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11/23/2024 02:54:09 pm

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Satellite Data of Missing Flight 370 Finally Released After Two Months

MH370

(Photo : KALB) This photo shows a screenshot from a video report on the release of satellite data of the missing Malaysia Airlines Flight 370.

The data containing the missing Malaysia Airlines Flight 370's communication with satellites have finally been released on Tuesday, more than two months after passengers' families requested to make it available to the public.

Malaysian officials released a 47-page document showing the communication logs between the missing aircraft and the satellite system of British firm Inmarsat. Unsatisfied by the initial explanations given to them, some relatives of the plane's passengers announced that they will have independent experts analyze the information, CNN detailed.

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For several weeks, Inmarsat said the Malaysian authorities have not yet given it the authority to publish the data. The plane went missing more than two months ago somewhere over Southeast Asia but the two sides announced the release of the data only last week.

Called "handshakes," the signals released by the satellites were among the data that investigators have used in their efforts to locate the Boeing 777 that disappeared on March 8 together with its 239 passengers. The data, including engine performance calculations and radar data, were used by international experts to conclude that the aircraft's last destination was the southern part of the Indian Ocean.

So far, no wreckage has turned up in the search and nobody has been able to come up with the definite location of the MH370.

 Inmarsat's vice president of satellite operations told CNN's Richard Quest that he is confident that the data have been accurately interpreted by experts. He also said the company's calculations have been tested by other analysts.

Some of the relatives of the missing aircraft's passengers have criticized the lack of public information on the reason why the search has been centered on the Indian Ocean. Furthermore, many have been confused with contradictory statements about the public release of the satellite data.

Earlier this month, Malaysian authorities told CNN that they did not have the satellite data in their possession. However, Inmarsat officials said the firm had already given the data to Malaysian officials in the early stage of the search.

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