Malaysia discussing with experts custody of MH370 black box, says Hishammuddin

Malaysia is in discussion with relevant authorities and experts on who has custody over the black box of the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 when it is found.

Acting Transport Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein (pic) said Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail was in the United Kingdom to discuss the matter, including with international agencies such as the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

"The Attorney General is in the UK discussing with relevant authorities such as ICAO and experts involved, based on international and domestic laws, who actually has custody of the black box," he told Bernama, after visiting the Defence Services Asia exhibition today.

The Boeing 777-200ER is registered in Malaysia and owned by MAS. Under the International Convention on Civil Aviation (ICAO), the country of origin of the aircraft, which is Malaysia, is obliged to launch an investigation and secure the wreckage.

However, Malaysia has asked Australia to lead the search in the southern Indian Ocean.

He, however, reiterated that the focus was always on locating the plane first, which has been missing for 37 days since it disappeared from radar screens on March 8.

Hishammuddin also said that there was no telephone call made by MH370 co-pilot Fariq Abdul Hamid when the plane was flying low on the day it disappeared as reported in newspapers.

However he said, the issue is part of the brief of the police and other relevant international agencies and would be revealed when the time came.

"I don't want to speculate on that, out of respect of the families of the pilot and co-pilot, and I don't want to disturb the investigations being done now, not only by Malaysian police but other intelligence agencies," he said.

Hishammuddin also stated that based on current investigation, there was no suspicious circumstances on the passenger manifest and the police were still investigating the four possibilities on the MH370 disappearance.

"The police are still investigating the possibility of hijacking, terrorism, psychological and personal problems," he said.

Flight MH370, carrying 227 passengers and 12 crew, left the KL International Airport at 12.41am and disappeared from radar screens about an hour later, while over the South China Sea. – April 13, 2014.