MH370: Lithium batteries complied with IATA regulations

KUALA LUMPUR: A cargo of 200 pieces of lithium ion batteries carried by missing Malaysia Airlines (MAS) flight MH370 complied with the International Air Transport Association (IATA)'s regulations on transportation of dangerous goods.
This was revealed in the cargo manifest attached with the MH370 preliminary report that was released by the Transport Ministry yesterday.
According to the handling information column in the Air Waybill, an air consignment note, stated: "Shipper declaration for DGD (dangerous goods) not required.
Lithium ion batteries in compliance with sect II of P.I.965." Section II of the regulation applies to lithium ion cells with a Watt-hour rating not exceeding 20 Wh and lithium ion batteries with a Watt-hour rating not exceeding 100 Wh, packed in quantities not exceeding the allowance permitted in Section II, Table 965-II. These instructions are underlined in IATA's dangerous goods regulations.
Flight MH370 was also reported to be carrying 4,566 kilogrammes of fresh mangosteens, which were shipped by Poh Seng Kian from Muar, Johor to Beijing Guangchangming Trading Co.
The rest of the cargo were consolidated packages and courier materials, which totalled 2,934 kilogrammes.
Flight MH370, with 239 people aboard, left the Kuala Lumpur International Airport at 12.41am on March 8 and disappeared from radar screens about an hour later while over the South China Sea. It was to have arrived in Beijing at 6.30am on the same day. – Bernama