'Flt MH370 is 3.5km under the sea: Prof. Pattiaratchi

28 March 2014 12:38 am - 22 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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University of Western Australia - Professor of Coastal Oceanography Charitha Pattiaratchi, who is playing a leading role on the Australian side, which is engaging in finding the missing Malaysian Airline, said that the ill-fated plane is in the bottom of the Indian Ocean, just below the Southeast Indian ridge.

He also said that any attempt to recover items from a patch of ocean where the search for items potentially from missing Malaysian Airlines flight MH370 is focused, could take months or years.

In an interview with out sister paper Ada, explaining about what happened to the plane, the Sri Lankan born Prof. Pattiaratchi said: “there was a fault which cut the oxygen to the plane and all occupants lost consciousness.”

Excerpt is the full interview:

Q: You are a highly respected professor. Our readers would like to know the benefits of your specialised area/background

I was educated at Royal College, was also the Head Prefect in 1976, was the Sri Lankan swimming champion etc. I am a Physical Oceanographer.

Q: In your view what has happened to the plane MH370?

There was a fault which cut the oxygen to the plane and all the occupants lost consciousness

Q: Have you come across similar incidents in your distinguished career? (a plane crashing into the ocean or any other incident)

Yes – many times – the last time was to help locate the origin of a severed human head which was washed-up on the beach.

Q: If the plane had crashed into the ocean where it is now?

It is in the bottom of the ocean at the location shown in the attached map.

Q: How long will it take to find it?

Depends on luck – but it may take years.

Q: What's the technology that can be used to find the plane? Will the black box give any significant information as to what happened?

Acoustic methods to find the location of the wreck site which is 3.5km at the bottom of the ocean. The black box is only one part of the mystery but has valuable data.

Q: The thinking pattern is that now the world is so developed technology-wise, however, no one was able to say anything about the plane for nearly 3 weeks. What do you think about it?

It is only after a disaster before authorities act. For example, it took the Indian Ocean Tsunami before they set-up the warning system. It was the same in here, it took several tsunamis before they set-up a warning system. I think the way they track aircraft and record data on airplane operational data (e.g. those recorded by the black box) will change significantly.

Q: Are you getting involved in the process of finding the plane?

It is coordinated by the Australian Government Agencies.

Q: We have heard that you got involved in helping Sri Lanka in 2004 Tsunami. Could you let us know the details.

The last time I was in the media was during the 2004 tsunami – I did a lot of media work as I said before. I was then part of the team – representing Sri Lanka – which developed the Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning System. When there is a large earthquake in the Indian Ocean – I usually get a phone call from the Presidents’ Office to inquire its importance to Sri Lanka. So I do tsunami predictions for Sri Lan (Shamila Perera for ADA)

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Comments - 22

Ranjith Silvar Friday, 28 March 2014 03:51 AM

Some are funny Fiction writers including Professors. My Grand Ma will tell more than this if she was given an interview.

Fathullah Monday, 31 March 2014 04:50 AM

Can anyone tell me , where xcatly the plane crashed site , no debris , no sign of anything , after almost 3 week ,

max Sunday, 30 March 2014 02:35 PM

plane crashed to the sea.this expert says it is in the sea now.ha ha ha

Public Saturday, 29 March 2014 09:35 PM

The simplest is ask the Yankees! They know how the plane was diverted to Maldives with 8 Chinese experts and how once again made it crashed into the sea with the passengers. Australia too was a main actor in this whole episode.

Suq Madique Saturday, 29 March 2014 08:01 AM

Of course its in the sea...did he expect it to be still flying around??

firebot Friday, 28 March 2014 09:24 PM

international media has never said this. prof is better than ssp ajith rohana via DM Android App

hi..ah Friday, 28 March 2014 09:56 AM

Profssario - we know what y sayBUT the fact is THE PLANE WAS HIJECED OR ALIANATED BY THE ALIANES.
Now the verious governments trying build the customer/ flyers confidance.

Pachaya Friday, 28 March 2014 11:59 AM

Kohedha yanne malley pol answer to the first question says all what we want to know about this professor. Simply put publicity seeking guy who wants to show his connections to the Palace. via DM iPad app

Jane Friday, 28 March 2014 05:14 AM

Yes, guessed right, how he can say oxygen cut off and pax lost consciousness when we still searching the plane ? ? ? ? ?

SamWesternAustralia Friday, 28 March 2014 04:46 AM

I never seen him on Australian Televisions in respect of MH370 incident

Pissa pusa Friday, 28 March 2014 04:45 AM

[quote name="Ranjith Silvar"]Some are funny Fiction writers including Professors. My Grand Ma will tell more than this if she was given an interview.[/quote]

love that

ANTON Friday, 28 March 2014 01:56 AM

PRESSURE OF THIS PLACE MUST BE EXTREMELY HIGH, HIGHLY ADVANCED SUBMARINE WILL BE NEEDED TO REACH THIS PLACE.

sdc Friday, 28 March 2014 03:49 AM

And how did the professor come up with a theory like this of loosing oxygen ? What proof does he have and the location how can he be precise? smell something fishy here

Noah Don Friday, 28 March 2014 03:46 AM

Guys, this man is clearly NOT playing a leading role. The Australian Defence force and other high powered govt officials are the ones involved in assisting this case. Australia is seen to have the most sophistacted equipment in the world and no one at some univeristy will be called upon to give advice because this not how Australia operates.

Pandithaya Friday, 28 March 2014 09:06 AM

There's something not right in his interview. True he is a reputed Oceanographer but how can he say that all in the flight lost consciousness due to lack of oxygen when bodies have not been recovered for autopsies or aircraft parts not found to determine the cause mechanical/technical failures. via DM iPad app

Varathan Friday, 28 March 2014 03:31 AM

Still there is no evidence what happened to MH370 and it's debris field. He answered like a politicians who do not pay attention to separate the fact from speculation and rumour. This is the way professors teach in Sri Lanka... just want to show they know everything

Narayan Friday, 28 March 2014 03:27 AM

If the plane has crashed into the ocean, yea definitely it is on the sea bed. This article is totally a stupid one. No concrete news or evidence in his interview. Typically a Sri Lankan

Sammy Friday, 28 March 2014 02:52 AM

How does he know so much? Is there a conspiracy theory?

Sach Friday, 28 March 2014 08:18 AM

Sounds like a show off... via DM Android App

Silverhawk Friday, 28 March 2014 07:48 AM

we know he is respected prof. but please don't arrive at premature conclusion. Investigation is still on going and they do not have any conclusive evidence of what happened to aircraft. to arrive to a conclusive evidence aircraft investigators need to find the black which would hopefully reveal the build up to this tragedy. via DM Android App

Crazy Coot Friday, 28 March 2014 02:04 AM

So, are we the first to know these details?

he is using mh370 to get famous. tell us something we don't know. Friday, 28 March 2014 07:29 AM

he us using mh370 to get famous. tell us something we don't know. via DM Android App

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'Flt MH370 is 3.5km under the sea: Prof. Pattiaratchi

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