Missing plane puzzle remains unsolved

A journalist raises her hand as Malaysia’s Acting Transport Minister Hishammuddin Hussein (second right) answers questions during a news briefing in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday. MOHD RASFAN / AFP

Fact versus fiction

Contradictory reports about the missing flight have resulted in confusion, leading some people to wonder which are true and which are false. Here are some examples. March 15 Report: Malaysian Airlines will not continue to provide free accommodation for relatives of Chinese passengers on the missing flight MH370. Malaysian Airlines' response: The story is false. March 15 Report: A Malaysian officer who spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity said reports that one or more people with significant flying experience had hijacked flight MH370, deliberately switched off the communication devices and steered the plane off course were "conclusive", AP reported. Malaysian government's response: It is only one of the possibilities under investigation. March 14 Report: People reported that they saw the missing jet catch on fire over Vietnam and watched it crash. Malaysian government: False. March 13 Report: Media reports said police have searched the homes of the plane's captain and second officer. Malaysian government: originally said the story was false, but it was confirmed several days later. March 13 Report: After the plane lost contact, some relatives were still able to contact passengers' cell phones. Malaysian government: Although the number was the same as one of the Chinese passengers' phones, the signal was traced to Kansas in the US. March 13 Report: The Malaysian military shot down a UFO sometime between 1 am and 8 am on March 8. Malaysian government: False. March 13 Report: One of the pilots had mental health issues. Malaysian government: False. March 10 Report: Vietnamese search and rescue workers spotted an orange object that might be related to the missing jet in the waters southwest of Tho Chu Island in the Gulf of Thailand Malaysian government: False. March 8 Report: The missing plane crashed 153 kilometers from Tho Chu Island. Malaysian government: False. March 8 Report: Vietnamese search and rescue team had located a signal from the missing Boeing 777-200. Malaysian government: False.

Confusing information

Hishammuddin Hussein, Malaysia's acting minister of transportation, defended the work of the authorities and said the information flow has been confusing. "The changes are the result of new information coming in on a daily basis. A lot of the contradictory information didn't come from our team," he told China Daily. "We have held media conferences every day and we want the public to know that we are rebutting false information every day."

Meanwhile, rumors are still spreading, especially among members of the media. Much of the early reportage has been disproved, including the news about potential debris found floating in the South China Sea and suggestions that some of the plane's crew may have had mental health issues.

The Malaysian authorities hold 30-minute media briefings every afternoon, although they are frequently delayed and occasionally canceled outright. The speakers include high-ranking officials from Malaysia Airlines and the Malaysian government.

Friday's briefing, hosted by Prime Minister Najib Razak, was broadcast live on television and the families of the 154 missing Chinese passengers watched it at their hotels in Beijing and Kuala Lumpur.

"More than 100 people are working for the 25 Chinese families in Kuala Lumpur," Ahmad Jauhari Yahya, chief executive officer of Malaysia Airlines, told China Daily. "We are not only taking care of their stay in our country but also keeping them informed about the latest updates."

Li Xuefeng, the emergency-management professor, said the missing plane is a crisis for Malaysia Airlines and also the government. "Malaysia can't deal with this situation without cooperating with other countries. So, transparency of information and efficient communications are crucial for the search," he said.

He said the usual practice after such an incident is to quickly define the chain of command, establishing who is in charge of evaluating the situation and making decisions. In Li's opinion, the Malaysian authorities have fallen behind at every step.

"Of course, the Malaysian authorities have done many things right, including flying the families of the Chinese passengers to Kuala Lumpur and taking care of them. They have the right attitude to work out this problem. Unfortunately, they didn't make the line of leadership clear earlier. More important, they need to adjust their actions according to the fast-changing situation," he said.

Shaharm the psychiatrist has volunteered to help the families. Every day he and dozens of trained psychological counselors talk with the family members and listen to their fears.

"People don't like uncertainty. They only feel safe when they know what is really going on," he said. "This inconsistency is hurting the families all over again. Usually when a tragedy occurs, especially when the situation isn't clear, people feel distressed, and what we do is listen to their feelings," he said. "So far they are doing well. They are very brave. The flight between Kuala Lumpur and Beijing never stops for them."

He urged the Malaysian government to provide accurate information and called on the media to be objective and responsible and not publish unverified stories and rumors.

Confused messages

Muhd Akif Abdullah, a 34-year-old local resident, said he flies with Malaysia Airlines frequently. "I've been paying close attention to this issue, but have found the information issued by the authorities to be confusing," he said. "Their announcements are disjointed and change constantly. Some officials can't even speak fluent English at the media briefings."

He has now stopped watching the official media briefings and has turned to the international media instead. "This incident has revealed a lot of problems, including the government's inability to provide clear, accurate information. They are supposed to be more professional."

Tiffanie Osswalt, a reporter for France's BFM TV, said the Malaysian government's messages have been inconsistent. "The authorities change their statements every day, and we don't know which story to believe," she said, adding that she expected communications to improve in the wake of Najib Razak's media conference.

"Still, we journalists should verify our sources before we publish any information," she said. "This is a mysterious incident, and as reporters we have to say something every day. However, still we shouldn't spread rumors, despite the lack of real progress."

Family members of the missing Chinese passengers watched the prime minister's press conference at a hotel in the suburbs of Kuala Lumpur. They also complained about poor communications.

"There are so many changes every day, but I am worried the flow of information won't help to find the plane, or may even result in them looking in the wrong place," said a woman who declined to give her name.

Although the family is staying at a four-star resort, the choking smog obscured the leafy vista and the sky was gray. Occasionally, ashes from burning bushes were carried by the wind and landed in the hotel gardens.

"Everything is blurred. We can't see through the dense fog surrounding this situation," she said.

Contact the writers at pengyining@chinadaily.com.cn, huyongqi@chinadaily.com.cn and wangwen@chinadaily.com.cn

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