JOIN USThe last words from the cockpit of the missing Malaysian jet MH370 were a standard “Good night Malaysian three seven zero”, said Malaysian authorities, changing their account of the critical last communication from a more casual “All right, good night”.
Malaysia on Tuesday released the full transcript of communications between the Boeing 777 and local air traffic control before it dropped from civilian radar in the early hours of March 8 as it flew from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing.
The correction comes as Malaysian authorities face heavy criticism, particularly from China, for mismanaging the search, now in its fourth week, and holding back information. Most of the 239 people aboard the flight were Chinese.
“There is no indication of anything abnormal in the transcript,” said Malaysian Acting Transport Minister Hishammuddin Hussein, without explaining the changes in the reported last communication. “The transcript was initially held as part of the police probe.”
The transcript, issued on Tuesday and shared with families of the passengers and crew, covers about 55 minutes of apparently routine conversation, beginning about quarter of an hour before take-off.
The last exchange took place at 1:19 am (1719 GMT). Nothing appeared to be wrong, as Malaysian air traffic controllers told the pilots they were entering Vietnamese air space, and received a fairly standard sign-off with call sign in reply.