BANGKOK, March 14. /ITAR-TASS/. The search for Malaysian Airlines’ missing Boeing 777-200 that flew from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing has continued on Friday in several new areas of the Indian Ocean and South China Sea. Over 80 airplanes and ships from different countries are participating in the search operation that covers an area of dozens of thousands square kilometers.

According to reports from Pentagon, the US has sent a destroyer to the alleged site of plane’s crash in the Indian Ocean. The ship has helicopters onboard, which will also be used in the search operation. Air and naval forces of China, Vietnam and Malaysia continue exploring the areas of South China Sea and the Strait of Malacca. Ships, airplanes and helicopters of Singapore, the Philippines, Indonesia and India are taking part in the search. In addition, South Korea stated on Friday that it would send two planes to participate in the search operation.

Sky News TV channel reported earlier that satellites located a weak electronic signal from the missing Malaysian Boeing after the communication with it had been lost. The signal came from the troubleshooting system that was ready to send data to the satellite in case if necessary. However, no data was transferred, since Malaysian Airlines, the owner of the missing plane, was not subscribed to full service of this system. In addition, it was reported that communication systems were switched off on the Boeing prior to the alleged change of route.

According to a version suggested by American experts in aviation safety, the airliner could continue flying during four or five hours after the communication was lost. However, Malaysian Defense Minister and acting Minister of Transport Hishammuddin Hussein dismissed these allegations. In addition, he confirmed that the objects located by a Chinese satellite were not wreckage of the missing plane. Meanwhile, China suggested that Uyghur separatists could stand behind the disappearance of the Boeing.

On Friday, Malaysian Airlines announced that from this day on, the number of Kuala Lumpur – Beijing flight has been changed from МН370/371 to МН318/319. The air carrier took this decision in solidarity with the families of missing passengers and crewmembers.

Communication with Malaysian Airlines’ plane carrying 227 passengers and 12 crewmembers onboard was lost two hours after its departure from Malaysian capital March 7. By now, all attempts to find it remain fruitless.