MH370: BALPA calls for end to ‘irresponsible speculation’
The British Airline Pilots’ Association (BALPA) has responded to this week’s release of the final report into the missing Malaysia Airlines MH370 flight, saying ‘unfair speculation around the role of the pilots’ should be ‘put to bed’.
It was widely speculated at the time of the incident, and subsequently, that a pilot on the aircraft was to blame for the missing flight but that was dismissed at a press conference, with lead investigator Kok Soo Chon making it clear there is ‘no evidence’ to suggest this was the case.
BALPA also urged the industry to invest in new technology, which could help stop a similar situation happening in future.
BALPA head of flight safety Dr Rob Hunter, said: "People found it incredible that in this day and age we could lose track of an aircraft in this way. We believe a global push to replace the old technology that still sits in cockpits would help avoid accidents and help accident investigation.
"For example, computer interfaces and navigation functions still use the old 1980s-style typed commands, and this issue does feature as being contributory to a number of accidents.
"This accident has led to an industry-wide response to develop better systems for aircraft tracking and the recovery of flight data recorders from stricken aircraft, which we support.
"It is very sad that the cause of this accident has not been found but we hope the accusations about the pilot somehow being to blame are now firmly put to bed.
"Speculation on the cause of accidents can be distressing for the relatives of the victims and it can divert the investigating team.
"It is irresponsible to slander the reputation, professionalism and memory of a pilot who was as much a victim of this accident as anyone else, without any evidence.
"Indeed, we increasingly see commentators leap to medical or psychological causes when in fact technical and regulatory causes are more likely to be at the root of an accident or incident."
Lisa
Lisa joined Travel Weekly nearly 25 years ago as technology reporter and then sailed around the world for a couple of years as cruise correspondent, before becoming deputy editor. Now freelance, Lisa writes for various print and web publications, edits Corporate Traveller’s client magazine, Gateway, and works on the acclaimed Remembering Wildlife series of photography books, which raise awareness of nature’s most at-risk species and helps to fund their protection.
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