I was on a redeye last night so took a nap this afternoon and woke up to 42 texts. That’s a bit more than usual. That usually only happens for bad reasons.
Via the Malaysia Airlines Facebook page:
Statement By Our Group Chief Executive Officer, Ahmad Jauhari Yahya on MH370 Incident. Released at 9.05am/8 Mar 2014 MY Local Time
We deeply regret that we have lost all contacts with flight MH370 which departed Kuala Lumpur at 12.41 am earlier this morning bound for Beijing.
The aircraft was scheduled to land at Beijing International Airport at 6.30am local Beijing time.
Subang Air Traffic Control reported that it lost contact at 2.40am (local Malaysia time) today.
Flight MH370 was operated on a Boeing B777-200 aircraft.
The flight was carrying a total number of 239 passengers and crew – comprising 227 passengers (including 2 infants), 12 crew members. The passengers were of 13 different nationalities.
Malaysia Airlines is currently working with the authorities who have activated their Search and Rescue team to locate the aircraft.
Our team is currently calling the next-of-kin of passengers and crew.
Focus of the airline is to work with the emergency responders and authorities and mobilize its full support.
Our thoughts and prayers are with all affected passengers and crew and their family members.
The airline will provide regular updates on the situation.
The public may contact +603 7884 1234. For media queries, kindly contact +603 8777 5698/ +603 8787 1276.
My thoughts are with the families of those onboard. When something like this happens it always puts things into perspective…
It appears as if they lost contact with the plane two hours out of Kuala Lumpur. Just to put the “Great Circle” route between Kuala Lumpur and Beijing into perspective, figure that’s about a third of the way into the flight:
Hi Lucky,
In light of this tragic story, do you usually buy travel accident insurance separately or rely on the ones that come with credit cards? Since most of us travel on miles, most of the time credit card insurance wouldn't cover the tickets for which only taxes and fees were charged to the card. I'm just thinking maybe I should consider buying separate insurance from now on.
@ Tao -- Not something I could ever imagine doing. Flying is SO safe. I'm still safer in the air than on the ground, so unless I'll also buy insurance for every scenario on the ground I won't buy it for being in the air.
Horrible news! So sad for those onboard and their relatives (and my thoughts go to them).
And also highly distressing and uncomfortable news for frequent flyers. We were feeling 100% safe on modern Airbus and Boeing longhaul aircrafts flown by reputable operators (at least, I am/was), but the Air France A330 crash over Atlantic a couple of years ago and now this Malaysian B777 (probable) crash over the Gulf of Thailand have changed this...
Horrible news! So sad for those onboard and their relatives (and my thoughts go to them).
And also highly distressing and uncomfortable news for frequent flyers. We were feeling 100% safe on modern Airbus and Boeing longhaul aircrafts flown by reputable operators (at least, I am/was), but the Air France A330 crash over Atlantic a couple of years ago and now this Malaysian B777 (probable) crash over the Gulf of Thailand have changed this perception for ever. Nothing had happened for more than a decade, and we now have to live with the uncomfortable legacy of two of the best known airliners loosing 2 of the most modern airplanes of current times built by the 2 most respected airline manufactorers during the safest of all flight phases (cruise).
I think that is a little unfair. I have just checked on the front page of boarding area and at there are at least 7 stories about the plane.
Actually, two passengers were flying with stolen passports. Beside the Austrian mentioned above, the other passport is that of an Italian who is safe and sound. All of which might mean nothing.
Thanks for actually posting this. Sadly most of other bloggers chose to ignore this incident totally.
At least one of the bloggers had the balls to post this instead of another post espousing their referral links.
Lucky I'd like to bring you some important news that just came in on our news wires:
Bloomberg is reporting that there is speculation of foul play due to the fact that the Austrian embassy just announced that one of the passengers boarded the aircraft using a STOLEN Austrian passport.
Up to now I have had good experience with MH since RGN tickets. For this case, I am wondering why it took so long for MH to announce that they lost contact with the flight. If the flight is not tracked within 1 hour during its flight time, they should announce or need to do something with it. Why it took so long to announce something really important to families. Besides, air traffic controllers also...
Up to now I have had good experience with MH since RGN tickets. For this case, I am wondering why it took so long for MH to announce that they lost contact with the flight. If the flight is not tracked within 1 hour during its flight time, they should announce or need to do something with it. Why it took so long to announce something really important to families. Besides, air traffic controllers also play a key in this part. It seems the communication between the MH and these controllers is a problem here. Some news reported the flight should be around the south china sea close to china, some said it should be in sea region between malaysia and south VN. Last signal of the flight was reported on Maylaysia border, VN air traffic controller reported no pickup signal from the flight. Too much information floating around and nothing can be sure. Now just best hope for their families and people on board. Possible these traffic controllers went to sleep/fell assleep during that critical time? since it was early morning. These similar situations happened in the past.
Crap, This is the flight route I always take to and from Beijing during my school holidays... Luckily they operate the route with another airplane at a different time (MH360/361)
This is so sad =(
We at HKAN are now following the news of MH 370 - possibilities show (via news) that it has dropped into the sea inflight, with unknown reasons.
Sad, indeed...
Vietnam Navy reported the plane crashed into the sea based on their radar tracking.
It is terrorist attack. Xinjiang!
Dang that is really sad.
@ Marcus -- Yeah, I highly doubt the plane landed anywhere...
How can the plane have landed at any airport and it not be known instantly?
Hpw sad :(
At a bar in manhattan when I got this news alert. I think this shakes us all as these segments and airlines are always in our plans and thoughts as opposed to the average news reader. Either way, prayers for everyone involved. Really hope for good news.
A lot of is have said it was a "sad day" during the rounds of devaluations. This is truly a sad day
I just saw on the MH Facebook page in response to the press release some people are saying it has landed in China without communication in cockpit.
Saying possibly Nanjing airport. This is just what I've seen though... here's hoping.