Originally posted by the Voice of America. Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America, a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in the public domain. Search for Missing Plane Now Involves 25 Countries by VOA News Malaysian authorities say the number of countries involved in the search for a missing Malaysia Airlines passenger jet has grown to 25 after it was determined the plane may have flown over several countries. Transportation Minister Hishammuddin Hussein says the search and rescue operation increased by 11 countries, noting the plane could have flown over some of them, and gone as far north as Central Asia. Authorities have also not ruled out the possibility the plane was on the ground at an unknown location when some satellite signals were sent. The investigation into the disappearance of the jet is now focused on the 239 crew and passengers on board. Malaysian authorities say police have searched the homes of the two pilots and are examining an elaborate flight simulator taken from one of them. Authorities are also questioning engineers who may have had contact with the plane before it left Kuala Lumpur. A full-scale criminal investigation was triggered when Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak said Saturday there is a "high degree of certainty" that someone who knew what he was doing deliberately turned off the communications systems. The prime minister said the last of the systems were switched off just before the jet turned westward, away from its flight path. Najib stopped short of saying the plane was hijacked and said investigators are looking at all scenarios. The search for Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 now ranges from Kazakhstan to the southern Indian Ocean. Investigators say the plane had enough fuel to fly for several hours after disappearing from radar Saturday, March 8. The missing Boeing 777 was flying from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing when it disappeared. About two-thirds of the people on board were Chinese. Other passengers included Europeans and Americans. __________________________________________________________________ [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/search-for-missing-plane-now-involves -25-countries/1872213.html References 1. http://www.voanews.com/content/search-for-missing-plane-now-involves-25-countries/1872213.html