Search Called Off for the Day Due to Severe Weather; Malaysia Airlines Holds Press Conference; CEO Says Obligation to Families Is the Priority; Malaysia Airlines Victims' Families Await Proof
COOPER: I'm told the press conference is about to begin. Let's listen in.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: David Johnston, the Minister for Defense, and the Vice Chair for Defense Force, Air Marshal Mark Binskin, to make some comments regarding operations in the south Indian Ocean and also Australian and international efforts to hopefully find something regarding MH370.</s>DAVID JOHNSTON, AUSTRALIA DEFENCE MINISTER: Ladies and gentlemen, thank you all for keeping everybody informed as to what is going on in what is most important event in terms of aviation and maritime safety. Today I'm here to speak to the crews and the maintainers of these magnificent aircraft that are behind me. I want to take the opportunity to publicly thank all of the crews and all of the teams that keep these planes flying. As you know, it is a four-hour trip down there, two hours on station and then four hours home. This is an extremely remote part of the world. It is 3,500 meters deep, 2,500 kilometers from Perth. It's a massive logistic exercise. There are four Australian P-3s, two Japanese P-3s, one New Zealand P-3, a P-8 from the United States, two Aleutians from China, and who else have a missed? There's a P-3 coming from Korea with a C-130H this afternoon. Now I want to take the opportunity to thank all of those countries for their assistance and their commitment. I've just had lunch with the Chinese and Japanese teams. They're all working exotically (ph) long hours to keeping their aircraft flying, to keep their crews up to the minute in terms of enthusiasm. It's been a long, hard road two weeks in. You know, we've got a sea state 7 down there, HMS Success has had to deployed 120 kilometers to the South to avoid -- for those of you who understand sea sites -- horrendous weather conditions. This is a major operation. Can I say that the prime minister has today announced visa fees will be waived for the families of the passengers and crew of this Malaysian aircraft. We will be very pleased to welcome them here to give them some closure in what is an extreme tragedy for them. Aside for that, I come back to the fact that this is an amazing example of international cooperation, particularly between militaries. And may I say, as a Western Australian, we are very pleased to host the Chinese, the Japanese, the Koreans, the New Zealanders, and the Americans into Western Australia.</s>REPORTER: Are facilities being offered for the families to come here and to be either flown over or taken by sea to the crash area?</s>JOHNSTON: Well, I think those logistical operations will need to be considered very carefully. I don't want to speculate because it is a major operation. This is, as I say, probably one of the most remote parts of our planet. We want to get that right. We want to assist these families and friends to have some closure, but let's talk about that when we know how many are coming and when they're arriving.</s>REPORTER: After the Malaysians announced that last night, is it very clearly now a case of not looking for survivors but looking for debris and looking for those black boxes?</s>JOHNSTON: Well, let's be clear. To this point in time, we have not successfully identified and recovered any debris from the aircraft in question.</s>REPORTER: Can you confirm this is the place that the plane crashed?</s>REPORTER: Senator, the Malaysian Prime Minister was clear (ph) that in his view that the plane was in the Southern Ocean. Do you share that strength of view?</s>JOHNSTON: Well, if I think if we're going to go on data and information giving us a hint as to what has actually happened, that's all we've got to go on. I think the telemetry from the satellite, the Inmarsat satellite, generating on an hourly basis, the telemetry from those motors (ph) and the performance of the aircraft I think is all we've got to go on. I think we've got to rely on that and that's what we've been doing. Hang on, this lady over here would like to ask a question.</s>REPORTER: Thank you very much. So would you say you are confident with the prime minister's assessment that the fate of Flight 370 ended in the Indian Ocean? Are you confident about that?</s>JOHNSTON: I am confident about that because that's the best we've got to this point in time.</s>JOHNSTON: Sorry?</s>REPORTER: So you're not surprised that they made the call last night, sending the messages to families?</s>JOHNSTON: Look, I'm not surprised about anything with respect to this. This is a mystery and until we recover and positively identify a piece of debris, everything is virtually speculation.</s>JOHNSTON: Well, when you've got to suspend operations for 24 hours because of weather, these beautiful aircraft behind me are all on the ground as you can see. Because it's unsafe to fly down there. Now, remember, this part of the world, this Southern Ocean, has shipwrecked many, many sailors in our history in Western Australia. It is rough, sea state 7, you know, there are 20, 30 meter waves; it is very, very dangerous, even for big Panamax-class ships.