These operational reports have been developed to provide regular updates on the progress of the search effort for MH370.

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On 8 March 2014, the Boeing 777-200ER aircraft registered as Malaysia Airlines 9M-MRO and operating as flight MH370 (MH370) disappeared from air traffic control radar after taking off from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on a scheduled passenger service to Beijing, China with 227 passengers and 12 crew on board.

After analysis of satellite data it was discovered that MH370 continued to fly for over six hours after contact was lost. All the available data indicates the aircraft entered the sea close to a long but narrow arc of the southern Indian Ocean.

On 31 March 2014, following an extensive sea and air search, the Malaysian Government accepted the Australian Government’s offer to take the lead in the search and recovery operation in the southern Indian Ocean in support of the Malaysian accident investigation.

On behalf of Australia, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) coordinated and led the search operations for MH370 in the southern Indian Ocean.

At a meeting of Ministers from Malaysia, Australia and the People’s Republic of China held on 22 July 2016, it was agreed that should the aircraft not be located in the current search area, and in the absence of credible new evidence leading to the identification of a specific location of the aircraft, the search would be suspended upon completion of the current search area.

As such, the search for Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 was suspended on 17 January 2017.

The role of the Audit and Risk Committee is to provide advice to the accountable authority on the appropriateness of financial and performance reporting, system of risk oversight and management, and system of internal control.

The Audit and Risk Committee Charter outlines the functions, roles and responsibilities and administrative arrangements of the Committee.

Consistent with the Minister’s Statement of Expectations, the ATSB provides input into government inquiries reviewing the ATSB’s jurisdiction across different modes of transport. Below are recent submissions the ATSB has made to relevant government inquiries.

Independent Review of Domestic Commercial Vessel Safety Legislation and Costs and Charging Arrangements

Organisation conducting the inquiry

Independent reviewers, reporting to the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government

Purpose of the inquiry

The Australian Government has commissioned an independent review to consider whether Australia’s legal framework regulating the safety of domestic commercial vessels is fit for purpose. The review is also to consider whether this regulatory framework is being delivered efficiently and effectively, and to consider options for future cost recovery arrangements.

Date of the ATSB's submission

5 April 2022

Summary of the ATSB's submission

This submission is a response to the consultation aid, released in February 2022, prepared for phase 1 of the independent review. The ATSB’s submission outlines matters for the reviewers to consider in relation to expanding the ATSB’s role.

Key points in the ATSB's submission

• The ATSB does not have an agreed role in relation to DCVs.
• In general terms, ATSB investigations improve safety.
• The ATSB does not have resources to prepare a considered comment on whether expanding its remit to include DCVs would support substantially improved safety outcomes.
• Any recommended change to the ATSB’s role should be considered in the context of any other jurisdictional expansion.

National Transport Regulatory Reform Inquiry draft report

Organisation conducting the inquiry

Productivity Commission

Purpose of the inquiry

The Australian Government has asked the Productivity Commission to assess the economic impact of reforms to transport regulation agreed to by the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) in 2008-09. Those reforms relate to heavy vehicle safety and productivity, rail safety and maritime safety. The Government has also asked the Commission to recommend further reforms towards a more integrated national market for transport services.

Date of the ATSB's submission

15 January 2020

Summary of the ATSB's submission

This submission is in response to the Productivity Commission’s Draft Report released on 12 November 2019. The ATSB’s submission addresses recommendations made in the Draft Report relating to the ATSB and the role of a no-blame transport safety investigator

Key points in the ATSB's submission

• No-blame transport safety investigations can and do provide value in transport systems, identifying safety issues for the benefit of many.
• The current rail resourcing model for the ATSB has effectiveness, efficiency and equality issues.
• Any decision to expand the remit of the ATSB would need to be accompanied by careful planning, appropriate resourcing and realistic timeframes for implementation. There are also some legislative and logistical barriers to overcome. Expansion into more than one area would require extensive coordination between policy areas

National Transport Regulatory Reform Inquiry issues paper

Organisation conducting the inquiry

Productivity Commission

Purpose of the inquiry

The Australian Government has asked the Productivity Commission to assess the economic impact of reforms to transport regulation agreed to by the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) in 2008-09. Those reforms relate to heavy vehicle safety and productivity, rail safety and maritime safety. The Government has also asked the Commission to recommend further reforms towards a more integrated national market for transport services.

