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| Missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370: Plane's communications were deliberately disabled says prime minister Razak as new radar evidence points to hijacking | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Malaysia's prime minister has revealed that investigators believe the communications aboard missing Flight MH370 were intentionally disabled, that it flew sharply off course and may have flown for a total of more than seven hours. His comments confirm earlier reports that investigators believe foul play was most likely responsible for the plane’s disappearnce. | Malaysia's prime minister has revealed that investigators believe the communications aboard missing Flight MH370 were intentionally disabled, that it flew sharply off course and may have flown for a total of more than seven hours. His comments confirm earlier reports that investigators believe foul play was most likely responsible for the plane’s disappearnce. |
| Najib Razak said the actions taken by the plane after it took off from Kuala Lumpur a week ago were consistent with “deliberate action by someone on the plane”. Yet he added: “Despite media reports the plane was hijacked, I wish to be very clear, we are still investigating all possibilities as to what caused MH370 to deviate.” | Najib Razak said the actions taken by the plane after it took off from Kuala Lumpur a week ago were consistent with “deliberate action by someone on the plane”. Yet he added: “Despite media reports the plane was hijacked, I wish to be very clear, we are still investigating all possibilities as to what caused MH370 to deviate.” |
| Speaking in Malaysia’s capital on Saturday morning, he said data from the plane’s satellite communications system suggested the last contact with the plane was at 8.11am local time last Saturday, more than seven-and-a-half hours after it took off on route for Beijing. | Speaking in Malaysia’s capital on Saturday morning, he said data from the plane’s satellite communications system suggested the last contact with the plane was at 8.11am local time last Saturday, more than seven-and-a-half hours after it took off on route for Beijing. |
| He said it was impossible to determine precisely where the Boeing 777 was at that point but that investigators believed it was in one of two possible corridors – a northern route stretching from the border of Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan to northern Thailand, or a southern corridor stretching approximately from Indonesia to the southern Indian ocean. He said the investigation team is working to further refine the information. | He said it was impossible to determine precisely where the Boeing 777 was at that point but that investigators believed it was in one of two possible corridors – a northern route stretching from the border of Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan to northern Thailand, or a southern corridor stretching approximately from Indonesia to the southern Indian ocean. He said the investigation team is working to further refine the information. |
| The prime minister, who did not take questions from waiting journalists, said that as a result of the new information, officials were ending their search in the South China Sea. They were also working with the different counties along these possible routes and requesting they provide any radar data they have along with any other information that might be relevant to the search. | The prime minister, who did not take questions from waiting journalists, said that as a result of the new information, officials were ending their search in the South China Sea. They were also working with the different counties along these possible routes and requesting they provide any radar data they have along with any other information that might be relevant to the search. |
| While he said that investigators were still examining all angles, he said that the new information had led investigators to refocus attention on the crew and passengers on board. Earlier in the week, officials denied reports in the Malaysian media that police had raided the home of the plane’s main pilot, Zaharie Ahmad Shah, to determine whether or not he was encountering any psychological problems. | While he said that investigators were still examining all angles, he said that the new information had led investigators to refocus attention on the crew and passengers on board. Earlier in the week, officials denied reports in the Malaysian media that police had raided the home of the plane’s main pilot, Zaharie Ahmad Shah, to determine whether or not he was encountering any psychological problems. |
| “Clearly, the search for MH370 has entered a new phase. Over the last seven days, we have followed every lead and looked into every possibility,” he said. “For the families and friends of those involved, we hope this new information brings us one step closer to finding the plane.” | “Clearly, the search for MH370 has entered a new phase. Over the last seven days, we have followed every lead and looked into every possibility,” he said. “For the families and friends of those involved, we hope this new information brings us one step closer to finding the plane.” |
| The search area has expanded massively to include the territory of a dozen countries | The search area has expanded massively to include the territory of a dozen countries |
| Earlier on Saturday, a source familiar with official US assessments of electronic signals sent to satellites told the Reuters News Agency that it appeared most likely the plane turned south over the Indian Ocean, where it would presumably have run out of fuel and crashed into the sea. | Earlier on Saturday, a source familiar with official US assessments of electronic signals sent to satellites told the Reuters News Agency that it appeared most likely the plane turned south over the Indian Ocean, where it would presumably have run out of fuel and crashed into the sea. |
| The other interpretation was that Flight MH370 continued to fly to the northwest and headed over Indian territory. The source added that it was believed unlikely the plane flew for any length of time over India because that country has strong air defence and radar coverage and that should have allowed authorities there to see the plane and intercept it. | The other interpretation was that Flight MH370 continued to fly to the northwest and headed over Indian territory. The source added that it was believed unlikely the plane flew for any length of time over India because that country has strong air defence and radar coverage and that should have allowed authorities there to see the plane and intercept it. |
| The announcement the Malaysian premier, follows days of mounting speculation that the disappearance of the Malaysia Airlines jet a week ago with 239 people on board was not accidental, and that it was intentionally diverted or hijacked, by either a member of the crew or a passenger. | The announcement the Malaysian premier, follows days of mounting speculation that the disappearance of the Malaysia Airlines jet a week ago with 239 people on board was not accidental, and that it was intentionally diverted or hijacked, by either a member of the crew or a passenger. |
| Inmarsat, the London-based communications company, confirmed that its satellites covering the region received “ping” signals from the plane after it vanished from civilian radar and stopped communicating with the ground shortly after the plane took off in the early hours of 8 March. | Inmarsat, the London-based communications company, confirmed that its satellites covering the region received “ping” signals from the plane after it vanished from civilian radar and stopped communicating with the ground shortly after the plane took off in the early hours of 8 March. |
| The “ping” signals, sent from satellites if the aircraft has not been in contact for some time, were sent out hourly, providing information about the speed at which the plane was travelling and its altitude, which could help determine the plane’s location. | The “ping” signals, sent from satellites if the aircraft has not been in contact for some time, were sent out hourly, providing information about the speed at which the plane was travelling and its altitude, which could help determine the plane’s location. |
| Such communication between the aircraft and satellites is possible only when the plane is airborne. It is understood ‘pings’ were received for as much as five hours after the plane vanished. | Such communication between the aircraft and satellites is possible only when the plane is airborne. It is understood ‘pings’ were received for as much as five hours after the plane vanished. |
| Mr Najib, the Prime Minister, had earlier met with relatives of passengers from the plane. “We realise this is an excruciating time for the families of those on board,” he said. “No words can describe the pain they must be going through. Our thoughts and our prayers are with them.” | Mr Najib, the Prime Minister, had earlier met with relatives of passengers from the plane. “We realise this is an excruciating time for the families of those on board,” he said. “No words can describe the pain they must be going through. Our thoughts and our prayers are with them.” |