Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 Tribute as told through Aviation Photographer

While the world knows this as Flight MH370, the actual airliner goes by the name 9M-MR0. 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-MR0 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."

"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..."

"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."

 "My Encounter with Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777-200, 9M–MRO….

When I took my picture(s) of Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777-200, 9M–MRO – I didn't think much of it, other than that it was a beautiful fall day here in Southern California…

Earlier this spring, 2014, I learned that Malaysia Airlines would quit flying to Los Angeles altogether and with that eliminate all flights to the US, so I decided to pay a little extra attention to Malaysia Airlines…

A couple of days later, I saw on the news, that a Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 was missing.

I wondered if I might have a shot of this particular aircraft, and a quick search on "9m-mro" on my computer revealed that I did…that discovery created a strange feeling.

It was soon reported that transponders had been turned off, not long after departure, followed by a drastic course change. This news, plus information to the effect that plane had kept on flying well into the early morning, turned the story into a genuine mystery.

The thought of what the passengers might have experienced is horrifying and haunting…

Now there are only a day or two left before the "pings" from the "black boxes" go silent and for the sake of friends and relatives of those onboard, I hope the truth about the aircraft's fate is uncovered and soon..."

 "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."

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."

 I was in the new Tom Bradley Terminal at LAX and walking by a snapped my image then I got to talk to the captain to ask about flight training and special flying opportunities. I don't remember the Captain's name but I don't think it was the flight crew on MH370.

The image was taken on February 28, 2014 after it de-planed....March 8 was just the day I uploaded this picture… not knowing at the time it was 9M-MRO which disappeared... in remembrance for those onboard.

 "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."

 One of my last few shots of 9M-MRO, captured in the morning of January, 30th, 2014. I published this in my Facebook wall, the day the Prime Minister of Malaysia announced that flight MH370 has ended somewhere in southern part of Indian Ocean, the loneliest place on this planet. I called this photo "Oscar, you're 'home'.."

source from:http://www.raischstudios.com