People mourn loss of passengers, crew, call for closure
JOHOR BARU – It has been nine years since the disappearance of Malaysian Airlines’ flight MH370, leaving the families of its passengers and crew still seeking answers about what happened to the ill-fated plane.
On March 8, 2014, the Beijing-bound Boeing 777 vanished from radar screens shortly after take-off from Kuala Lumpur. The aircraft was carrying 239 people, including 12 crew members and 227 passengers from 14 different countries.
Despite being subjected to the largest and possibly most expensive search operation in aviation history, the aircraft has never been found, provoking many unanswered questions. Twitter user @daddydon65 lost two aunts and two cousins on the flight, but said he hopes the current unity government will provide closure for him and his family.
“It will always stick to my sweater, always. I lost two aunties and two cousins on this flight. It still gives me tears whenever I think of this tragedy. “It still hurts. I hope there will be a closure from our new PH government. I pray for closure. Rest in peace MH370,” @daddydon65 tweeted.
Meanwhile, political commentator Bridget Welsh paid tribute to those on the missing plane, urging the need to provide closure for their families.
“Nine years. #MH370. Families (and the world) still want to know what happened. “Unflattering) documentaries. Greater steps are needed for closure for families. Never too late for answers,” she said.
Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil stressed on the tragedy of the incident.
“Nine years ago, flight MH370 went missing together with 227 passengers and 12 crew members. Very tragic. “We will always be with you,” Fahmi tweeted.
Journalist recalls incompetence on day of incident. Journalist Jason Ng, who served with the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) in 2014, recalled the authorities’ refusal to act on available intelligence soon after the plane vanished.
WSJ had reported that MH370 flew on for up to five hours from its last confirmed location, given that investigators were able to tell that based on signals the plane was automatically transmitting.
“But instead of acting on the intelligence, (former) Malaysia Airlines CEO Ahmad Jauhari Yahya and then-acting transport minister Datuk Seri Hishamuddin Hussein swiftly denied and dismissed the report.
“WSJ’s report turned out to be true and accurate as authorities would later confirm. “But four days have (had) gone by before Malaysia acted on the data that showed MH370 flew away from the area being searched by a massive international effort,” Jason tweeted.
Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad also took to social media to comment on the disappearance of MH370, reminding the public that there is no evidence showing that the plane crashed at sea.
He also said that there is no evidence that the plane landed or crashed on land either, which in fact is very disturbing to the families of the victims. “But we have no real evidence to show that they crashed into the sea. We also don’t have any evidence that they landed anywhere or crashed on land.
“Not knowing what happened to them is very disturbing because you don’t know whether they are alive or captured.
“They are most probably no longer alive, because when the plane is taken over by somebody else and flown to some other destination, the fate of the passengers is certainly going to be that of the plane.
“What happens to the plane, happens to the passenger,” Mahathir, who is now 97, tweeted.
– The Vibes, March 8, 2023
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