Missing Malaysian passenger jet feared to be at bottom of Indian Ocean

The missing Malaysian Airline passenger jet is reportedly feared to be sitting at the bottom of the Indian Ocean as the week-long search for the plane carrying 239 people is turning out to be fruitless.

The Flight MH370 took off from Kuala Lumpur last Saturday and 40 minutes later went off radar, while it reportedly kept on flying for several hours after losing contact.

According to news.com.au, after various leads into locating the jet, it was revealed that the plane sent out intermittent 'pings' transmitting its altitude, speed and location for up to five hours, leading to the Indian Ocean, opposite to the plane's original route.

A US official said that there was a significant likelihood that the aircraft was now on the bottom of the Indian Ocean.

Meanwhile, reports emerged that a Chinese seismology and research group detected an 'earthquake wave' in waters between Malaysia and Vietnam at about 2.55am local time last Saturday.

The earthquake wave pointed to the possible crash of the jet into the sea as the area, where the last contact was lost, is considered a non-seismic region.

US investigators have also pointed out the tracking systems on the plane were deliberately shut down by someone on board, heightening fears of a terror hijacking.

However, there has been no evidence about the possible hijacking yet and no terror group has claimed responsibility for the presumed attack.