Elmina air crash: Anthony Loke reports that the cockpit voice recorder has been sent to Singapore for analysis.
PUTRAJAYA, August 21 — Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook has revealed that the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) from the aircraft that crashed near Bandar Elmina in Shah Alam last Thursday has been sent to a laboratory in Singapore for analysis.
He explained that the Malaysian Air Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) encountered difficulties in extracting data from the charred CVR, despite the memory puck within it remaining intact.
Experts in Singapore will work to retrieve data from the final 30 minutes of voice recording captured in the memory puck prior to the crash.
"Since we do not have the equipment to retrieve the data, the memory puck was sent to Singapore yesterday," Loke stated, adding that the Transport Safety Investigation Bureau Singapore would assist in extracting the data.
During a press conference following his attendance at the ministry's 'Semarak Merdeka' ceremony and monthly assembly, Loke appealed for patience from all parties to allow authorities time to analyze the recording.
"We do not know how long (it would take), but we are doing our best to retrieve the recording. We will make an announcement once it is available. We aim to expedite the process, but there are technical challenges to overcome," he said. Loke also mentioned that AAIB head Tan Chee Kee had traveled to Singapore to retrieve the data.
Furthermore, Loke revealed that a preliminary investigation report on the crash, conducted by the AAIB in collaboration with the United States National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), would be released within a month.
He explained that NTSB representatives were enlisted to aid in the investigation due to the aircraft's registration in the US.
The Beechcraft 390 Premier 1 aircraft, en route from Langkawi to Subang, crashed onto the Guthrie Highway around 2:50 pm on August 17, claiming the lives of all eight individuals onboard, including Pahang state executive councillor Datuk Seri Johari Harun. Additionally, an e-hailing driver and a p-hailing rider on the highway also lost their lives. — Bernama