Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 Missing

A Boeing 777 operated by Malaysia Airlines has gone missing with 239 souls onboard (227 passengers and 12 crew members). Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 departed from Kuala Lumpur International Airport at around 12:41 a.m. bound for Beijing Capital International Airport. Communication with the plane was lost at around 1:21 a.m. local time while the plane was at a cruising altitude of 35,000 feet. 

According to CNN, military radar tracked the plane drastically changing altitude and making a sharp turn toward the Strait of Malacca before contact with the aircraft was lost. The pilots of the plane did not communicate any problems with air traffic controllers prior to communication loss, nor was there a distress signal issued. 

Some in the media have speculated that foul play may be involved, or a possible mechanical issue, though no official word has been given. According to the U.S. State Department, the plane had three U.S. citizens onboard. A multinational search for the missing aircraft is underway, with three dozen aircraft and 40 ships combing through a search grid stretching for hundreds of miles.  

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