Relatives of Flight MH370 passengers have criticized beleaguered Malaysia Airlines after an official reportedly said authorities would set a date to announce the plane "lost". Such a declaration would mean the search would be called off, an industry source said.

Both Malaysia Airlines and officials in Australia - which is leading the search for the missing jet far off its western coast - have denied the reported comments by Hugh Dunleavy, the carrier's commercial director.

But Voice370, an association of MH370 passengers' relatives, said in a statement late on Monday that it was "bewildered" by the report last week.