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| Missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370: PM says plane's communications 'deliberately disabled' as police raid pilots' homes | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The search for missing Flight MH370 has become vastly bigger. And vastly more complicated. | The search for missing Flight MH370 has become vastly bigger. And vastly more complicated. |
| A week after the Malaysian Airlines plane and its 239 passengers and crew disappeared, Malaysia’s Prime Minister has revealed investigators believe the missing plane was intentionally flown off course and was in the air for more than seven hours. He said the actions taken by the jet after it took off from Kuala Lumpur seven days ago were consistent with “deliberate action by someone on the plane”. | A week after the Malaysian Airlines plane and its 239 passengers and crew disappeared, Malaysia’s Prime Minister has revealed investigators believe the missing plane was intentionally flown off course and was in the air for more than seven hours. He said the actions taken by the jet after it took off from Kuala Lumpur seven days ago were consistent with “deliberate action by someone on 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,” said Najib Razak at a press conference in the Malaysian capital. “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,” said Najib Razak at a press conference in the Malaysian capital. “For the families and friends of those involved, we hope this new information brings us one step closer to finding the plane.” |
| Mr Najib said that based on new satellite data investigators were now pursuing the belief that the plane’s last location was along one of two possible corridors - a northern route stretching from the border of Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan to northern Thailand, or a southern one stretching from Indonesia to the southern Indian ocean. | Mr Najib said that based on new satellite data investigators were now pursuing the belief that the plane’s last location was along one of two possible corridors - a northern route stretching from the border of Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan to northern Thailand, or a southern one stretching from Indonesia to the southern Indian ocean. |
| He said while investigators were still investigating all possibilities, he said attention was being refocussed on the possible role of the passengers or crew of the plane. Police on Saturday reportedly raided the homes of the pilot and the co-pilot. Earlier, officials had said they were probing whether some psychological problems or other motivation among someone onboard the plane was the cause of the plane’s disappearance. | He said while investigators were still investigating all possibilities, he said attention was being refocussed on the possible role of the passengers or crew of the plane. Police on Saturday reportedly raided the homes of the pilot and the co-pilot. Earlier, officials had said they were probing whether some psychological problems or other motivation among someone onboard the plane was the cause of the plane’s disappearance. |
| The Prime Minister said Malaysian officials, along with experts from the US National Transportation Safety Board, the Federal Aviation Administration, and Britain’s Air Accidents Investigation Branch, were still working to refine the information they have received. He said the plane’s main satellite system and its transponder had been switched off, something experts say requires specialist knowledge. | The Prime Minister said Malaysian officials, along with experts from the US National Transportation Safety Board, the Federal Aviation Administration, and Britain’s Air Accidents Investigation Branch, were still working to refine the information they have received. He said the plane’s main satellite system and its transponder had been switched off, something experts say requires specialist knowledge. |
| He said officials were trying to get radar data and other relevant information from the countries whose air space the two routes being examined pass through. The northern corridor would trace a busy route, passing northern Thailand and Burma and entering into China on the way towards central Asia. | He said officials were trying to get radar data and other relevant information from the countries whose air space the two routes being examined pass through. The northern corridor would trace a busy route, passing northern Thailand and Burma and entering into China on the way towards central Asia. |
| The southern route, meanwhile, would pass over Indonesia and then the open waters of the southern Indian Ocean, close only to some islands. The New York Times reported that officials believed the southern corridor to be the most likely to have been taken by the plane. “The US Navy would not be heading toward Kazakhstan,” a person briefed on the investigation told the paper. | The southern route, meanwhile, would pass over Indonesia and then the open waters of the southern Indian Ocean, close only to some islands. The New York Times reported that officials believed the southern corridor to be the most likely to have been taken by the plane. “The US Navy would not be heading toward Kazakhstan,” a person briefed on the investigation told the paper. |
| Razak said: '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' | Razak said: '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' |
| The announcement by the Malaysian Premier follows days of mounting speculation that the disappearance of the Malaysia Airlines jet was not accidental and that it was intentionally diverted or hijacked, by either a member of the crew or a passenger. | The announcement by the Malaysian Premier follows days of mounting speculation that the disappearance of the Malaysia Airlines jet was not accidental and that it was intentionally diverted or hijacked, by either a member of the crew or a passenger. |