</s>REPORTER: Have you received further details from Malaysia can support the conclusion delivered by Malaysia premier?</s>JOHNSTON: Look, I will hand over to the Vice Chief of Defense Binskin will tell you that everything we have you know about and that we are doing everything we can to, first of all, make a positive identification on a piece of debris. That will mean that we're on the right track. Now, that's not going to happen I wouldn't think for at least another 24 hours because we've had to redeploy our ship given the bad weather.</s>REPORTER: Can you verify anything from the motoring (ph) and the satellite images and the photos that the Chinese provided?</s>JOHNSTON: I have nothing further to add on that. I think you've seen all the information that is out there.</s>REPORTER: Senator, were you informed before Prime Minister Najib made his statements in the Malaysian Parliament last night?</s>JOHNSTON: Well, I probably wasn't because I was probably traveling somewhere and on the way back to Western Australia. The prime minister, I'm sure, has been informed by the Malaysians as and when events have come to pass and they've been confirmed.</s>REPORTER: Do you understand the HMS Success to be confident that they're close to what was seen from the air yesterday?</s>JOHNSTON: Well, look, it's very easy to speculate about being close. Close in this part of the world could be several hundred kilometers. Just remember we are looking for an aircarft in Victoria from Perth in Western Australia. That's what we're doing, if you want to put it in some sore of analogous description. We are looking for an aircraft in the State of Victoria from Western Australia. It is a very, very difficult task. And I tell you, this deployment that you can see behind me, and all of the aircraft that I have named, is probably one of the largest efforts you'll ever see in terms of maritime surveillance, and joint operations from China, Australia, Japan, New Zealand, United States, Korea, et cetera.</s>REPORTER: How urgent is task given that there's 13 days left for that beacon battery to tell us where the black box flight recorders are?</s>JOHNSTON: Well, obviously everything's fairly urgent. But we cannot put pilots and crews at risk. We can't put a ship's company at risk. We just have to deal with this location as best we can in terms of its weather and its inhospitability.</s>REPORTER: How much information has been relayed to the Malaysian authorities, because objects have been found but it hasn't been confirmed, before they actually made the --</s>JOHNSTON: Well, as I say, the turning point for us I think will be when we pull some piece of debris from the surface of the ocean and positively identify it as being part of the aircraft.</s>REPORTER: Do you have any other details on the support that will be provided to families that will come over here?</s>JOHNSTON: At this stage I don't. But bear in mind the prime minister is very, very fixed on assisting Malaysia, who is a very good friend of Australia, in dealing with the families of the crew and the passengers on board this aircraft. We'll do what we can within reason.</s>REPORTER: Chinese families are not convinced.</s>REPORTER: How long are you prepared to keep looking for this plane? Is there a chance we may never find any wreckage?</s>JOHNSTON: Now, I'm going to hand over to Vice Chief of Defense Binskin, who as you can see is with the Royal Australian Air Force. He's going to tell you about some of those</s>AIR MARSHAL MARK BINSKIN, AUSTRALIA'S VICE CHIEF OF THE DEFENCE FORCE: If I can put the analogy of what we've got at the moment, we're not searching for a needle in a haystack. We're still trying to find where the haystack is. So that's just to put it in context. You're seeing a multi-national effort going on. It is difficult for HMS Success to in these weather conditions be able to find small bits of debris that is washing around in the southern Indian Ocean at the moment. As the minister said, for safety concerns, today, we had to pull the assets off the search and put Success to the south. But we're hoping for good weather in the coming days where the search effort will be joined by a number of Chinese ships. We'll have the Korean P-3 online so we'll have more aircraft, more ships in the area, and we'll start to be able to refine the search.</s>REPORTER: Vice Chief, it's becoming more of a recovery operation than it was before. There are new Australian assets, including the Ocean Shield</s>BINSKIN: Ocean Shield will be joining the search in the coming days. She is sailing from Sydney, as you would appreciate, it takes time to come down and around into the search area. The aim for her will be working to put specialist equipment on board so that, as we further refine the search area, that we might be able to go out and look for the black boxes.