Malaysia says metal on Thai beach not from Flight 370

[webfact]

Malaysia says metal on Thai beach not from Flight 370
EILEEN NG, Associated Press

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Malaysia confirmed Tuesday that the piece of metal found washed up on a Thai beach last week was not from Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 that went missing almost two years ago in one of aviation history's most enduring mysteries.

The confirmation came a day after a Japanese rocket maker said the piece is likely part of a rocket launched by Japan.

Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai said in a statement that Malaysian and Thai experts examined the debris and ascertained that the numbers engraved on the body, the wire bundle and the bolts do not match those of a Boeing 777, which Flight 370 was operating.

The jetliner took off from Kuala Lumpur on March 8, 2014, for Beijing with 239 people on board. But it soon lost communications and made a sharp turn away from its destination before disappearing. It is presumed to have crashed in the southern Indian Ocean, far away from the western edge of Thailand.

Liow said that the part numbers which were found on the gently curving piece of metal are not listed in the Malaysia Airlines' catalog manual for a 777.

"Based on these identifying details, the team has confirmed that the debris does not belong to a B777 9M-MRO aircraft (MH370)," he said.

On Monday, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries said the metal piece is "highly likely" to be part of a Japanese H-IIA or H-IIB rocket that was launched from southern Japan, based on an initial examination of photos and videos of the object.

Company spokeswoman Sayo Suwashita said officials are trying to determine which rocket it could be from and its launch date. Rocket debris falls into the ocean after every launch, and most is collected but sometimes pieces can be found some distance from the launch site, including in foreign waters, she said.

Liow said Sunday that the search for the missing jet is ongoing in the Indian Ocean and that its second phase is expected to be completed by June. Australia has led a multinational search that has so far cost more than $120 million.


-- (c) Associated Press 2016-01-26

[bark]

Almost two years ago, now. If the pilot did this, he sure new what he was doing. The smartest people, using the best equipment in the world,

still cannot find it. Sad for the families. Also the cost of $120 million + ! I wonder how long they will continue to search ?

[arunsakda]

With all the efforts over two years must be a typo, way more than $120mil.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[NCC1701A]

Congratulations to the TV member who nailed this in another thread.

[NCC1701A]

Oh and by the way, it is highly radio active.

[webfact]

Debris in Thailand not from MH370, says Transport Minister



KUALA LUMPUR: -- Malaysia's Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai has said the “plane wreckage” found off the coast of southern Thailand is not from Malaysia Airlines (MAS) flight MH370, The Star Online reported.

Liow said that the Malaysian team comprising of Department of Civil Aviation (DCA), Ministry and Malaysian Airlines (MAS) officials found that the part assembly number, wire bundle number and bolts part number did not match those of a Boeing 777.

He added that the part numbers found on the recovered debris are not listed in the MAS B777 Illustrated Parts Catalogue manual.

“Based on these identifying details, the team has confirmed that the debris does not belong to a B777 9M-MRO aircraft (MH370),” Liow said in a statement on Tuesday.

A large piece of curved metal washed ashore in Nakhon Si Thammarat province, where villagers reported it to authorities to help identify it.

Liow also thanked Thailand’s Transport Ministry and the Civil Aviation Authority for facilitating the identification process.

Flight MH370 with 239 people on board disappeared en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing on March 8, 2014. It is believed to have ended in the southern Indian Ocean.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/content/148306


-- Thai PBS 2016-01-27