British Airways (London) will restore service to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia starting on May 27, 2015 from London (Heathrow). The daily route will be operated with Boeing 777-200 ER aircraft per Airline Route. The weakness of Malaysia Airlines flights probably led to the decision to restore the route.
Copyright Photo: SPA/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 777-236 ER G-YMMA (msn 30302) gracefully climbs away from London (Heathrow Airport).
British Airways:ย 
Royal Jordanian Airlines (Amman) inaugurated Boeing 787 service as planned on September 1 from its base at Queen Alia International Airport to London Heathrow Airport.
The pictured Boeing 787-8 JY-BAA is the first of five that will join the RJ fleet during this year as part of the companyโs strategic plan to modernize its long-range fleet of aircraft, replacing the currently operating Airbus A340s and A330s.
As previously reported, JY-BAA was received on August 27, 2014, Royal Jordanian becomes only the second airline in the Middle East to operate the 787.
Royal Jordanian is the first airline worldwide to take delivery of a Boeing 787 with the latest Thales in-Flight entertainment system called AVANT. The system offers passengers the next level of in-flight entertainment with 17โ touchscreens in Crown and 10.6โ touchscreens in Economy Class.
RJ chose to configure its Dreamliner to carry 24 passengers in business class and 246 in economy.
Customers in all classes will experience an improved cabin environment featuring LED mood lighting, larger windows, bigger overhead bins, lower cabin altitude and enhanced ventilation systems and reduced noise levels among other features.
Royal Jordanian will continue to expand its 787 operations. Effective October 12 the new type will be assigned to the Amman-Bangkok-Hong Kong route (four days a week). For the other three days a week, effective October 15, the aircraft will fly the Amman-Bangkok-Kuala Lumpur route.
Copyright Photo: Wingnut/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 787-8 JY-BAA (msn 37983) taxies across the ramp at London’s Heathrow Airport.
Royal Jordanian:ย
Malaysia Airlines (Kuala Lumpur) flight MH 17 operating from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur with the pictured Boeing 777-2H6 ER 9M-MRD (msn 28411) (since repainted) with 280 passengers and 15 crew members, while operating at flight level 330 (33,000 feet) and about 50 nautical miles northwest of Donetsk, Ukraine has crashed. The airliner came down near the village of Shakhtarsk, Ukraine. Malaysia Airlines has confirmed the crash.
The airline issued this statement:
Malaysia Airlines confirms it received notification from Ukrainian ATC that it had lost contact with flight MH 17 at 1415 (GMT) at 30 km from Tamak waypoint, approximately 50 km from the Russia-Ukraine border.
Flight MH 17 operated on a Boeing 777 departed Amsterdam at 12.15 pm (Amsterdam local time) and was estimated to arrive at Kuala Lumpur International Airport at 6.10 am (Malaysia local time) the next day.
The flight was carrying 280 passengers and 15 crew members.
According to CNN:
“The aircraft was “shot down” over Ukraine by “terrorists” operating a Buk surface-to-air missile system, according to the Facebook page of Anton Gerashchenko, adviser to the Ukrainian Interior Ministry. There were 280 passengers killed as well as 15 crew members, Gerashchenko’s post reads.”
Read the full CNN report: CLICK HERE
Read the full updated account (with photos of the crash site) from the BBC: CLICK HERE
Read the report from the New York Times: CLICK HERE
Top Copyright Photo: Christian Volpati/AirlinersGallery.com. 9M-MRD was once painted in this special “Blueย Heliconia” livery but it has since been repainted.
Malaysia Airlines Slide Show: CLICK HERE
Bottom Copyright Photo: Olivier Gregoire/AirlinersGallery.com. 9M-MRD lands in Paris (CDG) in 2011 after repainting.
More information will be added as details are confirmed.
Video:
Video: This video appears to capture the moment of impact:
Video: The Russian surface-to-air missile that is believed to have been fired and taken down the Triple Seven. The missile was allegedly fired from a Russian separatist controlled area in eastern Ukraine:
Malaysia Airlines (Kuala Lumpur) missing flight MH 370, remains missing. The search for MH 370 has been long and frustrating to everyone involved. The fate of Boeing 777-2H6 ER 9M-MRO (msn 28420) (above) and the 239 souls on board remains a true aviation mystery. It may remain the greatest mystery of our lifetimes.
