MH 777 missing - MH370 media statement

[Flying mermaid]

It was a series of movies about people who somehow escaped death when they were supposed to die and then dying one by one I unusual circumstances.

I don't think there is anything wrong with your beliefs. Personally I believe our lives are pre-ordained and while we have free will major events are beyond our control.

Yes I can see that - just a logical extension of mine. As long as we can keep the free will bit, otherwise we just become rats in a maze

 

[Goodonya]

I would imagine thats quite common these days with adoption being very popular ex Asia into western countries for some time. He obviously does not watch modern family!

G'day all. I am a third generation Australian born Chinese (ABC) and have travelled on an Aussie passport since the 70s with an Asian surname. My wife is Italian so travels on an Aussie passport with an Asian surname. My kids are a 50:50 mix travelling with an Asian surname on the Aussie passport. Living here in Melbourne I'd reckon there'd be quite a few Asian "looking" people travelling around on an Aussie passport. I think the home minister was a bit hard on his immigration officials regarding the appearance comment. Also have a colleague at work with the surname Lee. Not Asian but Scottish.

 

[pagingjoan]

It's quite possible that I missed the "fact". But was it confirmed that the passengers travelling on the stolen passports were actually "of Asian appearance"?

 

[prozac]

I don't think it unreasonable to check passports of people with names that don't appear to match their ethnicity. After all this would not be every person, or even every second or third person. It may be one in 50. I have an unusual wog name and I don't care if I am checked or not.

One more name...I used to buy from a supplier when in Yokohama back in the 70's with the very Japanese name of Ohara.

edit: I hope we check all in/outgoing here is Australia. Does anyone know if this is practicable?

 

[Boris spatsky]

It's quite possible that I missed the "fact". But was it confirmed that the passengers travelling on the stolen passports were actually "of Asian appearance"?

I agree. There has been no confirmation to my knowledge that the people travelling on these passports were Asian. They could be Caucasian, or any other ethnicity.

 

[markis10]

It's quite possible that I missed the "fact". But was it confirmed that the passengers travelling on the stolen passports were actually "of Asian appearance"?

I agree. There has been no confirmation to my knowledge that the people travelling on these passports were Asian. They could be Caucasian, or any other ethnicity.

Malaysia's state news agency quoted Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi as saying the passengers using the stolen European passports were of Asian appearance,

Missing Malaysian jet may have disintegrated in mid-air: source | Reuters

 

[drron]

It's quite possible that I missed the "fact". But was it confirmed that the passengers travelling on the stolen passports were actually "of Asian appearance"?

The Malaysian Minister has said so-

Malaysia's state news agency quoted Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi as saying the passengers using the stolen European passports were of Asian appearance, and criticizing border officials who let them through. "I am still perturbed. Can't these immigration officials think? Italian and Austrian (passport holders) but with Asian faces," he was quoted as saying late on Sunday.

Missing Malaysian jet may have disintegrated in mid-air: source

 

[prozac]

I agree. There has been no confirmation to my knowledge that the people travelling on these passports were Asian. They could be Caucasian, or any other ethnicity.

The reporting was clear that the faces appeared to be of Asian appearance & I originally posted this at #359.

Malaysia's state news agency quoted Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi as saying the passengers using the stolen European passports were of Asian appearance, and criticizing border officials who let them through.

"I am still perturbed. Can't these immigration officials think? Italian and Austrian (passport holders) but with Asian faces," he was quoted as saying late on Sunday.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/03/09/us-malaysiaairlines-flight-idUSBREA2701720140309

edit: drron already answered whilst I was still messing around.

 

[Jack_OC]

G'day all. I am a third generation Australian born Chinese (ABC) and have travelled on an Aussie passport since the 70s with an Asian surname. My wife is Italian so travels on an Aussie passport with an Asian surname. My kids are a 50:50 mix travelling with an Asian surname on the Aussie passport.

I think we're all in agreement that there is nothing noteworthy about people of Asian appearance travelling on passports from "Western" countries. It's the Euro name plus Asian appearance that is, IMHO, slightly unusual. Even in the example of your family, it sounds like everyone has a name "consistent" with their ethnic appearance except your wife.

Living here in Melbourne I'd reckon there'd be quite a few Asian "looking" people travelling around on an Aussie passport.

Of course, but how many of them have names like Luigi Maraldi or Christian Kozel?!

 

[Deleted member 29185]

G'day all. I am a third generation Australian born Chinese (ABC) and have travelled on an Aussie passport since the 70s with an Asian surname. My wife is Italian so travels on an Aussie passport with an Asian surname. My kids are a 50:50 mix travelling with an Asian surname on the Aussie passport. Living here in Melbourne I'd reckon there'd be quite a few Asian "looking" people travelling around on an Aussie passport. I think the home minister was a bit hard on his immigration officials regarding the appearance comment. Also have a colleague at work with the surname Lee. Not Asian but Scottish.

