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Malaysia Airlines flight 370
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A Royal New Zealand Air Force captain searches for missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 off Perth, Australia on March 31, 2014. Photo: EPA

Update | 'Good night Malaysian three seven zero': Confusion as new version of flight 370 final words is released

Malaysian authorities last night released the full transcript of the last words spoken by the pilots and air traffic controllers before flight MH370 vanished.

Malaysian authorities last night released the full transcript of the last words spoken by the pilots and air traffic controllers before flight MH370 vanished.

The document included a revision of the final phrase spoken by one of the pilots at 1.19am on March 8, stating that they uttered: "Good night Malaysian three seven zero."

There was no explanation as to why officials had originally told media the final words were "all right, good night", but the discrepancy will heap further pressure on Malaysia.

Watch: Flight MH370 families pray as airline offers little solace

The Ministry of Transport released the transcript after government officials and Malaysia Airlines came under pressure to clarify the final communications.

Authorities said it was unclear whether pilot Zaharie Ahmad Shah or co-pilot Fariq Abdul Hamid spoke the words.

Last night former pilot and head of air safety with British Airways, John Lindsay, told the the final exchange appeared normal.

"It's pretty much what most pilots would say at that time of night," he said.

Malaysia's acting transport and defence minister, Hishammuddin Hussein, said: "There is no indication of anything abnormal in the transcript.

"Up until the point at which it left military primary radar coverage, MH370's movements were consistent with deliberate action by someone on the plane."

Some had previously theorised that the casual "all right good night" sign-off was from one of the crew going against protocol to signal a problem on board, such as a hijack taking place.

Malaysian Prime Minister Naijb Razak will arrive in Perth tonight, where he is scheduled to meet Australian officials and tour Pearce Air Force base from where the search for the plane and 239 people onboard is being coordinated.

This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as: Kuala Lumpur releases final MH370 flight exchange
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