Missing jet WAS Carrying Highly Flammable Lithium Batteries:
CEO of Malaysian Airlines Finally admits to Dangerous Cargo four days after DENYING it
- When asked days ago, he said it was carrying 'tonnes of mangosteens'
- Lithium-ion batteries have caused 140 mid-air incidents in last 20 years
- The devices are commonly used in mobile phones and laptops
- Classed as dangerous by The International Civil Aviation Organisation
- Reignites theory that missing flight may have crashed after on-board fire
- Aviation expert said it re-affirm belief that flames started in cargo hold
- One cargo plane crashed in 2010 after attempting an emergency landing
- Safety report said battery caught fire and filled the flight deck with smoke
By Daily Mail UK, 23 March 2014
Malaysian Airlines today confirmed that flight MH370 had been carrying highly flammable lithium-ion batteries in its cargo hold, re-igniting speculation that a fire may have caused its disappearance.
The admission by CEO Ahmad Jauhari comes four days after he denied the aircraft was carrying any dangerous items and nearly two weeks after the plane went missing.
He said the authorities were investigating the cargo, but did not regard the batteries as hazardous - despite the law dictating they are classed as such - because they were packaged according to safety regulations.
The revelation has thrown the spotlight back on the theory that the Boeing 777 may have been overcome by a fire, rendering the crew and passengers unconscious after inhaling toxic fumes.
Lithium-ion batteries - which are used in mobile phones and laptops - have been responsible for a number of fires on planes and have even brought aircraft down in recent years.
Malaysian Airlines today confirmed that missing MH370 (pictured on an earlier flight) had been carrying highly flammable
lithium-ion batteries in its cargo hold four days after denying it had any dangerous goods on board
Lithium-ion batteries like this one used in laptops were being carried in the cargo hold of the flight,
it was revealed by Malaysia Airlines (file picture of unconnected battery)
CHANGING RESPONSES FROM CEO
What Ahmad Jauhari said four days ago:
Quote:
When asked at a press conference if there was any dangerous cargo on board, he replied: 'We had a load of mangosteens headed to China.
'It was a large quantity - about three to four tonnes of mangosteens,' he said to laughter from the media.
What he said today:
'We carried some lithium-ion small batteries, they are not big batteries and they are basically approved under the ICAO (The International Civil Aviation Organisation) under dangerous goods.'
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According to US-based Federal Aviation Administration, lithium-ion batteries carried in the cargo or baggage have been responsible for more than 140 incidents between March 1991 and February 17 this year, it was reported by Malaysiakini.
In rare cases, aircraft have been destroyed as a result of fires started from the devices, although they have been cargo planes in both incidents.
In one case, UPS Airlines Flight 6 crashed while attempting an emergency landing in September 2010 en route from Dubai to Cologne in Germany.
Flight MH370 disappeared from radar screens two weeks ago on March 8 after taking off from Kuala Lumpur bound for Beijing.
The second day of a new search, concentrating on a desolate area in the southern Indian Ocean, failed to locate two possible pieces of debris from the Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777.
Aircraft and ships scoured the seas around 2,500kilometres off the coast of the Australian city of Perth, for 10 hours before darkness fell. Australian officials have vowed to continue the search tomorrow.
Billie Vincent, the former head of security for the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, said the revelation re-affirmed his belief that flames started in the cargo hold, destroying the aircraft's communication systems then filling the cabin with toxic fumes.
This, he says, would have overwhelmed the passengers but may have given the pilots a chance to divert the aircraft for an emergency landing.
He said 'The data released thus far most likely points to a problem with hazardous materials.
'This scenario begins with the eruption of hazardous materials within the cargo hold – either improperly packaged or illegally shipped – or both.'
It is thought the missing plane climbed to 45,000ft - a move Mr Vincent believes may have resulted from the pilots not being able to see the controls properly.
Reversal: When asked four days ago if there was any hazardous cargo on aboard, Mr Jauhari said no,
adding that it was carrying 'three to four tonnes of mangosteens'
Questioned: Mr Jauhari Yahya (left) and Department Civil Aviation Director General Azharuddin
Abdul Rahman update the media on the progress of the investigation
Responding to a question at a press conference in Kuala Lumpur, Mr Jauhari said: 'We carried some lithium-ion small batteries, they are not big batteries and they are basically approved under the ICAO (The International Civil Aviation Organisation) under dangerous goods.
'They (lithium-ion batteries) are not dangerous goods per se, but in terms (of) they are (being) declared as dangerous goods under ICAO.'
He insisted they were checked several times to ensure they complied with the guidelines.
'Airlines do that all the time, it is not just Malaysia Airlines. These goods are being flown by many airlines as cargo anyway, (which) is based on ICAO’s ruling,' he added.
When asked earlier this week if there was hazardous cargo on board, Mr Jauhari said no, adding that it was carrying 'three to four tonnes of mangosteens'.
'We've got a lot of hope': Captain Russell Adams, the pilot of the Australian P3 Orion updates the
media on the search for MH370 in the southern Indian Ocean after landing back at Pearce air base in Perth
A long way south: The southern search zone is one of the most remote places on Earth
Hope: A man returns a message posted along with others in the shape of a heart which are dedicated to families
and passengers of MH370. Australian search teams still believe they may find survivors
IF BATTERY PACKS FAIL THEY ARE PRONE TO BURSTING INTO FLAMES
Lithium-ion batteries are found in everyday items including laptops, mobile phones, iPods and other electrical products.
They are very common, because pound for pound, they are one of the most energetic rechargeable batteries available.
The batteries do have the ability to burst into flames, and while it is uncommon, when they ignite they can cause an extreme fire.
Lithium-ion batteries are very sensitive to high temperatures. Heat can cause the battery packs to degrade much faster than they normally would.
If the battery fails there is a chance the pack could burst into flames.
They can pose a danger and safety hazard since they contain, unlike other rechargeable batteries, a flammable electrolyte and are kept pressurised.
Radar also confirmed the flight later dropped to 23,000ft which, according to Mr Vincent, is a diversion altitude set by manufacturers to limit the spread of the fire.
The United Arab Emirates’ General Civil Aviation Authority blamed the crash, which killed the crew, on the batteries which it believed may have 'auto-ignited' and filled the flight deck with smoke.
The batteries have also caused problems in the cabin including a flight attendant and two passengers who were burned when they handled a mobile phone and spare battery in September 2012.
Six months earlier, a lithium battery caught fire inside one passenger's personal air purifier.
The incident prompted to the ICAO to introduce a new rule last year stating that any cargo with more than two lithium-ion batteries be packaged under hazardous goods regulations.
Malaysia Airlines has not responded to a call from MailOnline.