Cabinet approves international probe team for MH370
Putrajaya
today announced the formation of an international investigation team to probe the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, which went missing on March 8.
Acting Transport Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein (pic) said Cabinet approved the establishment of the team at its meeting today.
"The Transport Ministry has been tasked with drawing up the terms of reference for the international investigation team," he told a press conference at the Royale Chulan Hotel.
Hishammuddin said the investigation team would be in accordance with the standards of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).
Hishammuddin said the Deputy Transport Minister will coordinate the establishment of the international probe team.
"Malaysia as a council member of the ICAO will observe and comply with the standards and recommended practices set by the organisation."
"The investigation team will not cover the criminal aspect of the case as this remains under the jurisdiction of the police," Hishammuddin said.
Hishammuddin was asked whether the establishment of an international investigation team meant that the current probe teams had failed.
"The establishment of this international probe team does not mean that the current investigations have failed," he said.
"The disappearance of MH370 is a mystery which everyone wants solved and are interested in seeing how developments unfold.
"Malaysia does not want speculation or pre-conceived notions about what happened to the missing flight."
He said the purpose of setting up the international team was to evaluate, investigate and determine the actual cause of the incident to avoid future recurrences.
"The team will carry out their investigations in accordance with the Civil Aviation Regulation 1966 and the Chicago Convention," Hishammuddin said.
"The team will include an airworthiness group, an operational group and a medical and human factors group."
Hishammuddin said the airworthiness group will look into issues such as maintenance records, structures and systems.
"The operational group will examine flight recorders, operations and meteorological factors."
"The medical and human factors group will probe issues such as crew and passenger psychology, pathology and survival factors."
He said discussions were ongoing on the appointment of experts from Asean countries and the identification process was under way.
"We will be recruiting accredited representatives and team members in accordance with international standards," he said, adding the names will be released next week.
"It is important for Putrajaya to form an independent team of investigators which is not only competent and transparent but also highly credible." – April 23, 2014.