“Difficult work ahead” following MH17 – IATA
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IATA’s director general and CEO Tony Tyler has said there is “difficult work ahead” following flight path rules and the handling of the MH17 incident.
Tyler urged for a review into how airspace risk assessments are made with support through the ICAO after the MH17 was shot down despite flying over an approved flight path and at the right altitude.
“No effort should be spared in ensuing that this outrage is not repeated. Of course, nobody should be shooting missiles at civilian aircraft—governments or separatists. Governments will need to take the lead in reviewing how airspace risk assessments are made. And the industry will do all that it can to support governments, through ICAO, in the difficult work that lies ahead,” Tyler said in a statement.
It comes after a tweet from Flighradar showed that a recent Malaysia Airlines flight from Kuala Lumpur flew over Syrian airspace earlier this week, another country that is going through conflict.
Malaysia Airlines confirmed the route travelled in airspace approved by the ICAO.
A statement from Malaysia Airlines said: “MH004’s flight plan is in accordance to International Civil Aviation Organisation’s (ICAO) approved routes. As per the notice to airmen (NOTAM) issued by the Syrian Civil Aviation Authority, the Syrian airspace was not subject to restrictions. At all times, MH004 was in airspace approved by ICAO.”
Black boxes handed over as bodies moved out of rebel territory
Last night the separatists handed the aircraft black boxes to Malaysia, while the victims’ bodies have now arrived outside of rebel territory in the town of Kharkiv. They will now be transported to the Netherlands.
“These were extraordinary circumstances which called for extraordinary measures. There were risks involved in pursuing this agreement. But we felt an obligation to explore all avenues to break the impasse, and secure the return of the remains and the black boxes. After meeting the families, I felt that we owed it to them to act.
“So far, the agreement has been honoured. Malaysia requests that this co-operation continue, and that investigators are granted the full access to the site which was agreed. I am relieved that we have been able to secure the breakthrough that has allowed us to move forward.”
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