A new oil slick has been discovered near where the four series of pings were located west of Australia in the Ocean Ocean. There has been no sign of any wreckage from 9M-MRO.
According to CNN, the search for MH 370 enters a new phase with the underwater vehicle Bluefin 21 taking center stage.
However Bluefin 21 faces plenty of challenges in finding the missing Triple Seven. This article explains how the side-scan sonar works on Bluefin 21.
Read the full story: CLICK HERE
Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 777-2H6 ER 9M-MRO lands at the Kuala Lumpur base in the past.
Malaysia Airlines:ย 
Malaysia Airlines (Kuala Lumpur) has issued this latest statement today. Meanwhile Reuters is reportingย Australian Deputy Prime Minister Warren Truss said today (March 21) the floating objects spotted on satellite images in the remote southern Indian Ocean for Malaysiaย Airlinesย flight MH 370 operated with Boeing 777-2H6 ER 9M-MRO (msn 28420) may have sunk. The satellite images were taken on March 16 of two large floating pieces of debris approximately 1,500 miles southwest of Perth, Western Australia. Here is the statement by the airline of the press briefing of Hishammuddin Hussein, Minister of Defence and Acting Minister of Transport:
Introductory statement
Malaysia continues to work on the diplomatic, technical and logistical challenges involved in the search for MH370.
We are still awaiting information from the Australian search and rescue operation as to whether the objects shown in the satellite images released by Australia yesterday are indeed related to MH370.
In the meantime, we are continuing search and rescue operations in the rest of the southern and northern corridors. I will now give you a brief operational update.
1.ย ย ย ย Operational update
Search efforts southwest of Perth continue, and the Australian authorities are intensifying their efforts in the area. HMAS Success is due to reach the vicinity of the objects tomorrow.
China has deployed 5 ships and 3 ship-borne helicopters, which are currently heading toward the southern corridor. 3 Chinese aircraft (2 Ilyushin IL-76s and 1 Shaanxi Y-8) arrived in Malaysia at 11:00 this morning. They will also be searching in the southern corridor.
Japan is deploying its assets to Perth, including 2 P-3 Orions, to assist with the Australian 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 also has reaffirmed that, in addition to the technical support provided so far, it stands ready to provide further specialist search and investigative assistance once more information about the fate of MH370 becomes known.
I have also been in touch with the French delegation, which is led by the French Ambassador to Malaysia, and includes the man who led the investigation into the Air France 447 crash. They have agreed to assist us with their considerable experience and expertise.
I will also be speaking to the US Secretary of Defence at 21:15 tonight, to request further specialist assets to help with the search and rescue efforts, including remotely-operated vehicles for deep ocean salvage.
The Kazakhstan authorities have assured us that they have found no trace of MH370, and we are awaiting permission for Kazakhstan to be used as a staging point for search operations.
On the police investigation, the Ukraine police have confirmed that the background checks on the Ukrainian passenger have come back clear.
2.ย ย ย ย Satellite data processing
I would like to briefly discuss the processing of the Inmarsat data.
The investigations team received the complete raw Inmarsat satellite data which included the six handshakes at approximately 15:00 on Wednesday 12thย March.
This type of data is not normally used in investigations of this sort. It is only because we have so little other information to go on in this difficult and unprecedented situation that the data is being used.
Upon receiving the raw data, the Malaysian authorities immediately discussed with the US team how this information might be used. The US team and the investigations team then sent the data to the US, where further processing was needed before it could be used.
Initial results were received on Thursday 13thย March at approximately 13:30, but it was agreed by the US team and the investigations team that further refinement was needed, so the data was again sent back to the US.
The results were received at approximately 14:30 on Friday 14thย March, and presented to the investigations team at a high-level meeting at 21:00 on Friday. The UK AAIB, who had also been processing this data independently, presented their results โ which concurred with ours and those of the US team โ at that meeting.
The Prime Minister was briefed on this satellite information at 08:00 Saturday 15thย March, and publicly announced it at the press conference at Saturday lunchtime. Search and rescue operations were immediately shifted to the northern and southern corridor.
3.ย ย ย ย Family care
Last night in Kuala Lumpur we held a briefing for the relatives of those on board MH370. As I mentioned in yesterdayโs statement, the briefing was to update family members on the latest developments, and to answer questions and clear up any confusion.
