Some 26 countries are now involved in the search for missing Malaysian Airlines flight MH370 more than a week after the aircraft disappeared.

Authorities in Malaysia say the plane was intentionally diverted and could have flown for a further seven hours in either direction from its last known position.

The plane disappeared on March 8th on route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing with 239 people on board.

Investigators are now searching a huge arc across Asia.

In the north, the arc stretches from the border of Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan to northern Thailand.

In the southern arc investigators are looking from Indonesia to the Indian Ocean.

Australia is taking charge of the southern area search for the missing Malaysian plane.

Meanwhile, police have searched the homes of Captain Zaharie Shah and co-pilot Fariq Abdul Hamid.

A flight simulator taken from the captain’s home was being reassembled and examined at police headquarters, officials said.