MH370 As public attention shifts to the captain of Flight MH370 and his flight simulator, Acting Transport Minister Hishammuddin Hussein has reminded everybody that all those on board the missing aircraft are innocent unless proven otherwise.
“Some data has been deleted from the simulator and forensic work to retrieve this data is ongoing.
“I would like to take this opportunity to state that the passengers, the pilot, and the crew remain innocent until proven otherwise.
“For the sake of their families, I ask that we refrain from unnecessary speculation that make an already difficult time even harder,” Hishammuddin ( left ) told the daily press conference on the MH370 crisis this evening.
The plane, missing since March 8, has prompted what is now called the largest search and rescue (SAR) operation in aviation history. It spans two ‘corridors’ with a total area equivalent to size of Australia’s landmass.
Simulator games
Police also took MH370 captain Zaharie Ahmad Shah’s flight simulator from his home on March 15 and reassembled it at the Bukit Aman police headquarters for investigation.
Today, Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar revealed that three simulator games were found in the flight simulator’s computer, but its data logs had been deleted on February 3.
A team comprising of cyber-security experts, MAS representatives and international experts, are still examining the simulator.
“The experts are still studying it, but what is important is that the family members are giving full cooperation.
“All family members of the pilot and co-pilot are cooperating with investigations and we have no problems obtaining information about the pilots and co-pilot,” Khalid said.
The three flight simulator programs found on Zaharie’s flight simulator are Flight Simulator X, Flight Simulator 9, and X-Plane 10.
Zaharie is reportedly a passionate and experienced aviator, clocking in 18,365 flying hours. He is also a simulator test examiner accredited by the Department of Civil Aviation.
To a question, Khalid ( left ) declined to comment on the progress of investigations, other than to reiterate that it is still focused on four areas: hijacking, sabotage, personal problems of the crew and passengers, and psychological problems of the crew and passengers.
Meanwhile, Hishammuddin told the press conference that all except two countries have responded to Malaysia’s request to conduct background checks on MH370’s passengers, but this has revealed nothing unusual.
The two countries that have yet to respond are Russia and Ukraine, both of which have citizens on board the Boeing 777-200ER aircraft.
