Two weeks ago, pro-Russian rebels fighting Ukrainian government shut down Malaysia Airline flight MH17, killing 298 persons on board. Also there were initial fears that the Air Algerian flight, a Swiftair MD-83, which crashed in Mali, a territory dominated by al-Qaeda linked Islamist militants and Tuareg separatists, with 116 people on board could have been brought down by militants although latest reports say the crash could have been caused by lightning. Chinedu Eze writes on the consequence of the disasters on airline business
It is double tragedy for Malaysia s national carrier, Malaysia Airlines which in the space of four months recorded 537 passengers death in two accidents that it may not have had direct responsibility for.
On March 8, 2014, Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 (MH370) took off from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing but the flight disappeared after losing contact with air traffic control less than an hour after take-off.
The Boeing 777-200ER had on-board 239 persons and Up till today no trace of the persons on board or the wreckage of the aircraft.
In spite of the huge resources spent in search of the missing MH370, no one has any clue about the whereabouts of the aircraft; although it is believed to have sunk in the Indian Ocean.
The aviation industry has been outraged about the crash of MH17, which was gunned down at the Ukrainian border with Russia. It was a crash that could have been avoided, if not for the rash action of the rebels who were being goaded by Russia.
Ukraine said it had compelling evidence Russia played a defining role in the shooting down of the aircraft by providing the rebels with missile systems and a crew, the country s counter intelligence chief, Vitaly Naida, said.
We have compelling evidence that this terrorist act was committed with the help of the Russian Federation. We know clearly that the crew of this system was Russian citizens, he told a news conference.
Also conversations captured by Malaysia intelligence on the Internet indicated that the rebels who shot down the flight realised that they had downed a civilian aircraft and notified Russia about their tragic action, although Russia has consistently denied either colluding with or assisting the rebels.

Implication to Civil Aviation
This tragedy will obviously redefine the way civil aviation flights operate in global airspace and new rules by international aviation bodies are expected to ensure that such tragedy never happened again.
Few days after the crash, the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) said it was not responsible for issuing warnings about potential dangers in the airspace such as military conflicts, saying the duty fell on individual nations.
Immediately after the crash, the pilot of Flight MH17 was criticised for operating through the airspace where there was conflict, but Malaysia authorities insisted that there was no warning about flying though that airspace, as the aircraft was flying 1000 meters above the no fly zone.


Reviewing Civil Aviation Regulations
Two world mega carriers, Lufthansa and Emirates, have called for an airline summit to discuss the industry response to the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 at the Ukrainian border, saying international security protocols should be reviewed.
Reuters reported that since MH17 was shot down last week, questions have been raised as to why passenger planes were flying over a region hit by fighting.
The chief executive of Emirates, Tim Clark, said the International Air Transport Association
(IATA) could call an international conference to see what changes needed to be made in the way the industry tackles regional instability.
We always put the safety and security of our customers and our crews first at the Lufthansa Group and so - needless to say - yes, we strongly support such a summit, a Lufthansa spokesman said.

The spokesman said airlines, the industry and government authorities would have to jointly review how they approach international security.

Data collected from flight tracking website Flight Radar shows Lufthansa was among the airlines to have flown most frequently over the Donetsk region in the week leading up to the downing of MH17.
Lufthansa, which has defended its decision to fly over the area, said the disaster was of an entirely new magnitude. Never before has a commercial aircraft been taken down by surface-to-air missiles at cruising altitude on one of the world s busiest airways, the spokesman said.

In response to the calls for a summit, IATA, which represents around 200 airlines, said its priorities were to first reunite the bodies of the victims with their families in a humane way and to ensure a successful investigation into the incident.
But it said it was gathering advice and facts from experts and that the tragedy must not be repeated.

Once we are clear on the facts and we have expert analysis to guide us, the engagement will move to a higher level of global dialogue, a spokesman for the Geneva-based group said.
Joerg Handwerg, from German pilots association VC Cockpit said it was crucial that industry bodies agreed on the action to take and airlines stuck to a unified response.

As soon as the first airline starts to fly using the old routes, it increases economic pressure on other airlines to follow suit. Taking longer routes means consuming more jet fuel, which costs airlines more.
On Tuesday, IATA issued a statement made available to THISDAY and signed by its Director General, CEO, Tony Tyler, saying the shooting was an outrage.