</s>REPORTER: Has there been a 100 percent collaboration between the nations in terms of the search? Iis it under one specific umbrella? Or are there --</s>BINSKIN: Actually, the collaboration has been very, very good between nations. For the start of it, there's been a lot of cooperation between the U.S., U.K. and Australia in analyzing that satellite imagery. In fact, it was the U.K. part of the team that first put us into the location we're in now and that's been refined by more imagery from China, the DigiGlobe imagery that everyone's getting a chance to look at. So that side of it is very, very collaborative. From the aircraft and the ships, there's a lot of cooperation going on by the moment. It is a relatively small operation but it is growing by the day. And we do that in support of AMSA at the moment; AMSA are the lead nation in Australia. I know the question is information being passed to Malaysia? The answer is yes.</s>REPORTER: Do you have information or evidence that maybe there's still doubt that MH370 actually did go down in the Indian Ocean?</s>BINSKIN: As the minister said, the best information that we have, and we continue to refine any information that comes out, as I understand -- and I haven't seen the report -- but the information from the British overnight passed to Malaysians seems to indicate more assurity that it went down in the southern Indian Ocean. But, as you'd imagine, as you get more information, people get a chance to look at more and more data, we continue to refine the search data.</s>BINSKIN: I won't go into those details. We won't have time for that. But it is -- initially it did find the wreckage and get an indication where you're searching before you can even refine down that.</s>REPORTER: How long do you think the search will be off due to weather and how much of an impact is it going to have on the debris that was spotted yesterday?</s>BINSKIN: Well, AMSA are very, very good at measuring the currents. We've dropped buoys out there from the last few days, being able to measure the movement of the water. So they will keep a very good track on where the current debris field should be. As the weather clears, we'll be able to go back in. But at the moment it's visible by aircraft and then we have to</s>COOPER: Out of this press conference, we're awaiting now a press conference from Malaysia Airlines scheduled to happen about two minutes from now in Kuala Lumpur, which is about 12:30 in the afternoon. We're going to bring you obviously that, that's the scene of that press conference. Frankly, not a lot of news coming out of the Australian press conference, which Richard Quest suggested was more of an overview, defense minister saying essentially he had flown there to thank all the crews involved in the search. He also thanked all the countries involved and who have actually sent air assets and ships -- Australia, New Zealand, Japan, China, Korea sending an asset later today. He also talked about waiving visas for family members of the crews and the passengers and just talked about the rough conditions, the swells that are out in the search area which have forced officials to call off the search at least for today. No word on if the search will continue. Let's listen in to Kuala Lumpur.</s>TAN SRI MD NOR YUSOF, CHAIRMAN, MALAYSIA AIRLINES: My name is Mohammed Yusof, chairman of the Malaysian Airlines. As you will be aware, last night the prime minister of Malaysia, Najib Razak, announced new evidence regarding the disappearance of MH370 on the 8th of March. Based on this evidence, the prime minister's message was that we must now accept the painful reality that the aircraft is now lost and that none of the passengers or crew on board survived. This is a sad and tragic day for all of us at these airlines. While not entirely unexpected after an intensive multi-national search across 2.24 million square mile area, this news is clearly devastating for the families of those on board. They have waited for over two weeks for even the smallest of hope of positive news about their loved ones. This has been an unprecedented event requiring an unprecedented response. The investigation under way may yet prove to be even longer and more complex Than it has been since March the 8th. But we will continue to support the families, as we have done throughout, and to support the authorities as the search for definitive answers continues. I will now at this juncture ask our group chief executive, Ahmad Jauhari, to provide you with fuller details of our support of the families. .</s>AHAMAD JAUHARI YANYA, CEO, MALAYSIA AIRLINES: Thank you, Tan Sri. I stand before you today not only as the group chief executive officer of Malaysian Airlines but also as a parent, as a brother and as a son. My heart breaks to think of the unimaginable pain suffered by all the families. There are no words which can ease that pain. Everyone in Malaysia Airlines family is praying for the 239 souls on MH370 and for their loved ones on this dark day. We extend our prayers and sincere condolences. We all feel enormous sorrow and pain. Sorrow that all those who boarded flight MH370 on Saturday 8 of March would not see their families again. And those family will now have to live, they have to live on without their loved ones. It must be remembered that 13 of our own colleagues and fellow Malaysians were also on board. And let me be very clear on the events of yesterday evening. Our sole and only motivation last night was to ensure that, in the incredibly short amount of time available to us, that families heard the tragic news before the world