Missing MH370: Police search homes of pilots

KUALA LUMPUR: Police searched the home of Captain Zaharie Ahmad Shah and the co-pilot of the missing Malaysia Airlines flight on Saturday.

Three policemen in an MPV showed up at a posh gated community of the Capt Zaharie in Section 13 around 2.40pm and left around 4.45pm.

It was unclear if they took away a flight simulator from his house. The media was barred from entering the housing area by security guards.

Read: Query over pilot’s flight simulator

It is learnt that another team of officers were at co-pilot Fariq Abdul Hamid's home in Shah Alam.

The search of Fariq 's hosue was done a few hours after the same group of policemen had searched Capt Zaharie's house.

Police arrived at Fariq's house at Section 7, at around 8.05pm and left about an hour later.

It was unclear if anything was taken from the house.

It is learnt that the investigations will include political and religions leanings, and the travel pattern of the captain and his co-pilot Fariq Abdul Hamid. The probe will also include their hobbies and behaviour with their friends.

The search came soon after Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak confirmed that the plane was suspected to have been deliberately diverted.

Police officers leaving after searching Capt Zaharie's house in Section 13.

Investigators had confirmed that an aircraft tracked by military radar was the lost Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, after its communications were likely switched off before it reached the east coast of Malaysia a week ago, Najib said.

Capt Zaharie studied aviation at the Philippine Airlines Aviation School in Pasay City in 1980, before joining Malaysia Airlines a year later.

The Penangite became a captain in the early 1990’s and has 18,360 hours of flying experience under his belt.

His colleagues described him as a jovial but professional “aviation geek” who collects remote controlled miniature aircrafts, light twin engine helicopters and amphibious aircrafts. 

Outside of aviation, he runs a YouTube channel dedicated to DIY projects, where he teaches viewers how to fix home appliances like their air-conditioners