Plane crash probe: Singapore helping Malaysia authorities retrieve data from cockpit voice recorder

A report on the preliminary investigation into the plane crash, prepared by the AAIB with the help of the United States National Transportation Safety Board, would be released within a month, said Mr Loke. 

“(United States National Transportation Safety Board) representatives were asked to assist in the probe because the aircraft was registered in the US.” 

US AVIATION EXPERTS AT CRASH SITE

Aviation experts from the US were also at the site of the plane crash on Monday to search for clues into the incident.

The experts were expected to be in Malaysia for a period of seven to 10 days to help in the investigation, said Shah Alam district police chief ACP Mohd Iqbal Ibrahim. 

The experts arrived in Malaysia on Sunday. ACP Mohd Iqbal said the operation to remove the wreckage will be completed by Monday. However, if it was not possible, officers will be stationed at the crash site to monitor the situation. 

Eight AAIB officers were also involved in the investigation. 

Earlier, Terengganu chief minister Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar said the plane crash could have been caused by a problem on the wings. 

Based on visual evidence available to the public, the problem may be caused by either an aileron failure or a combination of both rudder and elevator failure, said Dr Ahmad, an aerospace engineer by trade and the former head of the Aerospace Department of Universiti Putra Malaysia. 

He added that he said the aircraft failures could also originate from various problems or a single issue.

These include maintenance issues, plane structural integrity failures, structural stress and cyclic fatigue, engine failures, flight control issues, avionics problems as well as human factors.