Despite the sombre breakthrough news that the Malaysia Airlines (MAS) flight MH370 ended in the Indian Ocean yesterday, the airline today admitted that definitive identification of any piece of debris is still missing.
Its Group Chief Executive Officer Ahmad Jauhari Yahya said this despite an increasing number of apparent leads.
"It is impossible to predict how long this will take. But after 17 days, the announcement made last night and shared with the families is the reality which we now must accept," he said at a press conference in KLIA today.
When asked how did the authorities confirmed that the plane crashed even though there were no debris found, Ahmad Jauhari said they arrived at the conclusion given the credible leads received.
"Last night the Prime Minister said he had been given credible leads of where the plane ended. He said it is a faraway, remote area.
"After 17 days, we could only bring ourselves to that conclusion," he said.
Ahmad Jauhari said MAS will however continue to support the work of the investigating authorities in the Southern Indian Ocean.
"Like everyone else, we are waiting for news from those authorities, " he said.
He added that the airline will fly the families of passengers who were on board MH370 to Australia once there is definitive evidence from the authorities as the Australian government had announced that it would only grant visa once evidence was established.
He said MAS already provided initial financial assistance of USD 5,000 per passenger to the next of kin.
"We do not know why, we do not know how, this terrible tragedy happened."
He also admitted that the tragedy had affected the airline's business.
"It has affected the airline. But we are doing our best to ensure those who bought the tickets are flown safely and comfortably," he said.
Yesterday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak announced that MH370 had ended in the Southern Indian Ocean.
He had said UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) which had briefed him earlier, had informed him that based on the satellite data, the last position was in the middle of the Indian Ocean, west of Perth.
"This is a remote location, far from any possible landing sites.
"It is therefore with deep sadness and regret that I must inform you that, according to this new data, flight MH370 ended in the southern Indian Ocean,” Najib had said.
Its Group Chief Executive Officer Ahmad Jauhari Yahya said this despite an increasing number of apparent leads.
"It is impossible to predict how long this will take. But after 17 days, the announcement made last night and shared with the families is the reality which we now must accept," he said at a press conference in KLIA today.
When asked how did the authorities confirmed that the plane crashed even though there were no debris found, Ahmad Jauhari said they arrived at the conclusion given the credible leads received.
"Last night the Prime Minister said he had been given credible leads of where the plane ended. He said it is a faraway, remote area.
"After 17 days, we could only bring ourselves to that conclusion," he said.
Ahmad Jauhari said MAS will however continue to support the work of the investigating authorities in the Southern Indian Ocean.
"Like everyone else, we are waiting for news from those authorities, " he said.
He added that the airline will fly the families of passengers who were on board MH370 to Australia once there is definitive evidence from the authorities as the Australian government had announced that it would only grant visa once evidence was established.
He said MAS already provided initial financial assistance of USD 5,000 per passenger to the next of kin.
"We do not know why, we do not know how, this terrible tragedy happened."
He also admitted that the tragedy had affected the airline's business.
"It has affected the airline. But we are doing our best to ensure those who bought the tickets are flown safely and comfortably," he said.
Yesterday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak announced that MH370 had ended in the Southern Indian Ocean.
He had said UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) which had briefed him earlier, had informed him that based on the satellite data, the last position was in the middle of the Indian Ocean, west of Perth.
"This is a remote location, far from any possible landing sites.
"It is therefore with deep sadness and regret that I must inform you that, according to this new data, flight MH370 ended in the southern Indian Ocean,” Najib had said.
