Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 Tribute as told through Aviation PhotographersMarch 30, 2014
While the world knows this as Flight MH370, the actual airliner goes by the name 9M-MRO. The following images are of the actual missing Malaysian aircraft taken prior to March 8th by aviation photographers across the globe. From 2004 to the weeks leading up to the incident, these photos mark over a decade of service. They are meant to celebrate the lifespan of this aircraft and the photographers it affected.The following narratives and images have been provided by photographers across the globe as tribute to the missing. Since March 27, I've been compiling their stories to give a personal glimpse into aviation photography, planespotting, and especially the flights 9M-MRO provided throughout the world. To the crew, passengers, and their families of this global tragedy, our thoughts are with you.
"I flew into Vienna International from London Heathrow on an Airbus A319-131 G-EUOD. I had a window seat and shot the 777 as we were taxing to the stand. It has only been through your communication that I realize the coincidence."
[color=rgba(68, 68, 68, 0.701961)][size=0.9em]Photo Credit: Rob Boyes, 2004 Vienna International Airport
"Until today, I didn't know that one of my aviation pictures shows 9M-MRO. But you're right. So to be honest, nothing changed. It's a tragedy..."
[color=rgba(68, 68, 68, 0.701961)][size=0.9em]Photo Credit: Mario Aurich, September 21, 2005
"Glad that there are people out there has deep feelings to what happened to MH370, as it has impacted me much... "They lost contact with MH370 to Beijing... " ... and from then on... buzzed of calls and 'whatsapp' messages goes through my handphone. Then several stories cropped up, giving hopes and dashing hopes. Remembering that day and the latest official information that we had, giving me chills up the spine, 9M-MRO was still flying, alone, somewhere in the loneliest place on this planet, far south of the Indian Ocean when I received that call from Sallehudin. I was on an assignment for an aviation agency to captures aircraft movements around Kuala Lumpur International Airport. The B777 aircraft has this unique and very elegance entrance style to the runway for lining up, thus I had several shots of 9M-MRO that day lining up for take off from runway 32R. I'll say a little prayer in my heart that they'll find MRO soon, find out what actually happened and prayed for the souls on-board, when I look at my photographs of 9M-MRO."
[color=rgba(68, 68, 68, 0.701961)][size=0.9em]Photo Credit: Norman Yusof, June 9, 2009
"I took this photo a few years ago and wondered where all the people on it were going but for the people on Flight MH 370 it is a very sad end the mystery deepens so much mis information about what happened to it hope it is found soon it appears to be in the deepest part of The Indian Ocean so the relatives of those on board might never get closure."
[color=rgba(68, 68, 68, 0.701961)][size=0.9em]Photo Credit: Dennis McGroarty
Malaysia Airlines used to have a daily flight from Kuala Lumpur to Roma Fiumicino. The service was cancelled something like one or two years ago after a very long and successful history. It was MH14 / MH15. The incoming flight arrived around 6 AM and departed back to KUL around lunch time. It was a typical catch of my plane spotting early morning sundays: a nice livery on a beautiful aircraft at the best possible sunrise light. However, a 6 AM arrival was not really convenient during winter or when you are not strong enough to wake up at 4 on sundays. The take-off was less photographed because of the midday bad and hard light. So, in the end, a picture of the Malaysian 777 was not that common here in Rome. After learning about MH370, I felt curious about 9M-MRO and started wondering if I had a picture of it. Surprisingly, I had it, and it was taken during takeoff, with a horrible midday light. I usually don't even shoot at that time of the day. All my fellow spotters who were with me that day don't have that picture, it seems that I was the only one shooting... That picture had a really strong impact on me. I have a kind of friendship relation with the aircrafts I photograph, so it was like I was missing a friend. Moreover, all those lives lost on it made it all way more sad."
[color=rgba(68, 68, 68, 0.701961)][size=0.9em]Riccardo Malpic Galassi, February 7, 2010
"As for what I felt and where I was when I heard the news? I was at home on Facebook when a friend posted a link and I immediately thought of Air France flight 447 that crashed into the Atlantic Ocean, it sounded exactly the same, airliner disappears off the radar over water.. "As for the picture I took, I didn't realize at first that I even took a picture of that plane, until I looked at the registration again. I then searched my photos on airliners, as 9M-MRO sounded very familiar. The story of the picture? Nothing special, I had just landed in Rome from Toronto, got off the plane (We were taken by a bus to the terminal) and saw the giant 777 taxing so I decided to snap a photo and then never thought about it after until I realized that I had taken a photo 4 years ago of the same plane that went missing... Almost all aviation photographers have thousands upon thousands of photos, out of which a few photos make people go “wow“. This picture wasn't a “wow“ shot by any means, but for me at least, it's a huge “wow“ now. To have it in my collection is something. I would like to say that my condolences go out to everyone who was on board and their families and hopefully we all find out what happened."
