The search and rescue (SAR) operation for the missing Malaysia Airlines (MAS) MH370 plane may stretch on for a long time.
“This is going to be a long haul, we have to trench down on this,” said acting Transport Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein during the daily briefing held at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) on Friday.
Hishammuddin, who is also Defence Minister, said that there were no positive news so far and admitted that the 30-day period of finding the plane's blackbox before its battery life runs out, was crucial.
He however added that there were technologies available to find a blackbox even after 30 days, as was the case in the Air France 447 crash in 2009. The French authorities who investigated the crash are now aiding Malaysia in its find for MH370.
Hishammuddin said that such equipments, are very limited and is currently in talks with leaders from several nations to seek an “opportunity to use them.”
The search, meanwhile, continues in the northern and southern region, though the current focus is on the two objects detected by satellite possibly belonging to parts of the MH370 which was revealed by Australian authorities on Thursday.
China has deployed five ships and three ship-borne helicopters which are currently heading toward the southern corridor.
Japan meanwhile has also deployed its assets to Perth, which included two P-3 Orions, to assist in the search efforts.
“This morning I have spoken with the acting High Commissioner from the United Kingdom, who confirmed that the Prime Minister has spoken to the Prime Minister of the UK, and that HMS Echo is already heading towards the southern Indian Ocean to support the search effort. He also confirmed that the UK will be providing us with a list of possible assets that can be deployed if needed,” he said.
Hishammuddin said that Malaysia was also requesting speciality assets from the United States such as remotely operated vehicles for deep sea search.
Touching on the northern corridor, he said that Kazakhstan has informed that the MH370 aircraft had not landed in their area.
“We are now waiting confirmation from them so that we could use Kazakhstan as a staging point for further operations,” said Hishammuddin.
“This is going to be a long haul, we have to trench down on this,” said acting Transport Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein during the daily briefing held at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) on Friday.
Hishammuddin, who is also Defence Minister, said that there were no positive news so far and admitted that the 30-day period of finding the plane's blackbox before its battery life runs out, was crucial.
He however added that there were technologies available to find a blackbox even after 30 days, as was the case in the Air France 447 crash in 2009. The French authorities who investigated the crash are now aiding Malaysia in its find for MH370.
Hishammuddin said that such equipments, are very limited and is currently in talks with leaders from several nations to seek an “opportunity to use them.”
The search, meanwhile, continues in the northern and southern region, though the current focus is on the two objects detected by satellite possibly belonging to parts of the MH370 which was revealed by Australian authorities on Thursday.
China has deployed five ships and three ship-borne helicopters which are currently heading toward the southern corridor.
Japan meanwhile has also deployed its assets to Perth, which included two P-3 Orions, to assist in the search efforts.
“This morning I have spoken with the acting High Commissioner from the United Kingdom, who confirmed that the Prime Minister has spoken to the Prime Minister of the UK, and that HMS Echo is already heading towards the southern Indian Ocean to support the search effort. He also confirmed that the UK will be providing us with a list of possible assets that can be deployed if needed,” he said.
Hishammuddin said that Malaysia was also requesting speciality assets from the United States such as remotely operated vehicles for deep sea search.
Touching on the northern corridor, he said that Kazakhstan has informed that the MH370 aircraft had not landed in their area.
“We are now waiting confirmation from them so that we could use Kazakhstan as a staging point for further operations,” said Hishammuddin.
