PERTH: Two Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) C-130 Hercules aircraft are scheduled to return to Malaysia today night after aerial searches for a missing Malaysia Airlines (MAS) plane were suspended following an announcement on the intensification of the underwater search.
RMAF 20th Squadron chief Major Muhammad Jafri Suboh said the two planes would depart at 9 pm while another RMAF C-130 would for the time being remain here until further notice.
Muhammad Jafri, who is the detachment commander of the RMAF search operation here, said that 53 air, ground and support crew from the total 78 RMAF personnel involved in the operation would leave Base Pearce tonight.
"Personally I see that all my personnel have shown a high level of commitment and professionalism whether they are undertaking flight duties or the maintenance crew.
"They work hard 24 hours to ensure the aircraft is ready to fly," he told Bernama and RTM when met at the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Base Pearce in Bullsbrook.
The two RMAF planes along with the 53 crew are expected to arrive at the RMAF base in Subang around 10 am on Wednesday.
The involvement of RMAF personnel in the search operation in the Indian Ocean for the MAS Flight MH370, missing since March 8, began on March 29.
On Monday, Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott told a media conference in Canberra that the search mission would enter a new phase with more focus to be given over a much larger area of the ocean floor.
He said the decision was made after considering, among others, that it was highly unlikely at this stage that any aircraft debris would be found on the ocean surface.
However, he pointed out that a few vessels from Australia, Malaysia and China would continue with the maritime search and that RAAF P3-Orion aircraft would be put on standby.
Commenting further on the overall RMAF mission here, Muhammad Jafri said it was a proud for moment for RMAF and the crew to have been able to join the multinational search mission.
He said although the aerial search had stopped at this stage, the RMAF personnel were ready to return to action if needed.
Meanwhile, RAAF group commander Craig Heap thanked and praised the RMAF team for their "tremendous job" delivered with a high level of dedication and professionalism as the three RMAF planes undertook 43 missions and overcame numerous challenges, particularly extreme weather conditions.
Heap noted that all the six nations involved in the air search operation had to battle long hours of visual searching amid challenging conditions, including those posed by the weather.
"But we were tremendously motivated to arrive at an outcome and bring closure for the families of those aboard the Malaysian plane," he said.
Heap said that cooperation with RMAF, which had been going on long before the search operation was initiated, would continue although the aerial search mission in the Indian Ocean had ceased.
The six nations involved in the aerial search were Malaysia, Australia, the United States, New Zealand, Japan and South Korea.
Heap pointed out that the Australian P3-Orion would be put on standby at Base Pearce while the aircraft from other nations would return to their home countries in stages over the next few days.
They might rejoin the search operation if required, he added.
Flight MH370 with 239 people onboard disappeared from radar screens about an hour into its flight while over the South China Sea.
A multinational search was mounted for the plane, first in the South China Sea and then, after it was learnt that the plane had veered off course, in the southern Indian Ocean.-- BERNAMA
In this April 17 file pic, a Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) C-130 Hercules aircraft takes off from Pearce Airbase in Perth, Australia. AP Photo
