Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 (MH370) disappeared on March 8, 2014, while flying from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to Beijing, China, with 239 people on board. The aircraft lost contact with air traffic control less than an hour after takeoff, at about 01:21 MYT, when its transponder was switched off as it was about to enter Vietnamese airspace over the South China Sea. Military radar tracked the plane turning sharply away from its planned route, flying west across the Malay Peninsula and then northwest over the Andaman Sea before disappearing from radar at 02:22 MYT
. Satellite data analysis later indicated that the plane continued flying for several hours after losing radar contact, heading south into the southern Indian Ocean. The final satellite "handshake" with the aircraft was recorded at about 08:19 MYT, suggesting the plane ran out of fuel and crashed into a remote part of the southern Indian Ocean, far from any possible landing sites
. Despite extensive multinational search efforts in the Indian Ocean, the main wreckage has never been found. Some debris confirmed to be from MH370 has washed ashore on islands and coasts around the Indian Ocean, but the exact crash site remains unknown
. The disappearance remains one of the greatest mysteries in aviation history. Investigations have not conclusively determined the cause, though evidence suggests the aircraft's course was deliberately altered. The pilot was considered a prime suspect if human intervention was involved, but no definitive conclusions have been reached
. All 239 passengers and crew aboard are presumed dead, making MH370 the deadliest incident involving a Boeing 777 and one of Malaysia Airlines' deadliest disasters
. In summary:
- MH370 lost radar and communication contact shortly after takeoff on March 8, 2014.
- The plane deviated from its flight path and flew for several hours southwards over the Indian Ocean.
- It is believed to have crashed into the southern Indian Ocean after running out of fuel.
- Despite extensive searches, the main wreckage has not been found.
- The cause of disappearance remains unknown, with intentional diversion suspected but unproven.
- All 239 people on board are presumed dead
