Stop speculating: MAS CEO

Malaysia Airlines (MAS) has asked all parties to exercise caution and refrain from using speculative opinions to
comment on Monday's incident as it interferes with investigation processes and causes unnecessary alarm among stakeholders.

The national carrier was referring to a local print media report today stating that investigations on the technical glitch involving flight MH002 on that day "should not rule out sabotage as a likely cause".

"As investigations are ongoing, MAS will not comment on such views," said Group Chief Executive Officer Ahmad Jauhari Yahya in a statement today.

Ahmad Jauhari stressed that safety was a core value in MAS and the focus was always on ensuring safe operations in all aspects of the business.



"This is significant as the commercial aviation industry is highly regulated and airlines must always comply to the authorities' stringent safety requirements to operate flights," he said.

Ahmad Jauhari said MAS operates an average of 280 flights daily, using 89 aircraft.

"We also strive to ensure safety and on-time departures and landings, he said."

Nevertheless, he said, like other operators, it was possible that on some occasions flight operations are challenged by factors like technical glitches, flight diversions due to bad weather, airport congestions and maintenance defects.

Ahmad Jauhari said MAS has an excellent team with expertise in all aspects of flight operations to manage such situations in the passengers' best interest.

He said MAS' employees are professionals with core safety values ingrained and retrained throughout their career in the company.

"It is through this strength that MAS stands out in operational excellence like on-time performance, safe flight operations and swift service recovery measures to minimise customer inconvenience during the rare occasions of flight disruptions," he said.

In the event of technical incidents that could potentially impact the safety of flight operations, he said MAS works together with the relevant authorities to investigate and establish the causes and also initiate recommended remedial actions.

"We are determined and always committed to our safe flight operations processes at all times," he added. -- Bernama