Factual Information 2015:1.18 Additional Information/1.18.1.5

This page contains an extract from the Factual Information released on 8 March 2015

Summary

1.18.1.5 Operations and Events - Initiation of SAR & Deployment of Resources

The paragraphs below describe the operations and events leading to the initiation of the Search and Rescue operations (SAR) and deployment of the resources for the MH370 search. The complete set of radiotelephony transcripts is attached as Appendices 1.18A to 1.18G.

At 1739:03 UTC (0139:03 MYT) Ho Chi Minh ATCC first enquired about MH370 and informed KL ATCC that verbal contact was not established with MH370 and the radar target was last seen at BITOD.

At 1741:22 UTC (0141:22 MYT) Ho Chi Minh enquired information on MH370 and KL ATCC informed HCM ATCC that after waypoint IGARI, MH370 did not return to Lumpur Radar frequency.

At 1741:23 UTC (0141:23 MYT) KL ATCC radar controller made a “blind transmission” to MH370.

At 1746:47 UTC (0146:47 MYT) HCM ATCC queried about MH370 again, stating that radar contact was established over IGARI but there was no verbal contact. HCM ATCC advised that the observed radar blip disappeared at waypoint BITOD. HCM ATCC stated that effort to establish communication by calling the MH370 many times for more than twenty (20) minutes.

At 1750:28 UTC (0150:28 MYT) KL ATCC queried HCM ATCC if any contact with MH370, HCM ATCC’s reply was ‘negative’.

At 1757:49 UTC (0157:49 MYT) HCM ATCC informed KL ATCC that there was officially no contact with MH370 until this time. Attempts on many frequencies and aircraft in the vicinity received no response from MH370.

At 1803:48 UTC (0203:48 MYT) KL ATCC queried HCM ATCC on status MH370, HCM ATCC confirmed there was no radar contact at this time and no verbal communication was established. KL ATCC relayed the information received from Malaysia Airlines Operations that aircraft was in Cambodian airspace.

At 1807:47 UTC (0207:47 MYT) HCM ATCC queried for confirmation that MH370 was in Phnom Penh FIR as Phnom Penh did not have any information on MH370. KL ATCC indicated would check further with supervisor.

At 1812:15 UTC (0212:15 MYT) KL ATCC informed HCM ATCC that there was no update on status of MH370.

At 1815 UTC (0215 MYT) (no voice recording) extracted from Watch Supervisor Log Book, KL ATCC Watch Supervisor queried Malaysia Airlines Operations who informed that MH370 was able to exchange signals with the Flight Explorer.

At 1818:50 UTC (0218:50 MYT) KL ATCC queried if flight planned routing of MH370 was supposed to enter Cambodian airspace. HCM ATCC confirmed that planned route was only through Vietnamese airspace. HCM ATCC had checked and Cambodian advised that it had no information or contact with MH370. HCM ATCC confirmed earlier information that radar contact was lost after BITOD and radio contact was never established. KL ATCC queried if HCM ATCC was taking Radio Failure action but the query didn’t seem to be understood by the personnel. HCM ATCC suggested KL ATCC to call Malaysia Airlines Operations and was advised that it had already been done.

At 1833:59 UTC (0233:59 MYT) KL ATCC Radar Controller enquired with Malaysia Airlines Operations Centre about communication status with MH370 but the personnel was unsure if the message went through successfully or not. Malaysia Airlines Operations Centre informed that aircraft still sending the movement message indicating somewhere in Vietnam and giving the last position as coordinate N14.90000 E109 15500 at time 1833 UTC (0233 MYT).

At 1834:56 UTC (0234:56 MYT) HCM ATCC queried about status of MH370 and was informed that the Watch Supervisor was talking to the Company at this time.

At 1837:34 UTC (0237:34 MYT) KL ATCC informed HCM ATCC MH370 still flying, aircraft kept sending position report to the airline and relayed to HCM ATCC the latitude and longitude as advised by Malaysian Airlines Operations.

At 1853:48 UTC (0253:48 MYT) MH386 which was from KLIA to Shanghai and within HCM FIR was requested by HCM ATCC to try to establish contact with MH370 on Lumpur Radar radio frequency. KL ATCC then requested MH 386 to try on emergency frequencies as well.

