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| Australia spots objects possibly tied to missing Malaysia Airlines plane | Australia spots objects possibly tied to missing Malaysia Airlines plane |
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| KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Australia’s prime minister said Thursday that two objects that may be pieces of a missing Malaysia Airlines passenger jet have been spotted in the southern Indian Ocean. | KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Australia’s prime minister said Thursday that two objects that may be pieces of a missing Malaysia Airlines passenger jet have been spotted in the southern Indian Ocean. |
| Prime Minister Tony Abbott told the Australian Parliament in Canberra that “new and credible information has come to light” in the search for Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370, with images of two objects gleaned from satellite imagery. | Prime Minister Tony Abbott told the Australian Parliament in Canberra that “new and credible information has come to light” in the search for Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370, with images of two objects gleaned from satellite imagery. |
| The images released Thursday showed grainy whitish fragments in the black-blue ocean, thousands of miles from the northern flight path the plane took March 8 en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing with 239 passengers and crew on board. The images were taken by a commercial satellite, according to Australian authorities, and date-stamped March 16. | The images released Thursday showed grainy whitish fragments in the black-blue ocean, thousands of miles from the northern flight path the plane took March 8 en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing with 239 passengers and crew on board. The images were taken by a commercial satellite, according to Australian authorities, and date-stamped March 16. |
| The images were provided by a Colorado-based company, DigitalGlobe, that describes itself as a leading vendor of high-resolution satellite images, aerial photos and geospatial content. | |
| Malaysian Defense Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said the images need to be assessed by experts, while Australian Air Commodore John McGarry said further information is being continuously collected as other satellites pass over the area. | Malaysian Defense Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said the images need to be assessed by experts, while Australian Air Commodore John McGarry said further information is being continuously collected as other satellites pass over the area. |
| “The task of analyzing imagery is quite difficult; it requires drawing down frames and going through frame by frame,” McGarry said. “The moment this imagery was discovered to reveal a possible object that might indicate a debris field, we have passed the information” for action by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority. | “The task of analyzing imagery is quite difficult; it requires drawing down frames and going through frame by frame,” McGarry said. “The moment this imagery was discovered to reveal a possible object that might indicate a debris field, we have passed the information” for action by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority. |
| The AMSA said one Australian and one American surveillance plane had already arrived in the area where the objects were spotted, with two more planes expected to reach the area later. However, poor visibility was hampering the air and satellite effort, and nothing had been spotted by the planes by early evening. | The AMSA said one Australian and one American surveillance plane had already arrived in the area where the objects were spotted, with two more planes expected to reach the area later. However, poor visibility was hampering the air and satellite effort, and nothing had been spotted by the planes by early evening. |
| “The task of locating these objects will be extremely difficult, and it may turn out they are not related to the search for MH370,” Abbott cautioned in his comments to parliament. | “The task of locating these objects will be extremely difficult, and it may turn out they are not related to the search for MH370,” Abbott cautioned in his comments to parliament. |
| Malaysian investigators continue to say the plane was likely deliberately steered off course by somebody, raising scrutiny of the plane’s pilot and co-pilot. The southern Indian Ocean would be a bewildering destination for a hijacker. But it could point to a senseless sabotageor a deadly event that left the plane running unpiloted. Authorities have not ruled out the possibility of mechanical failure. | Malaysian investigators continue to say the plane was likely deliberately steered off course by somebody, raising scrutiny of the plane’s pilot and co-pilot. The southern Indian Ocean would be a bewildering destination for a hijacker. But it could point to a senseless sabotageor a deadly event that left the plane running unpiloted. Authorities have not ruled out the possibility of mechanical failure. |
