Looks like MH132 was filed out of the NZAA FIR over PEBLU N759 to SASRO to enter the YBBB FIR. Once they hit SASRO it appears that the filed routing was nearly direct to the Sepang aerodrome.
Here's the filed routing (in that familiar non-human readable format that some cultures seem to crave):
PEBLU N759 SASRO M080F340 M636 PLUGA M081F360 M636 TESAT H44 KAT A576 KALUG M081F380 A576 AS A587 ONOXA N0470F400 G326 BLI M635 SURGA M081F400 M635 TPG A464 SJ G579 LAPOL N0470F400 G579 VJB A457 GUPTA
https://flightaware.com/live/flight/...235Z/NZAA/WMKK
It looks like the more normal initial routing for this flight would be PAPTI A464 RIGMI.
Did some 'ham radio operator' hear the exchange with ATC and call the media? Please don't tell the news folks that those NAT Track airways were moved again today.
In recent years we've been told that the flight planning computer software considers all the variables and picks the best route for the flight and that we shouldn't second guess it as mere pilots. I've sure had a prayer meeting before with the dispatcher on Satcom asking why we're flying two hundred miles in the wrong direction before turning back around for the crossing. She didn't know but said she was required to file a form with flight ops if I refused the computer generated routing. Didn't want that to happen
so I signed the flight plan, took off and ATC gave us direct to the first oceanic point.
Was the wrong flight plan in the FMS? Or did the MH crew just ask why they were going so far west before turning toward KUL today? Weather, military or Santa ops possibly?
Here's some fairly good media discussion on what seems to me to be a non-event:
Airways ground staff said typically an airline will decide the route for a certain flight.
This route would be communicated to Airways, and then get passed on to air traffic controllers. Air traffic would then direct the flight's take off and landing, and a route would be programmed into the plane to provide turning points and direction for the pilot.
A spokeswoman for Airways said the glitch could be explained by a miscommunication of plans.
"The flight path the airline filed us was going to Kuala Lumpur, but following a slightly different flight plan that the pilot had on board."
"Quite quickly after taking off the pilot realised that the direction that we were sending him in was different."
The plane was headed towards Melbourne, rather than taking a more direct route to the Malaysian capital.
After talking to the bemused pilot, Airways uploaded their flight route to the airborne plane.
The pilot adjusted to the surprise, continuing across the Tasman Sea before heading north-west to the destination.
The spokeswoman said the new route was in fact an established flight plan to Kuala Lumpur - but not the one the pilot had planned to follow.
"Airlines often choose different flight plans depending on weather and other variables."
The spokeswoman said Airways would be looking into the incident.
She said passengers on board the flight were at no point in any danger, as the flight was still under radar control.
Nice picture of the A330 cockpit in the article
:
Malaysia Airlines' Christmas route surprises pilot leaving Auckland | Stuff.co.nz