Transcribed Statement from Malaysian Prime Minister on Missing Flight MH370

Missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 crashed in the southern Indian Ocean, according to the Malaysia Prime Minister who made an announced today.

The families of passengers and crew were notified before the public announcement via text message. The new data comes from the UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch.

Below is the transcribed announcement and a video of the Prime Minister as provided by CNN. Malaysia Airlines' also made a brief statement prior to the press conference.

This evening I was briefed by representatives from the UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch or AAIB. They informed me that Inmarsat, the UK company that provided the satellite data which indicated northern and southern corridors, has been performing further calculations on the data.

Using a type of analysis never before used in an investigation of this sort, they have been able to shed more light on MH370's flight path.

Based on the new analysis, Inmarsat and the AAIB have concluded that MH370 flew along the southern corridor and that it's last position was in the middle of the Indian Ocean, west of Perth.

This is a remote location far from any possible landing sites.

It is therefore with deep sadness and regret that I must inform you that according to this new data flight MH370 entered in the southern Indian Ocean. We will be holding a press conference tomorrow with further details.

In the meantime, we wanted to inform you of this new development at the earliest opportunity. We shared this information out of a commitment to openness and respect for the families. Two principles which have guided this investigation. Malaysia Airlines have already spoken with the families of the passenger and crew to inform them of this development. For them, the past few weeks have been heartbreaking.

I know this news must be the hardest still. I urge the media to respect their privacy and allow them the space they need at this very difficult time.