The meeting was well attended by family members from different nations, including Malaysia, and by representatives from the Chinese Embassy in Kuala Lumpur.
A high-level Malaysian delegation, including representatives from Malaysia Airlines, the Department of Civil Aviation, the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Security Council also attended the meeting.
We had a very constructive and frank discussion. Although we answered most of the questions they raised, we could not answer them all. These briefings will continue โ at the familiesโ convenience โ for as long as the families want them.
The briefing brought the families and the Malaysian authorities closer together, not just in terms of sharing information, but also in terms of listening to the voice of the family members. The Prime Ministerโs Special Envoy to China will be co-ordinating the briefings in Kuala Lumpur from now on.
The high-level team I announced yesterday arrived in Beijing last night. Today they met with family members for three and half hours.
ย
Prime Minister Najib Razak of Malaysia announced today (March 15) that Malaysia Airlines flight MH 370 left its planned route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing a week ago as the result of a โdeliberate actionโ by someone on board the aircraft according to the New York Times.
According to the Times, “That conclusion was based on a final signal from the plane picked up on satellite at 8:11 a.m. on March 8, nearly seven hours after ground control lost contact with the jet”.
Read the full report from the New York Times: CLICK HERE
Read the analysis from CNN: CLICK HERE
The search area is again being expanded for the lost Boeing 777-2H6 ER 9M-MRO (msn 28420) that was operated on flight MH 370 from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing over a week ago.
The homes of the pilots are now being searched.
The Prime Minister also reported someone in the cockpit said “OK, good night” to Air Traffic Control (ATC) AFTER the transponder and ACARS was turned off! This would show intent and knowledge of the turn off. The aircraft then turned to the west rather than proceeding on course into Vietnamese airspace as instructed. After that the aircraft either turned north or south in the Indian Ocean.
Here is a timeline of events by the minute when MH 370 went missing: Read the full report from ABC News: CLICK HERE
Malaysia Airlines issued this statement today:
Further to the statement by the Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak earlier today into the ongoing search for Flight MH 370, Malaysia Airlines has shared all available information with the relevant authorities since the moment we learned that the aircraft had disappeared, in the early hours of Saturday March 8. This includes the very first indications that MH 370 may have remained airborne for several hours after contact was lost, which the Prime Minister referred to today.
This is truly an unprecedented situation, for Malaysia Airlines and for the entire aviation industry. There has never been a case in which information gleaned from satellite signals alone could potentially be used to identify the location of a missing commercial airliner. Given the nature of the situation and its extreme sensitivity, it was critical that the raw satellite signals were verified and analysed by the relevant authorities so that their significance could be properly understood. This naturally took some time, during which we were unable to publicly confirm their existence.
We were well aware of the ongoing media speculation during this period, and its effect on the families of those on board. Their anguish and distress increases with each passing day, with each fresh rumor, and with each false or misleading media report. Our absolute priority at all times has been to support the authorities leading the multinational search for MH 370, so that we can finally provide the answers which the families and the wider community are waiting for.
We remain absolutely committed to sharing confirmed information with family members and the wider public in a fully open and transparent manner. However given the nature of the situation, the importance of validating new information before it is released into the public domain is paramount.
Our thoughts and prayers remain with the families of the 227 passengers and our 12 Malaysia Airlines colleagues and friends on board flight MH 370. They will remain at the center of every action we take as a company, as they have been since MH 370 first disappeared.
Malaysia Airlines (Kuala Lumpur) has retired the affected flight numbers and issued this statement:
As a mark of respect to the passengers and crew of MH 370 on March 8, 2014, the MH 370 and MH 371 flight codes will be retired from the Malaysia Airlinesโ Kuala Lumpur- Beijing-Kuala Lumpur route.
With effect from March 14, 2014, the new flight number to replace MH 370 and MH 371 will be:-
MH 318 โ Kuala Lumpur – Beijing
MH 319 โ Beijing – Kuala Lumpur
There are no changes to the frequency of our services and we will continue to operate double daily services to Beijing.
Our thoughts and prayers remain with the families of our colleagues and passengers of MH 370.
