Factual Information 2015:1.5 Personnel Information

SECTION 1.5 - PERSONNEL INFORMATION

This investigation emphasised on the Captain, First Officer and the 10 cabin crew but did not include the passengers on board Flight MH370. Factual information of the crew were gathered from the following sources:

· Personal records/files of the Captain, First Officer and the Cabin Crew from MAS.

These documents included the log book, certificates, licences, medicalrecords and any disciplinary/administrative actions;

· Investigation details from the Polis Di Raja Malaysia (PDRM) - Royal Malaysian Police.

These were statements obtained from the next of kin and relatives, doctors/caregivers, co-workers, friends and acquaintances; financial records of the flight crew,CCTV recordings at KLIA and analysis of the radio transmission made betweenMH370 and ground air traffic control;

· Medical records from private health care facility and from MAS Medical Centre; and

· Interviews with MAS staff and several of the next of kin of the crew.

The facts obtained were in relation to the demographic and employment history, financial background and insurance cover, significant past medical and medication history, psychological, social and behavioural pattern of the crew.

1.5.1 MAS Training & Checks Record

As professional pilots, the 2 flight crew are subjected to periodic checks when flying on the type of aircraft at least on a bi-annual basis to revalidate the currency of their licence. These checks are conducted in approved flight simulators and in addition, further performance checks are conducted on route flying duties on normal commercial flight on a yearly basis.

1.5.2 Pilot in Command (PIC)

The Captain was born in the Island of Penang. He completed his Malaysian Certificate of Education (MCE) - the equivalent of the United Kingdom Ordinary (UK ‘O’) Level - at the Penang Free School, where he sat for his MCE Examination in 1978. In 1981 he was accepted as Cadet Pilot with MAS under the sponsorship of Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA),a Government agency. He was sent to Manila in the Philippines to be provided ab-initio pilot training and graduated 2 years later with a Commercial Pilot Licence & Instrument Rating(CPL & IR). He joined MAS as a Second Officer in 1983 and was posted on the F27 where he obtained his initial airline flying experience. He was then posted to the B737-400 in 1985 and stayed on as First Officer until October 1991. By the end of 1991 he was promoted to Captain on the B737-400 and he stayed on the B737-400 until December 1996. At this point he gained promotion to the A330-300 and stayed on the fleet until September 1998 when he was then promoted to the B777-200 fleet as a Captain until the day of the event. By virtue of his good track record and seniority he was made a Type Rating Instructor (TRI) and Type Rating Examiner (TRE) on this present fleet effective November 2007.

The Captain’s flying record for the last 72 hours and preceding 28 days cycle were well within the Company’s specified limits. His last flight as an operating Captain was to Denpasar, Bali in the Republic of Indonesia on 03 March 2014. This was a daily return flight with a flight time of approximately 3 hours per sector. During this flight on the day of the event, he was conducting training for the First Officer who was operationally checked out.

All his required licences and certificates were valid when he was operating this flight to Beijing.

Personal Profile of PIC

Sex	Male
Age	53 years
Marital Status	Married with 3 children
Date of joining MAS	15 June 1981
Licence country of issues	Malaysia
Licence type	Air Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL)
Licence number	A751
Validity Period of Licence	14 May 2014
Ratings Boeing	B777
Medical Certificate	First Class - 30 June 2014
Aeronautical experience	18423:40 hours
Experience on type	8659:40 hours
Last 24 hours	0:00:00 hours
Last 72 hours	1:59:00 hours
Last 7 days	20:39:00 hours
Last 28 days	91:04:00 hours
Last 90 days	303:09:00 hours
Last line check	8 April 2013
Instrument rating check	15 November 2013
Last proficiency	15 November 2013
Last promotion	B777 Captain (22 September 1998)

1.5.3 First Officer (FO)

The First Officer was born in the State of Kelantan and had his basic primary education in Segamat, Johor. He completed his secondary Education in Maktab Rendah Sains MARA(MRSM) or MARA Junior Science College in Taiping, Perak, where he left with the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM), which is equivalent to the UK ‘O’ Level, in 2004. He was accepted as MAS Cadet Pilot and completed his flying training at the Langkawi Aerospace Training Centre, Langkawi in 2008.

