New satellite images show 122 objects floating in the southern Indian Ocean.
KUALA LUMPUR: Investigators scouring for the missing MH370, which disappeared 18 days ago, have made a major breakthrough in locating the runaway jet with the emergence of new satellite images showing hundreds of floating objects in the Southern Indian Ocean, where the jetliner is suspected to have crashed.
Acting Transport Minister Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said latest satellite images have been verified by the Malaysian Remote Sensing Agency and sent to the Australian Rescue Co-ordination Centre in Perth for search efforts in southern Indian Ocean.
He said that the images were taken on March 23 and handed over to Malaysia on March 25. He said that the new images were from Airbus Defence and Space, which is based in France.
The minister said a total 122 potential objects measuring from 1 metre to 23 metres in length have been found some 2,557 km south of Perth.
“This is the most credible lead that we have,” said Hishammuddin.
“MRSA analysed the images and – in one area of the ocean measuring some 400 square kilometres – were able to identify 122 potential objects.
“Some objects were a metre in length; others were as much as 23 metres in length. Some of the objects appeared to be bright, possibly indicating solid materials.
“The objects were located approximately 2,557 kilometres from Perth,” he added.
He said that there were now four separate satellite leads – from Australia, China and France, showing possible debris.
He added it was imperative to link the debris to MH370.
“This will enable us to further reduce the search area, and locate more debris from the plane.
“It must be emphasized that we cannot tell whether the potential objects are from MH370. Nevertheless, this is another new lead that will help direct the search operation,” he added.
International working group
Hishammuddin also announced that an international working group has been established to try and refine more accurately the final position of MH370 in the Indian Ocean.
The agencies involved in this working group include satellite providers Inmarsat, the UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch, the Chinese CAAC and AAID, National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration from the US, MH370 makers Boeing, the airplane’s engine providers Rolls Royce as well as the relevant Malaysian authorities.
Meanwhile, Australia which is leading the search effort in the southern Indian Ocean has divided the search area into two sectors, East and West.
“Twelve planes will travel to the search area; six in the East sector and six in the West.”
In the East sector, searches will be conducted by one Australian P3 Orion, three Australian civilian aircraft, one Chinese Ilyushin IL-76 and one New Zealand P3 Orion.
Chinese ship ‘Xue Long’ has today been deployed to the East sector.
In the West sector, searches will be conducted by one US P8 Poseidon, one Korean P3 Orion, one Japanese P3 Orion, two Australian P3 Orions, and one civilian aircraft. Two ships will also join the search operations.
‘HMAS Success’ which was redeployed to the south of the search area due to bad weather will also support the search operation in the West sector.
A Japanese Coast Guard Gulfstream aircraft which left Subang this morning for Perth has also joined the search operation.
Closure
Hishammuddin stressed that the new satellite images continue to provide clues in the search for MH370.
“With improved weather conditions, aircraft are now able to investigate objects of interest.
“Our determination to find MH370 remains steadfast. As we have said all along, we will never give up trying to find the plane in order to bring closure for the families, and to establish exactly what happened to MH370.”
He however refused to answer a question if this was solely as search effort or a search and rescue mission.
MH370 disappeared from the radar on March 8 while on its journey from KLIA to Beijing, carrying 239 passengers and crew members.
Investigators found that the plane’s communications and transponder were deliberately disabled, and the plane flying away from its original journey towards the Indian Ocean.
Acting Transport Minister Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said latest satellite images have been verified by the Malaysian Remote Sensing Agency and sent to the Australian Rescue Co-ordination Centre in Perth for search efforts in southern Indian Ocean.
He said that the images were taken on March 23 and handed over to Malaysia on March 25. He said that the new images were from Airbus Defence and Space, which is based in France.
The minister said a total 122 potential objects measuring from 1 metre to 23 metres in length have been found some 2,557 km south of Perth.
“This is the most credible lead that we have,” said Hishammuddin.
“MRSA analysed the images and – in one area of the ocean measuring some 400 square kilometres – were able to identify 122 potential objects.
“Some objects were a metre in length; others were as much as 23 metres in length. Some of the objects appeared to be bright, possibly indicating solid materials.
“The objects were located approximately 2,557 kilometres from Perth,” he added.
He said that there were now four separate satellite leads – from Australia, China and France, showing possible debris.
He added it was imperative to link the debris to MH370.
“This will enable us to further reduce the search area, and locate more debris from the plane.
“It must be emphasized that we cannot tell whether the potential objects are from MH370. Nevertheless, this is another new lead that will help direct the search operation,” he added.
International working group
Hishammuddin also announced that an international working group has been established to try and refine more accurately the final position of MH370 in the Indian Ocean.
The agencies involved in this working group include satellite providers Inmarsat, the UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch, the Chinese CAAC and AAID, National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration from the US, MH370 makers Boeing, the airplane’s engine providers Rolls Royce as well as the relevant Malaysian authorities.
Meanwhile, Australia which is leading the search effort in the southern Indian Ocean has divided the search area into two sectors, East and West.
“Twelve planes will travel to the search area; six in the East sector and six in the West.”
In the East sector, searches will be conducted by one Australian P3 Orion, three Australian civilian aircraft, one Chinese Ilyushin IL-76 and one New Zealand P3 Orion.
Chinese ship ‘Xue Long’ has today been deployed to the East sector.
In the West sector, searches will be conducted by one US P8 Poseidon, one Korean P3 Orion, one Japanese P3 Orion, two Australian P3 Orions, and one civilian aircraft. Two ships will also join the search operations.
‘HMAS Success’ which was redeployed to the south of the search area due to bad weather will also support the search operation in the West sector.
A Japanese Coast Guard Gulfstream aircraft which left Subang this morning for Perth has also joined the search operation.
Closure
Hishammuddin stressed that the new satellite images continue to provide clues in the search for MH370.
“With improved weather conditions, aircraft are now able to investigate objects of interest.
“Our determination to find MH370 remains steadfast. As we have said all along, we will never give up trying to find the plane in order to bring closure for the families, and to establish exactly what happened to MH370.”
He however refused to answer a question if this was solely as search effort or a search and rescue mission.
MH370 disappeared from the radar on March 8 while on its journey from KLIA to Beijing, carrying 239 passengers and crew members.
Investigators found that the plane’s communications and transponder were deliberately disabled, and the plane flying away from its original journey towards the Indian Ocean.
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