MH17: Working in unison...

As Bernama braces for more extensive coverage  of the Malaysia Airlines (MAS) flight MH17 crash in war-torn Russian-Ukraine border, it provided a golden opportunity for the agency’s  various units and platforms to work in unison.

The news operation had been extended beyond midnight after early information about the tragedy surfaced.

General Manager Datuk Yong Soo Heong had alerted editors via WhatsApp at 11.20pm last night about a NewsFlash on TwitterWitter| Malaysian passenger airliner crashes in #Ukraine near Russian border - Interfax cites aviation industry source: Reuters

At 11.41pm, the newsdesk sent out the the following flash:

“Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai is still checking on the news that a Malaysian airliner crashed in Ukraine-Russia border.”

Sensing a long-night in store, Nurul Afida Kamaludin of the BM subs desk messaged on WhatsApp at 11.44 pm that BM subs were on standby to be recalled.

A minute later, she messaged about a MAS tweet that it has lost contact with the Kuala Lumpur-bound airline from Amsterdam.

At 11.46pm, we relayed this flash:

“Malaysia Airlines has lost contact with MH17 from Amsterdam. The last known position was over Ukrainian airspace - MAS.”

The Boeing 777 with  298 people - 283 passengers and 15 crew – was later confirmed to have crashed in Ukraine, near its border with Russia.

Datuk Yong then told editors to monitor and use MAS tweets while Bernama TV and Bernama Radio24 should be on standby for live coverage.

“BR24 is now 24hrs...Eng block extends its airtime…Live in eng till 4am and bm content from 4am,” said Azlan of Radio24  on Bernama Eds WhatsApp.

At 11:58pm, Datuk Yong sent this message: “Bernama.com pls standby to relay latest info”.

Ten minutes after midnight, this was our flash:

“PM Najib shocked by report that MAS airliner crashed, launching an immediate investigation on the report.”

Around  12:28 am, the newsdesk received info  that Prime Minister was going to the MAS Operation Room at KLIA. Reporters and photographers were promptly dispatched while the Putrajaya office was alerted.

Datuk Seri Najib arrived at the Flight Management Building at KLIA at about 1.20am to obtain latest development of the MAS airplane crash. Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman and Armed Forces Chief Tan Sri Zulkifeli Mohd Zain arrived a few minutes later.

By then, the international media had reported about the crash with BBC showing visual of the site.

A Reuters reporter, using Grabovo in Ukraine as dateline, said dozens of bodies were scattered around the smouldering wreckage of a passenger jet that crashed in eastern Ukraine on Thursday. Photos of the crash scene were also found via twitter.

You tube Russian video showed ball of fire upon crash followed by thick black smoke.

As the events unfolded, Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Shabery Cheek met senior ministry officials including from Bernama at Angkasapuri at 11a.m. to discuss news coverage of the crash.

Bernama crime desk chief Mohd Razman Abdullah and photographer Zulkarnain Kamaruddin, who were selected for the assignment,  were present at the meeting.

By 10:43 am, International News Service editor Nor Faridah Rashid managed to get Ukraine ambassador  to Malaysia Ihor V. Humenyyi to come to Bernama to talk about the MH17 tragedy.
At 12:18 pm, Datuk Yong wrote on Bernama Eds WhatsApps: “Duta Besar Ukraine  "live" on Bernama TV and beamed worldwide via BERNAMA.COM "live" streaming”.