MH 777 missing - MH370 media statement

[Austman]

FWIW, I believe that only the UK and USA make regular use of the Interpol passport database.

Which are 2 of the countries that don't check the passports of departing passengers. Clearly then, passports are not used much as a security measure for departing passengers.

 

[OATEK]

Which are 2 of the countries that don't check the passports of departing passengers. Clearly then, passports are not used much are a security measure for departing passengers.

Exactly - I have had my passport checked on about 10% of times departing the UK. They only seem to run departure checks when they are looking for something/someone in particular. The rest of the time the only check is airline staff at check-in.

 

[DrA]

So this @flyingwithfish guy on Twitter just seemed to confirm the 2 stolen passport holders originated in KUL, they weren't in transit. That throws a few conspiracy theories out, assuming he actually knows what he's talking about.

Edit: Something just occurred to me. These guys were flying KUL-PEK-AMS...Why wouldn't they fly KUL-AMS direct? There's a direct MH or KLM flight. I'm pretty sure we could rule out a mileage run if they're travelling on stolen passports. If you were flying on illegal documents, wouldn't you want to get from A to B with as few security checkpoints as possible?

 

[drron]

But the story has been since the tickets were tracked down that the tickets were KUL-PEK-AMS then one was to CPH and one to FRA so he is only saying what has been known for at least 24 hours.

 

[mrfreeze]

4 people evidently checked in for flight MH370 yet failed to board the plane? Their baggage was off loaded before the flight and screened with nothing suspicious found. Why would you check your bags in and not board the aircraft? Strange....

Maybe they checked in and then went shopping and did not get to the gate in time before the flight closed.
I could definitely see my mother doing something like this, she has no concept of time - 5 minutes to her is really 20+ minutes.

One flight we waited for a passenger who just made it through the gate to walk from the terminal to lane at her own leisurely pace.
The Captain came on the PA and made a sarcastic remark about it, and when she was on board started wasting more time to store her carry on.
The FA grabbed her bag and shoved it under her seat and told her to sit down.

 

[astrosly]

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 read in a couple of news items that they have images of these passengers from airport CCTV.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

So this @flyingwithfish guy on Twitter just seemed to confirm the 2 stolen passport holders originated in KUL, they weren't in transit. That throws a few conspiracy theories out, assuming he actually knows what he's talking about.

Edit: Something just occurred to me. These guys were flying KUL-PEK-AMS...Why wouldn't they fly KUL-AMS direct? There's a direct MH or KLM flight. I'm pretty sure we could rule out a mileage run if they're travelling on stolen passports. If you were flying on illegal documents, wouldn't you want to get from A to B with as few security checkpoints as possible?

The price. is just one of many possibilities.

 

[astrosly]

Could simply be a case of differing systems. Everyone seems to have their own these days and they don't all work together. Perhaps the budget for making them work together was spent on something else.

These systems don't have to work together, they have to work with the Interpol database which would provide a common API.

 

[prozac]

Sorry Prozac but that is a bloody long swim!

Read the post Rallo. Flying lessons...he's not swimming back.

 

[pagingjoan]

I read in a couple of news items that they have images of these passengers from airport CCTV.

Have not seen those reports - but that would still require an identification match with the CCTV images.

Possible, I suppose, but you would imagine that would be all over the headlines if there were confirmed identified images of the passengers travelling on the stolen passports?

 

[Happy Trails]

Or for midnight departures, fall asleep somewhere.

No checked bags though.

 

[SeatBackForward]

All those supposed parts have been confirmed to *not* belong to the 777 in question.

Don't they fingerprint in KUL, I certainly have been both in and out bound everytime I go to KUL. Makes the fake passport scenario somewhat more sinister.

And sadly, a US based company called Freescale had 20 engineers aboard that flight, thats a big hit to a company and serves as a reminder that companies shouldn't fly all their staff together.

 

[Vernon]

I feel some maniac opened the air lock doors and due to the high altitude and age of the aircraft there was an explosive decompression that tore the plane apart, a bomb makes little sense..., But what makes no sense is why communication was severed so early/instantly... ?

 

[prozac]

Have not seen those reports - but that would still require an identification match with the CCTV images.

Possible, I suppose, but you would imagine that would be all over the headlines if there were confirmed identified images of the passengers travelling on the stolen passports?

It has been widely quoted on a number of sites yesterday.
Malaysia Airlines: Search for true identity of passengers with stolen passports launched as terrorism concern grows - Asia - World - The Independent

..........
Malaysian officials examining CCTV footage have found images of the pair, the Malaysian Transport Minister said. Authorities suspecting foul play may be involved continue to look over footage from Kuala Lumpur's international airport and question border guards.
“Early indications show some sort of a security lapse, but I cannot say any further right now,” an official with direct knowledge of the investigation told Reuters............

 

[drron]

So this @flyingwithfish guy on Twitter just seemed to confirm the 2 stolen passport holders originated in KUL, they weren't in transit. That throws a few conspiracy theories out, assuming he actually knows what he's talking about.

Edit: Something just occurred to me. These guys were flying KUL-PEK-AMS...Why wouldn't they fly KUL-AMS direct? There's a direct MH or KLM flight. I'm pretty sure we could rule out a mileage run if they're travelling on stolen passports. If you were flying on illegal documents, wouldn't you want to get from A to B with as few security checkpoints as possible?

An AFFer wondering why didn't someone go direct when they could connect?
Off to the corner with you!

 

[Deleted member 29185]

4 people evidently checked in for flight MH370 yet failed to board the plane? Their baggage was off loaded before the flight and screened with nothing suspicious found. Why would you check your bags in and not board the aircraft? Strange....

If they're legit, one would be forgiven for assuming they later went out and bought a truck load of lotto tickets.

 

[astrosly]

Possible, I suppose, but you would imagine that would be all over the headlines if there were confirmed identified images of the passengers travelling on the stolen passports?

Not necessarily, especially if the images are being withheld as part of the investigation. Unlike images taken by the public and posted on Twitter and Facebook, which are being picked up in the news releases, these are from private footage. They also may not fully identify the persons or may simply be a blurry image of someone of Asian appearance who was at the check-in or emmigration desk at the precise moment the passport was scanned.

 

[DrA]

An AFFer wondering why didn't someone go direct when they could connect?
of to the corner with you!

Hey! I did put in the caveat that it probably wasn't a mileage run due to being on a stolen passport

 

[Aussie_flyer]

perhaps these stolen passport holders intended to disappear into china during the transit which would have been landside afaik. avoids need to get a visa by having a connecting flight so that could have been another possibility,

 

[drron]

Now reporting that they have widened the search area to the Straits of Malacca-the opposite direction to flight path.can only mean they suspect hijacking.
Malaysia Widens Search of Missing Jet