China deploys satellites as search area expands for missing Malaysian jet

DHAKA, March 11 (NsNewsWire) — The search area for a missing jetliner expanded on Tuesday with Malaysian Airlines saying the western coast of the country is now the focus of the hunt, as China deployed 10 satellites to help in the massive multinational effort to find the Boeing 777.

In a statement Tuesday, Malaysian Airlines said the hunt had expanded beyond the flight path, and the “focus is on the West Peninsular of Malaysia at the Straits of Malacca.” That is on the other side of Malaysia from where flight MH370 was reported missing, reports Foxnews.

Civil aviation chief Azharuddin Abdul Rahman said the statement didn’t imply authorities believed the plane was off the western coast. “The search is on both sides,” he said.

Vietnam’s deputy military chief said he had ordered a land search for the plane up to border with Laos and Cambodia. He said that military units near the border with Laos and Cambodia had been instructed to search their regions also.