did. Wherever humanly possible, we did so in person with the families or by telephone, using SMS as the last resort of ensuring fully that nearly 1,000 family members heard the news from us and not from the media. Ever since the disappearance of Flight MH370, this airline's focus has been to comfort and support the families of those involved, and also to support the multi-national search effort. We will continue to do this while we also continue to support the work of the investigating authorities in the southern Indian Ocean. Like everyone else, we are waiting for news from those authorities. We know that while there had been an increasing number of apparent leads, definite identification of any piece of debris is still missing. But after 17 days, the announcement made last night and shared with the families is the reality that we must face and we now must accept. When Malaysia Airlines receives approval from the investigating authorities, arrangement will be made to bring families to the recovery areas if they so wish. Until that time, we will continue to support the ongoing investigation. And may I express my thanks to the Malaysian government and all those involved in this truly global search effort. In the meantime, Malaysia Airline's overwhelming focus will be the same as it has been from the outset, to provide the families with a comprehensive support program, through a network of over 700 dedicated care givers, care givers for each family -- the loved ones of those on board have been provided with two dedicated care givers and they provide care, support and counsel to the families. We are now supporting over 900 people under this program, and in the last 72 hours alone, we have trained additional 40 care givers to ensure the families have access to round-the-clock support. In addition, hotel accommodation for up to five family members per passenger, transportation, meals and other expenses, have been provided since 8 of March and that will continue. Malaysia Airlines have already provided initial financial assistance of $5,000 U.S. dollar per passenger to each next of kin. We recognize the financial support is not the only consideration, but the prolonged search is naturally placing financial strain on the relatives. We are, therefore, preparing to offer additional payment as the search continues. This unprecedented event in aviation history has made the past 18 days the greatest challenge to face our entire team at Malaysia Airlines. I've been humbled by the hard work, by dedication, heart-felt messages of concern and offers of support from our remarkable team. We do not know why, we do not know how, we do not know how this terrible tragedy happened. But as Malaysia Airlines family, we all are praying for the passengers and crew of MH370.</s>YUSOF: Ladies and gentlemen, member of the media, I now open the floor for our question-and-answer session. Please state your name and media organization before you ask the question.</s>CAROL CHAU, PHOENIX TV: Yes, I'm from Hong Kong Phoenix TV. My name is Carol Chau. Actually just now you showed your sorrow to the family members and we heard their shouts and screams, especially in Beijing, the hotel. So up till now, they said you delayed the investigations. What is the evidence, exact evidence that you show to get the result? And some of the family members told us they want to -- they went to Australia, they want to go to Australia, so could you arrange the trip for them? Thank you.</s>YUSOF: First and foremost, you will appreciate the missing plane was reported to the authorities and since then it was a matter for the authorities to take over the seeking and the searching and finding the plane. And it is since then the domain of the authorities. But as I mentioned earlier, our focus, our center of action throughout this period, painful period that is, was to provide care and assistance to our passengers. Certainly this is a time of extreme (ph) emotions and we fully understand that impact on people, our family. In terms and how they react is emotional, as you may understand. As regards to going to Australia, as mentioned Ahamad (ph) just now --</s>YANYA: With regard to going to Australia, we have been informed by Australian authorities that visa will fully be given or granted to those family members, once evidence has been established. I'm talking about the</s>YOSUF: Yes. Next question.</s>YUSOF: Fair enough. I think that's a very fair question. But as you would also appreciate, especially last night, the prime minister came out himself to share that he has been given fairly credible leads that would point to where the plane ended its flight. And as he mentioned, that position is very far away, very remote, away from the nearest land mass. And after 17 days, we could only bring ourselves to reach certain conclusion. Yes, please.</s>YANYA: As far as</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Next.</s>YUSOF: My answer is that Malaysia Airlines is the first affected by this (ph). The investigation is with the authorities and it is best to ask the authorities.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK, the next one, the lady in --</s>YUSOF: I'm sure that will be very important concentration to be taken by the investigators. Thank you.