Batteries on MH370 deemed non-dangerous goods: Malaysia Airlines

March 22, 2014 | 16:30

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Malaysia Airlines (MAS) on Saturday clarified that lithium ion batteries were loaded on board flight MH370 on March 8, in compliance with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) requirements.

File photo shows a man silhouetted against a Malaysia Airlines plane tail. (AFP/Greg Wood)

>> Australia says MH370 search to continue "indefinitely"

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia Airlines (MAS) on Saturday clarified that lithium ion batteries were loaded on board flight MH370 on March 8, in compliance with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) requirements.

In a statement, the airline said the items were classified as non-dangerous goods.

On Friday, MAS group chief executive officer Ahmad Jauhari Yahya was quoted as saying at a press briefing that the items were packed as recommended by ICAO, and the cargo was checked several times in accordance with the organisation's guidelines.

He had said that other airlines did this all the time, not just MAS.

The Beijing-bound Boeing 777-200ER aircraft, with 227 passengers and 12 crew on board, disappeared about an hour after leaving the KL International Airport at 12.41 am on March 8.

It was scheduled to arrive in Beijing at 6.30 am on the same day.

Various theories have been offered on the disappearance.

A multinational effort to search for the missing jetliner has so far drawn a blank.

Bernama/xq

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