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Missing Malaysia plane: Malaysia requests countries' help | Missing Malaysia plane: Malaysia requests countries' help |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Some 25 countries are now involved in a vast search operation for the missing airliner that disappeared over a week ago, Malaysian officials say. | |
The search area - from central Asia to the southern Indian Ocean - takes in vast tracts of land and sea. | |
An already complex search operation has become even more difficult, Malaysia's transport minister says. | |
Crew, passengers and ground staff are being investigated after it was confirmed the jet was commandeered. | |
Investigators are trying to obtain the radar data from any of the countries that Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 may have passed over, with its 239 crew and passengers. | |
Malaysian officials are contacting countries including Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, India, China, Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Australia and France. | Malaysian officials are contacting countries including Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, India, China, Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Australia and France. |
They are also asking countries to provide assistance in the search for the plane, including satellite data and analysis, ground-search capabilities, and maritime and air assets. | They are also asking countries to provide assistance in the search for the plane, including satellite data and analysis, ground-search capabilities, and maritime and air assets. |
The police are also reportedly looking at the family life and psychological state of the plane's pilot, Zaharie Shah, and co-pilot, and searched their homes on Saturday. | The police are also reportedly looking at the family life and psychological state of the plane's pilot, Zaharie Shah, and co-pilot, and searched their homes on Saturday. |
Officers spoke to relatives of the pilot and experts are examining the pilot's flight simulator. | Officers spoke to relatives of the pilot and experts are examining the pilot's flight simulator. |
Those who know Mr Zaharie insist he is a normal family man, reports the BBC's Jonah Fisher in Kuala Lumpur. | Those who know Mr Zaharie insist he is a normal family man, reports the BBC's Jonah Fisher in Kuala Lumpur. |
Fifty-three years old - with 18,000 hours of flying experience - he is a self-confessed "aviation geek" and proudly posted pictures online of the flight simulator he built at home. | Fifty-three years old - with 18,000 hours of flying experience - he is a self-confessed "aviation geek" and proudly posted pictures online of the flight simulator he built at home. |
As well as the crew and passengers, police are investigating the engineers who may have had contact with the aircraft before take-off. | As well as the crew and passengers, police are investigating the engineers who may have had contact with the aircraft before take-off. |
'Two corridors' | 'Two corridors' |
According to satellite evidence, the Boeing 777 could have continued flying for a further seven hours after its last radar contact, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak said on Saturday. | According to satellite evidence, the Boeing 777 could have continued flying for a further seven hours after its last radar contact, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak said on Saturday. |
He added the plane could be anywhere from Kazakhstan to the Indian Ocean. The two corridors are being treated with equal importance in the search efforts. | He added the plane could be anywhere from Kazakhstan to the Indian Ocean. The two corridors are being treated with equal importance in the search efforts. |
The flight left Kuala Lumpur for Beijing at 00:40 local time (16:40 GMT) on 8 March and disappeared off air traffic controllers' screens at about 01:20. | The flight left Kuala Lumpur for Beijing at 00:40 local time (16:40 GMT) on 8 March and disappeared off air traffic controllers' screens at about 01:20. |
One of the aircraft's communications systems - the Aircraft and Communications Addressing and Reporting System (ACARS) - was disabled just before it had reached the east coast of Malaysia, Mr Razak said. | One of the aircraft's communications systems - the Aircraft and Communications Addressing and Reporting System (ACARS) - was disabled just before it had reached the east coast of Malaysia, Mr Razak said. |
ACARS is a service that allows computers aboard the plane to "talk" to computers on the ground, relaying in-flight information about the health of its systems. | ACARS is a service that allows computers aboard the plane to "talk" to computers on the ground, relaying in-flight information about the health of its systems. |
Shortly afterwards, near the crossover point between Malaysian and Vietnamese air traffic controllers, the plane's transponder - which emits an identifying signal - was switched off, he said. | Shortly afterwards, near the crossover point between Malaysian and Vietnamese air traffic controllers, the plane's transponder - which emits an identifying signal - was switched off, he said. |
According to a military radar, the aircraft then turned and flew back over Malaysia before heading in a north-west direction. | According to a military radar, the aircraft then turned and flew back over Malaysia before heading in a north-west direction. |
A satellite was able to pick up a signal from the plane until 08:11 local time - more than seven hours after it lost radar contact - although it was unable to give a precise location, Mr Razak said. | A satellite was able to pick up a signal from the plane until 08:11 local time - more than seven hours after it lost radar contact - although it was unable to give a precise location, Mr Razak said. |
He went on to say that based on this new data, investigators "have determined the plane's last communication with a satellite was in one of two possible corridors": | He went on to say that based on this new data, investigators "have determined the plane's last communication with a satellite was in one of two possible corridors": |
Along with the Chinese passengers, there were 38 Malaysians and citizens of Iran, the US, Canada, Indonesia, Australia, India, France, New Zealand, Ukraine, Russia, Taiwan and the Netherlands on board. | Along with the Chinese passengers, there were 38 Malaysians and citizens of Iran, the US, Canada, Indonesia, Australia, India, France, New Zealand, Ukraine, Russia, Taiwan and the Netherlands on board. |
An extensive search - involving 14 countries, 43 ships and 58 aircraft - since the plane disappeared has proved fruitless. | An extensive search - involving 14 countries, 43 ships and 58 aircraft - since the plane disappeared has proved fruitless. |