Malaysia's Prime Minister stated on Mar 15th that based on new satellite data there is evidence that the data communication systems and transponder had been turned off by deliberate action by someone on board and the aircraft deviated off course, the last trace of the aircraft was identified at 00:11Z (Mar 8th).
On Mar 15th 2014 Malaysia's Prime Minister stated in a press conference: "based on new satellite information, we can say with a high degree of certainty that the Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System (ACARS) was disabled just before the aircraft reached the east coast of peninsular Malaysia. Shortly afterwards, near the border between Malaysian and Vietnamese air traffic control, the aircraft’s transponder was switched off." Movements of the aircraft were consistent with deliberate action by someone on the aircraft. The aircraft could have flown on for 7 hours, the last trace of the aircraft was identified at 08:11L (00:11Z Mar 8th). The search in the South China Sea and Gulf of Thailand has been ended. Authorities are still investigating the causes of the deviation off course including the possibility of a hijacking.