Malaysian authorities are being criticised for their handling of the search for a missing passenger plane after revealing a new version of the last communication between air traffic control and the cockpit.
Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 disappeared about an hour into a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing and inexplicably diverted far off course on 8 March with 239 people on board, including many Chinese.
RNZAF Orion captain Wing Commander Rob Shearer scans the search area. Photo: AFP
The last words spoken were: "Good night Malaysian three seven zero" - and not "all right, good night" as has been reported for weeks.
It is not clear why the wording has changed, or why it has taken Malaysia so long to make the change public. Forensic investigators are trying to determine whether the pilot or co-pilot spoke the words, the BBC reports.
The plane's last contact took place at 1.19am Malaysian time on 8 March. Malaysian authorities say that based on satellite data, they have concluded that it crashed into the southern Indian Ocean.
Ten aircraft and 11 ships are continuing to searching the sea west of Perth on Tuesday for debris from the plane, but have found nothing yet. Australia is to deploy a specially-modified plane to act as a flying air traffic control centre to prevent any mid-air collision between aircraft.
Malaysia's Prime Minister Najib Razak is to visit Perth on Wednesday to see for himself the extensive search operation and to thank those involved, the ABC reports.
In Kuala Lumpur, the government has promised to provide key investigators to brief grief-stricken Chinese family members who arrived in the Malaysian capital demanding answers. They say information is being hidden from them.
