MH370: Black box data analysis should be handled by trustworthy party - Captain Nik

Datuk Captain Nik Huzlan on his Facebook status mentioned that, “The search for MH370 may end. If the Black Box is found, it is in everyone's interest the custodian is someone we can trust, someone competent, someone who can communicate well, someone who is neutral and not a stakeholder."

"Recovery, data extraction and analysis should be above board and should not be compromised by having the clueless in the same room. Hope the Boxes will be recovered.”

Captain Nik, a former chief pilot of Malaysian Airlines, further explained via a telephone conversation with Astro Awani that it is imperative that the black box (should it be found) be handed to and ‘dissected’ by a trustworthy and knowledgeable party.

Nik added that he has faith in the Australian government and that their search and recovery team has the expertise and sound judgment to retrieve MH370's black box.

He also added that major factors that could impede the recovery of the black box would be mainly due to the condition of the ocean (15 meters of mud surfacing the ocean, the rough terrain in between the valleys or the seabed of the Indian Ocean) and the lifespan of the black box’s battery that is weakening, not forgetting the time or the nine days lost in coordinating the location of search area in looking for the black box.

Acting Transport Minister, Datuk Seri Hishammudin Hussein said in an interview published in The Straits Times yesterday, said that, “It doesn’t matter where the investigations are carried out as long as the truth about the missing Malaysia Airlines (MAS) flight MH370 is out.”

“It is not just getting the black box. It’s finding out what’s in the black box,” he told The Straits Times in an interview on Tuesday.

The Boeing 777-200ER is registered in Malaysia and owned by MAS. And under the the International Convention on Civil Aviation (ICAO), the country of origin of the aircraft, which is Malaysia, is obliged to launch an investigation and secure the wreckage. However, Malaysia has asked Australia to lead the search in the southern Indian Ocean.

“Under the ICAO, we have responsibility of looking after the black box. But there are diplomatic challenges when it involves 14 different nations,” Hishammuddin said.

Last week, Malaysia formed three committees - one to oversee affairs concerning next of kin, one for military affairs and one to oversee technical aspects of the hunt for MH370. The technical committee bears responsibility in revising the jurisdiction of the wreckage once it is found.

Experts from the United States Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board, Britain's Air Accidents Investigation Branch, France’s Aviation Accident Investigation Bureau and the Civil Aviation Administration of China are working closely with these committees.

The ill-fated flight, MH370 bound for Beijing, disappeared from radar less than an hour after take-off from Kuala Lumpur International Airport at 12.41am on March 8.