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A towed pinger locator is now being used to hunt for the black box of missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370.
Two ships with locator capabilities are searching a 150 mile underwater path, in the hope of recovering the plane’s data recorder.
Up to 14 planes and nine ships were due to take part in Friday’s search.
Malaysia Airlines plane disappeared on March 8 en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing. It was carrying 239 people.
It is believed to have crashed in the southern Indian Ocean, although no confirmed debris has been found from the plane.
The search is being co-ordinated from the city of Perth in Western Australia.
The battery-powered pingers on the plane’s black box stop transmitting about 30 days after a crash, giving the searchers now perhaps only a few days to locate it.
Angus Houston, head of the Joint Agencies Coordination Centre (JACC) leading the search, said that two ships had “commenced the sub-surface search for emissions from [the] black box pinger”.
Search teams have begun using a towed pinger locator to hunt for the black box of missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370
Australia naval vessel Ocean Shield was using a towed pinger locator from the US Navy, while HMS Echo, which had similar capabilities, was also searching.
“The two ships will search a single 240km track converging on each other,” Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston, who is retired, said.
ACM Angus Houston said that the area had been picked on the basis of analysis of the satellite data.
It was based on work regarding “how the aircraft might have performed and how it might have been flown”, to choose the “area of highest probability as to where it might have entered the water”.
He pointed out that this data was continuing to be refined, but the current search was based on the “best data that is available”.
Given the progress in data evaluation and calculation, “there is some hope we will find the aircraft in the area we are searching”, Angus Houston added.
The two ships will be moving at reduced speeds, of around three knots, in their attempt to detect any signal from the pinger.
Commodore Peter Leavy, Commander of Joint Task Force 658, said that search operations generally preferred to use “physical evidence” and “drift modeling” to locate a plane.
However, “no hard evidence has been found to date so we have made the decision to search a sub-surface area on which the analysis has predicted MH370 is likely to have flown,” he said.
In a statement, JACC said up to 10 military planes, four civilian planes and nine ships would be deployed in Friday’s search efforts.
The focus is on a search area of about 84,000 sq miles, 1,000 miles north west of Perth.
Fair weather was forecast for Friday, with visibility of around 6 miles, JACC said.
Malaysia Airlines ex-steward Patrick Chow says the cabin crew he knew could not be responsible for the plane’s disappearance
Meeting staff involved in the search on Friday, Australian PM Tony Abbott said: “It is probably the most difficult search that’s ever been mounted.”
“A large aircraft seems like something that would be easy enough to locate – but a large aircraft that all but disappeared and disappeared into inaccessible oceans is an extraordinary, extraordinary challenge that you’re faced with.”
ACM Angus Houston said there was still a “great possibility of finding something on the surface [of the ocean]”.
“There’s lots of things in aircraft that float,” he said, citing previous searches where life jackets from planes were found.
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Malaysia PM Najib Razak said his country will not give up on the search for missing flight MH370, as he visited the search hub in Perth, Australia.
Najib Razak’s comments came at a joint news conference with Australia’s PM Tony Abbott.
The Malaysian prime minister praised the search effort, saying the co-operation amid “great tragedy” had “given us all heart”.
Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 disappeared on March 8 en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing. The plane was carrying 239 people.
Planes and ships have been scouring the southern Indian Ocean, where the jet is believed to have crashed.
The focus of the search is an 85,000 sq mile area 932 miles west of Perth.
But so far not a single piece of debris from the Boeing 777 has been found.
Malaysia PM Najib Razak visits missing flight MH370 search hub in Perth (photo Getty Images)
Najib Razak met search crews at Pearce RAAF base near Perth on Thursday morning, before their planes left for the day, and then later held talks with Tony Abbott.
“The disappearance of MH370 has tested our collective resolve,” he told a news conference.
“Faced with so little evidence, and such a Herculean task, investigators from Malaysia, the US, the UK, China, Australia and France have worked without pause to reveal the aircraft’s movements.”
He thanked both search teams and the Australian government for their efforts in recent weeks, and said the search would go on.
“I know that until we find the plane, many families cannot start to grieve. I cannot imagine what they must be going through. But I can promise them that we will not give up,” he said.
Malaysian authorities have come in for heavy criticism over their management of the search, especially from relatives of the plane’s 153 Chinese passengers.
On Thursday, eight military planes and nine ships were due to take part in the search.
Weather conditions were fair, with visibility of approximately 6 miles, the Joint Agency Coordination Centre (JACC) – which is overseeing the search – said.
The British submarine HMS Tireless is also in the southern Indian Ocean and is due to be joined by Royal Navy ship HMS Echo.
The Australian Navy ship Ocean Shield is heading to the region and has equipment for detecting the plane’s “black-box” flight recorder.
Experts say timing is critical as the flight recorder may only have enough battery power to send out a signal until April 7.
Air Chief Marshall Angus Houston, head of the JACC, warned that the search operation faced multiple difficulties.
“This is one of the most demanding and challenging search and rescue operations, or search and recovery operations, that I have ever seen and I think probably one of the most complex operations of this nature that the world has ever seen,” he told Najib Razak and Tony Abbott.
On Wednesday Malaysian police chief Khalid Abu Bakar said investigators had “cleared” all passengers of possible involvement in hijacking, sabotage or having personal or psychological problems that could have been connected to the disappearance.
But he said that the criminal investigation could “go on and on and on. We have to clear every little thing”.
“At the end of the investigations, we may not even know the real cause. We may not even know the reason for this incident,” he added.
The police chief said that more than 170 interviews had been conducted with family members of the pilots and crew members, and that even cargo and food served on the plane were being investigated in case of sabotage.
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Malaysian authorities released the full transcript of communications between flight MH370 and Kuala Lumpur’s air traffic control (ATC).
They said there was no indication of anything abnormal in the transcript, although the last words received by ground controllers are different from those previously stated.
Malaysian officials say that based on satellite data they have concluded that flight MH370 crashed into the southern Indian Ocean, but many relatives of those on board have demanded proof and expressed anger at what they perceive as a lack of information.
Malaysian authorities released the full transcript of communications between flight MH370 and Kuala Lumpur’s air traffic control (photo RT)
A closed-door briefing is being held in Kuala Lumpur for families of those on the flight.