At 1930 UTC (0330 MYT) (no voice recording) (extract from Watch Supervisor’s Log Book) MAS Operations Centre informed KL ATCC that the flight tracker information was based on flight projection and not reliable for aircraft positioning.

At 1930:03 UTC (0330:03 MYT) KL ATCC queried if HCM ATCC had checked with next FIR Hainan.

At 1948:52 UTC (0348:52 MYT) KL ATCC queried whether HCM ATCC had checked with the Sanya FIR, HCM ATCC informed KL ATCC no response until now.

At 1956:13 UTC (0356:13 MYT) KL ATCC queried Malaysia Airlines Operations for any latest information or contact with MH370.

At 2025:22 UTC (0425:22 MYT) HCM ATCC Supervisor queried KL ATCC on last position that MH370 was in contact with ATC.

At 2118:32 UTC (0518:32 MYT) HCM ATCC queried for information on MH370, KL ATCC queried if any information had been received from Hong Kong or Beijing

At 2109:13 UTC (0509:13 MYT) Singapore on behalf of Hong Kong enquired for information on MH370.

At 2120:16 UTC (0520:16 MYT) (name redacted) requested for information on MH370. He opined that based on known information, “MH370 never left Malaysian airspace”

At 2130:00 UTC (0530:00 MYT) The Watch Supervisor activated the Kuala Lumpur Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Centre (ARCC).

At 2141:20 UTC (0541:20 MYT) HCM ATCC queried for any updates.

At 2214:13 UTC (0614:13 MYT) KL ATCC queried HCM ATCC if SAR was activated.

At 2232:00 UTC (0632:00 MYT) KL ARCC issued a DETRESFA message (Figure 1.18C).

KLA637 072232

SS WMKKZQZX WMKKZRZX

072232 WMFCZQZX

(ALR-DESTRESFA/WMFCZQZX/MISSING

-FPL-MAS370 -IS

-B772/H-SDFGHIJ3J5M1RWXY/LB1D1

-WMKK1635

-N0470F290 DCT PIBOS R208 IKUKO/M081F330 R208 IGARI M765

BITOD/N0480F330 L637 TSN/N0480F350 W1 BMT W12 PCA G221

BUNTA/N0480F370 A1 IKELA/N0480F370 P901 IDOSI/N0480F390 DCT CH

DCT BEKOL/K0900S1160 A461 YIN/K0890S1130 A461 VYK

-ZBAA0534 ZBTJ ZBSJ

-PBN/A1B1C1D1L1O1S2 DOF/140307 REG/9MMRO EET/WSJC0032 VVTS0042

ZJSA0210 VHHK0233 ZGZU0304 ZHWH0356 ZPE0450 SEL/QRCS

RMK/ACASII EQUIPPED

-E/0710 P/TBN R/UVE S/M J/LF D/8 290 GREY A/WHITE WITH RED AND

BLUE STRIPE C/TBN

Figure 1.18C – DETRESFA Message

(Transcribed from Image)

Reference

RefID:Factual Information March 2015/1.18.1.5

Notes

Timeline (not transcluded)

