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Nuclear Test Experts Checking To See If Plane Exploded

The head of the organization that monitors the nuclear test ban treaty says he has asked its experts to see if they detected an explosion at high altitude of the missing Malaysian Airlines plane.

UNITED NATIONS (AP) -- The head of the organization that monitors the nuclear test ban treaty says he has asked its experts to see if they detected an explosion at high altitude of the missing Malaysian Airlines plane.

Lassina Zerbo, executive director of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organization told a news conference Monday that the CTBTO uses "infrasound" — or infrasonic sensors — to monitor the earth mainly for atmospheric nuclear explosions.

Zerbo said infrasound is the most suitable technology to check if there was an explosion on the missing plane and if there was a monitoring station nearby, "or the explosion is at a level or at an amplitude that it could be detected.

He said he asked the head of the CTBTO's International Data Center to examine the infrasound data.

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