Two Malaysian boys, aged 11 and 13, whose father was a passenger on missing Flight MH370 are taking legal action against Malaysia Airlines and the government.

Lawyers for the children have filed what is thought to be the first such lawsuit in the country over the disappearance of the jetliner carrying 239 people.

Investigators have said what little evidence they have suggests the plane was deliberately diverted from its scheduled route on March 8 before plunging into the Indian Ocean.

More than two dozen countries have been involved in the air, sea and underwater search for the missing Boeing 777, but months of searches have failed to turn up any trace.