</s>REPORTER: But the</s>YUSOF: At the moment, that's how we are looking at it, because the plane ended at a place simply remote from any land mass.</s>REPORTER: So can you repeat, be more clear on that? Can you repeat what you are saying about the survival?</s>YUSOF: This by the evidence given to us and by the rational deduction, that we could only arrive at that conclusion. It is for Malaysia Airline to declare that it has lost the plane and by extension the people on the plane.</s>REPORTER: Thank you. I'm from Chinese 2 news organization. During these several days, I have interviewed some people in Malaysia, in crews and family members. Most of them said they're not satisfied with the reaction to this emergency. What's your opinion about this? And why do you isolate them to the outside world? Thank you.</s>YANYA: They are saying they are dissatisfied with the opinion? Can you repeat the question, please?</s>REPORTER: During these several days, I have interviewed some people in Malaysia, including some family members. Most of them are not satisfied to your reaction to this emergency. So what is your opinion about this? And why you isolate them to the outside world? Thank you.</s>YANYA: I would say our first concern, particularly for the families from China, is for their safety and comfort and to do privacy. And that is the main concern that drive whatever we tried to offer the family members. And in terms of why we keep them hanging on is simply we all shared their hope as well.</s>REPORTER: Why you isolate them from the outside world?</s>YUSOF: I would say probably isolating them is not the correct impression. We certainly put them in a place where they're comfortable and that also is where they could have privacy and our care givers -- they have given access to care givers with whatever they require, like visiting the places of worship for them to offer their prayers, and things like that. So they are not being closeted.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Next question.</s>YUSOF: I appreciate that. I think it is a fair question. That, if I may, that brings us back to the purpose of this press conference, is to share with other than the families of our affected passengers and crew about what we had done last night, that is to break the news, and what we do next, particularly in terms of continuing with our care giving to our passengers' families and what we do in terms of the normal process as you mentioned for events like this. So your question is correct, but I think the direct forum is when we meet investigators. Thank you.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK, the next question will be from the gentleman over there.</s>ANGUS WHITLEY, BLOOMBERG NEWS: Angus Whitley from Bloomberg News. You referred earlier to the information that led to last night's announcement, but can you say exactly what the new analysis was and what the new data was that gave you enough certainty to make that statement?</s>YUSOF: That's fair. The best time is this afternoon's proceeding with the Ministry of Transport. They will be there to explain. We are just another affected party as well.</s>WHITLEY: But you knew, presumably, what the analysis was? What was it?</s>YUSOF: We had been given the indication that we should now arrive at that very sad conclusion.</s>WHITLEY: The questions are unanswered from last night. Can you give any more clarity?</s>YUSOF: As I said, the best time is when we have the Ministry of Transport this afternoon.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you. The next question will be from the gentleman over here.</s>JEREMY GRANT, FINANCIAL TIMES: Jeremy Grant, Financial Times. In the spirit of helping the families understand what has happened and bearing in mind that you now do have more information which led you to the conclusion that the prime minister announced, what is your best analysis of how the plane -- what actually happened, bearing in mind that we have quite some hours before the next press conference.</s>YANYA: I don't want to speculate in terms of what happened to the aircraft. I think the investigation is ongoing, OK. I think our focus is really for the family members, how to help them moving forward and that's really our focus here. Otherwise, we are just speculating and I think the investigation is not concluded, I don't want to speculate any more than that.</s>YUSOF: We're spending our time now and the process going forward in terms of how we can meet our legal as well as moral obligations to the families.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you. OK, the next question from the gentleman at the back.</s>REPORTER: Thank you. Steve</s>YUSOF: Firstly, we can appreciate that. No two persons affected by the event would have a similar reaction, emotional response. So depending who you speak to, you get different version. So there are also in our numbers who have shown appreciation for what we have done, and we're really touched by that. And</s>REPORTER: And could I add just one follow-up. Are you going to attempt or will your high ranking executives attempt to meet and talk to every family that has suffered a loss?