– ‘Unprecedented’ challenge –
Malaysia has not responded directly to the latest US information.
“The investigation team is following all leads that may help locate the missing aircraft,” a government statement said Friday afternoon.
It said Malaysia continued “to work closely” with US officials sent to Kuala Lumpur to help in the investigation. Malaysian officials were expected to hold a news conference later Friday.
The lack of results from the investigation and search so far has created a volatile mix of grief, anger, frustration and speculation that the Malaysian authorities have struggled to control.
The government has stressed the “unprecedented” nature of the challenge, with the search parameters expanding daily and the focus swinging wildly from the east to the west of the Malaysian peninsula.
The Boeing 777 vanished early Saturday over the South China Sea with no indication of distress. The night was clear and the weather was fine. The plane has one of the best safety records of any jet, and the airline also has a solid record. READ: Malaysia says missing plane may have turned back.
“There are so many stories swirling around. This morning one man told me the plane had landed in Africa,” said Subramaniam Gurusamy, a 60-year-old Malaysian security guard whose son was on the flight.
“How am I going to explain to my grandchildren that nobody knows where their father is?” he told AFP.
Adding to the anguish of relatives – most of whom are Chinese – has been the succession of false leads, mixed signals, and miscommunication between the various countries involved in the hunt.
“We are racing against time. If the search area is increased soon then our family members’ chances of survival will rise,” said a Chinese man, surnamed Gao, who waited at a Beijing hotel where passengers’ relatives have gathered.
“I hope Malaysia is a country that can keep its promises.”
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