MEL is the classic city for that. Large population of Greek, Italian and Asian and I'm very sure there are many Melbournian families just like yours (or similar). By all means border protection should check the bonafides of all pax but it's not "uncommon" in this day and age for mixed heritage looks and names.

BTW, welcome to AFF!

 

[pagingjoan]

Malaysia's state news agency quoted Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi as saying the passengers using the stolen European passports were of Asian appearance,

Missing Malaysian jet may have disintegrated in mid-air: source | Reuters

Yes, I did see that, thank you, markis10.

Not entirely conclusive (for me, at least) as it is Reuters, quoting the Malaysian state news agency, in turn quoting the Home Minister:
"I am still perturbed. Can't these immigration officials think? Italian and Austrian (passport holders) but with Asian faces," he was quoted as saying late on Sunday.

Even if it is the case that they were "of Asian appearance", it would be interesting to know how that would have been established. Someone here may know what link in the system would make such a verification possible?

Then, back on the issue of passport holders and appearance, I agree that it is not at all uncommon for appearance not to be a superficial match for passport nationality. Indeed it would seem so common as not to need debate. To add to the anecdotal posts above, I'm fifth generation Australian, maternal and paternal sides, but in my immediate family, we have three young children, very well travelled, with standard Anglo names but all of Chinese appearance, and another two young children, similarly well travelled, of Bangla appearance. All of them are Australian citizens (as are three of the four parents of the two families), and all travel on Australian passports.

 

[browski]

Can we get back to having some good old fashioned conspiracy theories - I'm sure AFF will put up a prize for the best one. Or perhaps a separate thread?

 

[defurax]

Can we get back to having some good old fashioned conspiracy theories - I'm sure AFF will put up a prize for the best one. Or perhaps a separate thread?

I'll give it a try...recently the US authorities have been warning other countries about toothpaste tubes: Feds Warn Russian Flights About Toothpaste Bombs - NBC News and it is conceivable that different chemicals can be transported by a number of passengers (here 2) and then mixed in the lavatory. I told myself I wouldn't speculate...but here I am...

 

[SeatBackForward]

The identity discussion is perhaps a thread seperate to MH370 discussion, but my favourite anecdote is me being told (on several times):

"Oh but you don't speak with an {insert confused persons expectations} accent"..

*sigh*

 

[Jack_OC]

Even if it is the case that they were "of Asian appearance", it would be interesting to know how that would have been established. Someone here may know what link in the system would make such a verification possible?

Someone looks at the passport and the person standing in front of them!

 

[tgh]

It seems that the longer it all takes to find something.. the wilder the theories will become.
It has been a long time now, and I'm wondering if there is a bit of secrecy afoot, perhaps it's all darker than we (wildly) imagine.

 

[browski]

I'll give it a try...recently the US authorities have been warning other countries about toothpaste tubes: Feds Warn Russian Flights About Toothpaste Bombs - NBC News and it is conceivable that different chemicals can be transported by a number of passengers (here 2) and then mixed in the lavatory. I told myself I wouldn't speculate...but here I am...

Genius, like something out of Get Smart

 

[drron]

Can we get back to having some good old fashioned conspiracy theories - I'm sure AFF will put up a prize for the best one. Or perhaps a separate thread?

The best I have heard was it was all President Obama's fault for releasing 4 souls from Gitmo.Because they were wanted by China they were sent to Chechnya.From there Thailand and now are on the ground at a disused airport in western China.Because the Chinese government doesn't want to admit this they are sending ships to the Gulf of Thailand to confuse the issue.
Then of course there had to be aliens.Most likely escapees from area 51 in LOTFAP.
Still just staggering that despite all our technology nothing definite known so far.Expect the theories to get more bizarre.

 

[prozac]

drron, what about the 4 released from Gitmo being offered places in Guam. Only one was willing to accept the invitation.

I like the alien theory...then no-one dies.

People say the terrorist theory is not supported b/c no-one has claimed responsibility. What if this flight was not the target but something further along the line like the return flight. The bomb ingredients are placed onboard during flight with an altitude trigger. It was armed too early?

I missed that was your first post Goodonya. Welcome to AFF.

 

[Rox]

The captains both wanted to defect to North Korea, did a brief turn back to confuse everyone, dropped town to below radar detection level, turned off the transponders, and are now safely on the ground in pyong yang (?)
Unless you believe in alien abduction.
Seriously though there was a small turn noted, which may put their final landing place far from where everyone is looking.