The tragedy of MH17 is an outrage. Over the weekend it was confirmed that the passengers and crew aboard the aircraft were the victims of a hideous crime. It was also an attack against the air transport system which is an instrument of peace, Tyler said.
IATA insisted that among the immediate priorities, the bodies of the victims must be returned to their grieving loved ones in a respectful manner.

For over four days we witnessed appalling sights from the crash scene. Governments must set aside their differences and treat the victims and their families with the dignity they deserve and this includes urgently securing the site.
The investigation must also start quickly and with total freedom and access. Actions over the weekend which slowed down progress on both of these priorities were an outrage to human decency.

We have heard news of potential progress on both these issues. But promises now need to be turned into reality with actions.
The world air transport body said airlines and governments are partners in supporting global connectivity, adding that airlines carry the passengers and cargo, while governments and air navigation service providers inform airlines about the routes that they can fly and with what restrictions. Airlines comply with that guidance.

That was the case with MH17. Malaysia Airlines was a clearly identified commercial jet. And it was shot down in complete violation of international laws, standards and conventions while broadcasting its identity and presence on an open and busy air corridor at an altitude that was deemed to be safe.

IATA said no effort should be spared in ensuring that this outrage was not repeated.
Of course, nobody should be shooting missiles at civilian aircraft governments or separatists. Governments will need to take the lead in reviewing how airspace risk assessments are made. And the industry will do all that it can to support governments, through ICAO, in the difficult work that lies ahead.

This was a terrible crime,Oakley Sunglasses Cheap. But flying remains safe. And everyone involved in global air transport is fully dedicated to making it even safer.

Future of Malaysia Airlines
Malaysia Airlines is described as unluckiest airline in the world, after facing two catastrophic incidents within the space of five months. So what will be the future of the airline? Will they remain determined in rebuilding passenger trust, and consequently securing their future? Or will they have to accept that there is no coming back from this, and declare bankruptcy?

Industry online medium, BlueSky noted that MH370, remains undiscovered, and the destiny of what happened to the 239 on board continues to be clouded by an agonising wait for any sign of news. In addition to this, the MH17 tragedy has struck causing the death of 298 innocent passengers and cabin crew, after it was shot out of the sky by a surface-to- air missile.
Even as standalone incidents, both tragedies are rare, but for both disasters to have happened within such a short time scale and to the same airline, is unprecedented.

Looking at what will be the future of the airline, industry analyst Olu Fidel Ohuayo said the situation with the airline is troubling and disturbing because airlines hardly survive two crashes and coming simultaneously makes it more difficult.
The airline shares have fallen, public confidence waning, its finances are dwindling, the staff morale is obviously very low and its insurance premium will increase. It is not the best time for the airline. Luckily for Malaysian Airlines, the Prime Minister has publicly spoken in support and in defense of the carrier, Ohunayo said.

Travel expert, Ikechi Uko, said that the Malaysian government is thinking of taking over the airline with the plan of protecting it. He predicted that the airline is likely to have problems despite the fact that it serves strategic routes and has built goodwill over the years, but travelers would find alternatives.

Aviation consultant and CEO of Belujane Konsult, Chris Aligbe, described the two accidents as highly tragic, saying that people would see the airline as ill-fated, remarking that since the MH370 disappeared till now nobody can say what happened to the flight.
Aligbe wondered what might have happened, observing that Malaysia is not a country known for terrorism and predicted that people would stay away from the airline for some time.

The Deputy Managing Director and Head of Flight Operations, Arik Air, Captain Ado Sanusi, expressed optimism about the airline and said because Malaysia Airlines is government owned it is highly likely going to survive.
He remarked that while the cause of the first crash is not known, the second one was gunned down so it was not caused by any fault of the airline.

The airline is likely going to survive; although it will lose people s confidence, so it will obviously lose patronage and money, but it will survive because it is owned by government, Sanusi said.
Whatever may happen to the airline, both industry observers and travelers are apprehensive about how safe the airspace is, especially on war-torn areas and how major power brokers like the US, UK, Germany and others will react to this tragic incident would determine how travelers will view safety in the airspace.