Malaysia Airlines plane search LIVE: Aircraft pieces found on Andhra coast?

5:35 pm: Search for missing plane narrowed down by Australia 

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) said Wednesday that the search operation for the Malaysian airliner that went missing March 8 is being conducted in a smaller area closer to the Western Australian coast, the IANS reported. 

The development reportedly comes after the search operation conducted by Australia Tuesday found no result relevant to the missing passenger jet. 

Malaysian prime minister says,Missing jetliner deliberately diverted

Someone deliberately diverted Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 and shut down communications with the ground, and the jetliner continued flying for six hours, Malaysia's prime minister said Saturday. The announcement shifted the focus of the investigation to the crew and passengers on the plane, which has now been missing for more than a week.

Missing Malaysian airliner: Fake passport holder identified

Kuala Lumpur , March 10 (IANS) One of the two suspects, who boarded the missing Beijing-bound Malaysia Airlines flight on stolen passports, was identified Monday.

The man was identified using CCTV footage provided by the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), the Malaysian Star reported citing Inspector General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar.

IndiGo plane catches fire at Kathmandu, no casualties

KATHMANDU: Passengers of an IndiGo flight from Delhi to Kathmandu were evacuated after smoke and fire was detected from the undercarriage of the aircraft minutes after it landed at the Tribhuwan International Airport here on Saturday afternoon.

Flight 6E 031 to Kathmandu had 175 passengers, 1 infant and 6 crew members. It made a normal landing and was parked in a bay when a ground engineer saw smoke and fire emanating from the right brake assembly, said a source.

Passengers were evacuated by the slide-chute, even as the fire was brought under control. The airline will be sending another aircraft to fly its passengers booked on the Kathmandu-Delhi flight.

"Subject to the DGCA approval we hope to operate the Kathmandu-Delhi flight at 9pm, Kathmandu time,'' said an IndiGo spokesperson.

The passengers have been accommodated in a hotel, the official added.

A technical team from the airline is due to arrive in Kathmandu to access the situation, according to officials.

The budget airlines began its services to Kathmandu in October 2011.

Pilot of missing Malaysian flight an aviation tech geek

KUALA LUMPUR: The pilot of a Malaysia Airlines jet that went missing on Saturday enjoyed flying the Boeing 777 so much that he spent his off days tinkering with a flight simulator of the plane that he had set up at home, current and former co-workers said.

Zaharie Ahmad Shah, 53, captain of the airliner carrying 239 people bound for Beijing from the Malaysian capital, had always wanted to become a pilot and joined the national carrier in 1981.

Airline staff who worked with the pilot said Zaharie knew the ins and outs of the Boeing 777 extremely well, as he was always practicing with the simulator. They declined to be identified due to company policy.

"He was an aviation tech geek. You could ask him anything and he would help you. That is the kind of guy he is," said a Malaysia Airlines co-pilot who had flown with Zaharie in the past.

Zaharie set up the Boeing 777 simulator at his home in a suburb on the outskirts of the Malaysian capital where many airline staff stay as it provides quick access to the Kuala Lumpur International Airport.

Pictures posted by Zaharie on his Facebook page show a simulator with three computer monitors, a tangle of wires and several panels.

"We used to tease him. We would ask him, why are you bringing your work home," said a pilot who knew Zaharie for 20 years.

Zaharie's passion for aviation went beyond the Boeing 777. Other photos posted up by him on Facebook show he was an avid collector of remote-controlled, miniature aircraft, including a lightweight twin-engined helicopter.

EXAMINER

Zaharie was certified by Malaysia's Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) as an examiner to conduct simulator tests for pilots, said several officials from Malaysia Airlines.

They said it was impossible that Zaharie would be in any way to blame for the disappearance of the aircraft.

"He knew everything about the Boeing 777. Something significant would have had to happen for Zaharie and the plane to go missing. It would have to be total electrical failure," said another Malaysia Airlines pilot who knew Zaharie.

Zaharie has flown Fokker F50s, Boeing 737s and the Airbus A300 in over three decades with Malaysia Airlines.

He had over 18,000 hours of flying experience. His 27-year-old co-pilot Fariq Abdul Hamid had clocked 2,763 hours — having joined Malaysia Airlines in 2007.

"The Boeing 777 doesn't just stall like that," said a former Malaysia Airlines pilot who works for a rival airline. "It is one of the safest planes out there. It doesn't just fall out of the sky like that."

Election code to delay key policies including those on aviation, foreign trade

NEW DELHI: For several corporate chiefs, frequent visits to the capital may not be part of their weekly itinerary for the next 10 weeks. After all, crucial decisions across sectors, especially those involving policy changes, will now be taken only by the new government. 

This means several key decisions that overseas investors were keenly watching - from relaxation in the conditions to allow Indian carriers to fly abroad, or foreign direct investment in Railways and more liberal FDI rules for construction - will be deferred until a new government is sworn in. 

Officials said even tax conciliation talks with Vodafone cannot be completed till the Cabinet endorses it. A crucial decision, involving government revenues of around Rs 13,000 crore, is not something that UPA II will be able to take. There are several other tax-related changes, including the new Direct Taxes Code and the Goods & Services Tax, which the finance ministry gave up even before elections were announced. 

Although the commerce department was toying with the idea of announcing a new five-year Foreign Trade Policy before the model code of conduct kicked in, it junked the idea. As a result, the existing regime will continue even though the policy is due to lapse on March 31. 

The announcement of poll dates on Wednesday has thrown cold water on UPA II's plan to scrap the eligibility criteria for Indian carriers to fly abroad - that they have to be five-year old and have at least 20 aircraft in their fleet - as well as those related to FDI. All the proposals have been awaiting Cabinet clearance for the past few weeks. 

Aviation minister Ajit Singh told TOI that now with the code of conduct in place, the government cannot take the policy decision to revoke what is popularly known as 5/20 rule. "The next government will have to take a call on this. It (scrapping of 5/20) cannot happen now," Singh said. Similarly, the bid to privatize 15 more airports - beginning with six in places like Kolkata, Chennai, Lucknow and Ahmedabad -will also now be taken up by the next government. 

The inability of the Union cabinet to decide on Ordinances means that powers given to the Securities & Exchange Board of India, including those related to search and seizure, will now lapse. If the next government pursues the agenda,the market regulator will be able to crack down on unregulated investment schemes more effectively. 

"We won't be able to initiate fresh steps, but whatever action we take while the Ordinance is valid is legal," said a Sebi official. 

Aviation ministry pushes to scrap 5/20 rule

NEW DELHI: UPA II's last days in office may prove to be the most controversial ones for the aviation ministry.

After grant of additional flying rights to Dubai on Wednesday, the aviation ministry is now going full steam ahead with its plan to scrap the rule that an Indian carrier must be five years old and have a fleet of at least 20 planes to fly abroad. It has prepared the Cabinet Note for what is popularly known as the 5/20 rule and is pushing for it to be taken up in next week's Cabinet meeting - that may be the last such meet of UPA II before poll dates are announced and the code of conduct kicks in.

"The note has been sent for putting up before the Cabinet. The earlier 5/20 decision was taken by the Cabinet and can be overturned by the Cabinet only," said a source. Under the proposed new rule, an Indian carrier - including a startup - would only require the Directorate General of Civil Aviation's (DGCA) nod to fly abroad.