoted saying in CNN news at 12.10 noon today.
“Every minute is extremely valuable in identifying the aircraft to rescue the passengers,” the Former Inspector General of the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) said.
Meanwhile, MAS vice president of operation control Fuad Sharuji told CNN they last contacted the Boeing 777 over the South China Sea.
“We lost contact about two hours after the flight departed at 12.41am,” he said, adding that it was scheduled to land in Beijing International Airport at 6.30am.
Asked if there’s a possibility it may have crashed into the South China Sea, Fuad said there are certain the aircraft was between the Malaysian and Vietnamese air space and did not get beyond that.
“We got in touch with the local authorities, as well as Vietnam and China authorities and other five aircraft which were in the vicinity. However, all confirmed that they could not identify the plane.”
He said the Malaysian search and rescue team are exploring over the national waters and have requested additional aid from the Vietnam government.
“The search and rescue team are from Kuantan, Kota Baru and Subang. They are surveying over air and waters in efforts to identify the aircraft.
“We informed the family members of the passengers that we do not know the status of the plane, and have requested them to be patient until we get news of the aircraft and its whereabouts.”
The MH370 had lost contact with Subang Air Trffic Control at 2.40am today.
The flight was carrying a total of 239 passengers and crew comprising 227 passengers (including two infants) and 12 crew members.
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