Breaking: Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 crashed into Indian Ocean

Prime Minister Najib Razak held a live news conference saying that all signs suggest that the plane crashed

Published March 24, 2014 1:57PM (EDT)

Malaysia's Prime Minister Najib Razak makes an announcement on the latest development on the missing Malaysia Airlines MH370 plane at Putra World Trade Center in Kuala Lumpur March 24, 2014.      (Reuters/Edgar Su)
Malaysia's Prime Minister Najib Razak makes an announcement on the latest development on the missing Malaysia Airlines MH370 plane at Putra World Trade Center in Kuala Lumpur March 24, 2014. (Reuters/Edgar Su)

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak spoke this morning at 10:00 Eastern Time saying that they believe the plane went down, ending many hopes that it had landed somewhere. "With deep sadness I regret to inform you with this data Flight MH370 ended in the southern Indian Ocean," he said.

"We share this information out of a commitment to openness and respect for the families, two principles which have guided this investigation," Najib Razak said. He continued by urging the press to respect the privacy of the families whose hopes of finding their loved ones alive seems to have ended. "The past two weeks have been heartbreaking. I know this news will be harder still."

Both Australian and Chinese planes have seen objects in the southern Indian Ocean. An Australian ship, the HMAS Success, is on the way to where the Royal Australian Air Force P3 Orion aircraft spotted the debris; however, no actual debris from the plane has been recovered.

Najib Razak's full statement reads:

This evening I was briefed by representatives from the UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB). They informed me that Inmarsat, the UK company that provided the satellite data which indicated the northern and southern corridors, has been performing further calculations on the data. Using a type of analysis never before used in an investigation of this sort, they have been able to shed more light on MH370’s flight path.

Based on their new analysis, Inmarsat and the AAIB have concluded that MH370 flew along the southern corridor, and that its last position was in the middle of the Indian Ocean, west of Perth.

This is a remote location, far from any possible landing sites. It is therefore with deep sadness and regret that I must inform you that, according to this new data, flight MH370 ended in the southern Indian Ocean.

We will be holding a press conference tomorrow with further details. In the meantime, we wanted to inform you of this new development at the earliest opportunity. We share this information out of a commitment to openness and respect for the families, two principles which have guided this investigation.

Malaysia Airlines have already spoken to the families of the passengers and crew to inform them of this development. For them, the past few weeks have been heartbreaking; I know this news must be harder still. I urge the media to respect their privacy, and to allow them the space they need at this difficult time.

Families of passengers on Flight MH370 have been offered flights to Australia:

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According to the Guardian, satellite data was analyzed by British aerospace experts, adding new certainty that the plane went down in the southern Indian Ocean. The Guardian said, "They found that the plane's last position was in a remote location in the middle of the Indian Ocean far from any landing strips."

Here is the statement made by Malaysia Airlines:

"Note: The communication below was shared with the family members of passengers and crew of MH370

Malaysia Airlines deeply regrets that we have to assume that MH370 ended in the southern Indian Ocean. As you will hear in the next hour from Malaysia’s Prime Minister, new analysis of satellite data suggests the plane went down in the Southern Indian Ocean.

On behalf of all of us at Malaysia Airlines and all Malaysians, our prayers go out to all the loved ones of the 226 passengers and of our 13 friends and colleagues at this enormously painful time.

We know there are no words that we or anyone else can say which can ease your pain. We will continue to provide assistance and support to you, as we have done since MH370 first disappeared in the early hours of 8 March, while flying from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing.

The ongoing multinational search operation will continue, as we seek answers to the questions which remain. Alongside the search for MH370, there is an intensive investigation, which we hope will also provide answers.

We would like to assure you that Malaysia Airlines will continue to give you our full support throughout the difficult weeks and months ahead.

Once again, we humbly offer our sincere thoughts, prayers and condolences to everyone affected by this tragedy.

Please note translation for this statement to Chinese language is in progress."

According to Adrienne Mong of NBC News, some families received the news via text message or email:

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By Sarah Gray

Sarah Gray is an assistant editor at Salon, focusing on innovation. Follow @sarahhhgray or email sgray@salon.com.

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