Full transcript (pilots in italics)
MAS 370 (Kuala Lumpur to Beijing)
PILOT-ATC RADIOTELEPHONY TRANSCRIPT
Departure from KLIA: March 8, 2014
ATC DELIVERY
12:25:53 MAS 370 Delivery MAS 370 Good Morning
12:26:02 ATC MAS 370 Standby and Malaysia Six is cleared to Frankfurt via AGOSA Alpha Departure six thousand feet squawk two one zero six
12:26:19 ATC … MAS 370 request level
12:26:21 MAS 370 MAS 370 we are ready requesting flight level three five zero to Beijing
12:26:39 ATC MAS 370 is cleared to Beijing via PIBOS A Departure Six Thousand Feet squawk two one five seven
12:26:45 MAS 370 Beijing PIBOS A Six Thousand Squawk two one five seven, MAS 370 Thank You
12:26:53 ATC MAS 370 Welcome over to ground
12:26:55 MAS 370 Good Day
LUMPUR GROUND
12:27:27 MAS 370 Ground MAS370 Good morning Charlie One Requesting push and start
12:27:34 ATC MAS370 Lumpur Ground Morning Push back and start approved Runway 32 Right Exit via Sierra 4.
12:27:40 MAS 370 Push back and start approved 32 Right Exit via Sierra 4 POB 239 Mike Romeo Oscar
12:27:45 ATC Copied
12:32:13 MAS 370 MAS377 request taxi.
12:32:26 ATC MAS37….. (garbled) … standard route. Hold short Bravo
12:32:30 MAS 370 Ground, MAS370. You are unreadable. Say again.
12:32:38 ATC MAS370 taxi to holding point Alfa 11 Runway 32 Right via standard route. Hold short of Bravo.
12:32:42 MAS 370 Alfa 11 Standard route Hold short Bravo MAS370.
12:35:53 ATC MAS 370 Tower
12:36:19 ATC (garbled) … Tower … (garbled)
MAS 370 1188 MAS370 Thank you
LUMPUR TOWER
12:36:30 MAS 370 Tower MAS370 Morning
12:36:38 ATC MAS370 good morning. Lumpur Tower. Holding point..[garbled]..10 32 Right
12:36:50 MAS 370 Alfa 10 MAS370
12:38:43 ATC 370 line up 32 Right Alfa 10. MAS 370 Line up 32 Right Alfa 10 MAS370.
12:40:38 ATC 370 32 Right Cleared for take-off. Good night.
MAS 370 32 Right Cleared for take-off MAS370. Thank you Bye.
LUMPUR APPROACH
12:42:05 MAS 370 Departure Malaysian Three Seven Zero
12:42:10 ATC Malaysian Three Seven Zero selamat pagi identified. Climb flight level one eight zero cancel SID turn right direct to IGARI
12:42:48 MAS 370 Okay level one eight zero direct IGARI Malaysian one err Three Seven Zero
12:42:52 ATC Malaysian Three Seven Zero contact Lumpur Radar One Three Two Six good night MAS 370 Night One Three Two Six Malaysian Three Seven Zero
LUMPUR RADAR (AREA)
12:46:51 MAS 370 Lumpur Control Malaysian Three Seven Zero
12:46:51 ATC Malaysian Three Seven Zero Lumpur radar Good Morning climb flight level two five zero
12:46:54 MAS370 Morning level two five zero Malaysian Three Seven Zero
12:50:06 ATC Malaysian Three Seven Zero climb flight level three five zero
12:50:09 MAS370 Flight level three five zero Malaysian Three Seven Zero
01:01:14 MAS370 Malaysian Three Seven Zero maintaining level three five zero
01:01:19 ATC Malaysian Three Seven Zero
01:07:55 MAS370 Malaysian…Three Seven Zero maintaining level three five zero
01:08:00 ATC Malaysian Three Seven Zero
01:19:24 ATC Malaysian Three Seven Zero contact Ho Chi Minh 120 decimal 9 Good Night
01:19:29 MAS370 Good Night Malaysian Three Seven Zero
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The reasons for the Malaysia Airlines plane’s disappearance may never be known, police chief Khalid Abu Bakar has warned as PM Najib Razak heads to Australia for talks on the search.
Malaysia’s police chief said that their investigation could “go on and on”.
Ten planes and nine ships will search the southern Indian Ocean on Tuesday.
Flight MH370 disappeared on March 8 as it was travelling from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing. It was carrying 239 people.
The reasons for the Malaysia Airlines plane’s disappearance may never be known
Razak Najib will arrive in Perth, western Australia, on Wednesday evening. He will visit the new Joint Agency Coordination Centre (JACC), where the southern Indian Ocean search is being led.
He will meet Australian PM Tony Abbott, and retired air chief marshal Angus Houston, who is leading the JACC.
Meanwhile, Malaysian police chief Khalid Abu Bakar said the criminal investigation could “go on and on and on. We have to clear every little thing”.
“At the end of the investigations, we may not even know the real cause. We may not even know the reason for this incident,” he said.
He added that police had “cleared” all the passengers of the four key areas being investigated: hijacking, sabotage, and psychological and personal problems, Malaysia’s Bernama news agency reported.
Khalid Abu Bakar added that more than 170 interviews had been conducted with family members of the pilots and crew members, and that even cargo and food served on the plane were being investigated in case of sabotage.
Wednesday’s search area is around 85,300 sq miles, but cloudy conditions, “sea fog and isolated thunderstorms” will reduce visibility for search planes, JACC said in a statement.
The private jet of film director Peter Jackson has also joined the search.
On Tuesday, ACM Houston said it was the most challenging operation he had ever seen, and warned that search efforts “could drag on for a long time”.
Several floating objects have been found in recent days, but none is believed to belong to the missing plane.
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Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston – the man responsible for co-ordinating the search for missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 from Australia – says the search is the “most challenging” ever seen.
ACM Angus Houston also said that the search for the plane could take weeks.
Malaysia Airlines plane disappeared on March 8 as it was travelling from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing. It was carrying 239 people.
Search teams are scouring the southern Indian Ocean for signs of the plane.