His first fleet posting was on the B737-400 where he was made a Second Officer until May 2010 on completion of his Type Rating training. He was promoted to First Officer in May 2010 and was on the fleet until August 2012. He left the fleet for promotion to the A330-300 where he was First Officer until November 2013.

In November 2013 he was promoted to the B777-200. On the day of the flight, he was operating his last training flight before he was scheduled to be checked out on his next scheduled flight. His flying record for the last 72 hours and preceding 28 days cycle were well within the Company’s specified limits. His last flight was as an Operational First Officer under Line Training, was to Frankfurt, Germany, on 01 March 2014 and departed back to Malaysia on 02 March 2014. All his required licences and certificates were valid when he was operating this flight to Beijing.

Personal Profile of FO

Sex	Male
Age	27 years
Marital Status	Single
Date of joining MAS	23 July 2007
Licence type	Air Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL)
Licence number	A3550
Validity Period of Licence	26 July 2014
Ratings	Boeing B777
Medical Certificate	First Class – Expired 31 October 2014
Aeronautical experience	2813:42 hours
Experience on type	39:11hours
Last 24 hours	0:00:00 hours
Last 72 hours	0:00:00 hours
Last 7 days	28:47:00 hours
Last 28 days	51:17:00 hours
Last 90 days	158:46:00 hours
Last line check *	22 July 2013 (A330)
Instrument rating check *	04 December 2012 (A330)
Last proficiency	26 January 2014
Last promotion	B777 FO (04 November 2013)

* No record on B777

1.5.4 Cabin Crew and Personal Profiles

The crews’ flying experience spreads from 13 years for the most junior member to 35 years for the most senior member. A review of their records in MAS reveals that all certificates’, which includes Safety Emergency Procedures (SEP) training, Crew Resource Management (CRM), Safety Awareness Programme (SAP), are valid as per the requirement stated in the company’s document. CRM & SAP incorporate Human Factors as part of the training modules. The flying records which were monitored by the Scheduling Office indicated that all the cabin crew were well-rested before operating the flight.

a) Inflight Supervisor (IFS)

Sex	Male
Age	55 years
Marital status	Married with 4 children
Date of Joining MAS	19 November 1979
Aircraft Ratings	A330/B777/B747
Crew Performance Appraisal	Rating: 4
Validity period of licence	28 April 2014
Aeronautical experience	35 years
Medical History	43 days medical leave including 6 days hospitalisation in 2013
Last 24 hours	0:00:00 hours
Last 72 hours	8:00:00 hours
Last 7 days	19:44:00 hours
Last 28days	82:43:00 hours
Last 90 days	305:06:00 hours
Last promotion	IFS (27 March 2000)

b) Chief Steward (CS)

Sex	Male
Age	49 years
Marital status	Married with 2 children
Date of Joining MAS	13 November 1989
Aircraft Ratings	A330/B777/A380
Crew Performance Appraisal	Rating 4
Validity period of licence	26 June 2014
Aeronautical experience	25 years
Last 24 hours	0:00:00 hours
Last 72 hours	0:00:00 hours
Last 7 days	30:56:00 hours
Last 28 days	124:35:00 hours
Last 90 days	408:32:00 hours
Last promotion	CS (06 March 2000)

c) Chief Stewardess (CSS)

Sex	Female
Age	49 years
Marital status	Married with a child
Date of Joining MAS	02 January 1990
Aircraft Ratings	A330/B777/A380
Crew Performance Appraisal	Rating 5
Validity period of licence	23 October 2014
Aeronautical experience	24 years
Last 24 hours	0:00:00 hours
Last 72 hours	0:00:00 hours
Last 7 days	30:55:00 hours
Last 28 days	118:02:00 hours
Last 90 days	355:23:00 hours
Last promotion	CSS (22 October 2003)

d) Leading Steward (LS)

Sex	Male
Age	42 years
Marital status	Married with 4 children
Date of Joining MAS	05 October 1995
Aircraft Ratings	B737/B777/A380
Crew Performance Appraisal	Rating 4
Validity period of licence	22 August 2014
Aeronautical experience	19 years
Last 24 hours	00:00:00 hours
Last 72 hours	10:47:00 hours
Last 7 days	38:38:00 hours
Last 28 days	106:10:00 hours
Last 90 days	365:51:00 hours
Last promotion	LS (28 May 2005)

e) Leading Stewardess (LSS)