In other news, the Wall Street Journal is reportingย U .S. investigators helping to probe the disappearance of MH 370 now believe the Boeing 777-200 may have flown for four hours after losing contact with air traffic controllers due to the engine date. If true, this would dramatically require the widening of the search area.
However this information seems to be in dispute, as Reuters is reportingย Malaysia Airlines has said previously that the Rolls-Royce Trent engines stopped transmitting engine condition reports ย when contact with the missing 9M-MRO was lost.
Meanwhileย planes and ships were searching an area of the South China Sea where Chinese satellite images had shown what could be aircraft debris, but had so far searchers have not found any debris from MH 370.
Read the full report from Reuters: CLICK HERE
The Australian explores the question of whether the crew passed out due to oxygen starvation because of a possible fuselage leak. The Australian ย looks at Helios Airways crash in Greece. Read the full article: CLICK HERE
In summary, there is a lot of conflicting information and reports out there and really no one as this time knows the true location of the lost Boeing ย 777-2H6 ER 9M-MRO (msn 28420). No debris from the aircraft has been located despite some interesting reports. The direction the aircraft may have taken after losing radio contact and the distance it may have flown are all in dispute among the parties involved. Hopefully we will soon have closure on this tragedy.
Copyright Photo: Stefan Sjogren/AirlinersGallery.com. Where in the world is 9M-MRO? As incredible as it seems in this modern age, this missing airplane is becoming reminiscent of the long-time search for the much smaller Amelia Earhart’s missing Beechcraft in the South Pacific Ocean.
Malaysia Airlines:
Malaysia Airlines (Kuala Lumpur) missing flight MH 370 with 239 people on board remains lost and has become a bigger mystery. The search area has now been broadened. Malaysia is now asking for international help, especially from Europe, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) to review the conflicting radar data.
Malaysia Air Force chief has denied military and government reports the Boeing 777-2H6 ER 9M-MRO (msn 28420) turned around and headed west to the Malacca Strait although this area is now part of the official search area.
The transponder was apparently turned off when it apparently turned to the west.
In summary, no one knows for sure where flight MH 370 has gone and there has been no confirmed debris found from the flight. It remains a mystery.
Read the full report by the BBC: CLICK HERE
New Straits Times has been comprehensively covering this story – here are all of their local articles: CLICK HERE
Pictorial video from New Strait Times:
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Questions and answers on the MH 370 disappearance from the New York Times: CLICK HERE
Time Magazine: 6 mysterious airplane disappearances in aviation history: CLICK HERE
Malaysia Airlines has issued this statement:
Malaysia Airlines’ primary focus at this point in time is to care for the families of the passengers and crew of MH370. This means providing them with timely information, travel facilities, accommodation, meals, medical and emotional support. All these costs are borne by Malaysia Airlines.
We have deployed teams of caregivers consisting of trained MAS staff and volunteers from Mercy Malaysia and Tzu Chi Foundation. These caregivers are stationed at five different locations at Beijing and four different locations in Kuala Lumpur.
As of now, we have 115 family members in Kuala Lumpur and they are taken care of by 72 different caregivers. At least one caregiver is assigned to each family together with a Mandarin translator for the families from China.
The caregivers have been keeping the families updated on the search and rescue efforts as well as provide emotional support.
Equal amount of initial financial assistance are being given out to all families of passengers and crew over and above their basic needs. This amount is extended to families of all crew and passengers in Malaysia as well those from other nations.
We regret and empathise with the families and we will do whatever we can to ease.
Malaysia Airlines’ (Kuala Lumpur) missing flight MH 370 from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing with Boeing 777-2H6 ER 9M-MRO (msn 28420) with 239 passengers and crew members remains a mystery and has not been found.
Now you can help by reviewing recently downloaded satellite maps by Digital Globe of the prospective search areas and to help tag suspected areas or mysterious shapes.
Malaysia Airlines (Kuala Lumpur) flight MH 370 operated with Boeing 777-2H6 ER 9M-MRO (msn 28420) still remains missing. However a vessel from Singapore participating in the search has found “suspicious objects” according to the Los Angeles Times. The objects have no yet been conformed as coming from the aircraft. 40 ships 22 airplanes are searching a larger area around the discovered oil slick (see above). The U.S. Navy has joined the search. There are also some indications that the aircraft may have turned around according to the radar records.
