MH370 Defence Minister and Acting Transport Minister Hishammuddin Hussein has denied a report that the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) had scrambled search aircraft to the South China Sea and Straits of Malacca just after Flight MH370 was reported missing.

According to CNN , this was before the authorities corroborated data showing that the Malaysia Airlines (MAS) aircraft had turned west before flying  across Peninsular Malaysia.

“Latest from CNN claiming that RMAF aircraft scrambled soon after MAS reported MH370 missing early March 8 is a false allegation,” Hishammuddin's ( right ) communications team tweeted late last night.

“Also, claim by CNN that Malaysian Air Force scrambled and did not inform the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) or Search and Rescue (SAR) operations until three days later, on March 11, is also untrue,” it said in another tweet this morning.

The American news organisation had quoted an unnamed “senior Malaysian government official” yesterday alleging that RMAF search aircraft were scrambled about 8am on March 8, soon after MAS reported MH370 missing.

However, the RMAF supposedly did not notify the DCA nor the SAR operations of this until three days later, on March 11.

Meanwhile in a separate statement, RMAF chief Rodzali Daud says, “In my capacity as the chief of the Royal Malaysian Air Force, I can confirm that the above allegation is totally false.”

The Boeing 777-200ER aircraft was mysteriously diverted off its original path about 1.30am on March 8.

It turned west across the peninsula before making a turn south towards the Indian Ocean.

Military radar had tracked the aircraft until losing contact at 2.15am as it reached the Andaman Sea. Its identity was not known at that time and it was thought to be a ‘friendly’ aircraft.