Missing MH370: Maldives residents report 'low-flying jumbo jet' sighting on March 8
BY TAN YI LIANG
A screenshot of the Haveeru Online website.
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PETALING JAYA: Residents of Kuda Huvadhoo in Dhaal Atoll in the Maldives reportedly saw a "low-flying jumbo jet" flying over houses early in the morning of March 8, the same day Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 went missing.
In a report by Maldivian daily Haveeru, residents described the aircraft which flew over Kuda Huvadhoo at around 6.15am as being white, with red stripes across it.
This colour scheme is very similar to the livery used by Malaysia Airlines on its aircraft - including the Boeing 777 used for MH370.
Eyewitnesses who saw the aircraft agreed that it was travelling in a north to south east heading towards Addu, the southern tip of the Maldives, and all commented on the very loud noise the aircraft made when flying over the island.
One noted that the doors on the aircraft could be seen clearly, a fact that was also agreed upon by other eyewitnesses.
"Some people got out of their houses to see what was causing the tremendous noise too," said the eyewitness, and it was reported that Island Councillor, Mohamed Zaheem had said that other residents of Kuda Huvadhoo had spoken up about the incident.
Haveeru had also quoted a local aviation expert, who said it was likely for MH370 to have flown over the Maldives, adding that the possibility of any aircraft flying over the island was extremely low.
MH370, which left KL International Airport for Beijing on March 8, has been in the international spotlight since it disappeared in the early hours of that same day along with its 239 passengers and crew.
Twenty-six countries are now searching for the 777 along two corridors the aircraft is expected to have flown, based on satellite data obtained since MH370 disappeared from Malaysian radars at 2.15am on March 8.
Aside from Malaysia, these countries include the United States, Bangladesh, India, China, Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Australia and France.
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