New Search Area Suggests Malaysia Airlines Plane Flew Off Course
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(KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia) — Malaysia has extended the search for the missing Malaysia Airlines jetliner hundreds of miles to the west of the plane’s normal course, officials told ABC News Tuesday.
The search for Flight MH370 had been concentrated in the Gulf of Thailand between Malaysia and Vietnam because the plane with 239 people aboard had been bound for China and the last contact with the plane was just off Malaysia’s east coast, officials had said.
According to a senior U.S. official, American authorities were informed by Malaysian officials on Monday that they have information suggesting the plane went west. The reason for the possible turn was not known. Consequently, the search area has been expanded to include west coast of Malaysia.
In a statement Tuesday, Malaysia Airlines said “search and rescue teams have expanded the scope beyond the flight path. The focus now is on the West Peninsular of Malaysia at the Straits of Malacca.”
For the jetliner to reach the west coast of Malaysia, it would have to travel more than 300 miles off course.
The airline says the pilots didn’t send any distress signals and radio any change of course.
The news of the expanded search came as officials identified the two passengers who boarded the plane with stolen passports as a pair of Iranian men.
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