Safety queries raised over MAS missing aircraft

Safety queries raised over MAS missing aircraft
By admin


The missing Malaysia Airlines jetliner was not subject to a recent safety directive regarding Boeing 777s, the aircraft manufacturer has stressed as queries were raised over the aircraft’s safety.

In September, a 40 centimetre crack was discovered in the fuselage skin of a B777 underneath the satellite communication (SATCOM) antenna adapter, prompting the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to issue an airworthiness directive.

“We are issuing this AD to detect and correct cracking and corrosion in the fuselage skin, which could lead to rapid decompression and loss of structural integrity of the airplane,” it said.

However, Boeing stressed that the 777-200ER MAS aircraft did not have the antenna installed and was therefore not subject to the order.

An FAA spokesperson also warned against linking the directive to the flight’s disappearance, according to Reuters.

"There is absolutely no indication whatsoever that this had anything to do with the accident," he was reported as saying. 

Meanwhile, Malaysia Airlines confirmed that the aircraft operating flight MH370 underwent maintenance on February 23, 12 days prior to its last departure.

The ongoing search has so far failed to find any evidence of any wreckage although authorities are investigating a range of reported sightings.

A Chinese satellite may have spotted debris that could be related to the missing aircraft although these reports have not as yet been confirmed.

In addition, a New Zealand man working on an oil rig south of Vietnam claims to have seen a plane engulfed in flames crash into the sea.

Last heard from at 1.30am MYT on March 8, flight MH370 from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing was carrying 227 passengers, including six Australians, and 12 crew members.

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