On Tuesday, the Malaysian authorities released the full transcript of communications between flight MH370 and Kuala Lumpur’s air traffic control. They said there was no indication of anything abnormal in the transcript.
Speaking on Tuesday, ACM Houston, who is heading a new Joint Agency Co-ordination Centre (JACC) managing the search, said the task was “very complex” because the teams had no hard information to work from.
Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston said that the search for the missing Malaysia Airlines plane could take weeks
Search efforts would take time, he said.
“It’s not something that will necessarily be resolved in the next two weeks, for example.”
Ten military aircraft and nine ships were scheduled to examine Tuesday’s search zone, while an Australia defense vessel with a towed pinger was en route to the area, he added.
ACM Angus Houston explained that they had no information on how high the plane had flown once it disappeared off radar.
A relatively small change in altitude could affect both the plane’s speed and fuel consumption – and over the course of seven hours dramatically alter the location of any crash site.
It is now more than three weeks since flight MH370 disappeared. Malaysian authorities say that based on satellite data they have concluded that it crashed into the southern Indian Ocean.
However, many relatives of the passengers on board have demanded proof that the plane has crashed, and expressed anger at what they perceive as a lack of information from the Malaysian authorities.
Dozens of relatives of some of the 153 missing Chinese passengers have travelled to Kuala Lumpur in their search for answers.
Late on Monday, Malaysian officials issued a new version of the last communication between air traffic control and the plane’s cockpit.
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A new version of the last communication between air traffic control and the cockpit of the missing flight MH370 has been issued by Malaysian authorities.
The last words spoken were: “Good night Malaysian three seven zero” – and not “All right, good night” as reported.
Malaysia’s acting Transport Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said forensic investigations would determine whether the pilot or co-pilot spoke the words.
Malaysia Airlines plane, carrying 239 people, was travelling from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing when it disappeared on March 8.
The plane’s last contact took place at 01:19 Malaysian time.
Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 was travelling from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing when it disappeared on March 8
The new version of the last words is more formal and more in keeping with the way a pilot might usually speak to air traffic control than the wording previously reported.
It is not clear why it has changed or why it has taken the authorities this long to determine this.
Earlier, Australian PM Tony Abbott said rescue crews had put no time limit on the hunt for the missing jet.
Aircraft and ships are scouring the Indian Ocean west of Perth looking for any trace of the flight.
Evidence from satellite “pings” received from the plane after its last contact with air traffic control and radar has been used to delineate a search area.
While floating objects have been spotted by search teams, none has been identified as coming from the Boeing 777.
The search teams are deploying a device known as a “towed pinger locator” (TPL) to listen for ultrasonic signals from the plane’s “black box” flight-data recorders.
The signals from the flight recorders last about 30 days.
Dozens of relatives of some of the 153 missing Chinese passengers have travelled to Kuala Lumpur in their search for answers.
They have become increasingly angry with what they perceive as a lack of information from the Malaysian authorities.
Hishammuddin Hussein said the Malaysian government would soon hold a briefing for those families to update them on the search, which would include international experts to explain the research, data and methodology used in the operation.
The briefing would also be broadcast live to other families in Beijing, he said.
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Australian PM Tony Abbott has announced that rescue crews have put no time limit on the search for the missing Malaysia Airlines plane.
Tony Abbott told reporters near Perth, where the operation is being co-ordinated, that the hunt for flight MH370 was still being stepped up.
Ten aircraft and 10 ships are scouring the sea south-west of Perth for debris from the airliner.
Tony Abbott told reporters near Perth that the hunt for flight MH370 was still being stepped up
Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 disappeared on March 8 with 239 people on board.
The signal from its flight-data recorder lasts about 30 days.
The search teams are deploying a special tool known as a “towed ping locator” to find the recorder, which will be used once debris from the plane has been found.
Several floating objects have been found during the search in recent days, but none is believed to belong to the missing plane.
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Families of Chinese passengers from the missing flight MH370 have vented their anger at Malaysian government officials, after arriving in Kuala Lumpur.
Chanting “Tell us the truth”, they said they wanted the Malaysian prime minister to apologize for what they regard as misleading statements.
Eight ships and nine planes searched around 97,000 sq miles of Indian Ocean for debris on Sunday.
The Beijing-bound plane disappeared on March 8 with 239 people on board.
International investigators have concluded that, based on satellite data, the missing Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 crashed somewhere in the southern Indian Ocean.
Families of Chinese passengers from the missing flight MH370 have vented their anger at Malaysian government officials
The search zone shifted on Friday after further analysis. But while aircraft continue to spot debris in the water, nothing recovered by ships has so far been verified as being from the plane.
Some relatives of the 153 Chinese passengers on board Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 have refused to accept the Malaysian account of events and blame the authorities.
On Sunday, several dozen family members travelled from Beijing.
After landing in Kuala Lumpur they held a news conference at a hotel holding up banners that read “We want evidence, truth, dignity” in Chinese, and “Hand us the murderer. Give us our relatives,” in English.
Their designated representative, Jiang Hui, said they wanted the Malaysian government to apologize for the initial handling of the disaster, as well as for PM Najib Razak’s earlier statement that indicated the plane had crashed with no survivors.
Jiang Hui said the conclusion had been announced “without direct evidence or a sense of responsibility”.
He said the group wanted to meet airline and government officials face to face – although he stopped short of saying that these included Najib Razak, as some relatives had earlier suggested.
Before the relatives travelled to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia’s acting Transport Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said the search for survivors would continue.
On Sunday, Malaysian officials cancelled their daily update on the search for a second day.
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Chinese families of the missing Malaysia Airlines plane passengers have flown to Kuala Lumpur to seek answers from the Malaysian authorities.
The relatives say they have not been given enough information, and want to meet Malaysia’s prime minister and transport minister face to face.
Ten planes and eight ships are looking for remains of the airliner in a vast area of the Indian Ocean.
Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 disappeared on March 8 with 239 people on board.
Some relatives of the flight’s 153 Chinese passengers have refused to accept the Malaysian account of events and have accused the authorities of withholding information.