| Malaysian officials did not provide new information Thursday about their criminal investigation, which is looking at crew, passengers and ground employees who dealt with the plane before its departure. | Malaysian officials did not provide new information Thursday about their criminal investigation, which is looking at crew, passengers and ground employees who dealt with the plane before its departure. |
| John Young, general manager of the AMSA, said one object was roughly 80 feet long. There was another smaller object and “a number of other images in the general area of the biggest one,” he said. | John Young, general manager of the AMSA, said one object was roughly 80 feet long. There was another smaller object and “a number of other images in the general area of the biggest one,” he said. |
| The tail of a Boeing 777-200 is 60 feet high, the plane is 209 feet long, and the wing span is 199 feet. | The tail of a Boeing 777-200 is 60 feet high, the plane is 209 feet long, and the wing span is 199 feet. |
| “The indication to me is of objects that are a reasonable size and probably awash with water, bobbing up and down on the surface,” Young told a news conference in Canberra. | “The indication to me is of objects that are a reasonable size and probably awash with water, bobbing up and down on the surface,” Young told a news conference in Canberra. |
| But he described the satellite images as “indistinct” and warned that other maritime searches had yielded false leads in the past. | But he described the satellite images as “indistinct” and warned that other maritime searches had yielded false leads in the past. |
| Nevertheless, McGarry, director general of Australia’s military strategic commitments, said all available resources in the search effort were being relocated to the area. | Nevertheless, McGarry, director general of Australia’s military strategic commitments, said all available resources in the search effort were being relocated to the area. |
| “Quite simply, it is credible enough to divert the research to the area, on the basis that it provides a promising lead to what might be wreckage from the debris field,” he said. | “Quite simply, it is credible enough to divert the research to the area, on the basis that it provides a promising lead to what might be wreckage from the debris field,” he said. |
| Abbott called his Malaysian counterpart, Najib Razak, on Thursday to relay the news, Hishammuddin told a news conference in Kuala Lumpur. | Abbott called his Malaysian counterpart, Najib Razak, on Thursday to relay the news, Hishammuddin told a news conference in Kuala Lumpur. |
| “We now have a credible lead. There remains much work to deploy these assets, and this work will continue overnight,” he said, adding: “It must be stressed that these sightings, while credible, remain to be confirmed.” | “We now have a credible lead. There remains much work to deploy these assets, and this work will continue overnight,” he said, adding: “It must be stressed that these sightings, while credible, remain to be confirmed.” |
| Australian officials said a nearby merchant ship was sent to the area, while an Australian warship was also on its way but could take several days to arrive. | Australian officials said a nearby merchant ship was sent to the area, while an Australian warship was also on its way but could take several days to arrive. |
| AMSA, the Australian maritime group, later said on its Twitter feed that the first Australian plane was unable to locate the debris because of rain and limited visibility. | AMSA, the Australian maritime group, later said on its Twitter feed that the first Australian plane was unable to locate the debris because of rain and limited visibility. |
| Cmdr. William Marks, a spokesman for the U.S. Navy’s 7th Fleet, also said the U.S. plane had found nothing yet. “We have no indication of debris from the MH370 wreckage,” he wrote in an e-mailed statement. | Cmdr. William Marks, a spokesman for the U.S. Navy’s 7th Fleet, also said the U.S. plane had found nothing yet. “We have no indication of debris from the MH370 wreckage,” he wrote in an e-mailed statement. |
| Adding to the significance of the sighting, the objects were found “in the vicinity” of a search area, roughly amounting to 230,000 square miles, that Australia had identified in collaboration with the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board. | Adding to the significance of the sighting, the objects were found “in the vicinity” of a search area, roughly amounting to 230,000 square miles, that Australia had identified in collaboration with the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board. |
| Earlier this week, after analyzing satellite signals transmitted by the plane and making certain assumptions about its likely speed, Australia and the NTSB were able to dramatically narrow a huge search area that Malaysian authorities gave them in the southern Indian Ocean. | Earlier this week, after analyzing satellite signals transmitted by the plane and making certain assumptions about its likely speed, Australia and the NTSB were able to dramatically narrow a huge search area that Malaysian authorities gave them in the southern Indian Ocean. |