| As it was, the comments by Mr Najib were the most definitive yet that investigators believe foul play was being the plane’s disappearance. Malaysia Airlines said on Saturday it had been unable earlier to confirm reports of the existence of the satellite data until it had been verified. | As it was, the comments by Mr Najib were the most definitive yet that investigators believe foul play was being the plane’s disappearance. Malaysia Airlines said on Saturday it had been unable earlier to confirm reports of the existence of the satellite data until it had been verified. |
| Yet Mr Najib’s comments raised as many questions than they answered. A week after the plane went missing, a search involving more than a dozen nations and more than 100 ships and aircraft has failed to uncover a single piece of debris or wreckage. Perhaps most significantly his statement has also reopened the possibility that the plane was hijacked, flown to an as yet unidentified location and set down. | Yet Mr Najib’s comments raised as many questions than they answered. A week after the plane went missing, a search involving more than a dozen nations and more than 100 ships and aircraft has failed to uncover a single piece of debris or wreckage. Perhaps most significantly his statement has also reopened the possibility that the plane was hijacked, flown to an as yet unidentified location and set down. |
| Indeed, his remarks were reportedly welcomed by relatives of the passengers in China, who believe the development keeps alive the hope they may somehow be reunited with their loved ones. | Indeed, his remarks were reportedly welcomed by relatives of the passengers in China, who believe the development keeps alive the hope they may somehow be reunited with their loved ones. |
| Perhaps aware of this, Mr Najib told journalists: “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.” | Perhaps aware of this, Mr Najib told journalists: “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.” |
| The final confirmed location of MH370 on radar used by air traffic controllers in Malaysia was at 1.31am last Saturday, about 40 minutes after it took off from Kuala Lumpur International Airport. At that point it was heading north-east across the mouth of the Gulf of Thailand on what should have been a six-hour flight to Beijing. | The final confirmed location of MH370 on radar used by air traffic controllers in Malaysia was at 1.31am last Saturday, about 40 minutes after it took off from Kuala Lumpur International Airport. At that point it was heading north-east across the mouth of the Gulf of Thailand on what should have been a six-hour flight to Beijing. |
| After that it seemed the plane disappeared from civilian radar but showed up – as a blip - on radar used by the Malaysian military. The Boeing 777 then continued to leave the faintest of traces, a series of “pings” from its Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System. | After that it seemed the plane disappeared from civilian radar but showed up – as a blip - on radar used by the Malaysian military. The Boeing 777 then continued to leave the faintest of traces, a series of “pings” from its Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System. |
| Mr Najib said the last contact came from the plane at 8.11am local time last Saturday, more than seven-and-a-half hours after it took off. That would have been towards the very end of its flying capability, Officials said the plane was carrying sufficient fuel for 8 hours. | Mr Najib said the last contact came from the plane at 8.11am local time last Saturday, more than seven-and-a-half hours after it took off. That would have been towards the very end of its flying capability, Officials said the plane was carrying sufficient fuel for 8 hours. |
| “Due to the type of satellite data we are unable to confirm the precise location of the plane when it last made contact with the satellite,” said the premier. | “Due to the type of satellite data we are unable to confirm the precise location of the plane when it last made contact with the satellite,” said the premier. |
| Inmarsat, the London-based communications company, confirmed that its satellites covering the region received these signals from the plane after it vanished from civilian radar and stopped communicating with the ground shortly after the plane took off. | Inmarsat, the London-based communications company, confirmed that its satellites covering the region received these signals from the plane after it vanished from civilian radar and stopped communicating with the ground shortly after the plane took off. |
| The 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 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. Calculations made by Inmarsat’s experts have allowed officials to plot the two “arcs” the plane may have taken. | Such communication between the aircraft and satellites is possible only when the plane is airborne. Calculations made by Inmarsat’s experts have allowed officials to plot the two “arcs” the plane may have taken. |
| 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. India is already involved in a search of the Andaman Sea. | 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. India is already involved in a search of the Andaman Sea. |
| They were also refocussing their investigations into the pilots - Zaharie Ahmad Shah and Fariq Abdul Hamid - crew and passengers on the plane. On Saturday, police were seen driving into the compound where home of the plane’s main pilot, Mr Shah, is located. | They were also refocussing their investigations into the pilots - Zaharie Ahmad Shah and Fariq Abdul Hamid - crew and passengers on the plane. On Saturday, police were seen driving into the compound where home of the plane’s main pilot, Mr Shah, is located. |
| Mr Najib 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 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.” |