Interpol: Passport Database Not Checked Before Malaysian Flight

In a sharply worded criticism of shortcomings of national passport controls, the Lyon, France-based international police body said information about the thefts of an Austrian passport in 2012 and an Italian passport last year was entered into its database after they were stolen in Thailand.

The Malaysian Boeing 777 disappeared Saturday less than an hour after taking off from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, bound for Beijing.

Interpol said in a statement it was investigating all other passports used to board flight MH 370 and was working to determine the "true identities" of the passengers who used the stolen passports.

(Story by: The Associated Press)