Malaysian Airlines Flight 370 "ended" in the southern Indian Ocean, Malaysia's prime minister said in a press conference Monday.
NBC News, Prime Minister Najib Razak said "with sadness and regret" that new satellite data analysis showed the remote area to be the final position of the Boeing 777 that vanished March 8 with 239 people onboard.
Malaysia Airlines sent a text message to families of those onboard saying the plane had been "lost."
"We have to assume beyond reasonable doubt that MH370 has been lost and that none of those on board have survived," the message said. "We must now accept all evidence suggests the plane went down in the southern Indian Ocean."
Malaysia's prime minister will be holding a press conference Tuesday with further details. "In the meantime, we wanted to inform you of this new development at the earliest opportunity," he said of Monday's sad announcement. "We share this information out of a commitment to openness and respect for the families, two principles which have guided this investigation. Malaysia Airlines have already spoken to the families of the passengers and crew to inform them of this development. For them, the past few weeks have been heartbreaking. I know this news must be harder still. I urge the media to respect their privacy and allow them the space they need at this very difficult time."
Our thoughts and prayers are with all those affected by this tragedy.
