Fresh confusion over Malaysia Airlines jet as authorities reveal new possible timeline of cockpit events

The last words heard from missing Malaysia Airlines jet may have been uttered before any of the plane's communication systems were disabled officials said last night, revealing a new possible timeline of events in the cockpit and casting further doubt about who may be to blame for the jet's disappearance.

Malaysian Airlines CEO Ahmad Jauhari Yahya said yesterday the last communication from the plane - "All right, good night" - had been uttered by co-pilot Fariq Abdul Hamid.

Attempts to piece together exactly what happened in the final known moments of the aircraft came as the hunt for flight MH370 was expanded deep into the northern and southern hemispheres.

Investigators say the Boeing 777 was deliberately diverted during its overnight flight and flew off-course for hours. Investigators have refused to rule out hijacking, sabotage or pilot suicide for the plane's disappearance and were last night continuing to check the backgrounds of all 227 passengers and 12 crew members - in addition to the ground crew - for personal problems, psychological issues or links to terrorists.

Despite the ongoing probe, the Chinese ambassador to Malaysia Huang Huikang this morning told a press conference that China can "rule out the suspicion of any Chinese passengers engaging in terrorist or sabotage activities on board the MH370 flight".

China "conducted meticulous investigation into all the (Chinese) passengers, and did not find any evidence for sabotaging activity," Chinese state broadcaster CCTV quoted Huang as saying.

Malaysian Defense Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said last night that finding the plane was still the main focus, and he did not rule out that it might be discovered intact.