[color=rgba(68, 68, 68, 0.701961)][size=0.9em]Photo Credit: Dan Miclea, Rome Italy
"The photo was taken in Perth Western Australia, taken back in August of 2010. The moment I saw back those images that I took of the plane, I was feeling shock and glad at the same time, because I never believe that plane is now gone and I have in my personal collection a copy of the plane... When the news of the missing flight first came to light in the early morning of March 8th, I was with my family group meetings with my two kids in one of the family group homes. I was actively involved with my mates whom are all aviation/spotter group through wassap chat group that we created for our little group....Then it went serious as it turns out to be still missing after news about it landing on an airport in Nanjing was a fake, my heart started pounding hard, just couldnt believe my eyes and ears that a Malaysian Plane, furthermore a triple seven is missing. It's just sad really, and being a Malaysian myself, I might even have had a ride on that similar aircraft once upon a time ago flying from Kuala Lumpur to Perth back in the days before Airasia X came to this part of the world. The Triple seven is a joy to fly in. It's graceful with its huge twin engine, feeling robust in the air and beautiful to photograph in action with all the flaps down, the triple landing gear bogeys. Now having learn this is the first total airframe and lives lost of a Triple Seven in a crash, it's just unbelievable in this modern aviation world."
[color=rgba(68, 68, 68, 0.701961)][size=0.9em]Photo Credit: Ignatius 'Iggy' Kwee
"I haven't photographed the Malaysian 777 in Sydney very often, but am glad to have captured this image of her approaching Runway 25 late on a summer afternoon to remember her by. My sincere condolences to all those affected by this accident."
[color=rgba(68, 68, 68, 0.701961)][size=0.9em]Photo Credit: Seth Jaworski
"When I took that photo it was a cloudy day with some heavy shower and MRO took off after one of that shower creating that light and that photo is one of most beautiful I've ever taken.. Right now i'm just hoping that the wreckage will be found fast."
[color=rgba(68, 68, 68, 0.701961)][size=0.9em]Photo Credit: Lorenzo Giacobbo, Rome Italy, 2011
"Most of the times it was just a normal day for us. When I have time and the weather is good, I go spotting. Yes, sometimes there comes a special painted aircraft, or there's a delivery flight from Toulouse or Seattle or somewhere else, but most of them are just regular flights. 7 weekly flights, same aircraft type, same landing runway,.. Of course when there's a plane crash or the retirement of a plane, I will think, oh, I've seen this one, and now it won't be flying anymore."
[color=rgba(68, 68, 68, 0.701961)][size=0.9em]Photo Credit: LWH
"I am a retired pensioner and former private pilot, and I live in a suburb of Melbourne. My hobby is photography, primarily aircraft. On a visit to Melbourne's Tullamarine Airport in April 2011, taking photos of lots of aircraft, including 9H-MRO. At the time of the disappearance, I was in hospital recovering from cancer surgery. I spent 18 days in hospital, and gave no thought to the fact that I may have photographed the aircraft involved in flight MH370. It was not until I was home again, and received a Favorite flag from a Flickr member that I realized the significance of my photo."
[color=rgba(68, 68, 68, 0.701961)][size=0.9em]Photo Credit: Peter Hough
"…I am a contributor to Wikimedia for many years and as I spend a lot of time on airports, I have started one day with aircraft spotting while waiting for my flights. That has developed more and more and sometimes when I am back to Switzerland - my home country - I also take aircraft pictures around Zurich International Airport... The picture of 9M-MRO I took while waiting for my flight back to Switzerland at Johannesburg airport in South Africa. 9M-MRO is one out of minimum 4 aircrafts I have spotted which crashed in the meantime. One of the most famous one was Korean Airlines 007 which was shot down by the Sovjet Airforce over Sakhalin Island. I photographed that one in Honolulu in 1981."
[color=rgba(68, 68, 68, 0.701961)][size=0.9em]Photo Credit: Hansueli Krapf, 2011
[color=rgba(68, 68, 68, 0.701961)][size=0.9em]Photo Credit: Hansueli Krapf, 2011
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Post time 7-4-2014 10:37 AM