Copied to 0139:03 to 0139:36 MYT and redirected from 0139:03 MYT
RefID:Factual Information March 2015/1.18.1.5: At 1739:03 UTC (0139:03 MYT) Ho Chi Minh ATCC first enquired about MH370 and informed KL ATCC that verbal contact was not established with MH370 and the radar target was last seen at BITOD.
Copied to 0141:10 to 0158:40 MYT and redirected from 0141:22 MYT
RefID:Factual Information March 2015/1.18.1.5: At 1741:22 UTC (0141:22 MYT) Ho Chi Minh enquired information on MH370 and KL ATCC informed HCM ATCC that after waypoint IGARI, MH370 did not return to Lumpur Radar frequency.
Copied to 0141:23 MYT
RefID:Factual Information March 2015/1.18.1.5: At 1741:23 UTC (0141:23 MYT) KL ATCC radar controller made a “blind transmission” to MH370.
Copied to 0141:10 to 0158:40 MYT and redirected from 0146:47 MYT
RefID:Factual Information March 2015/1.18.1.5: At 1746:47 UTC (0146:47 MYT) HCM ATCC queried about MH370 again, stating that radar contact was established over IGARI but there was no verbal contact. HCM ATCC advised that the observed radar blip disappeared at waypoint BITOD. HCM ATCC stated that effort to establish communication by calling the MH370 many times for more than twenty (20) minutes.
Copied to 0149:54 to 0150:38 MYT and redirected from 0150:28 MYT
RefID:Factual Information March 2015/1.18.1.5: At 1750:28 UTC (0150:28 MYT) KL ATCC queried HCM ATCC if any contact with MH370, HCM ATCC’s reply was ‘negative’.
Copied to 0141:10 to 0158:40 MYT and redirected from 0157:49 MYT
RefID:Factual Information March 2015/1.18.1.5: At 1757:49 UTC (0157:49 MYT) HCM ATCC informed KL ATCC that there was officially no contact with MH370 until this time. Attempts on many frequencies and aircraft in the vicinity received no response from MH370.
Copied to 0203:34 to 0205:10 MYT and redirected from 0203:48 MYT
RefID:Factual Information March 2015/1.18.1.5: At 1803:48 UTC (0203:48 MYT) KL ATCC queried HCM ATCC on status MH370, HCM ATCC confirmed there was no radar contact at this time and no verbal communication was established. KL ATCC relayed the information received from Malaysia Airlines Operations that aircraft was in Cambodian airspace.
Copied to 0207:47 to 0223:05 MYT and redirected from 0207:47 MYT
RefID:Factual Information March 2015/1.18.1.5: At 1807:47 UTC (0207:47 MYT) HCM ATCC queried for confirmation that MH370 was in Phnom Penh FIR as Phnom Penh did not have any information on MH370. KL ATCC indicated would check further with supervisor.
Copied to 0207:47 to 0223:05 MYT and redirected from 0212:15 MYT
RefID:Factual Information March 2015/1.18.1.5: At 1812:15 UTC (0212:15 MYT) KL ATCC informed HCM ATCC that there was no update on status of MH370.
Copied to 0215 MYT
RefID:Factual Information March 2015/1.18.1.5: At 1815 UTC (0215 MYT) (no voice recording) extracted from Watch Supervisor Log Book, KL ATCC Watch Supervisor queried Malaysia Airlines Operations who informed that MH370 was able to exchange signals with the Flight Explorer.
Copied to 0207:47 to 0223:05 MYT and redirected from 0218:50 MYT
RefID:Factual Information March 2015/1.18.1.5: At 1818:50 UTC (0218:50 MYT) KL ATCC queried if flight planned routing of MH370 was supposed to enter Cambodian airspace. HCM ATCC confirmed that planned route was only through Vietnamese airspace. HCM ATCC had checked and Cambodian advised that it had no information or contact with MH370. HCM ATCC confirmed earlier information that radar contact was lost after BITOD and radio contact was never established. KL ATCC queried if HCM ATCC was taking Radio Failure action but the query didn’t seem to be understood by the personnel. HCM ATCC suggested KL ATCC to call Malaysia Airlines Operations and was advised that it had already been done.
Copied to 0233:50 to 0237:00 MYT and redirected from 0233:59 MYT
RefID:Factual Information March 2015/1.18.1.5: At 1833:59 UTC (0233:59 MYT) KL ATCC Radar Controller enquired with Malaysia Airlines Operations Centre about communication status with MH370 but the personnel was unsure if the message went through successfully or not. Malaysia Airlines Operations Centre informed that aircraft still sending the movement message indicating somewhere in Vietnam and giving the last position as coordinate N14.90000 E109 15500 at time 1833 UTC (0233 MYT).
Copied to 0233:56 MYT and redirected from 0233 MYT
