World News

Report: Missing Malaysian jet’s path altered using computer

A handout picture released by the Malaysian prime minister’s office on March 18, 2014 shows a map of the northern search corridor for the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370. The search for the Malaysia Airlines passenger jet that disappeared without a trace more than a week ago is expanded to include a wider area spanning from Australia to Kazakhstan. EPA/Malaysian prime minister office handout

The path of the missing Malaysia Airlines flight 370 was diverted from its planned path through a computer system, The New York Times reports.

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The report also notes that officials believe whoever altered the path typed in seven or eight keystrokes into a computer inside the cockpit, instead of using the manual controls. Though it is unclear whether the computer system, which is pre-programmed with the flight plan before a flight, was changed before or after it took off.

The jetliner carrying 239 passengers continues to elude an international search effort that has expanded on both land and water since the plane lost contact on March 8.

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It is now believed that someone on the flight shut down the messaging system around the time the Boeing 777 disappeared from civilian radar, the Associated Press reports.

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Authorities are hoping this satellite data can help them find the missing plane.

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