The Prime Minister of Malaysia, Mr Najib Razak, announced at a press conference today (14:15 UTC / GMT) that the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 was lost and there were no survivors.
Mr Razak revealed that new analysis of satellite information from Inmarsat, validated by the UK’s Air Accidents Investigation Branch, “have concluded that MH370 flew along the southern corridor, and that its last position was in the middle of the Indian Ocean, west of Perth”.
He continued: “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.”
The announcement came after Inmarsat, as an advisor to the UK’s Accident Air Investigation Branch (AAIB), contributed further information and additional analysis of the ‘handshake’ communication from flight MH370 to determine the likely flight direction.
Chris McLaughlin, Senior Vice President, External Affairs, at Inmarsat, said: “This is first and foremost a tragedy for the passengers and their families and we extend our deepest sympathies to them all at this time.
“After detailed analysis and modelling of the messages passed across the Inmarsat network from flight MH370 and other known flights, we have been able to pass additional information to the relevant authorities regarding the likely direction of flight of MH370.”
Flight MH370 disappeared after taking off on 8 March from Kuala Lumpur.
