Malaysian investigators are becoming increasingly certain that the missing plane turned back across the country after losing communications, and that someone with aviation skills was responsible for the unexplained change in course.

Vietnam says it has downgraded its search for the missing airliner in the South China Sea and has been asked by Malaysian authorities to consider sending planes and ships to the Strait to Malacca.

It has been revealed Chinese satellite images which were believed to show debris from the missing Malaysian plane were released by mistake.

Malaysian authorities have defended their handling of the hunt for the missing Boeing 777 – even as they acknowledged they are unsure which direction the plane was travelling in when it disappeared.

The search area for a missing airliner has expanded, with Malaysia Airlines saying the western coast of the country is now the focus of the hunt.

Investigators in Malaysia are voicing scepticism that the Malaysian airliner which disappeared early on Saturday was the target of an attack, say US and European government sources close to the probe.

International intelligence agencies have joined the investigation into the two passengers who boarded the missing Boeing 777 plane with stolen passports.

Vietnamese authorities searching waters for a missing Boeing 777 airliner have spotted an object that they suspect is one of the plane’s doors.

International intelligence agencies have joined the investigation into the two passengers who boarded the missing Boeing 777 plane with stolen passports.

Malaysia intelligence agencies are investigating how up to four passengers with suspect identities were able to board the missing Boeing 777 jet.