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Friday, July 18, 2014

No one declared MH17 flight path unsafe, says Liow

Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai denies that Malaysia Airlines was trying to save on fuel and take a shorter flight path. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Nazir Sufari, July 18, 2014.Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai denies that Malaysia Airlines was trying to save on fuel and take a shorter flight path. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Nazir Sufari, July 18, 2014.Putrajaya today defended the flight path taken by MH17, saying Malaysia had not been informed by any quarter that it was unsafe.
Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said commercial airliners from 15 Asia-Pacific countries also used the same flight path taken by MH17.
"Both the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) have clarified that MH17 was not operating in restricted airspace," he said.
"The flight path of MH17 is an approved route by ICAO and IATA," Liow told a press conference at the Sama-Sama Hotel at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport.
He also denied claims that Malaysia Airlines was attempting to save on fuel by instructing MH17 to fly along the Ukraine-Russia border.
"Malaysia Airlines has been flying this particular route for many, many years and that is the reason why MH17 had taken this flight path," Liow said.
He had been asked by a foreign news agency whether Malaysia was prepared to assume responsibility for MH17 taking the route.
Asked by Channel News Asia why MAS was only now readjusting the flight routes, Liow said that following the tragedy last night, the ICAO has now declared the particular flight path closed.
Liow dismissed the notion that MAS was trying to save costs on fuel by taking the route, saying that 15 out of 16 Asia-Pacific airlines still used that route.
When pressed by local and foreign media whether it would have been better to take an alternative route given the war there, Liow maintained that that it was a safe and approved route.
When asked about other foreign commercial airlines which had stopped flying over Ukrainian airspace, including Qantas and British Airways, Liow sidestepped the question, saying there had been no red flags raised by the ICAO and IATA.
"Malaysia Airlines has been flying this route for years and the route has always been safe," he said.
“Malaysia had not been notified by any authority or organisation that the route was risky or dangerous."
A report from IATA revealed last night that Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 was not operating in restricted airspace.
The report added that Ukrainian upper airspace is divided into five flight information regions – Kiev, Lviv, Dnipropetrovsk, Odessa and Simferopol.
Flight MH17 had been transiting the Dnipropetrovsk FIR eastbound, approaching the Russian border, when it lost contact. Since April, Eurocontrol and ICAO had advised operators to avoid planning routes which crossed the Simferopol FIR.
Crash investigation
Liow said the Ukrainian government would be conducting an investigation into the MH17 disaster, in accordance with ICAO regulations.
"The Ukrainian government has promised to conduct a full and thorough probe into the incident."
He said the Ukrainian government would also handle the updates and briefings for the families and next-of-kin of those on board MH17.
"The Ukrainian government have also extended an official invitation for two senior Malaysian officials to participate in the probe."
Liow said the crash site should be left undisturbed so that investigators could carry out their work.
"The integrity of the crash site should be preserved as much as possible both for the victims and the investigators."
"On behalf of the Malaysian government, I would like to express our deepest sympathies and condolences to the next-of-kin of those on board MH17.
"This incident is an infringement of human rights and a travesty," Liow said.
"The Malaysian government strongly condemns any attack on innocent civilians and those responsible for this unprovoked attack should be brought to justice."
Liow also said the cargo manifest for MH17 would be released later today.
However, the passenger manifest will not be released until all next-of-kin of those aboard MH17 have been notified.
- TMI

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