Sex	Female
Age	42 Years
Marital status	Married with 2 children
Date of Joining MAS	18 August 1992
Aircraft Ratings	B737/B777/A380
Crew Performance Appraisal	Rating 5
Validity period of licence	01 November2014
Aeronautical experience	22 years
Last 24 hours	0:00:00 hours
Last 72 hours	11:36:00 hours
Last 7 days	41:27:00 hours
Last 28 days	140:11:00 hours
Last 90 days	443:23:00 hours
Last promotion	LSS (09 May 2004)

f) Flight Stewardess (FSS) 1

Sex	Female
Age	42 years
Marital status	Married with 2 children
Date of Joining MAS	18 January 1992
Aircraft Ratings	A330/B777/A380
Crew Performance Appraisal	Rating 4
Validity period of licence	27 June 2014
Aeronautical experience	22 years
Last 24 hours	0:00:00 hours
Last 72 hours	9:39:00 hours
Last 7 days	34:22:00 hours
Last 28 days	93:50:00 hours
Last 90 days	327:18:00 hours
Last promotion	FSS Wide-body aircraft (18 January 1993)

g) Flight Stewardess (FSS) 2

Sex	Female
Age	39 years
Marital status	Married with 2 children
Date of Joining MAS	16 April 1996
Aircraft Ratings	A330/B777/A380
Crew Performance Appraisal	Rating 4
Validity period of licence	11 May 2014
Aeronautical experience	18 years
Last 24 hours	0:00:00 hours
Last 72 hours	0:00:00 hours
Last 7 days	16:12:00 hours
Last 28 days	112:11:00 hours
Last 90 days	323:55:00 hours
Last promotion	FSS Wide-body aircraft (01 October 2001)

h) Flight Steward (FS) 1

Sex	Male
Age	46 years
Marital status	Married with 3 children
Date of Joining MAS	16 April 1996
Aircraft Ratings	B737/B777/A380
Crew Performance Appraisal	Rating 5
Validity period of licence	24 October 2014
Aeronautical experience	18 years
Last 24 hours	0:00:00 hours
Last 72 hours	11:02:00 hours
Last 7 days	30:58:00 hours
Last 28 days	119:27:00 hours
Last 90 days	429:15:00 hours
Last promotion	FS Wide-body aircraft (03 December 2001)

i) Flight Steward (FS) 2

Sex	Male
Age	41 years
Marital status	Married with 2 children
Date of Joining MAS	13 February 1997
Aircraft Ratings	B737/B777/A380
Crew Performance Appraisal	Rating 5
Validity period of licence	03 November 2014
Aeronautical experience	17 years
Last 24 hours	0:00:00 hours
Last 72 hours	0:00:00 hours
Last 7 days	30:36:00 hours
Last 28 days	122:22:00 hours
Last 90 days	391:20:00 hours
Last promotion	FS Wide-body aircraft (15 February 2002)

j) Flight Steward (FS) 3

Sex	Male
Age	34 years
Marital status	Married with 2 children
Date of Joining MAS	27 September 2001
Aircraft Ratings	B737/B777/A380
Crew Performance Appraisal	Rating 5
Validity period of licence	06 February 2015
Aeronautical experience	13 years
Last 24 hours	0:00:00 hours
Last 72 hours	10:47:00 hours
Last 7 days	26:24:00 hours
Last 28 days	125:01:00 hours
Last 90 days	435:43:00 hours

1.5.5 Disciplinary Actions/Administrative Actions

There were no major disciplinary records on any of the flight and cabin crew. However, there were only minor disciplinary issues among the cabin crew, where cautionary administrative letters were issued.

1.5.6 Financial Background and Insurance Cover

The Captain held bank accounts, two saving accounts, one current account, two national trust funds (ASB and ASN) and a joint account with his wife. He had a credit card. He was contributing to Employees Provident Fund. There is no record of him having secured a life insurance policy. He had 2 houses, one in Shah Alam and the other in Subang Jaya. He had taken a bank loan on one of his houses and had a mortgage insurance policy on this loan. He also had 3 vehicles. His gross monthly income and out-of-pocket expenses indicated nothing unusual.

The First Officer had two saving accounts and a national trust fund (ASB) account. He contributed to Employees Provident Fund. He owned two cars and spent money on the upkeep of his cars. He does not have much savings in his bank account. He has a life insurance policy and mortgage insurance policy for a loan he took for his car.

