MH17 flight path is safe

SEPANG: European flight path regulators revealed that about 400 commercial flights, including 150 international flights, crossed eastern Ukraine daily before MH17 was shot down on Thursday night.
Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai (pix) said Eurocontrol, which approves European flight paths according to International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) rules, also stated that 75 different airlines flew the same route as MH17 in the two days before the incident.
"MH17's flight path was a busy major airway, like a highway in the sky. It followed a route which was set out by the international aviation authorities, approved by Eurocontrol, and used by hundreds of other aircraft," Liow told a press conference at Sama-Sama Hotel today.
He added that MH17 flew at an altitude provided and deemed safe by Ukrainian Air Traffic Control (ATC), and the flight never strayed into restricted airspace as corroborated by the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
Liow said MAS and the MH17's flight crew are not to be blamed as they followed all regulations but seems to have been shot down by an unprovoked act of aggression.
"The flight and its operators followed the rules. But on the ground, the rules of war were broken. In an unacceptable act of aggression, it appears that MH17 was shot down and it's passengers and crew killed by a missile.
"I am sad, and I am angry over the shooting," he said.
Malaysia Airlines director of operations captain Izham Ismail elaborated that it is common for ATCs from different countries to request for passenger aircraft to fly at their determined altitudes.
MH17 was instructed by Ukrainian ATC to fly at 33,000 feet when the flight requested to cruise at the optimal altitude of 35,000 feet.
Izham said this could have been done for a number of reasons including to avoid other air traffic in the area at the time.
"All ATCs will inform aircrafts to fly at their aspirated altitudes to avoid other aircrafts," he said.
Civil Aviation Department (DCA) director general Datuk Azharuddin Abdul Rahman said ICAO is the highest decision making body of the civil aviation industry but agreed it is the respective countries' prerogative to warn civilian aircrafts of any danger.