KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 29 — Australian authorities now say missing Malaysia Airlines flight 370 turned south earlier than previously assumed, citing new data extracted from a failed satellite call made by ground staff to contact the jetliner, which disappeared on March 8.

After MH370 disappeared from radar, the ground staff made a satellite call to the airliner. Although the call was not picked up, data from the call has provided search teams new clues as they trace the aircraft’s flight path and its final location.

The extra information has not affected the current search area in the Indian Ocean, but investigators now believe the aircraft turned south earlier. “It remains on the seventh arc — that is, there is a very, very strong view that this aircraft will be resting on the seventh arc,” said Australian deputy prime minister Warren Truss.

Authorities say the plane was also likely on autopilot when it was over the Indian Ocean.

The wreckage has not yet been located despite the mapping of more than 87,000 square kilometres of the ocean floor. — Reuters

Defence and Acting Transport Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein holding a map showing the southern corridor at the daily MH370 press conference at the Sama Sama Hotel in KLIA, on March 17, 2014. — Picture by Saw Siow Feng