WELCOME TO 9JA TALK'S BLOG: Search for missing plane now extends to TWO MILLION square miles: 26 countries join hunt for Flight MH370 as it stretches from Kazakhstan to Southern Ocean

Monday 17 March 2014

Search for missing plane now extends to TWO MILLION square miles: 26 countries join hunt for Flight MH370 as it stretches from Kazakhstan to Southern Ocean

A huge area spanning the rainforests of South East Asia and the landscapes of former Soviet Union republics is now part of the investigation into the fate of Flight MH370

The move came as Malaysia appealed for radar data and search planes to help in the unprecedented hunt through a vast swath of Asia stretching north-west into Kazakhstan. The Malaysian government has revealed an investigation indicates the jet was deliberately diverted and flew for several hours after leaving its scheduled flight path - either north towards Central Asia, or towards the southern Indian Ocean. Investigators say Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 was deliberately diverted and its communications equipment switched off shortly after take-off during an overnight flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing on March 8.