Read the full report: CLICK HERE
Meanwhile at least two passengers travelled on flight MH 370 with stolen passports (some media reports have it at four passengers) adding to the suspicion of terrorism in bringing down the flight. According to CNN, the two passengers who used the stolen passengers appear to have purchased the tickets together. The passengers were using Beijing as a connection point for on-going travel to Europe.
Read the full report: CLICK HERE
5 theories on what could have happened to MH 370 according to the The Straits Times: CLICK HERE
Malaysia Airlines issued this statement on March 9:
More than 24 hours after the lost of contact with Malaysia Airlines Flight MH 370, the search and rescue teams are still unable to detect the whereabouts of the missing aircraft.
The airline is doing its utmost to provide support to the affected family members, this includes immediate financial aid.
The airline has deployed a team of 94 caregivers consisting of well-trained staff and also Tzu Chi Foundation members to provide emotional support to the families. The airline will also be deploying another set of caregivers to Beijing later today.
Last night, a Malaysia Airlinesโ Senior Management team arrived at Beijing to address the media and met with family members. Families of affected passengers in Kuala Lumpur were also met by the team.
Meanwhile, Malaysia Airlines will set up a command center at Kota Bharu, Malaysia or Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam as soon as the location of the aircraft is established and the airline will make the necessary arrangements.
The airline is continuously working with the authorities in providing assistance. In fearing for the worst, a disaster recovery management specialist from Atlanta, USA will be assisting Malaysia Airlines in this crucial time.
On Monday March 10 Malaysia Airlines issued this statement for the missing airplane:
The purpose of this statement is to update on emergency response activities at Malaysia Airlines.
On notification of the incident the following steps have been taken:-
The EOC:-
1. Activation of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in the early morning of 8 March 2014. The EOC is the central command and control facility responsible for carrying out emergency management functions at the strategic level during a disaster.
2. In addition to the EOC, various departments of Malaysia Airlines are also addressing to all the different needs during this crisis.
Family Management
1. Malaysia Airlines is working closely with the government of China to expedite the issuance of passports for the families intending to travel to Malaysia, as well as with the immigration of Malaysia on the issuance of their visas into Malaysia.
2. Malaysia Airlines is deploying an additional aircraft to bring the families from Beijing to Kuala Lumpur on 11 March 2014.
3. When the aircraft is located, a Response Coordination Centre (RCC) will be established within the vicinity to support the needs of the families. This has been communicated specifically to the families.
4. Once the Response Coordination Centre is operational, we will provide transport and accommodation to the designated areas for the family members.
5. Ourย oneworld partners have been engaged to help bring family members in other countries aside from China into Kuala Lumpur.
Search and Rescue
1. Malaysia Airlines has been actively cooperating with the search and rescue authorities coordinated by the Department of Civil Aviation Malaysia (DCA) and the Ministry of Transport
2. DCA has confirmed that search and rescue teams from Australia, China, Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, Vietnam, Philippines, New Zealand and the United States of America have come forward to assist. We are grateful for these efforts.
We also want to address a few common queries from the media.
We are receiving many queries about how the passengers with the stolen passports purchased their tickets. We are unable to comment on this matter as this is a security issue. We can however confirm that we have given all the flight details to the authorities for further investigation.
We also confirm that we are making necessary arrangements for MH 370 passengers’ families from Beijing to travel to Kuala Lumpur. However, flight details of the familiesโ arrival are highly confidential. This is to protect the privacy and well-being of the families during this difficult time and to respect their space. Our position is not to reveal any information on the flight or movements of the families.
Malaysia Airlines’ primary focus at this point in time is to care for the families of the passengers and crew of MH370. This means providing them with timely information, travel facilities, accommodation, meals, medical and emotional support. The costs for these are all borne by Malaysia Airlines.
All other Malaysia Airlinesโ flights are as per schedule. The safety of our passengers and crew has always been and will continue to be of utmost importance to us.
The airline continues to work with the authorities and we appreciate the help we are receiving from all local and international parties and agencies during this critical and difficult time.
Malaysia Airlines reiterates that it will continue to be transparent in communicating with the general public via the media on all matters affecting MH 370.
Video: Follow MH 370 on radar via Flightradar24:
CNN explores the question of question of why there so few facts for the missing 777: CLICK HERE
Map: Google Maps.
Malaysia Airlines:ย 
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