Investigations will be carried out after a Malaysia Airlines (MAS) pilot questioned why the flight path

from Auckland to Kuala Lumpur differed slightly on Christmas Day, reports the New Zealand Herald
today.
The pilot on flight MH132 raised concerns eight minutes after take-off when his Airbus A330 was
instructed to fly further south than usual.
The plane, which left at 2.23am Christmas Day (7.23am Malaysian time) was heading towards
Melbourne rather than a more direct flight path to Kuala Lumpur.
The Auckland Oceanic control centre informed him that the flight plan had been given to Airways, which
managed air traffic control for New Zealand and South Pacific.
NZ Herald reported that Airways would be probing into the matter. However, the passengers were
unaware of the changes.
The flight plan the airline filed with us was going to Kuala Lumpur but via a slightly different route than
the pilot was expecting, an Airways spokesman was quoted as saying.
Airways will work closely with Malaysia Airlines to find out how the confusion came about.
New Zealand aviation commentator Peter Clark praised the pilot for his actions.
The pilot has done a very good job by noticing it, querying it and not just blindly flying off and ending
up in the Southern Ocean, he told NZ Herald.
Flights on the route often travel around the bottom of Australia to avoid bad weather or headwinds,
Clark said.
WeatherWatch head analyst Philip Duncan was quoted as saying that the weather between New
Zealand and Kuala Lumpur was fairly calm, but thunderstorms across northern Australia and Papua
New Guinea might have influenced the flight path. December 27, 2015.
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia Airlines (MAS) has denied that its Boeing 777-ER pilots are being forced to
leave the national carrier after undertaking a network rationalisation exercise.
While confirming that its rationalisation exercise would have an impact on its pilots, the airline said
today they have been offered options, which did not include termination.
In a media statement sent to the New Straits Times, the national carrier said the network rationalisation
exercise which saw a reduction in capacity and suspension of flights to selected destinations, would
have an impact on pilot requirements.
However, it also said these pilots would have a choice of career options which include voluntary
secondment to other airlines in Asia or the Middle East, voluntary no pay long term leave to pursue
other careers, or to remain in Malaysia Airlines and await possible long term vacancies in other aircraft
types.
MAS added: "The opportunities for secondment to another airline are entirely voluntary for the
individual pilot and no 777 pilot has been requested to leave the airline."
This came in light of a report by local Malay daily Kosmo, which said 250 Boeing 777-ER pilots would
lose their jobs in the wake of Malaysia Airlines Berhad's decision to stop flying from Kuala Lumpur to
Amsterdam, Holland and Paris, France, beginning January 27..
It was also reported some of the affected pilots have been offered voluntary no-pay leave for two years
and it said MAS ended the loss-making flights to the two destinations after entering a partnership with
Emirates, the world's biggest international carrier on Dec 2 to offer seamless international network to
customers.

KUALA TERENGGANU: Terengganu saw a further increase in the number of flood evacuees when
Dungun too got hit by flood last night.
As at 8.40am today, a total of 1,661 victims from 495 families are seeking shelter at 31 relief centres in
Dungun, Marang, Hulu Terengganu and Kemaman.
Last night alone, a total of 793 victims from 232 families were evacuated to 19 relief centres.
In Dungun, 188 victims of 56 families were evacuated to 4 relief centres.
State Welfare Department portal stated that 991 victims from 243 families were moved to 15 relief
centres in Kemaman.
The portal also recorded 474 victims from 194 families being sheltered at 11 relief centres in Hulu
Terengganu.
Meanwhile eight victims from a family were retained at Dewan Sivik Wakaf Tapai.
BATU PAHAT: The travel agency which handled the tour group involved in a fatal bus crash in Chiang
Mai last week has ceased its holiday packages to the northern Thai province indefinitely.
Chiu Travel Sdn Bhd general manager, Terrance Yung said the decision was made out of respect for
the 13 Malaysians who were killed in last Sunday's bus crash in the Doi Saket subdistrict.
"The group which went for the trip were the last batch for this year. We will not be taking any more
bookings for the destination for the time being," said Yung.
He said the company may include the destination, which is among the favourite tourist destinations in
Thailand, in the future.
Thirteen were killed while another nine Malaysians were injured in the incident.
The remains of the 13 victims were flown back to Malaysia via a Royal Thai Air Force aircraft and a
Royal Malaysian Air Force C130 Hercules C130 aircraft, accompanied by their next of kin, last
Wednesday.
One of the survivors was also flown back on the same aircraft and is being treated at a hospital in Batu
Pahat.
Yung admitted that the company came under heavy criticism from the public when inaccurate
information went viral on social media.
"Much of it is hearsay and speculative. Investigations on the incident are still ongoing. From our side,
we are transparent and convey information to everyone through our Facebook page."
Yung said information posted on Facebook took into account the updates of injured tour group
members who were still unfit to travel home as they were recuperating in hospitals in Thailand.
He said his sister, Melissa, who is part of the family-run company and their cousin flew to Chiang Mai
on Dec 20 to handle accommodation, logistics and communication for the victims' next-of-kin.
"The company is aware of the troubles faced by the affected families. So far, there have been no
grouses or complaints from the next-of-kin. Our priority is to bring all of them home safely," he said.
Yung said two of the injured survivors have been cleared to return to Malaysia and are expected to take
a flight home on Tuesday.
He said the company will consider taking legal action against the Thailand-based tour bus operator if
investigations concluded the incident was due to poor bus maintenance.
Thai authorities have since revoked the driving licence of the 58-year-old bus driver who survived the
crash, and the licence of the travel agency which provided the bus.
Yung said he shared the grief felt by the tour group as he also lost a senior tour guide, Png Ee Ting, 28,
who was part of the extended family.

"It was her first trip to Thailand. She is also part of our family. Her sister is getting married to my brother
next year. They have not picked a date, but they may postpone the wedding as everyone is grieving
now, he said.