| The objects were found in a remote area of ocean around 1,500 miles southwest of Perth on Australia’s western coast. | The objects were found in a remote area of ocean around 1,500 miles southwest of Perth on Australia’s western coast. |
| In Beijing, several families of passengers gathered at a hotel to watch the Australian news conference live. | In Beijing, several families of passengers gathered at a hotel to watch the Australian news conference live. |
| When they heard the news of debris southwest of Perth, many relatives were so upset that they left the room, not waiting to hear the rest of the news conference. A few were seen leaving the room in tears. | When they heard the news of debris southwest of Perth, many relatives were so upset that they left the room, not waiting to hear the rest of the news conference. A few were seen leaving the room in tears. |
| One younger woman coming out the briefing held her hands up to her chest and bent over as though about to throw up. An older woman rushed to her side to help her get up and back to her room. | One younger woman coming out the briefing held her hands up to her chest and bent over as though about to throw up. An older woman rushed to her side to help her get up and back to her room. |
| With so little known about the fate of the plane, some relatives have held out hope that the jet could be intact, perhaps hijacked and diverted to a remote location. | With so little known about the fate of the plane, some relatives have held out hope that the jet could be intact, perhaps hijacked and diverted to a remote location. |
| A relative, who asked to speak anonymously, urged a reporter to tell Australian authorities to send ships with rescue equipment in addition to search vessels. The passengers, he insisted, could still somehow be alive, and he was not ready to give up hope. | A relative, who asked to speak anonymously, urged a reporter to tell Australian authorities to send ships with rescue equipment in addition to search vessels. The passengers, he insisted, could still somehow be alive, and he was not ready to give up hope. |
| Young said it was not unusual to find debris in the ocean, including containers from ships, for example, that had fallen overboard. But he said these images were “probably the best lead we have.” | Young said it was not unusual to find debris in the ocean, including containers from ships, for example, that had fallen overboard. But he said these images were “probably the best lead we have.” |
| “On this occasion, the size and the fact that there are a number of objects located in the same area really makes it worth looking at,” he said. “The objects are relatively indistinct on the imagery. I don’t profess to be an expert in assessing the imagery. Those who are experts indicate they’re credible sightings.” | “On this occasion, the size and the fact that there are a number of objects located in the same area really makes it worth looking at,” he said. “The objects are relatively indistinct on the imagery. I don’t profess to be an expert in assessing the imagery. Those who are experts indicate they’re credible sightings.” |
| But he emphasized that it was too early to draw any conclusions from the images, and it could take considerable time even to locate the objects again. | But he emphasized that it was too early to draw any conclusions from the images, and it could take considerable time even to locate the objects again. |
| “The weather is not playing the game for us. We may get a sighting, we may not,” he added. “But we’ll continue to do this until we find the objects, or we are convinced that we cannot.” | “The weather is not playing the game for us. We may get a sighting, we may not,” he added. “But we’ll continue to do this until we find the objects, or we are convinced that we cannot.” |
| The Malaysia Airlines plane vanished in the early hours of March 8 in what has become one of the biggest aviation mysteries in history. Investigators believe it was deliberately flown off course. | The Malaysia Airlines plane vanished in the early hours of March 8 in what has become one of the biggest aviation mysteries in history. Investigators believe it was deliberately flown off course. |
| The objects spotted by Australia lie at the far southern end of a sweeping arc in which authorities estimated the plane might have made its last satellite transmission. If the objects prove to be from the plane, it will mean that MH370 took a route nearly opposite that of its intended flight path — rather than flying to Beijing, it cut west across Malaysia and then turned south toward the remoteness of the Indian Ocean. The plane likely would have cruised south until running out of fuel. | The objects spotted by Australia lie at the far southern end of a sweeping arc in which authorities estimated the plane might have made its last satellite transmission. If the objects prove to be from the plane, it will mean that MH370 took a route nearly opposite that of its intended flight path — rather than flying to Beijing, it cut west across Malaysia and then turned south toward the remoteness of the Indian Ocean. The plane likely would have cruised south until running out of fuel. |
