Malaysia Airlines Flight Goes Missing: 239 People Aboard
Mayalsia Airlines flight MH370, carrying 239 people, lost contact with control and was considered missing just 2 hours after take off from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The flight was destined for Beijing, China, scheduled to land at 6:30 a.m. local time. The flight, carrying 227 passengers from 13 countries and 12 crew members. Included in the passengers are two infants.
The plane’s route would have taken them from Malaysia, over Vietnam and into China. At the time of the lost connection, the flight would have been over Vietnamese airspace and a search and rescue is currently underway. As of just a few minutes ago, a tweet by the airline asked passenger’s next of kin to the Support Facility Building.
MH370 pax next-of-kin may head to Support Facility Building at KLIA South Support Zone or to Anjung Tinjau Level 5 KLIA for transportation.
— Malaysia Airlines (@MAS) March 8, 2014
At this moment, the airline is not ready to announce that the plane is down, as it is still missing.
On board the flight included 152 Chinese nationals, 38 Malaysian nationals, seven Indonesian nationals, seven Australian nationals, three each French and United States citizens (one infant), two each from New Zealand, Canada and Ukraine, and one each from Russia, Italy, Taiwan, Netherlands and Austria.
Malaysia Airlines released information about the pilot. Captain Zaharie Ahmad Shah is an experienced, 53 year old pilot with 18,365 hours of flying since joining Malaysia Airlines in 1981.
In a statement released by Ahmad Jauhari Yahya, the CEO of the airline, “There has been speculation that the aircraft has landed at Nanming. We are working to verify the authenticity of the report and others.”
As in any breaking news situation, there are many conflicting reports. In this regard, many sources cite that Vietnamese and Chinese officials report receiving a signal from the Boeing 777. All reports regarding the plane’s signal have not been confirmed by Malaysia Airlines.
Family have started arriving at Beijing Capital International Airport hoping to see their loved ones.
The airport is currently labeling the incoming flight as “delayed”. The airline’s CEO is not giving up hope. “Malaysia Airlines is currently working with the authorities who have activated their Search and Rescue team to locate the aircraft,” Yahya said. “Our team is currently calling the next-of-kin of passengers and crew.”
The only other accident involving a Boeing 777 jet was Asiana Airlines flight 214 destined for San Fransisco, CA. The Boeing 777 jet has been in production for 19 years.
Information regarding Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 will be updated as received.