After landing at Kuala Lumpur they vented their frustration at a news conference chanting “We want proof”, and holding banners reading “Hand over the murderer” and “You must return the relatives”.
They have vented their anger at officials during regular briefings by Malaysian officials at a hotel in Beijing.
Malaysia’s acting Transport Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said on Saturday that the search for survivors would continue.
Chinese families of the missing Malaysia Airlines plane passengers have flown to Kuala Lumpur to seek answers from the Malaysian authorities (photo AP)
Malaysian officials have concluded that, based on satellite data, the missing plane flew into the sea somewhere in the southern Indian Ocean. So far no trace of it has been found.
A Chinese and an Australian ship failed to identify debris from the missing flight after their first day in a new search area, about 1,150 miles west of Perth, on Saturday.
Chinese patrol ship Haixun 01 and Australia’s HMAS Success both retrieved objects but none was confirmed to be from flight MH370, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (Amsa) said in a statement.
Some of the objects have been very small, and officials have cautioned that they may be sea junk.
Aircraft involved in the search have so far reported seeing a number of objects of various colors floating in the sea in the new area since Friday.
Poor conditions have hampered recent search efforts.
An Australian vessel carrying a US device known as a “towed pinger locator” is due to join the search in the coming days.
The device is designed to detect any ultrasonic signals – “pings” – from flight recorders and can operate up to a depth of about 6,000 m.
But the search area is huge – covering some 123,000 sq miles – and time is running short. The flight recorders’ batteries are expected to run out in about a week’s time.
The current search area is about 700 miles north-east of the previous zone.
Officials said the focus changed after radar data showed the plane had been travelling faster than previously thought, thus burning more fuel.
This would reduce the possible distance the aircraft travelled south.
Various theories about what went wrong have been suggested – including the captain hijacking his own plane.
The speculation was fuelled by reports that files had been deleted on the pilot’s home flight simulator.
However, on Saturday, Malaysia’s transport minister said investigators had found “nothing sinister” from the simulator.
Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 vanished less than an hour after taking off from Kuala Lumpur.
The airliner diverted off course and lost contact with air traffic controllers between Malaysian and Vietnamese air-traffic control areas.
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Chinese and Australian ships have failed to identify objects from the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 after their first day in a new search area.
The two ships retrieved objects from the Indian Ocean but none was confirmed to be from missing flight MH370, Australia’s maritime authority said.
Chinese aircraft also flew over the area, north-east of the previous zone, and have spotted more objects.
Malaysia Airlines jet disappeared on March 8 with 239 people on board.
Chinese patrol ship Haixun 01 and Australia’s HMAS Success “reported they have retrieved a number of objects from the ocean but so far no objects confirmed to be related to MH370 have been recovered”, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) said late on Saturday.
Eight aircraft also took part in the operation. One Chinese plane reported spotting spotted three orange, white and red objects floating in the sea.
Chinese and Australian ships have failed to identify objects from the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370
Some of the objects seen in the area have been very small, and officials cautioned that they may be sea junk.
AMSA said that “at least one distinctive fishing object has been identified”.
On Friday five search planes spotted multiple objects of various colors in the same area – about 700 miles north-east of the previous search zone.
Bad weather has hampered the search efforts in recent days.
Meanwhile Malaysia’s acting Transport Minister Hishammuddin Hussein says he has reassured the families of the missing passengers that the search for any survivors will continue.
Some relatives of the flight’s 153 Chinese passengers have refused to accept the Malaysian account of events and have accused officials of withholding information.
Acting Malaysian Transport Minister Hishammuddin Hussein: “If there is any lead or information that involves survivors, that has been our priority.”
“No matter how remote the search, I am always hoping against hope that we will find survivors,” Hishammuddin Hussein told the latest news conference following a meeting with the families on Saturday.
The Australian and Malaysian governments said on Friday the search area had been changed following further analysis of radar data that showed the plane had been travelling faster, thus burning more fuel.
This would reduce the possible distance the aircraft travelled south into the Indian Ocean, officials said.
Search efforts had until Friday morning focused on an area some 1,550 miles to the south-west of the Australian city of Perth.
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A new search area of the Indian Ocean is being scoured by Chinese ships in the hunt for the missing Malaysia Airlines jet.
The two vessels are trying to find and retrieve a number of items spotted by planes on Friday.
Chinese aircraft are also flying over the area, north-east of the previous zone, and have spotted more objects, China’s Xinhua news agency says.
Chinese ships are scouring a new search area of the Indian Ocean in the hunt for the missing Malaysia Airlines jet
The Beijing-bound airliner disappeared on March 8 with 239 people on board.
Chinese patrol ship Haixun 01, and a navy vessel, Jinggangshan, which carries two helicopters, reached the new search area in the past few hours.
Xinhua said the Jinggangshan was expected to focus on searching for debris, oil slicks and life jackets.
Eight aircraft are also taking part in the operation, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA), the authority confirmed in a statement.
Later on Saturday one of them, a Chinese reconnaissance aircraft, spotted three orange, white and red objects floating in the ocean. Some were very small, and officials have cautioned that they may be sea junk.
On Friday five search planes spotted multiple objects of various colors in the same area – about 700 miles north-east of the previous search zone.
Investigators will not know whether the objects are connected to the missing plane until they have been recovered by ships.
Bad weather has hampered the search efforts in recent days.
Saturday’s conditions are expected to be favorable initially but to deteriorate later in the day.
Meanwhile Malaysia’s acting Transport Minister Hishammuddin Hussein says he has reassured the families of the missing passengers that the search for any survivors will continue.
Some relatives of the flight’s 153 Chinese passengers have refused to accept the Malaysian account of events and have accused officials of withholding information.
Hishammuddin Hussein: “If there is any lead or information that involves survivors, that has been our priority.”
“No matter how remote the search, I am always hoping against hope that we will find survivors,” Hishammuddin Hussein told the latest news conference following a meeting with the families on Saturday.
The Australian and Malaysian governments said on Friday the search area had been changed following further analysis of radar data that showed the plane had been travelling faster, thus burning more fuel.
This would reduce the possible distance the aircraft travelled south into the Indian Ocean, officials said.
Search efforts had until Friday morning focused on an area some 1,550 miles to the south-west of the Australian city of Perth.
