Missing Malaysia plane's communications 'systematically' shut down

New media reports state that U.S. officials now believe the communications of missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 were systematically shut down.

The flight disappeared almost a week ago just 40 minutes after takeoff from Kuala Lumpur International Airport bound for Beijing. Its last known position was in air space above the South China Sea, roughly mid-way between Malaysia and Vietnam.

U.S. officials told ABC News that the plane's data reporting system was shut down at 1:07 a.m.

The source added that the transponder — which transmits the aircraft's location and altitude — was then shut down at 1:21 a.m., indicating that communications were turned off systematically.

This information, along with news that the flight continued to 'ping' a satellite with engine status information for up to four hours after disappearing from contact has led the U.S. to send the USS Kidd to the Indian Ocean to begin a search in the area.

Malaysian officials have said they are continuing to look into every lead in the search for the missing plane.