</s>YUSOF: It's being done all the time, sir. We do not display our names when we go.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you. The next question from the gentleman in red shirt.</s>YANYA: Well, actually, I can't speak on behalf of Australian government, but --</s>REPORTER: That's why I say it's a difficult question. Do you agree with his position?</s>YANYA: Whether I agree or don't agree, this position that the Australia government takes, like I said, we are here to ensure that we support the family, right, and to make sure we fulfill their wishes.</s>YUSOF: You have to understand a bit more, especially here, in this time of human challenge, compassion will rise. So I think, protocol notwithstanding, I'm sure,</s>YUSOF: I'm sure that the issue will arise and I'm sure it will be addressed.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The next question?</s>REPORTER: Jason from the Wall Street Journal. I know -- I understand you're stressed and your focus right now is to help the families as well, but Malaysia Airlines is also a party to the investigation in they own (ph) the aircraft. So can you tell us, after one or two weeks, what is the most likely cause for this? Can you tell us confidently that it's not a plane problem, it's</s>YUSOF: I really appreciate your curiosity, as we are also, but we have to draw a line between what is, you know, should be in the formal domain and what we can do. Our focus at the moment is more in terms of what we can do, which is outside the investigation area.</s>YUSOF: Yes, thank you. Yes, certainly we will not want to jeopardize or dissipate anything.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Can I have the last question from the local</s>REPORTER: Yes please, yes please. Can I have one question before we go? Melissa (ph) from Channel NewsAsia. I would like to talk about future for MAS. May I know how badly has it affected business for MAS and how</s>YANYA: Well, obviously it has affected the airline. But so far, like I said, we're doing our best to ensure that those that bought Malaysia Airline tickets, we ensure they are being served, make sure they're being flown safely, comfortably. Moving forward is something that we will look into. Obviously it is something that we must basically share with the families of those on board. We must empathize with them and I think this is a very painful period for the airline and something that we have to, you know, we do share this spirit with the families and passengers and the crew. Our procedures are Code</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think, can we have</s>REPORTER: (Speaking in foreign language).</s>YUSOF: (Speaking in foreign language.) We can have a separate one, thank you. So my final remarks are still the same as original. We still need total proof for the event (ph) and our hearts and prayers are with the family. Thank you.</s>COOPER: Just been listening to a press conference given by the chairman of the Malaysia Airlines, also by the CEO of Malaysia Airlines. Essentially, any questions of substance relating to the investigation they basically tossed over to those leading the investigation. They repeatedly pointed out they are not leading the investigation. They say their responsibility right now is trying to figure out the legal and moral obligations to the families. They say so far they've so far paid out $5,000 per passenger to each next of kin; they're preparing to offer additional payments. They've assigned two care givers. They denied one of the reporter's question about whether or not families had been isolated. They said they had not isolated families; they were trying to give them privacy, give them as much support as possible. Did not answer a question about any past problems with the pilots, again referred to the ongoing investigation, and reiterated what the Malaysian prime minister had said early morning, saying the airline is now lost and none of the passengers and crew survived. That was a quote from the chairman of Malaysia Airlines. Quick thoughts from our panel here, Richard?</s>QUEST: What I take away for tonight's press conference, a justification for sending of the SMS messages -- a last resort. We wanted to make sure they wouldn't hear it from the media. And the core question on why they've made this announcement, following on from</s>COOPER: David Soucie, your thoughts?</s>SOUCIE: I think it's just a -- at this point a matter of accepting where we are and I think it's finally the families getting some kind of closure around it, but it's been a sad day for them. That's where I'd like to leave that tonight.</s>COOPER: Les Abend?</s>ABEND: As frustrating as it is for the family, as bad as it is for the family, I think it's positive from the standpoint we're narrowing this investigation and we can find answers hopefully.</s>COOPER: And that's really the frustrating part is that the search as called off for the day; we'll see what happens tomorrow. That is 360 for now. I want to thank our panel and all our correspondents around the world. We'll see you again tomorrow night at 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time on 360. Right now I'm going to turn things over to CNN International's John Vause and Rosemary Church. END