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A New Zealand plane has identified “objects” in the new area of the Indian Ocean being searched for missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, Australian officials say.
The sightings would need confirmation by ship, which is not expected until tomorrow, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) said.
Earlier it was announced the search would now focus on an area 700 miles north-east of the previous zone.
Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 disappeared on March 8 with 239 people on board.
A New Zealand plane has identified “objects” in the new area of the Indian Ocean being searched for missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 (photo Reuters)
The identity of the objects – spotted by a Royal New Zealand Air Force Orion – were “to be established”, AMSA said.
The crew said they had spotted 11 unidentified objects.
The images hold out the prospect of up-to-date information, as opposed to satellite images which are invariably days out of date by the time they are seen by investigators.
Earlier, the Australian and Malaysian governments said the focus on the new search area was based on further analysis of radar data that showed the plane had been travelling faster, thus burning more fuel.
Search efforts had until Friday morning focused on an area some 1,550 miles to the south-west of the Australian city of Perth.
Malaysian officials have concluded that, based on satellite data, the missing plane flew into the sea somewhere in the southern Indian Ocean. So far no trace of it has been found.
Using satellite images, several nations have identified objects floating in the sea in that search area, but these have not been located and there is no evidence that they are related to the plane.
Acting Malaysian Transport Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said that the fact that the search area had moved did not discount the earlier satellite images of possible debris further south.
“Because of ocean drift, this new search area could still be consistent with the potential objects identified by various satellite images over the past week,” Hishammuddin Hussein said.
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A Thai satellite has identified about 300 floating objects close to the spot where investigators believe Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 crashed.
The objects were spotted by the Thaichote – or Thailand Earth Observation Satellite – a representative at the Geo Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA) told NBC News.
About 300 floating objects close to the spot where Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 crashed have been spotted by a Thai satellite (photo GISTDA)
GISTDA posted the images on its website, saying they had been taken on Monday – the day after a French satellite saw 122 potential objects floating in the southern Indian Ocean.
The images put the objects about 125 miles southwest of the suspected crash site, GISTDA’s executive director Anond Snidvongs told reporters in Bangkok, according to the Straits Times.
Anond Snidvongs said the images were being passed to ministers in Thailand’s interim government, who would in turn submit them to Malaysia.
GISTDA is a state-owned company that reports to Thailand’s defense ministry, its company representative told NBC News.
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA), which is coordinating the international air and sea search of the southern Indian Ocean, referred queries about the images to Thailand.
There was no immediate word from Malaysian investigators, who earlier cancelled their daily news briefing in Kuala Lumpur.
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A satellite has identified further 122 objects potentially from the missing flight MH370, Malaysia’s acting transport minister has said.
The images, taken on March 23, showed objects up to 75ft in length, Hishammuddin Hussein said.
All aircraft taking part in Wednesday’s search have now left the area without identifying debris from the plane.
Flight MH370 from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing disappeared on March 8 with 239 people on board.
The objects were found in satellite images from a 250 sq miles area around 1588 miles from Perth in Western Australia, Hishammuddin Hussein said.
He said that it was not possible to tell whether the potential objects were from the missing aircraft, but called them “another new lead that will help direct the search operation”.
The images were supplied by French-based Airbus Defense and Space and were given to the Malaysian Remote Sensing Agency on 25 March, Hishammuddin Hussein said.
The images were passed on to the Australian Rescue and Co-ordination Centre in Perth on Tuesday, he added.
Further 122 objects potentially from the missing Malaysian Airlines plane have been identified by satellite
The latest images are the fourth known collection of satellite pictures showing possible debris in the southern Indian Ocean. No pieces have yet been recovered in the search area, which has now been split into an east and west section.
The transport minister said Malaysia Airlines was “now taking a lead in communicating with the families” and would be conducting its own press conferences.
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA), co-ordinating the search, said that all aircraft involved had left the area without finding objects from the plane.
It said seven military and five civilian planes had taken part and a total of six countries were now involved – Australia, New Zealand, the US, Japan, China and the South Korea.
The commander of the Chinese search operation, Dong Yan, said his ships were still looking for an object spotted by a plane earlier on Wednesday.
“The focus is on searching for floating objects, oil slicks, floating parts of the external layer of the plane and people that may have fallen into the water,” he told Chinese television.
Australian authorities said on Wednesday that three more objects had earlier been spotted by a civilian aircraft involved in the search.
However, it could not be confirmed whether they were related to the missing aircraft.
The search for debris from the missing plane is taking place in one of the world’s remotest regions.
If debris confirmed to be from the plane is found, the search area will narrow further.
However, experts say the aircraft’s locator beacons, which will help guide ships to the wreckage, now have less than two weeks of battery life remaining.
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Families of Chinese passengers on board the missing Malaysia Airlines plane have clashed with police outside Malaysia’s embassy in Beijing.
It came after Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak said a new analysis of satellite data showed the plane had ended its journey in remote seas south-west of Australia.
China has asked to see the data on which Malaysia’s conclusion was based.
The search for missing flight MH370 has been suspended because of bad weather.
Malaysia Airlines disappeared on March 8 as it flew from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing with 239 people on board, including 153 Chinese nationals.
In Beijing, relatives of the passengers released a statement accusing the Malaysian government of trying to “delay, distort and hide the truth”.
Dozens then left their Beijing hotel on a protest bound for the Malaysian embassy. Police stopped their buses from leaving, so they got off and walked to the diplomatic mission.
Families of Chinese passengers on board the missing Malaysia Airlines plane have clashed with police outside Malaysia’s embassy in Beijing
Scuffles broke out as protesters threw water bottles and tried to storm the building, demanding to meet the ambassador.
Meanwhile acting Malaysian Transport Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said the latest analysis of satellite data showed a final automatic signal – known as a “handshake” or “ping” – that was still being investigated.
“There is evidence of a partial handshake between the aircraft and ground station at 0019 UTC [GMT],” he told a news conference on Tuesday.
“At this time, this transmission is not understood and is subject to further ongoing work.”
If confirmed, this signal would have been sent more than seven hours after contact with air traffic control was lost, and eight minutes after the last confirmed handshake.
