KUALA LUMPUR, March 9 — The pilot of a Malaysia Airlines (MAS) flight that disappeared on a flight to Beijing yesterday was in a jovial mood as usual the day before, according to fellow members of a club he belongs to.
Capt Zaharie Ahmad Shah, 53, also shared comical pictures on WhatsApp with fellow members Wahida Zamri, 27, and Nor Azana Hamid, 47, of the ‘Kelab Peminat Mila AF5’ or ‘Da Voice of Mila (Davom). This was conveyed by Wahida and Nor Azana who had known Zaharie through the club.
Wahida said Zaharie is a reserved individual but a helpful person who participated in the various activities organised by the club.
“He had also joined an activity to collect funds to help the victims of the war in Gaza,” the administrative assistant said, adding that Zaharie communicated within their WhatsApp group to share information and views on the club’s activities.
Wahida said she regarded Zaharie as a father and was shocked to learn that he was the pilot of the lost MAS Flight MH370.
The Boeing 777-200ER, carrying 227 passengers, including two infants, and 12 crew, went missing en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing about an hour after taking off from KLIA at 12.41 am yesterday. It was to have landed in Beijing at 6.30 am.
Nor Azana, who claimed to have known Zaharie since 2007, said he was a highly experienced pilot with 33 years of service.
“He has talked about how he trains new recruits. He has the talent to teach people,” said the accountant. — Bernama
