Missing Malaysian plane sought in area of 27,000 sq. nautical miles

Malaysian transport minister reported in an update Wednesday that the search areas for the missing airliner had been expanded to the Strait of Malacca and South China Sea covering an area of 27,000 square nautical miles. It is being scoured on Day Five of the disappearance of MH370 with 239 people aboard by 42 ships and 39 planes. The last contact with the plane was on Saturday, confirming its transfer to Vietnamese air space. No other confirmed trace of the airliner has yet turned up.