KUALA LUMPUR, March 24 — There is no proof that the debris shown in recent French satellite images belongs to the missing Malaysia Airlines (MAS) flight MH370, says French Ambassador to Malaysia, Martine Dorance.
“As far as I know, at this moment, (there is) no proof it belongs to the plane.
“(However) We will continue to provide assistance to the Malaysian authorities,” she told the media after a courtesy call on Dewan Negara Speaker Tan Sri Abu Zahar Ujang at Parliament House here today.
It was reported that France had provided satellite images which showed more debris, possibly from the missing MAS aircraft.
Malaysia’s Transport Ministry said in a statement yesterday that it had received images from French authorities showing “potential objects in the vicinity of the southern corridor.”
The description refers to an area of the southern Indian Ocean where satellites from Australia and China have also captured images showing objects that may be debris from the plane which vanished in the early morning of March 8, while en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing.
At the time, the Boeing 777-200ER aircraft was carrying 227 passengers and 12 crew members.
Dorance said the French would use their experience in the Air France 447 investigation to help Malaysia, including bringing in expertise in the form of former French Department of Civil Aviation head, Jean Paul Troadec, who was involved in the investigation.
On June 1, 2009, Air France Flight 447 en route from Rio de Janeiro to Paris with 228 people on board went down in the Atlantic Ocean, off Brazil.
Five days later, the debris from the missing plane was spotted. It took nearly two years for the investigation team to salvage the major pieces of the wreckage and recover human remains from the ocean floor.
Meanwhile, Switzerland Ambassador to Malaysia, Dr Rolf Lenz, who made a courtesy call on Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia in Parliament, expressed sadness over the disappearance of Flight MH370.
“I am very distressed over the flight and my thoughts are especially with the passengers and their relatives, I know it is a very difficult time for the relatives to wait... they don’t know the destiny of their loved ones,” he said.
On the same note, New Zealand is committed to helping Malaysia and will continue in assisting in the search for the missing MH370.
This was conveyed by New Zealand’s Maori Affairs Minister Dr Pita Sharples during a courtesy call on Dewan Negara Speaker Tan Sri Abu Zahar Ujang in Parliament House here today.
“There are 26 countries, including New Zealand, working on this (search operation) and it is very good that they have come together in this time of need,” he said. — Bernama
