Malaysia Airlines team did not know MH370 had turned back in crucial first hours

MALAYSIA Airlines did not initially know that MH370 had turned back after disappearing from civilian radar, with the crisis team instead searching along its planned route and considering hijacking after learning two passengers were travelling on stolen passports.

Former MH370 and MH17 crisis director Mohd Fuad Sharuji said the team's uncertainty in the early hours of March 8, 2014, was compounded by its reliance on civilian radar, which did not reveal that the Boeing 777 had made a U-turn.

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