Flight change blamed on pilot

Investigator sees no evidence of hijacking, mishap

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA The pilot of the missing Malaysia Airlines jet is believed to be solely responsible for steering the flight hundreds of miles off course, and there is no evidence of a mechanical failure or hijacking by a passenger, according to an official involved in the investigation.

A high- ranking officer attached to a special investigative branch of the Malaysian police force told USA TODAY on Wednesday that investigators are pressing relatives of the pilot, Zaharie Ahmad Shah, for information on his behavior before the March 8 flight.

The official declined to be named because he is not authorized to discuss the investigation.

The Boeing 777 was bound for Beijing when it vanished from civilian radar. Malaysia says satellite data indicate the plane veered west about an hour after takeoff and then flew south deep into the southern Indian Ocean.

The lack of places to land and the amount of fuel indicate the flight must have ended there, with no realistic hope the 239 people on board survived, according to Defense Minister Hishammuddin Hussein.

A French satellite scanning the Indian Ocean for remnants of the jetliner found a possible plane debris field containing 122 objects, he said, calling it “the most credible lead that we have.”

The search resumed Wednesday after fierce winds and high waves forced crews to take a break Tuesday. Twelve planes and five ships from the United States, China, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand were participating in the search.

The investigator said police believe the pilot “deliberately” redirected the plane. He said that of those on board only the captain possessed the experience and expertise to fly the plane. The official said investigators have found no connection between Zaharie, 53, and any militant groups.

The official said there was nothing amiss in Zaharie’s finances to suggest he did something drastic for money.