A multinational search effort has focused on seas some 1,500 miles to the south-west of the Australian city of Perth.
Malaysian PM Najib Razak said on Monday it had to be concluded “with deep sadness and regret” that “flight MH370 ended in the southern Indian Ocean”.
Najib Raszak said the conclusion the plane was lost was based on new satellite analysis by British firm Inmarsat and information from the UK’s Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB).
However, Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister Xie Hangsheng issued a statement saying: “We demand the Malaysian side state the detailed evidence that leads them to this judgement, as well as supply all the relevant information and evidence about the satellite data analysis.
“The search and rescue work cannot stop now. We demand the Malaysian side continue to finish all the work including search and rescue.”
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The search for the missing Malaysia Airlines plane has been suspended because of bad weather, Australian officials say.
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) said high winds and rain meant planes could not fly safely.
Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak says satellite data showed the plane ended its journey in remote seas west of Australia.
In Beijing relatives of passengers clashed with police outside Malaysia’s embassy, as China asked to see data on which Malaysia’s conclusion was based.
About 200 relatives marched to the diplomatic mission, with scuffles breaking out as they confronted security personnel.
Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 disappeared on March 8 as it flew from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing. It was carrying a total of 239 people, including 153 Chinese nationals.
A multinational search effort has focused on seas some 1,500 miles to the southwest of the Australian city of Perth.
In a news conference late on Monday, Malaysian PM Najib Razak said it had to be concluded “with deep sadness and regret” that according to new data “flight MH370 ended in the southern Indian Ocean”.
Speaking to media on Tuesday, Malaysia Airlines CEO Ahmad Jauhari Yahya said: “We do not know why, we do not know how this terrible tragedy happened.”
But he added: “The announcement made last night and shared with families is the reality that we must now accept.”
The search for the missing Malaysia Airlines plane has been suspended because of bad weather
Malaysia Airlines Chairman Mohammed Nor Yusof described the situation as “an unprecedented event requiring an unprecedented response”.
“The investigation under way may yet prove to be even longer and more complex than it has been since March 8,” he said.
“But we will continue to support the families as we have done throughout, and to support the authorities as the search for definitive answers continues.”
Planes from several nations have been scouring waters far off Perth for signs of the missing plane, in a search co-ordinated by Australia.
There have been several sightings of debris, but none have yet been confirmed as linked to the plane.
In its statement, AMSA said it had undertaken a risk assessment “and determined that the current weather conditions would make any air and sea search activities hazardous and pose a risk to crew”.
“Therefore, AMSA has suspended all sea and air search operations for today due to these weather conditions,” it said.
Australia’s Defense Minister David Johnston said search efforts were unlikely to start again for “at least another 24 hours”.
David Johnston described the search as a “massive logistical exercise” in an “extremely remote” part of the world.
Mark Binskin, vice-chief of the Australian Defense Force, said: “We’re not searching for a needle in a haystack. We’re still trying to define where the haystack is.”
China, meanwhile, has asked Malaysia to hand over the data that led it to conclude the plane had flown into the sea.
“We demand the Malaysian side state the detailed evidence that leads them to this judgement as well as supply all the relevant information and evidence about the satellite data analysis,” Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister Xie Hangsheng said, according to a statement on the ministry’s website.
“The search and rescue work cannot stop now. We demand the Malaysian side continue to finish all the work including search and rescue,” he added.
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Malaysia Airlines officials defended their handling of the notification of family members on the presumed final fate of missing Flight MH370.
At a press conference held in Kuala Lumpur airport, Malaysia Airlines Group CEO Ahmad Jauhari Yahya first gave his condolences to the family members of the passengers and noted: “It must be remembered that 13 of our own colleagues were also on board.”
Malaysia Airlines officials defended their handling of the notification of family members on the presumed final fate of missing Flight MH370
Regarding the text messages that some relatives got from the airline on Monday, Jauhari Yahya said Malaysia Airlines’ “sole motivation” was to make sure the victims’ families “heard the news before the world did”.
“Wherever humanly possible, we did so in person with the families or by telephone, using SMS as the last resort,” Jauhari Yahya said.
Malaysia Airlines officials also said that preparations were being made to provide the families with more than the $5,000 they were already set to receive as compensation, and to shuttle families to the recovery zone in Australia when possible.
Malaysian officials also noted some 40 extra “caregivers” have been trained to assist the passengers’ families.
Australian officials earlier had said that visas for family members looking to be as close to the search zone as possible would be expedited.
Meanwhile, when asked if they would resign in the wake of the handling of the investigation, Malaysia Airlines officials said they were considering it, but it was a personal decision.
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Malaysia’s PM Najib Razak has announced on the basis of new analysis it must be concluded that missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 ended in the southern Indian Ocean.
Najib Razak said: “It is with deep sadness and regret, that according to this new data, flight MH370 ended in the southern Indian Ocean.”
Malaysia’s PM Najib Razak has announced on the basis of new analysis it must be concluded that missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 ended in the southern Indian Ocean
The prime minister said Malaysia Airlines had informed the families of the 239 passengers and crew.
Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 went missing after taking off from Kuala Lumpur on March 8.
The announcement came as the search effort in the southern Indian Ocean completed a fifth day of operations.
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According to new reports, an Australian plane has spotted two objects in the hunt for the missing Malaysia Airlines jet, and a ship has arrived in the area to find them.
The objects could be picked up in the southern Indian Ocean in a few hours, Malaysia’s transport minister said.
One object was circular and grey or green, and the other rectangular and orange, Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott said.
An Australian plane has spotted two objects in the hunt for the missing Malaysia Airlines jet
Tony Abbott said it was not known whether the objects were from flight MH370, and could be flotsam.
The two objects were different, the prime minister said, from several white, square-shaped objects spotted earlier by Chinese military planes.
“The Australian Maritime Safety Authority [AMSA] has advised that objects have been located by a Royal Australian Air Force P3 Orion. And I can advise the House that HMAS Success is on scene and is attempting to locate and recover these objects,” Tony Abbott told the Australian parliament.
Investigators could be closer to resolving “one of the great mysteries of our time”, the prime minister added.
