MH370: SAR enters into its sixth day; missing plane still a puzzle

The search and rescue operation (SAR) of the missing Malaysian Airlines (MAS) plane MH370, has entered into its sixth day.

On the fifth day, acting Transport Minister, Datuk Seri Hishamuddin Hussein Tun Hussein said the black box onboard flight MH370 was still undetected.

“Our focus is to find the plane. We are holding operations on the South China Sea and the Straits of Malacca,” said Hishamuddin.

Hishamuddin who is also Defence Minister, said 12 countries have joined in the SAR mission. Other countries which just joined in the mission were India, Japan and Brunei.

He added that Malaysia is also welcoming more experts in the aviation field to help in the mission.

“To date 39 aircrafts, 42 ships and 12 countries have joined in the search and rescue mission for flight MH370,” said Hishamuddin.

Meanwhile, the Malaysian Armed Forces could not confirm that the aircraft which had turned back and traced by their radar which as MH370.

Armed Forces chief General, Tan Sri Zulkefly Mohd Zin said the military sent its C130 aircraft to survey the area, however failed to trace anything.

“When Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak on Saturday evening ordered for the search and rescue operation area to be expended, we will survey these areas.

“We are reviewing the recordings from the radar and find that there is a possibility for a turn back, however we are not sure if it is the same plane, but the radar shows a turn back,” said Zulkefly during a press conference held at Hotel Sama-Sama, on Wednesday.

The Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) chief General Tan Sri Rodzali Daud also revealed that an unidentifiable aircraft was detected northwest of Penang, early Saturday morning.

“I am not saying that it is MH370. We are still verifying the matter. We are still cooperating with experts,” said Rodzali.

He explained that the mysterious aircraft was traced at 2.15am local time on Saturday, 45 minutes after the plane carrying 239 passengers and fell off the air traffic control screen between the eastcoast of Malaysia and Vietnam.

He said that the military radar which traced the unidentified aircraft was located around 320 kilometres north west of Penang.