1:20 a.m. – Disappearance from Civilian Radar
Just one minute later, MH370 vanished from civilian radar screens as it entered Vietnamese airspace. At the same time, its transponder stopped functioning, cutting off critical identification data. This sudden disappearance created immediate confusion among air traffic authorities.
1:30 a.m. – Military Radar Detects an Unexpected Turn
Ten minutes after disappearing from civilian radar, Malaysia’s military radar detected that the plane had executed an unexpected sharp turn westward, away from its planned flight path. It then flew across the Malay Peninsula and toward the Andaman Sea. At this point, air traffic control did not immediately recognize the deviation, delaying initial response efforts.
