THE search and rescue operations of Malaysia Airlines (MAS) flight MH370 continues into its fifth day, and the authorities have found no trace of the aircraft or the 239 passengers and crew onboard.
Although the aircraft is equipped with a continuous data monitoring system, which transmits data automatically, MAS reported there were no distress calls and no information relayed.
At press time, it is still unknown what went wrong with the aircraft or where it could possibly be.
Meanwhile, the two individuals travelling on stolen passports on the lost flight have been identified as Iranians Pouria Nour Mohammad Merhdad, 19 and Delavar Seyed Mohammad Erza, 29.
Speaking at a press conference in Lyon yesterday, Interpol secretary-general Ronald K Noble said the two had flown to Kuala Lumpur using their own passports and then switched to the stolen passports to board MH370.
Investigations revealed that Pouria Nour was on his way to join his mother in Germany. Noble said: “The more information we get, the more we are inclined to conclude it is not a terrorist incident.”
The press conference was held hours after Malaysia’s inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar said the Malaysian police are investigating if the stolen passports are linked to passport theft or forgery rings in Thailand.
The investigation is focused on four main areas – hijacking, sabotage, psychological and personal problems of the passengers and crew.
On psychological and personal problems, Malaysia’s The Star quoted the inspector-general as saying: “Maybe somebody on the flight bought a huge sum of insurance and wanted his family to gain from it, or somebody who owed somebody else a lot of money, you know – we are looking at all possibilities.”