Speaking at a daily news briefing in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysian Transport Minister Hishammuddin Hussein confirmed the missing airliner had been carrying wooden pallets, but said there was no connection yet to a reported Australian sighting of pallets floating in the search zone.
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Suspicious objects have been spotted in the southern Indian Ocean by a Chinese plane hunting for the missing Malaysia Airlines jet as more nations joined the search, China’s state media say.
Searchers saw two “relatively big” objects with “many white smaller ones scattered within a radius of several kilometres”, Xinhua news agency said.
Australia said it had been informed and would try to locate the objects.
Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 disappeared on March 8 while en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing, with 239 people on board.
Ten planes were scheduled to scour the southern Indian Ocean area on Monday for possible debris picked up earlier by radar echoes and satellite imagery.
Two Chinese military planes flew out to the search area, around 1,550 miles south-west of Australian city Perth, on Monday morning, while two Japanese P-3 Orion aircraft set off later in the day.
A Chinese plane hunting for the missing Malaysia Airlines plane has spotted “suspicious” objects
They joined six other planes, including US and Australian military planes, in searching a 26,000 sq miles area in the ocean.
An Australian navy ship is already in the area, while several Chinese ships are also on their way.
“When two of our IL-76 planes were searching the relevant suspected sea area, one of the planes photographed white, square floating objects,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei told reporters at a regular press briefing.
“At present we are unable to confirm whether the floating objects are related to the missing passenger jet,” he said, adding that China was currently analyzing the photographs.
The IL-76 crew has given co-ordinates of the objects to the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA), as well as China’s ice-breaker Xue Long, which is heading to the area, Xinhua news agency says.
AMSA, which is co-ordinating search efforts, said in a statement it “was advised about the reported objects sighted by a Chinese aircraft.
“The reported objects are within today’s search area and attempts will be made to relocate them.”
However, the US Navy P8 Poseidon plane tasked with investigating the reported sightings was unable to relocate the objects, AMSA said later on its Twitter feed.
Earlier, the authority had warned that weather conditions in the search area were expected to deteriorate.
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A French satellite spotted potential debris from missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 in the southern Indian Ocean, France’s foreign ministry says.
Radar echoes had picked up several objects about 1,430 miles from Perth, a statement added.
It is the third possible sighting in the area off western Australia that has become the focus of the search effort.
Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 disappeared on March 8 while en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing, with 239 people on board.
Malaysian officials believe the plane was deliberately taken off course.
Based on information received from a satellite, the search has been in two distinct corridors – one stretching to the north-west of the last known location in the Malacca Straits and one to the south-west.
However, none of the countries on the northern corridor have reported any radar contact, and the satellite images of possible debris in the south Indian Ocean have concentrated the search there.
On Sunday, a statement published on the Malaysian ministry of transport’s Facebook page said: “This morning, Malaysia received new satellite images from the French authorities showing potential objects in the vicinity of the southern corridor.
French satellite spotted potential debris from missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 in the southern Indian Ocean
“Malaysia immediately relayed these images to the Australian rescue co-ordination centre.”
An unnamed Malaysian official told the Associated Press that the new satellite image was taken on Friday, and that one of the potential objects was estimated to be about the same size as one spotted by a Chinese satellite that appeared to be 72ft by 13m 43ft.
The possible debris was located about 575 miles north of where the objects reported by China and Australia over the past week, the official added.
A French foreign ministry statement said the objects were about 1,437 miles from Perth, but did not give a direction or say when the discovery was made.
It also clarified that the French authorities had passed on data in the form of “satellite-generated radar echoes” rather than images. Radar works by sending out radio waves or microwaves and listening for echoes that bounce back.
“France has decided to mobilize complementary satellite means to continue the search in the identified zone,” the ministry statement added.
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) subsequently announced that that the search operation in the southern Indian Ocean had concluded for the day.
“There were no sightings of significance,” a statement said.
“The search area experienced early sea fog particularly in the western areas, however conditions improved during the day.”
AMSA said the four military and four civilian aircraft involved in Sunday’s search effort had covered a total of 22, 780 sq miles south-west of Perth. Chinese military Ilyushin IL-76 aircraft and Japanese P-3C Orion aircraft would join the search on Monday, it added.
HMAS Success, an Australian navy supply ship, also took part in Sunday’s operation.
A key focus on Sunday was the sighting on Saturday of a wooden cargo pallet, along with belts or straps.
Mike Barton, operations co-ordinator at AMSA, said: “Part of the description was a wooden pallet and a number of other items which were nondescript around it and some belts of some different colours around it as well, strapping belts of different lengths.”
He added: “We tried to re-find that yesterday, one of the New Zealand aircraft, and unfortunately they didn’t find it. That’s the nature of it – you only have to be off by a few hundred metres in a fast-travelling aircraft.”
Pallets are used for shipping as well as plane cargo and Mike Barton urged caution, saying the sighting “could be anything”.
Earlier, Australian PM Tony Abbott said the sightings of objects were encouraging signs.
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The international search of the south Indian Ocean for missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 has been increased with more planes.
Eight planes were sent out on Sunday over a wider search area after China released new images of possible debris.
Australia is leading the search and said it was investigating sightings of a wooden pallet and other items.
Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 disappeared on March 8 en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing, with 239 people on board.
Malaysian officials believe the plane was deliberately taken off course.
Based on information received from a satellite, the search has been in two distinct corridors – one stretching to the north-west of the last known location in the Malacca Straits and one to the south-west.
More planes have joined an increasingly international search of the south Indian Ocean for missing flight MH370
However, none of the countries on the northern corridor have reported any radar contact, and two sets of satellite images of possible debris in the south Indian Ocean have concentrated the search there.
The search is being co-ordinated by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) from Perth in western Australia.
Eight search planes were involved in the search on Sunday, including four civil aircraft and a US P8 Poseidon.
Two Chinese IL-76 search planes have arrived in Perth but have not yet been deployed. Japan is sending two P3 Orions.
The Australian navy’s HMAS Success is the only ship in the area, though others, including from the US, UK and China are on the way.
A key focus on Sunday was the sighting on Saturday of a wooden cargo pallet, along with belts or straps.
