DHAKA: Police began searching the home of the pilot of the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 on Saturday, after the country’s prime minister confirmed the plane was suspected to have been deliberately diverted.

A senior police official told media, reports The Straits Times.

Police officers arrived at the home of the captain, Zaharie Ahmad Shah, 53, on Saturday afternoon, shortly after prime minister Najib Razak ended his news conference.

Investigators had confirmed that an aircraft tracked by military radar was MH370, after its communications were likely switched off before it reached the east coast of Malaysia a week ago, Najib said.

Najib also said new data showed the last communication between the missing plane and satellites was at 8.11am Malaysian time.

BDST: 1640 HRS, MAR 15, 2014