DHAKA: Thai radar picked up an ‘unknown aircraft’ minutes after flight MH370 last transmitted its location but officials failed to report the findings earlier as the plane was not considered a threat.

The air force said on Wednesday, reports The Straits Times.

The information emerged during checks of radar logs on Monday, nine days after the Malaysia Airlines jet carrying 239 passengers and crew disappeared, after a request from the Malaysian government, according to Air Marshal Monthon Suchookorn.

An ‘unknown aircraft was detected at 12:28, six minutes after MH370 vanished’ in the South China Sea moving southwest back towards its origin in the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur and the Strait of Malacca, he said.

That timing corresponds with the last transmission from the aircraft`s transponder at 1:21 am Malaysian time, which relayed information about the plane`s altitude and location.

BSTD: 1635 HRS, MAR 19, 2014