MH370 mystery: The six missing pieces of evidence in the search for lost Malaysia Airlines plane
A leading investigator says Malaysia has shared “as little information as possible” or “incorrect” information on the loss of MH370. These are the six things the world needs to know.
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Six critical pieces of evidence are missing from investigations into the disappearance of MH370 with incompetence, malintent or both behind their failed disclosure.
That’s the view of independent US-based investigator Victor Iannello as the sixth anniversary of the tragedy approaches next month.
Dr Iannello, a leading figure from the respected MH370 independent group of global-based experts assisting inquiries and holder of multiple degrees in nuclear engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), said Malaysia should consider releasing withheld raw military radar data for analysis to clear up a litany of anomalies and whatever strategic reason to originally withhold data was no longer relevant.
“It’s hard to determine if Malaysia’s actions are from incompetence, malintent, or attempts to hide the incompetence,” Dr Iannello told News Corp Australia yesterday.
“Certainly, it would be painful to prove that one of their captains was responsible for the deliberate loss of the plane. There could also be financial implications related to insurance coverage.”
Malaysian Ministry of Transport investigators concluded the mid-air turnaround of the flight was performed manually and the “unlawful interference by a third party” could not be ruled out.
Dr Iannello said the timing between the final radio transmission and the loss of the radar signal from the transponder did not support intervention from a third-party and for unexplained reasons effectively absolved MH370’s 53-year-old Captain Zaharie Ahmad Shah.
He said after the last radio transmission from MH370, the maximum time available to disable the transponder and divert the aircraft was 64 seconds which was impractical time to consider a third party entered the cockpit and took control.
“The Malaysian investigators appear to deflect blame away from the captain, even though he had that the opportunity and capability to divert the plane,” he said.
He added: “Through this entire episode, the Malaysians have shared as little information as possible. Sometimes the information that was shared was incorrect.
“The military radar data has not been shared except in graphical form. Having that data would help us to better understand how the plane was flown up until 18:22 (waypoint timestamp), which would help us to more accurately determine how much fuel was available after 18:22. This in turn would help us to discriminate among possible reconstructed paths to the Southern Indian Ocean.
“Personal information about the lead suspect, Captain Zaharie Shah, has not been shared. For instance, his relationship with Fatima Pardi and her family, and the break in that relationship in the weeks before MH370, has not been disclosed. Also, we don’t know the nature of the WeChat activity from Zaharie’s phone that occurred when the plane was lined up on the runway just a minute before takeoff. In addition to the simulator data found on the captain’s computer, there might be other incriminating evidence that was omitted.
“We don’t know if there was an attempt to collect the passengers’ cell phone numbers from the family members to determine if other cell phone registered on any cell towers, as the First Officer’s cell phone had done.”
Dr Iannello said recently released more precise data transmitted by the aircraft’s Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast system showed the turn radius between aviation waypoints IGARI and BITOD for the doomed turnback was consistent with autopilot command and suggested the flight deviation occurred after the transponder was disabled. He also said another missing fact was why the best estimated point of impact zones identified by experts were never searched.
He said whatever strategic imperative there was six years ago to withhold military data most likely no longer existed.
Originally published as MH370 mystery: The six missing pieces of evidence in the search for lost Malaysia Airlines plane