Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
SEARCHES ARE UNDERWAY for a Malaysia Airlines jet that lost contact with traffic controllers, leading to fears for the lives of the 239 people aboard.
Vietnamese authorities said contact with Flight MH370 was lost near the country’s airspace, but its exact location remained a mystery 12 hours after it went missing.
The airline has said the plane, on an overnight flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing, relayed no distress signal or other indications of trouble.
“The plane lost contact near Ca Mau province airspace as it was preparing to transfer to Ho Chi Minh City air traffic control,” a statement posted on the official Vietnamese government website said.
The plane’s signal was never transferred to Ho Chi Minh air traffic control, it added.
The ministry launched a rescue effort to find the plane, working in coordination with Malaysian and Chinese officials, the statement added.
Malaysian authorities dispatched a plane, two helicopters and four vessels to search seas off its east coast in the South China Sea, said Faridah Shuib, a spokeswoman for the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency.
The Philippines said it was sending three navy patrol boats and a surveillance plane to help efforts.
Contact lost two hours after take-off
Contact was lost at 2:40 am Malaysian time (1840 GMT on Friday), about two hours after take-off from Kuala Lumpur International Airport, the carrier’s CEO Ahmad Jauhari Yahya said.
“Ladies and gentlemen, we are deeply saddened this morning with the news on MH370,” he told a press conference in Malaysia.
Our focus now is to work with emergency responders and authorities, and mobilise full support. And our thoughts and prayers are with all affected passengers and crew, and their family members.
The airline and Malaysian authorities were liaising with Vietnamese officials, he added.
The Boeing 777-200 was carrying 227 passengers and 12 crew members but the nationality breakdown he gave added up to 228 passengers.
They included 153 Chinese nationals plus one infant, 38 Malaysians, and 12 Indonesians.
Seven Australians also were aboard, three French nationals, four from the United States including one infant, plus passengers from several other countries. There were no Irish passengers on board the flight.
A woman cries at the arrival hall of the International Airport in Beijing. (Pic: AP Photo/ Ng Han Guan)
Airplane manufacturer Boeing said in a statement on Twitter that “we’re closely monitoring reports on Malaysia flight MH370. Our thoughts are with everyone on board”.
The information vacuum regarding the flight touched off a frenzy on social media, which saw an outpouring of concern for passengers.
At Beijing airport, an AFP journalist saw one woman at enter the arrivals zone and break down in tears. She was led away by police.
I’m 100% behind the doctors going on strike.
They have to be suffering permanent jet lag type effects from those horrendous hours and long shifts.
100% percent behind the junior doctors. I would personally be scared if I knew that the doctor looking after me was nearing the end of a 36 hour shift. This is not about money. It is about providing safe working conditions for doctors and ensuring patient safety.
How is the best outcome from this one where doctors will work shifts of 24 hours? I wouldn’t ask my barman to do that… Why is it okay for a doctor?
Am I missing something here??? :-/
The ideal outcome is implementation of the EWTD. I’m no doctor or IR specialist but given that some say they work shifts of more than 36 hours, that won’t happen overnight. A long strike will do nobody any good.
The aim of the current campaign is an *immediate* reduction to a 24 hour maximum, followed by a definite timetable for full compliance with the law (not some fantasyland HSE timeframe). Unfortunately that aspect doesn’t seem to be getting across as clearly.
If the doctors want to strike, let them and if they don’t want to come back to work, replace them. It’s time to get this little financially ruined nation back on its feet.
Richard … It’s not about money … It’s about working 100 hours a week.. By being rostered correctly ,it will actually mean less overtime and there less money being paid out !!
Is it a case that they can’t get enough doctors or they just won’t take them on? Genuine question.
Replace them with who Richard? They’re being given better pay and conditions in other countries. There won’t be any doctors left at this rate. I’d love to see you on your feet for at least 24 hours dealing with sick people and their families.
Solidarity with the junior doctors 100%.
Get down off your barstool Richard.
You must be drunk.
Who’s round is it.
Make mine a double.
@ Ping Pong, they can’t hire enough.
For most positions on training schemes (which guarantee a doctors position for the duration of the scheme, usually 2-4 years), there are not enough people applying, never mind getting through the rather cumbersome recruitment campaign.
Who’s going to replace us? You?
Go way with that idiotic drivel – the country can barely hire enough of us to keep the lights on. Doctors don’t want to stay here, or come here, because foolish twaddle like that pervades the way we’re treated.
If you think you could routinely do the work of two people for shifts measured in planetary rotations, go to medical school and try it out.
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. Mind you don’t stumble and stand on your stethoscope.
Lol, good one : D
Do you ever play the comedy club or the laughter lounge
(seriously, i have free tickets to go there)
‘Always look on the bright side of life’
Work!
have your say