Punctured By High-Energy Objects, No Emergency Calls And More From MH17 Preliminary Report
Evidence are consistent with impacts from a large number of high-energy objects from outside the aircraft.
By Mei Mei Chu — 09 Sep 2014, 05:18 PM — Updated about 10 years ago
The Dutch Safety Board Has Published The Preliminary Report For The MH17 Incident On 9 September 2014
The Malaysia Airlines flight went down over war-torn eastern Ukraine on July 17 while en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur. All 298 people on board the Boeing 777 were killed, including 193 Dutch citizens.
dw.deAt the time of the incident, the Malaysia Airlines plane was flying at approximately 33,000 feet (10,000 meters), above the restricted airspace zone, according to investigators. The cockpit voice recorder "ended abruptly" and no distress signal was sent.
dw.deAccording To The Report, The Boeing 777-200 Broke Up In The Air Probably As A Result Of Structural Damage Caused By A Large Number Of High-Energy Objects That Penetrated The Aircraft From Outside
Flight MH17 operated by Malaysia Airlines broke up in the air probably as the result of structural damage caused by a large number of high-energy objects that penetrated the aircraft from outside, according to the preliminary report by the Dutch Safety Board.
“The available images show that the pieces of wreckage were pierced in numerous places. The pattern of damage to the aircraft fuselage and the cockpit is consistent with that which may be expected from a large number of high-energy objects that penetrated the aircraft from outside,” the report reads.
"Damage observed on the forward fuselage and cockpit section of the aircraft appears to indicate that there were impacts from a large number of high-energy objects from outside the aircraft," the report said. Examination of "photographs from the wreckage indicated that the material around the holes was deformed in a manner consistent with being punctured by high-energy objects."
dw.deThere Are No Indications That The MH17 Crash Was Caused By Technical Fault Or By Action Of The Crew
“It’s likely that this damage resulted in a loss of structural integrity of the aircraft, leading to an in-flight break up,” experts said. “There are no indications that the MH17 crash was caused by a technical fault or by actions of the crew.”
Cockpit Voice Recorder, Flight Data Recorder And Data From Air Traffic Control Show That The Flight Proceeded Normally With No Emergency Calls
The cockpit voice recorder, the flight data recorder and data from air traffic control all suggest that flight MH17 proceeded as normal until 13:20:03 (UTC), after which it ended abruptly. A full listening of the communications among the crew members in the cockpit recorded on the cockpit voice recorder revealed no signs of any technical faults or an emergency situation.
Neither were any warning tones heard in the cockpit that might have pointed to technical problems. The flight data recorder registered no aircraft system warnings, and aircraft engine parameters were consistent with normal operation during the flight.
The radio communications with Ukrainian air traffic control confirm that no emergency call was made by the cockpit crew. The final calls by Ukrainian air traffic control made between 13.20:00 and 13.22:02 (UTC) remained unanswered.
The Plane Was Airworthy And There Were No Known Technical Problems As It Was Manned By A Qualified And Experienced Crew
The pattern of wreckage on the ground suggests that the aircraft split into pieces during flight (an in-flight break up). Based on the available maintenance history the airplane was airworthy when it took off from Amsterdam and there were no known technical problems. The aircraft was manned by a qualified and experienced crew.
An In-Flight Break Up Would Best Explain The Flight's Abrupt Disappearance From Radars And Loss Of Contact
This also explains the abrupt end to the data registration on the recorders, the simultaneous loss of contact with air traffic control and the aircraft's disappearance from radar.
However, Additional Reports Are Needed To Explain The Sequence Of Events As More Evidence May Appear
“More research will be necessary to determine more precisely what caused the crash and how the airplane disintegrated. The Board believes that additional evidence will become available in the period ahead. From this point on, the research team will start working towards producing the definitive investigation report. The Board aims to publish the report within one year of the date of the crash,” the Dutch Safety Board said in a statement.
“The preliminary report issues the first findings in a ongoing investigation. From this point on, the investigation team will be working towards producing its final report. The Board aims to publish this report within one year of the date of the crash.”
The Preliminary Reports Have Been Sent To Other Countries That Are Involved In The Investigation, Involving Malaysia
The Board also said that the preliminary reports were sent to the other countries involved in the investigation, including Malaysia, Ukraine, Russia, the United Kingdom, the United States and Australia and their reactions to the report have been received. “All Accredited Representatives have sent a reaction. The Dutch Safety Board assessed the provided suggestions and amended the report where appropriate,” the report says.