New MH370 report says no cause determined

MALAYSIA MH370 FINAL REPORT — Malaysia has released a report into the disappearance of the MH370 plane four years ago

An independent investigation report into Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 says the cause of the plane's disappearance still cannot be determined and the "possibility of intervention by a third party cannot be excluded."

The plane with 239 people on board, including six Australians, vanished on March 8, 2014.

Chief Investigator Kok Soo Chon told reporters in Kuala Lumpur on Monday that the plane's change in direction over the Indian Ocean could only be made under manual control.

He said the pilot had not shown worrying signs such as a history of psychiatric issues or financial stress.

"We are not of the opinion it could be an event committed by the pilot," he said.

"But at the same time, we cannot deny the fact that there was an air turnback. We cannot deny the fact ... the systems were manually turned off, with intent or otherwise.

"We cannot exclude the possibility of a third person or third party for unlawful interference."

He also said there was no evidence to suggest the plane had been taken over by remote control.

The report highlighted shortcomings in the Malaysian government's response that exacerbated the mystery.

It reiterated Malaysia's assertion the plane was deliberately diverted and flown for over seven hours after severing communications.

It's presumed to have crashed in the far southern Indian Ocean.

Family members of those onboard the plane said they were frustrated as there were many gaps in the investigations and questions left unanswered.

Scattered pieces of debris that washed ashore on African beaches and Indian Ocean islands indicated a distant remote stretch of the ocean where the plane likely crashed.

But a government search by Australia, Malaysia and China failed to pinpoint a location. And a second, private search by US company Ocean Infinity that finished earlier this year also found no sign of the wreckage.

Officials said Monday's report is still not a final report, since the plane hasn't been found. Malaysia's government has said it is open to resume searching if credible evidence of the plane's location emerges.

AP/AAP

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