Royal Malaysian Air Force
Royal Malaysian Air Force and MH370
Tentera Udara Diraja Malaysia (TUDM).
Wikipedia Article: Royal Malaysian Air Force
RMAF Informed KL-ARCC of Possible Air Turn-back
10:30 pm MYT Saturday, 8 March 2014
The KL ARCC was informed by the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) of a possible Air Turn Back by MH370 on 8 March 2014, at 10:30pm (1430 UTC). The RMAF also mentioned that the area towards the West of Peninsular Malaysia was the last known position observed on the military radar. At this stage, the KL ARCC was unable to determine whether MH370 did indeed make an air turn back, and it required further analysis and verification. Despite the uncertainties surrounding the ‘latest’ information received, it was decided that both areas to the East and West of Peninsular Malaysia would be searched, and a large number of assets, aircraft and vessels were deployed to search these areas.
Source: MH370 Search and Rescue Operations and Lesson Learnt ICAO-RPTMY-324
RMAF Corrects Statement by Berita Harian
On Tuesday, 11 March 2014 Berita Harian published an article headed Operasi SAR ke Selat Melaka BHMY-004 (SAR operation to Malacca Strait) which appeared to quote General Daud (RMAF).
Later on Tuesday, 11 March 2014 the RMAF released a media statement which rebutted the Berita Harian claim and clarified the radar observation which preceded the announcement of an air turnback by MH370.
1. I refer to the Berita Harian news article dated 11th March 2014 on Search and Rescue Operations in the Straits of Malacca which (in Bahasa Malaysia) referred to me as making the following statements:
The RMAF Chief confirmed that RMAF Butterworth airbase detected the location signal of the airliner as indicating that it turned back from its original heading to the direction of Kota Bahru, Kelantan, and was believed to have pass through the airspace of the East Coast of and Northern Peninsular Malaysia.
The last time the plane was detected by the air control tower was in the vicinity of Pulau Perak in the Straits of Malacca at 2.40 in the morning before the signal disappeared without any trace, he said.
2. I wish to state that I did not make any such statements as above, what occurred was that the Berita Harian journalist asked me if such an incident occurred as detailed in their story, however I did not give any answer to the question, instead what I said to the journalist was “Please refer to the statement which I have already made on 9 March 2014, during the press conference with the Chief of Defence Force at the Sama-Sama Hotel, Kuala Lumpur International Airport”.
3. What I stated during that press conference was,
The RMAF has not ruled out the possibility of an air turn back on a reciprocal heading before the aircraft vanished from the radar and this resulted in the Search and Rescue Operations being widen to the vicinity of the waters of Pulau Pinang.
4. I request this misreporting be amended and corrected to prevent further misinterpretations of what is clearly an inaccurate and incorrect report.
5. Currently the RMAF is examining and analyzing all possibilities as regards to the airliner’s flight paths subsequent to its disappearance. However for the time being, it would not be appropriate for the RMAF to issue any official conclusions as to the aircraft’s flight path until a high amount of certainty and verification is achieved. However all ongoing search operations are at the moment being conducted to cover all possible areas where the aircraft could have gone down in order to ensure no possibility is overlooked.
6. In addition, I would like to state to the media that all information and developments will be released via official statements and press conferences as soon as possible and when appropriate. Our current efforts are focused upon on finding the aircraft as soon as possible.
Thank You
GENERAL TAN SRI DATO’SRI RODZALI BIN DAUD RMAF
Source: Royal Malaysian Air Force RMAF-MS-004
RMAF Dismisses Statement by CNN
MH370 PRESS STATEMENT BY GENERAL TAN SRI DATO’ SRI RODZALI DAUD CHIEF OF ROYAL MALAYSIAN AIR FORCE
11 April 2014 MH370 PRESS STATEMENT BY GENERAL TAN SRI DATO’ SRI RODZALI DAUD CHIEF OF ROYAL MALAYSIAN AIR FORCE
With regards to yesterday’s (10 April) release on the CNN website which stated that:
“Malaysian air force search aircraft were scrambled around 8 a.m., soon after Malaysia Airlines reported that its plane was missing early March 8, Malaysian sources told CNN. The aircraft were scrambled before authorities corroborated data indicating that the plane turned back westward, a senior Malaysian government official told CNN. But the air force did not inform the Department of Civil Aviation or search and rescue operations until three days later, March 11, a source involved in the investigation told CNN.”
In my capacity as the Chief of the Royal Malaysian Air Force, I can confirm that the above allegation is totally false.
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Source: General Daud, Royal Malaysian Air Force RMAF-MS-035