Mike Barton, operations coordinator at AMSA, said: “Part of the description was a wooden pallet and a number of other items which were nondescript around it and some belts of some different colors around it as well, strapping belts of different lengths.”
He added: “We tried to re-find that yesterday, one of the New Zealand aircraft, and unfortunately they didn’t find it. That’s the nature of it – you only have to be off by a few hundred metres in a fast-travelling aircraft.”
Pallets are used for shipping as well as plane cargo and Mike Barton cautioned the sighting “could be anything”.
AMSA released a statement on Sunday’s search, detailing the aircraft involved and saying the area would cover about 22,800 square miles.
Mike Barton said the sun and haze at a low altitude made the task for searchers tough.
The weather on Sunday was initially cloudy but it was hoped it might clear later.
Earlier, Australian PM Tony Abbott said the sightings of objects were encouraging signs.
“Obviously we have now had a number of very credible leads and there is increasing hope – no more than hope, no more than hope – that we might be on the road to discovering what did happen to this ill-fated aircraft,” he said.
China on Saturday released a satellite image showing an object floating in the southern Indian Ocean near to the area already being searched, some 1,550 miles south-west of Perth.
The grainy image was released by China’s State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense.
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According to Malaysian officials, China is investigating new satellite images of debris in the southern Indian Ocean, potentially from missing flight MH370.
Malaysia’s Acting Transport Minister Hishammuddin Hussein read out the news as he was handed it during at his daily briefing, saying one element of debris was 30m by 22m.
He said the Chinese government would give more details on Saturday.
Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 dropped out of contact an hour after leaving Kuala Lumpur for Beijing on March 8 carrying 239 people.
Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 dropped out of contact an hour after leaving Kuala Lumpur for Beijing on March 8 carrying 239 people
Hishammuddin Hussein broke off the question and answer segment of his briefing in Kuala Lumpur to say: “The news that I just received is that the Chinese ambassador received satellite image of floating objects in the southern corridor and they will be sending ships to verify.”
He added: “Beijing is expected to make an announcement in a few hours.”
China is one of 26 nations involved in the search for flight MH370. Most of those on board the plane were Chinese nationals.
Planes and vessels are already searching the southern Indian Ocean following earlier satellite images this week that detected possible debris 1,550 miles south-west of Perth in Australia.
No debris of missing Malaysia Airlines jet have been found in the southern Indian Ocean as the second day of an international search ended.
The operation is due to resume on Saturday with extra vessels joining the search, Australian officials say.
Five aircraft took part in Friday’s search for flight MH370, which vanished on March 8 with 239 people on board.
Satellite images have revealed objects possibly related to the plane in waters far south-west of Western Australia.
Bad weather had initially hampered Thursday’s operation, but conditions improved on Friday.
Experts have warned that the searchers face extremely treacherous seas and that a recovery operation would be very dangerous.
Operations were halted on Friday at nightfall , the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) confirmed. It added that an Australian navy ship, the HMAS Success, was on its way to the search area.
In an earlier press conference, Malaysian authorities said the vessel was expected to “reach the vicinity of the objects tomorrow [Saturday]”.
Other countries deploying additional assets included China, Japan and the United Kingdom, Malaysian Transport Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said.
Five aircraft took part in Friday’s search for flight MH370
Hishammuddin Hussein added that a French delegation was also assisting “with their considerable experience and expertise”.
The team “includes a man who led the investigation into the Air France (Flight) 447 crash”, he said.
Australian PM Tony Abbott earlier described the search as “a gut-wrenching business for so many people, not least those who are charged with keeping their citizens safe”.
The prime minister said: “If there is anything down there, we will find it.”
“It’s about the most inaccessible spot that you can imagine on the face of the earth, but if there is anything down there, we will find it,” said Tony Abbott, who is currently visiting Papua New Guinea.
“We owe it to the families of those people (on board) to do no less.”
But he also cautioned that the objects spotted by the satellites could be unrelated to the plane.
Flight MH370 was flying from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing when it lost contact with air traffic controllers and disappeared from radar.
Satellite data has led to a search in two corridors to the north and south of its last known location in the Malacca Straits – the opposite direction from its flight path.
Malaysian officials say they believe the plane was intentionally diverted. Authorities in many countries have scrutinized the backgrounds of both passengers and crew on board but say they have no substantive leads.
Other reports of debris to date have proved not to be linked to the missing plane.
Four military planes, including three Orions belonging to the Royal Australian Air Force, were taking part in the search, AMSA said. A civilian Bombardier Global Express is also involved.
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The international air search in the Indian Ocean for possible debris from the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 has ended for the day, officials have said.
As night fell, Australia, New Zealand and the US said bad weather hampered their efforts in the area 1,550 miles south-west of Perth.
Four planes were trying to check whether two objects seen on satellite images were debris from flight MH370.
The Kuala Lumpur-Beijing plane with 239 people on board disappeared on March 8.
It first lost contact with air traffic controllers and then disappeared from radar.
Footage shows an Australian Air Force P-3 Orion over the new search area.
Four planes were trying to check whether two objects seen on satellite images were debris from flight MH370 (photo EPA)
A statement by Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) said the four planes searched the vast area without success.
“The search will continue on Friday,” it said.
Two Australian Orion aircraft searching the area on Thursday were joined later by aircraft from the US and New Zealand.
AMSA said the aircraft had covered an area of 14,000 square miles.
The captain of the first Australian air force AP-3C Orion plane to return from the search area described the weather conditions as “extremely bad” with rough seas and high winds.
David Wright, an ABC News reporter who was on the P-8 Poseidon, said all the sophisticated plane had spotted was “a freighter and two pods of dolphins”.
A Norwegian merchant ship, the St Petersburg, has also arrived in the area after responding to a shipping broadcast issued by Australia’s rescue co-ordination centre.
It will be joined by an Australian naval vessel, HMAS Success and Britain’s HMS Echo coastal survey ship.
Earlier on Thursday, Malaysian Transport Minister Hishammuddin Hussein described the possible sighting of debris on satellite images taken on March 16 as a “credible lead”.
The largest object appeared to be 78ft in size, the Australian authorities said.
A number of sightings of possible debris have been investigated since the plane went missing but so far none have proved to be linked.
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