Rumours about MH370 pilot not true, claim wife's family

Zaharie Ahmad Shah.

The family of MH370 pilot Zaharie Ahmad Shah have spoken for the first time in a bid to clear up "untrue" rumours about his involvement in the disappearance.

They claim he was happy and loved his family before he left to pilot the flight on March 8.

The Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 disappeared with 239 passengers and crew on board.

Despite exhaustive searches there has been no sign of the jet and experts believe it was "deliberately" steered off course.

Speculation has been rife that Captain Zaharie and or his co-pilot Fariq Abdul Hamid were responsible.

One theory was that Captain Zaharie's marriage to his wife Faizah had ended, that he was having problems with a new girlfriend and was mentally unstable. However, his family have rubbished that claim.

Asuad Khan, brother of the pilot's wife, said the rumours were false.

"I can see that a lot of people are saying a lot of things about him which is untrue," he told ABC Australia's Four Corners programme. Speaking on behalf of his sister, he confirmed she had not left Captain Zaharie.

He did not know whether his brother-in-law had a girlfriend, but said it would not have been a problem.

Mr Khan said Captain Zaharie "had a good life". "He had a lot of money, and he loved his daughter very much," he said.