The cabin crew had bank accounts and loans. However, the gross monthly income and out of-pocket expenses indicated nothing unusual. There is also no evidence of recent or imminent significant financial transactions carried out.

1.5.7 Significant Past Medical and Medication History

The Captain had received treatment for minor medical ailments and was diagnosed as having osteoarthritis on 05 May 2007. He had spinal injury on 28 January 2007 in a paragliding event. He sustained a fracture of the 2nd lumbar vertebra and underwent surgery on 30 January 2007 in a private health care facility. He was discharged on 05 February 2007and went for follow-up as advised. He was certified fit to fly in mid-2007 and went regularly for his six- monthly medical examinations for his continued licensure as a pilot. For his pain he was noted to have taken analgesics on an irregular basis. To the best of our knowledge, he was not on any regular long term medication for any chronic medical illness.

There was no significant health related issue for the First Officer. He went regularly for his yearly medical examinations for his continued licensure to fly. Based on the medical records from MAS, there were no unusual health related issues for the cabin crew, except for the inflight supervisor who had a history of first onset of seizures on 09 June 2013. He was admitted on the same day in a private health care facility and was treated by a Consultant Neurologist. He was discharged on 14 June 2013 and went for a follow-up as advised. He had not experienced any further seizures since his discharge. He was certified fit to fly on 06 August 2013.

1.5.8 Psychological and Social Events

The Captain’s ability to handle stress at work and home was good. There was no known history of apathy, anxiety, or irritability. There were no significant changes in his life style, interpersonal conflict or family stresses.

1.5.9 Behavioural Events

There were no behavioural signs of social isolation, change in habits or interest, self-neglect, drug or alcohol abuse of the Captain, First Officer and the Cabin Crew. The Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) recordings at KLIA on the 07 March 2014 were evaluated to assess the behavioural pattern of the Captain and the First Officer from the time of arrival at KLIA until boarding time. Three previous CCTV recordings of the movements of the Captain in KLIA were also viewed to see the behavioural pattern and were compared with the CCTV recordings on 07 March2014. The Captain’s movement was captured on CCTV at KLIA on the following days:

a) 07 March 2014 - To Beijing

b) 03 March 2014 - To Denpasar

c) 26 February 2014 - To Melbourne

d) 21 February 2014 - To Beijing

On studying the Captain’s behavioural pattern on CCTV recordings on the day of the flight and prior 3 flights there was no significant behavioural changes observed. On all the CCTV recordings the appearance was similar, i.e. well groomed and attired. The gait, posture, facial expressions and mannerism were his normal characteristics. The First Officer’s movement captured on CCTV at KLIA on 07 March 2014 was observed. The Flight Officer’s behavioural pattern on CCTV recordings on the day of the flight showed no significant behavioural changes.

1.5.10 Air-ground Communications

The radio transmissions made between MH370 and the ground air traffic control were studied. The team used the pilots, friends, family members, expert report of objective analysis of the radio transmissions in the voice recognition of the transmissions made between MH370 and ground air traffic control.

Five sets of audio recordings were analysed starting from Airway Clearance Delivery at 1625:52 UTC (0025:52 MYT) till the last utterance from Lumpur Radar at 1719:30 UTC (0119:30 MYT). There were a total of 23 utterances as follows:

a. Airway Clearance Delivery (ACD) -

b. Lumpur Ground (LG) -

c. Lumpur Tower (LT) -

d. Approach Radar (AR) -

e. Lumpur Radar (LR) -

frequency 126.0 MHz

frequency 122.27 MHz

frequency 118.8 MHz

frequency 121.25 MHz

frequency 132.6 MHz

→ 4 utterances

→ 6 utterances

→ 4 utterances

→ 3 utterances

→ 6 utterances

From the information available, the first 3 sets of audio recordings (ACD, LG, LT), the speech segments are those of the Flight Officer before take-off, and the 4th & 5th (AR & LR) sets of the audio recordings originated from the Captain after take-off.

Comments and Notes

The 'Flight Officer' should be the 'First Officer'.

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Disclaimer

Source: Malaysian ICAO Annex 13 Safety Investigation Team for MH370, 8 March 2015, Factual Information MH370/01/15

The Factual Information was updated in 2018 by the Safety Investigation Report MH370/01/2018 which added new content but did not include all of the previous data.