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| Missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370: Net widens as pilots investigated and officials seek more help | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The search for the missing Malaysia airlines flight MH370 was significantly expanded today, with officials admitting they are now scouring land as well as the sea for the stricken jetliner. | |
| It emerged today that Malaysian officials have asked for more help as the number of countries hunting for the missing plane increased to 25. | |
| The pilots and the engineers have also become the focus of a criminal investigation into the plane’s disappearance, as police revealed they are now looking into the backgrounds of the plane’s passengers and crew. | |
| At a press conference today, Malaysian transport minister Hishammuddin Hussein said: "Every day brings new angles, especially as we are focusing and expanding the search area. | |
| "The search was already a highly complex, multi-national effort. It has now become more difficult. | |
| "The search area has been significantly expanded, and the search area has changed. We are now looking at large tracts of land, crossing 11 countries as well as deep and remote oceans. | |
| Malaysian police have searched the homes of both Captain Zaharie Shah, 53, and co-pilot Fariq Hamid, 27, with a focus on uncovering any personal, political or religious background information that could help the investigation. | Malaysian police have searched the homes of both Captain Zaharie Shah, 53, and co-pilot Fariq Hamid, 27, with a focus on uncovering any personal, political or religious background information that could help the investigation. |
| Speaking at a press conference in Kuala Lumpur this morning, Hishammudin Hussein, the Malaysian police chief, said police had just searched the home of co-pilot Hamid, and that Shah and Hamid had not requested to fly together. | Speaking at a press conference in Kuala Lumpur this morning, Hishammudin Hussein, the Malaysian police chief, said police had just searched the home of co-pilot Hamid, and that Shah and Hamid had not requested to fly together. |
| Zaharie Shah, left, and Fariq Hamid | |
| Malaysian police are also examining a three-screen flight simulator found in Captain Shah’s home. The police have dismantled and reassembled the simulator as part of their investigation. | Malaysian police are also examining a three-screen flight simulator found in Captain Shah’s home. The police have dismantled and reassembled the simulator as part of their investigation. |
| Captain Shah was known for his enthusiasm for flying and was a member of forum for fans of flight simulation. Reports have also emerged of Hamid having once invited two women to spend an entire flight with him in the cockpit. | Captain Shah was known for his enthusiasm for flying and was a member of forum for fans of flight simulation. Reports have also emerged of Hamid having once invited two women to spend an entire flight with him in the cockpit. |
| It was claimed yesterday that Captain Shah was a supporter of Anwar Ibrahim, the controversial opposition leader of Malaysia who had been jailed for sodomy the day before Flight MH370 disappeared and that the pilot may have hijacked the plane in a form of political protest. | It was claimed yesterday that Captain Shah was a supporter of Anwar Ibrahim, the controversial opposition leader of Malaysia who had been jailed for sodomy the day before Flight MH370 disappeared and that the pilot may have hijacked the plane in a form of political protest. |
| But the Malaysian coalition Pakaten Rakyat dismissed the reports that Shah was a “political fanatic”, calling the report “wild speculation”. | But the Malaysian coalition Pakaten Rakyat dismissed the reports that Shah was a “political fanatic”, calling the report “wild speculation”. |
| The investigation is now covering ground staff as well as the 239 passengers and on-board crew, and the engineers that had come into contact with the plane before it took off. Police said the results of background checks on the passengers have yet to be received. | The investigation is now covering ground staff as well as the 239 passengers and on-board crew, and the engineers that had come into contact with the plane before it took off. Police said the results of background checks on the passengers have yet to be received. |
| Click here for enlarged view of graphic | |
| The number of countries involved in the flight has now risen from 14 to 25, despite India having been told to pause their search yesterday. The Malaysian authorities are now looking at areas of land in 11 countries. | The number of countries involved in the flight has now risen from 14 to 25, despite India having been told to pause their search yesterday. The Malaysian authorities are now looking at areas of land in 11 countries. |
| The Malaysian government has asked France, China and the USA to provide further satellite data, while the search corridor for the plane has been widened to countries as far as Kazakhstan and Indonesia. | The Malaysian government has asked France, China and the USA to provide further satellite data, while the search corridor for the plane has been widened to countries as far as Kazakhstan and Indonesia. |