Malaysia Air: Missing plane was ‘fully serviced’

Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, which has been missing for more than week, was “fully serviced” and “fit to fly,” according to company officials.

As investigators have focused on the possibility that the missing jetliner was deliberated diverted by its pilots or crew, Malaysia Air said the Boeing 777 was maintained up to the airplane manufacturer’s standards. 

“Malaysia Airlines has confirmed that the aircraft was subjected to the required maintenance program: the Boeing Maintenance Planning Document,” the company said in a statement. “Checks are done according to this program. The aircraft had been fully serviced and was fit to fly.”

{mosads}Malaysia Air Flight 370 has been missing since March 7. The airplane was last detected by air traffic controllers about an hour into its flight from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to Beijing.

Investigators have confirmed that the plane was flown more than 1,000 off course in a direction that took it over the Indian Ocean.

Initial search and rescue attempts were focused on the Gulf of Thailand, where the plan was scheduled to have been flying en route to Beijing.

Malaysia officials said over the weekend that they were increasing the number of countries that were involved in the search for the missing plane from 14 to 25 nations.

“This is a significant recalibration of the search,” Malaysia Air said in a statement. “The search and rescue operation continues to be a multi-national effort, one led and coordinated by Malaysia.”

U.S. officials have been critical of Malaysia’s handling of the search for the missing plane, arguing that the south Asian’s country’s updates have been “conflicting.”

The airline said “Malaysian authorities are refocusing their investigation on all crew and passengers on board MH370, as well as all ground staff handling the aircraft.”

The U.S. State Department has confirmed at least three of the passengers who were on board the Malaysia Air flight were American citizens.