Kuala Lumpur: Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak has said the missing aircrafts communication was deliberately disabled just before East coast of Malaysian peninsular before the aircraft turned back.
Announcing the refocusing of the search from the South China Sea to the Indian Ocean he said assets would be redeployed towards the Southern and Northern corridors from Indonesia to the Southern Indian Ocean and Kazhakistan to Turkmenistan, respectively.
Investigators were however unable to pin-point the precise location of the plane, according to the Prime Minister, and that the refocusing of search would be discussed with countries involved.
Razak also said new information confirmed the incident was not an accident but a deliberate action on board. He, however, did not confirm recent media reports of hijacking and said all possibilities were being examined.
Media reports earlier said investigators believe the missing Malaysian jet was hijacked by a “skilled, competent” flyer who piloted the plane for hours.