MALAYSIA Airlines says the route it was flying when one of its planes was apparently hit by a ground-to-air missile was declared safe by the International Civil Aviation Organisation and was not subject to restrictions.
The airline also said there was no distress call from the aircraft before it came down in a rebel-held area of Ukraine, killing all 298 on board, including 27 Australians.
The nationalities of 41 passengers remain unverified.
Malaysia Airlines has now re-routed all European flights to an alternative route.
Airlines had been warned of the dangers of being shot down and companies had been choosing routes to avoid danger zones within reach of the long-range guided missiles possessed by Russian and Ukrainian forces, according to The Times.
But Malaysia Airlines said: “The usual flight route was earlier declared safe by the International Civil Aviation Organsiation.
“(The) International Air Transport Association has stated that the airspace the aircraft was traversing was not subject to restrictions.’’
But as airlines changed their flight plans today to avoid the Ukraine conflict, questions were being raised about why some airlines had chosen not to fly over the area and others had continued to do so.
Professor Geoff Dell, a Central Queensland University accident investigation and safety specialist, said Malaysia Airlines should not have been flying over Ukraine.
“From as soon as the conflict started they shouldn’t have been going anywhere near it,’’ Prof Dell said.
“They should’ve shifted to alternate routes, like all the other airlines seemed to have done.’’
He said responsibility for the incident fell to the airline. He said it raised questions about operational decision-making issues.
“You just don’t go anywhere near it unless you’ve got no alternatives and there’s always the alternative of not going. I’m just flabbergasted.’’
Former Qantas pilot Graham Dutton, who regularly used to fly the route over Ukraine, said it was a busy flight path.
He said airlines had generally deemed it safe for passenger planes to overfly “hot spots” at cruising altitudes above 28,000 feet. That was considered a safe level, outside the reach of normal, portable surface-to-air missiles used by non-government forces.
Malaysia Airlines said it was working with emergency responders and authorities to provide full support to the next-of-kin of those on board.
The carrier is deploying its “Go Team” to Amsterdam with a group of caregivers and volunteers to assist the family members of the passengers.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with all affected passengers and crew and their family members.’’
Meanwhile Malaysia Airlines says it will operate its normal schedule to Australia but will allow people to postpone travel without penalty in the wake of the crash.
The airline said it would waive all fees and charges for changes to travel from today until next Friday to any of its destinations.
“Malaysia Airlines flights to and from Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane, Adelaide, Darwin and Auckland will operate as per normal schedule,’’ it said.
source: theAustralian.com
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