MH370: DCA and Inmarsat working to make 'raw data' public

The raw satellite data used to pinpoint the search area for the missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 in the Southern Indian Ocean may soon be made public.

Malaysian Department of Civil Aviation (DCA), assisted by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB), is now in talks with UK-based satellite company Inmarsat.

"In line with our commitment towards greater transparency, all parties are working for the release of the data communication logs and the technical description of the analysis for public consumption," Inmarsat and the DCA said in a joint statement, today.

Inmarsat’s data was key in pinpointing the last position of MH370 through analysis on the brief electronic 'pings' or handshakes from the plane.

An unprecedented calculation had charted a map which concluded that the plane 'ended' in the Southern Indian Ocean.

The data, DCA and Inmarsat noted today, must be helpful to the next of kin and general public even as they are expected to undertake their own independent analysis of the data.

Confusion over satellite data

On Monday, Defence Minister and Acting Minister of Transport Datuk Seri Hishammudddin Hussein said that the data communication logs as well as relevant explanation of the data provided will be released for "public consumption".

Hishammuddin had instructed DCA to discuss with Inmarsat on the matter.

His announcement had came after a brief confusion over who was keeping and had the authoritity to release the data.

Hishammuddin said that Malaysia was unable to release the data as it was with Inmarsat, which received a response from the latter that it had already released data to Malaysia.

Recently, the next-of-kin of MH370 had demanded for the ‘raw data’, arguing that the “whole world” can pitch in to analyse the data.

The families have been increasingly critical about the lack of information and are fearful that the search has been focused on the wrong area.

MH370 vanished from radars almost an hour after taking off from Kuala Lumpur International Airport, on its way to Beijing on March 8.

239 people were onboard the flight.