DHAKA: The youngest son of the pilot whose flight went down in the Indian Ocean has dismissed speculation that his father may have crashed the plane intentionally.

Ahmad Seth, son of captain Zaharie Ahmad Shah, said he knew what kind of man his father was, New Straits Times (NST) reported on Thursday, reports The Straits Times.

‘I’ve read everything online. But I’ve ignored all the speculation. I know my father better,’ the 26-year-old was quoted as saying.

‘We may not be close as he travels so much. But I understand him,’ the language student told the newspaper in his first public remarks since flight MH370 disappeared on March 8 while travelling from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing.

Seth appeared calm and composed during the interview, and did not reveal any resentment against those who portrayed his father as a ‘hijacker’, according to the newspaper.

His mother Faizah Khanum Mustafa Khan, elder siblings Ahmad Idris and Aishah, have thus far not spoken to the media, said the report.

Seth said he was not surprised by Malaysia prime minister Najib Razak’s announcement that the plane had gone down in the Indian Ocean.

In a resigned tone, he said he had expected the outcome after having waited for 18 days for news on the aircraft and its 239 passengers and crew members. Nevertheless, he was still clinging on to a glimmer of hope.

BDST: 1815 HRS, MAR 27, 2014