MH370: No Malaysian aircraft detected by radar- Maldivian army

Reports of a plane seen flying at low altitude in Maldives on the same morning of the disappearance of MH370, is not true.

According to the Acting Transport Minister, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein, this fact has been confirmed by the Chief of Malaysian Armed Forces, General Tan Sri Zulkifeli Mohd Zin when he contacted his counterpart in Maldives.

"Regarding reports that the plane had been seen in the Maldives, I can confirm that the Chief of the Malaysian Armed Forces, has confirmed these reports to be untrue," he said.

The Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) meanwhile has issued a statement stating that their radar had not detected the Malaysia Airline (MAS) MH370 plane which disappeared since March 8, allegedly seen by a few villagers from a small island in the republic on the same day.

MNDF has increased its efforts in monitoring the territory of Maldives after the disappearance of Boeing 777-200, but have not managed to detect the aircraft. It was also not detected by the Maldives airport radar.

“Further to the surveillances conducted so far, none of the military radars in the country has detected the missing plane.

"Furthermore, no trace of the MH 370 airline has been found from the data scrutinized so far from radars stationed at the airports in the Maldives,” said MNDF in a statement released by Dhivehi.

In addition, MNDF is extending all necessary assistance to the efforts by the Maldivian Police Service in its investigation of the claim in media reports and searches that are conducted by international agencies, in connection to the incident.

Maldivian media on Tuesday reported that the villagers of Kudahuvadhoo island allegedly say a “low-flying plane” on March 8, the day MH370 was reported missing.

The online portal Haveeru Online also reported that the villagers heard a loud noise when the aircraft crossed over their island.

Haveeru reporter, Ahmad Naif who wrote the report revealed that they received the information about the sightings on March 9, however was sceptical over the validity of the claims.