| Even if the first pieces of the plane are found, answers may be slow to come. In the 2009 case of Air France Flight 447, the first evidence of a crash was spotted five days after the plane disappearance over the southern Atlantic Ocean. But searchers still needed two more years to locate the black box in a deep-sea trawl that cost tens of millions of dollars. | Even if the first pieces of the plane are found, answers may be slow to come. In the 2009 case of Air France Flight 447, the first evidence of a crash was spotted five days after the plane disappearance over the southern Atlantic Ocean. But searchers still needed two more years to locate the black box in a deep-sea trawl that cost tens of millions of dollars. |
| Young said the water in the area was several thousand yards deep, while Hishammuddin warned that even if the debris was found to be from the Malaysia Airlines plane, finding the wreckage would not be easy. He said he had talked on Thursday with French investigators involved in the effort to find the Air France plane. | Young said the water in the area was several thousand yards deep, while Hishammuddin warned that even if the debris was found to be from the Malaysia Airlines plane, finding the wreckage would not be easy. He said he had talked on Thursday with French investigators involved in the effort to find the Air France plane. |
| “Conditions in the Indian Ocean are very similar to the Atlantic,” he said. “We are now going into the realm of trying to find the black box. Sonar technology, different assets will have to be deployed. We will address that when the time comes.” | “Conditions in the Indian Ocean are very similar to the Atlantic,” he said. “We are now going into the realm of trying to find the black box. Sonar technology, different assets will have to be deployed. We will address that when the time comes.” |
| Earlier potential sightings in the search, now in its 13th day, have proven to be false leads, including debris spotted by Vietnam and large objects discovered by Chinese satellites. In both of those cases, the objects were in waters much closer to Malaysia — in areas that officials here now say the plane was unlikely to have gone. | Earlier potential sightings in the search, now in its 13th day, have proven to be false leads, including debris spotted by Vietnam and large objects discovered by Chinese satellites. In both of those cases, the objects were in waters much closer to Malaysia — in areas that officials here now say the plane was unlikely to have gone. |
| Around 26 countries have been involved in a search effort that has spanned vast tracts of central and southeast Asia, as well as huge swaths of the Indian Ocean and South China Sea. | Around 26 countries have been involved in a search effort that has spanned vast tracts of central and southeast Asia, as well as huge swaths of the Indian Ocean and South China Sea. |
| Even as the search gathered pace in the southern Indian Ocean, Hishammuddin said it was continuing over land in Asia, from Vietnam and Laos through China to Kazakhstan. Over the sea, 25 aircraft from 10 countries, 18 ships from four countries and six ship-borne helicopters were involved, he said. | Even as the search gathered pace in the southern Indian Ocean, Hishammuddin said it was continuing over land in Asia, from Vietnam and Laos through China to Kazakhstan. Over the sea, 25 aircraft from 10 countries, 18 ships from four countries and six ship-borne helicopters were involved, he said. |
| The search Thursday for the new debris involved a U.S. Navy P-8 Poseidon plane, along with two Australian Orions and a New Zealand Orion. | The search Thursday for the new debris involved a U.S. Navy P-8 Poseidon plane, along with two Australian Orions and a New Zealand Orion. |
| An Australian C-130 Hercules will also drop marker buoys in the area so that searchers can model the drift of water, to keep track of where the objects might go. | An Australian C-130 Hercules will also drop marker buoys in the area so that searchers can model the drift of water, to keep track of where the objects might go. |
| The U.S. Poseidon plane can stay aloft for up to nine hours and can drop and monitor sonar buoys that listen for sounds beneath the ocean surface. Even if the plane crashed into the sea, its emergency beacon will send audible signals for about a month before the battery dies. | The U.S. Poseidon plane can stay aloft for up to nine hours and can drop and monitor sonar buoys that listen for sounds beneath the ocean surface. Even if the plane crashed into the sea, its emergency beacon will send audible signals for about a month before the battery dies. |
| William Wan in Beijing contributed to this report. | William Wan in Beijing contributed to this report. |