Date of the ATSB's submission

12 July 2019

Summary of the ATSB's submission

This submission is in response to the Productivity Commission’s Issues Paper released on 17 May 2019. The ATSB’s submission addresses the ATSB’s role in the reforms as the national transport safety investigator.

Key points in the ATSB's submission

• As a general principle the ATSB acknowledges the value of having an independent no-blame safety investigation entity as part of the overall transport safety system.
• The ATSB played an important part in the national transport reforms, taking on a significantly expanded role in rail.
• In the context of the national transport reforms, there was no clear decision for the ATSB to be involved or not be involved in domestic commercial vessels, and no funding was allocated to the ATSB for this purpose.  
• The ATSB does not have any role in heavy vehicle road safety.

Download submission PDFs

Please follow this link(Opens in a new tab/window).

1 April 2026 – 30 June 2026

In the course of official duties, officials of the Australian Transport Safety Bureau received the following gifts and/or benefits where the value exceeds $AUD100.00 (excluding GST). Declarations above this value is consistent with Australian Government guidance provided by the Australian Public Service Commission (Guidance for Agency Heads - Gifts and Benefits | Australian Public Service Commission (apsc.gov.au)(Opens in a new tab/window).

*Appreciation gift - presented following delivery of a training course by ATSB to NTSC investigators in Jakarta.

1 January 2026 – 31 March 2026

In the course of official duties, officials of the Australian Transport Safety Bureau received the following gifts and/or benefits where the value exceeds $AUD100.00 (excluding GST). Declarations above this value is consistent with Australian Government guidance provided by the Australian Public Service Commission (Guidance for Agency Heads - Gifts and Benefits | Australian Public Service Commission (apsc.gov.au)(Opens in a new tab/window).

*Appreciation gift - presented following delivery of a training course by ATSB to NTSC investigators in Jakarta.

1 October 2025 – 31 December 2025

In the course of official duties, officials of the Australian Transport Safety Bureau received the following gifts and/or benefits where the value exceeds $AUD100.00 (excluding GST). Declarations above this value is consistent with Australian Government guidance provided by the Australian Public Service Commission (Guidance for Agency Heads - Gifts and Benefits | Australian Public Service Commission (apsc.gov.au)(Opens in a new tab/window).

1 July 2025 – 30 September 2025

In the course of official duties, officials of the Australian Transport Safety Bureau received the following gifts and/or benefits where the value exceeds $AUD100.00 (excluding GST). Declarations above this value is consistent with Australian Government guidance provided by the Australian Public Service Commission (Guidance for Agency Heads - Gifts and Benefits | Australian Public Service Commission (apsc.gov.au)(Opens in a new tab/window).

1 April 2025 – 30 June 2025

In the course of official duties, officials of the Australian Transport Safety Bureau received the following gifts and/or benefits where the value exceeds $AUD100.00 (excluding GST). Declarations above this value is consistent with Australian Government guidance provided by the Australian Public Service Commission (Guidance for Agency Heads - Gifts and Benefits | Australian Public Service Commission (apsc.gov.au)(Opens in a new tab/window).

1 January 2025 – 31 March 2025

In the course of official duties, officials of the Australian Transport Safety Bureau received the following gifts and/or benefits where the value exceeds $AUD100.00 (excluding GST). Declarations above this value is consistent with Australian Government guidance provided by the Australian Public Service Commission (Guidance for Agency Heads - Gifts and Benefits | Australian Public Service Commission (apsc.gov.au)(Opens in a new tab/window).

1 October 2024 – 31 December 2024

In the course of official duties, officials of the Australian Transport Safety Bureau received the following gifts and/or benefits where the value exceeds $AUD100.00 (excluding GST). Declarations above this value is consistent with Australian Government guidance provided by the Australian Public Service Commission (Guidance for Agency Heads - Gifts and Benefits | Australian Public Service Commission (apsc.gov.au)(Opens in a new tab/window)).

1 July 2024 – 30 September 2024

In the course of official duties, officials of the Australian Transport Safety Bureau received the following gifts and/or benefits where the value exceeds $AUD100.00 (excluding GST). Declarations above this value is consistent with Australian Government guidance provided by the Australian Public Service Commission (Guidance for Agency Heads - Gifts and Benefits | Australian Public Service Commission (apsc.gov.au)(Opens in a new tab/window).

