The Australian Transport Safety Bureau today acknowledges the 10th anniversary of the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, in which 239 passengers and crew, including seven people who called Australia home, were lost.
The ATSB led the initial underwater search for the missing Boeing 777 aircraft in the southern Indian Ocean between October 2014 and January 2017 in support of the Malaysian Government.
“The ATSB expresses our deepest sympathies to the families and friends of the passengers and crew who were on board MH370,” said ATSB Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell.
“We acknowledge your profound and ongoing grief.”
Using high-resolution sonar the ATSB-led search covered an area in excess of 120,000 square kilometres, the largest ever underwater search or survey of its kind to that time.
Mr Mitchell reflected on the challenge that faced those tasked with the search, in tracing the whereabouts of the aircraft with very limited evidence available.
“This evidence consisted of aircraft performance information and satellite communication metadata initially, and then long-term drift studies to trace the origin of MH370 debris which washed up in East Africa during the search,” he said.
“Our search area was defined by the continual assessment of the available evidence.
“We truly regret that that evidence was not able to lead us to finding the aircraft’s final resting place, and to not be able to provide definitive answers to the families and the aviation industry as to the circumstances of the aircraft’s loss.”
Mr Mitchell also recognised the efforts of the hundreds of dedicated professionals from organisations in Australia and around the world who contributed to the search.
“We acknowledge the extraordinary diligence and professionalism of all those personnel across multiple agencies and organisations involved in the search.”
The disappearance of MH370, and the loss of Air France flight AF447 in the South Atlantic Ocean in 2009, have led to some important learnings related to locating missing aircraft on flights over deep ocean areas.
A number of airlines have implemented aircraft tracking solutions that are capable of almost real-time data to be monitored at ground stations. In addition, aircraft and equipment manufacturers have begun developing and implementing autonomous distress tracking (ADT) systems as a retrofit to existing aircraft in addition to installation in newly-built aircraft.
“The ATSB has not had a formal role in any further search efforts for the aircraft since the publication of its report on the search on 3 October 2017, but remains supportive of all practical efforts to find the aircraft,” Mr Mithcell concluded.
“On this 10th anniversary our thoughts and sympathies remain with the loved ones of those on board MH370.”