RefID:Factual Information March 2015/1.18.1.5: At 1833:59 UTC (0233:59 MYT) KL ATCC Radar Controller enquired with Malaysia Airlines Operations Centre about communication status with MH370 but the personnel was unsure if the message went through successfully or not. Malaysia Airlines Operations Centre informed that aircraft still sending the movement message indicating somewhere in Vietnam and giving the last position as coordinate N14.90000 E109 15500 at time 1833 UTC (0233 MYT).
Copied to 0234:56 to 0235:51 MYT and redirected from 0234:56 MYT
RefID:Factual Information March 2015/1.18.1.5: At 1834:56 UTC (0234:56 MYT) HCM ATCC queried about status of MH370 and was informed that the Watch Supervisor was talking to the Company at this time.
Copied to 0237:15 to 0238:40 MYT and redirected from 0237:34 MYT
RefID:Factual Information March 2015/1.18.1.5: At 1837:34 UTC (0237:34 MYT) KL ATCC informed HCM ATCC MH370 still flying, aircraft kept sending position report to the airline and relayed to HCM ATCC the latitude and longitude as advised by Malaysian Airlines Operations.
Copied to 0253:48 to 0254:52 MYT and redirected from 0253:48 MYT
RefID:Factual Information March 2015/1.18.1.5: At 1853:48 UTC (0253:48 MYT) MH386 which was from KLIA to Shanghai and within HCM FIR was requested by HCM ATCC to try to establish contact with MH370 on Lumpur Radar radio frequency. KL ATCC then requested MH 386 to try on emergency frequencies as well.
Copied to 0330 MYT
RefID:Factual Information March 2015/1.18.1.5: At 1930 UTC (0330 MYT) (no voice recording) (extract from Watch Supervisor’s Log Book) MAS Operations Centre informed KL ATCC that the flight tracker information was based on flight projection and not reliable for aircraft positioning.
Copied to 0330:03 to 0331:14 MYT and redirected from 0330:03 MYT
RefID:Factual Information March 2015/1.18.1.5: At 1930:03 UTC (0330:03 MYT) KL ATCC queried if HCM ATCC had checked with next FIR Hainan.
Copied to 0348:46 to 0351:45 MYT and redirected from 0348:52 MYT
RefID:Factual Information March 2015/1.18.1.5: At 1948:52 UTC (0348:52 MYT) KL ATCC queried whether HCM ATCC had checked with the Sanya FIR, HCM ATCC informed KL ATCC no response until now.
Copied to 0356:13 to 0357:39 MYT and redirected from 0356:13 MYT
RefID:Factual Information March 2015/1.18.1.5: At 1956:13 UTC (0356:13 MYT) KL ATCC queried Malaysia Airlines Operations for any latest information or contact with MH370.
Copied to 0425:22 to 0429:00 MYT and redirected from 0425:22 MYT
RefID:Factual Information March 2015/1.18.1.5: At 2025:22 UTC (0425:22 MYT) HCM ATCC Supervisor queried KL ATCC on last position that MH370 was in contact with ATC.
Copied to 0518:32 to 0519:04 MYT and redirected from 0518:32 MYT
RefID:Factual Information March 2015/1.18.1.5: At 2118:32 UTC (0518:32 MYT) HCM ATCC queried for information on MH370, KL ATCC queried if any information had been received from Hong Kong or Beijing
Copied to 0509:13 to 0511:27 MYT and redirected from 0509:13 MYT
RefID:Factual Information March 2015/1.18.1.5: At 2109:13 UTC (0509:13 MYT) Singapore on behalf of Hong Kong enquired for information on MH370.
Copied to 0520:16 to 0524:59 MYT and redirected from 0520:16 MYT
RefID:Factual Information March 2015/1.18.1.5: At 2120:16 UTC (0520:16 MYT) (name redacted) requested for information on MH370. He opined that based on known information, “MH370 never left Malaysian airspace”
Copied to 0530:00 MYT
RefID:Factual Information March 2015/1.18.1.5: At 2130:00 UTC (0530:00 MYT) The Watch Supervisor activated the Kuala Lumpur Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Centre (ARCC).
Copied to 0541:20 to 0541:59 MYT and redirected from 0541:20 MYT
RefID:Factual Information March 2015/1.18.1.5: At 2141:20 UTC (0541:20 MYT) HCM ATCC queried for any updates.
Copied to 0613:36 to 0615:13 MYT and redirected from 0614:13 MYT
RefID:Factual Information March 2015/1.18.1.5: At 2214:13 UTC (0614:13 MYT) KL ATCC queried HCM ATCC if SAR was activated.
Copied to 0632:00 MYT
RefID:Factual Information March 2015/1.18.1.5: At 2232:00 UTC (0632:00 MYT) KL ARCC issued a DETRESFA message (Figure 1.18C).

Version History

19 February 2017 - completed relinking to time segments and checking redirects functional.

29 January 2017 - added links to Time articles. Replaced [ ] with ( ).

29 January 2017 - transcribed DETRESFA Message and added Figure 1.18C

27 January 2017 - text content added

19 May 2016 - page structure created