1 April 2024 – 30 June 2024

In the course of official duties, officials of the Australian Transport Safety Bureau did not receive any gifts and/or benefits where the value exceeds $AUD100.00 (excluding GST). Declarations above this value is consistent with Australian Government guidance provided by the Australian Public Service Commission (Guidance for Agency Heads - Gifts and Benefits | Australian Public Service Commission (apsc.gov.au(Opens in a new tab/window)).

1 January 2024 – 31 March 2024

In the course of official duties, officials of the Australian Transport Safety Bureau received the following gifts and/or benefits where the value exceeds $AUD100.00 (excluding GST). Declarations above this value is consistent with Australian Government guidance provided by the Australian Public Service Commission (Guidance for Agency Heads - Gifts and Benefits | Australian Public Service Commission (apsc.gov.au(Opens in a new tab/window)).

1 July 2023 – 31 December 2023

During the period specified above, the Chief Commissioner, as agency head of the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB), in the course of his duties, has received benefits whose value exceeds the stipulated threshold of $AUD100.00 (excluding GST).

Employees of the ATSB have not received any gifts or benefits whose value have exceeded the stipulated threshold during the period specified above.

1 January 2023 – 30 June 2023

During the period specified above, the Chief Commissioner, as agency head of the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB), in the course of his duties, has received the following benefits whose value exceeds the stipulated threshold of $AUD100.00 (excluding GST).

Employees of the ATSB have not received any gifts or benefits whose value have exceed the stipulated threshold during the period specified above.

1 July 2022 – 31 December 2022

During the period specified above, the Chief Commissioner, as agency head of the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB), in the course of his duties, has received benefits whose value exceeds the stipulated threshold of $AUD100.00 (excluding GST). Also, only one employee of the ATSB received a gift whose value have exceeded the stipulated threshold during the period specified above. Both are recorded in the table below.

1 January 2022 – 30 June 2022

During the period specified above, the Chief Commissioner, as agency head of the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB), in the course of his duties, has not received any gifts or benefits whose value exceeds the stipulated threshold of $AUD100.00 (excluding GST). Employees of the ATSB have not received any gifts or benefits whose value have exceeded the stipulated threshold during the period specified above.

1 July 2021 – 31 December 2021

During the period specified above, the Chief Commissioner, as agency head of the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB), in the course of his duties, received the following gifts and benefits.

Employees of the ATSB have not received any gifts or benefits whose value have exceeded the stipulated threshold during the period specified above.

1 January 2021 – 30 June 2021

During the period specified above, the Chief Commissioner, as agency head of the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB), in the course of his duties, has not received any gifts or benefits whose value exceeds the stipulated threshold of $AUD100.00 (excluding GST). Employees of the ATSB have not received any gifts or benefits whose value have exceeded the stipulated threshold during the period specified above.

1 July 2020 – 30 September 2020

During the period specified above, the Chief Commissioner, as agency head of the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB), in the course of his duties, has not received any gifts or benefits whose value exceeds the stipulated threshold of $AUD100.00 (excluding GST). Employees of the ATSB have not received any gifts or benefits whose value have exceeded the stipulated threshold during the period specified above.

18 October 2019 – 30 June 2020

During the period specified above, the Chief Commissioner, as agency head of the ATSB, in the course of his duties, has not received any gifts or benefits whose value exceeds the stipulated threshold of $AUD100.00 (excluding GST). Employees of the ATSB have not received any gifts or benefits whose value have exceeded the stipulated threshold during the period specified above.

As a Commonwealth agency, the ATSB is committed in respecting your privacy and handling your personal information in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988(Opens in a new tab/window) (Privacy Act) and with the requirements of the Australian Privacy Principles(Opens in a new tab/window) (APPs) contained in Schedule 1 of the Privacy Act. This includes how to contact us, provide feedback on privacy related issues, and interaction with the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner. 

Please refer to the ATSB’s Privacy Policy for more information. 

What is personal information?

Personal information has the same meaning as defined in section 6 of the Privacy Act:

personal information means information or an opinion about an identified individual, or an individual who is reasonably identifiable:

(a)   whether the information or opinion is true or not; and

(b)   whether the information or opinion is recorded in a material form or not.

Some examples of personal information include: 

• names
• address
• date of birth
• employment details
• licence and registration numbers
• photographs. 

How to contact us

If you have any enquiries about privacy, or if you wish to access or correct your personal information, you can contact the Privacy Officer by any of the following methods:

Privacy Officer
Australian Transport Safety Bureau
GPO Box 321
Canberra ACT 2601

Email: privacy@atsb.gov.au
Telephone: +61 02 6122 1601