Missing Plane Found? Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 Latest Update; Police Chief - 'I Know What Happened'

A police officer from Indonesia has stunned investigators after he claimed that he knew exactly what happened to Malaysian Airlines flight MH370 when it suddenly vanished on a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing on March 8 with 239 passengers and crew on board.

The statement from Indonesian police chief General Sutarman immediately sparked public speculation that Malaysian officials have known all along what caused the plane to disappear but opted to keep silent.

During a recent meeting of senior police and airline officials from Indonesia and Malaysia, Sutarman reportedly told them, "I know what had actually happened with MH370" and that he had conveyed the information to Malaysian Police Chief Tun Mohammed Hanif Omar.

The Indonesian news outlet Kompas.com said Sutarman's statement shocked Malaysian Police Inspector General Khalid Abu Bakar.

However, what Sutarman actually told Malaysian authorities was not disclosed by the news agency.

Search and rescue teams have found at least 58 solid objects in the southern Indian Ocean. But authorities could not yet ascertain whether they are the wreckage from the doomed airliner.

Investigators are now focusing on an area covering 60,000 sq km 1,800km off the west coast of Australia.

Based on the latest analysis of satellite data, the aircraft was believed to have crashed into the sea west of the Australian city of Perth. Australian officials believe the plane was flying on autopilot when it crashed.

Earlier this month, Australian authorities said "hard spots" had been found on the Indian Ocean seabed. However, they said these may just be geological features.

Australian Deputy Prime Minister Warren Truss said the ongoing mapping of the ocean floor had already uncovered "quite remarkable" geographical features, including the discovery of new volcanoes up to 2,000 meters high.