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| MH370: Malaysia Airlines plane search halts overnight | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| An international air search in the Indian Ocean for possible debris from the missing Malaysia Airlines plane has ended for the day, officials have said. | An international air search in the Indian Ocean for possible debris from the missing Malaysia Airlines plane has ended for the day, officials have said. |
| Australia, New Zealand and the US said bad weather had hampered their efforts in the area 2,500km (1,550 miles) south-west of Perth. | Australia, New Zealand and the US said bad weather had hampered their efforts in the area 2,500km (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. | 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 8 March. | The Kuala Lumpur-Beijing plane with 239 people on board disappeared on 8 March. |
| It first lost contact with air traffic controllers and then disappeared from radar. | It first lost contact with air traffic controllers and then disappeared from radar. |
| Satellite information released | Satellite information released |
| Meanwhile, a British satellite firm has told the BBC there were very strong indications 10 days ago that the 777 Boeing would be found either in the southern part of the Indian Ocean or in Central Asia - and not in the South China Sea or the Malacca Straits where Malaysia had continued to search. | Meanwhile, a British satellite firm has told the BBC there were very strong indications 10 days ago that the 777 Boeing would be found either in the southern part of the Indian Ocean or in Central Asia - and not in the South China Sea or the Malacca Straits where Malaysia had continued to search. |
| London-based Inmarsat said its engineers realised at an early stage that the aircraft had probably flown for several hours on a northern or southern track, and it was very unlikely that the plane could have headed north over countries with sophisticated air defence systems. | London-based Inmarsat said its engineers realised at an early stage that the aircraft had probably flown for several hours on a northern or southern track, and it was very unlikely that the plane could have headed north over countries with sophisticated air defence systems. |
| The company further said that it had informed the Malaysian authorities of the information, through an intermediary company, on 12 March, but this was not publicly acknowledged until 15 March. | The company further said that it had informed the Malaysian authorities of the information, through an intermediary company, on 12 March, but this was not publicly acknowledged until 15 March. |
| Furthermore, the authorities continued to search in the South China Sea and Malacca Straits during that time, despite the information suggesting that the plane had flown on much further. | Furthermore, the authorities continued to search in the South China Sea and Malacca Straits during that time, despite the information suggesting that the plane had flown on much further. |
| The BBC's Andrew Moore says the Malaysian authorities have already come in for criticism from the relatives' families and that these revelations may fuel that anger. | The BBC's Andrew Moore says the Malaysian authorities have already come in for criticism from the relatives' families and that these revelations may fuel that anger. |
| 'Extremely bad' | 'Extremely bad' |
| A statement by Australian Maritime Safety Authority (Amsa) said the four planes had searched the vast area without success. | A statement by Australian Maritime Safety Authority (Amsa) said the four planes had searched the vast area without success. |
| "The search will continue on Friday," it said. | "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. | 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 23,000 sq km (14,000 square miles). | Amsa said the aircraft had covered an area of 23,000 sq km (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. | 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". | 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. | 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 a British coastal survey ship, HMS Echo. | It will be joined by an Australian naval vessel, HMAS Success and a British coastal survey ship, HMS Echo. |
| 'Best lead' | 'Best lead' |
| Earlier on Thursday, Malaysian Transport Minister Hishammuddin Hussein described the possible sighting of debris on satellite images taken on 16 March as a "credible lead". | Earlier on Thursday, Malaysian Transport Minister Hishammuddin Hussein described the possible sighting of debris on satellite images taken on 16 March as a "credible lead". |
| The largest object appeared to be 24m (78ft) in size, the Australian authorities said. | The largest object appeared to be 24m (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. | A number of sightings of possible debris have been investigated since the plane went missing but so far none have proved to be linked. |
| The objects identified in the images were of a "reasonable size", Amsa's general manager John Young said. | The objects identified in the images were of a "reasonable size", Amsa's general manager John Young said. |
| "This is a lead, it is probably the best lead we have right now. But we need to get there, find them, see them, assess them, to know whether it's really meaningful or not." | "This is a lead, it is probably the best lead we have right now. But we need to get there, find them, see them, assess them, to know whether it's really meaningful or not." |
| He warned the objects spotted in the sea could turn out to be unrelated to MH370, possibly items such as containers that had fallen from ships. | He warned the objects spotted in the sea could turn out to be unrelated to MH370, possibly items such as containers that had fallen from ships. |
| "On this particular occasion the size and the fact that there are multiple [objects] located in the same area really makes it worth looking at," Mr Young added. | "On this particular occasion the size and the fact that there are multiple [objects] located in the same area really makes it worth looking at," Mr Young added. |
| Michael Daniel, a former US Federal Aviation Administration official, told Singapore's Straits Times: "If they have a strong feeling or indication that the debris belongs to the aircraft, one of the first things authorities will do is drop sonar buoys in the water. | Michael Daniel, a former US Federal Aviation Administration official, told Singapore's Straits Times: "If they have a strong feeling or indication that the debris belongs to the aircraft, one of the first things authorities will do is drop sonar buoys in the water. |
| "If the black box (flight recorder) is there, the buoys should be able to pick up the signals. This could take up to 48 hours but it all depends on how near or far the ships and other assets are." | "If the black box (flight recorder) is there, the buoys should be able to pick up the signals. This could take up to 48 hours but it all depends on how near or far the ships and other assets are." |
| Satellite signal | Satellite signal |
| Investigators had identified two corridors of territory - one to the north and one to the south - spanning the possible positions of the plane about seven hours after take-off. | Investigators had identified two corridors of territory - one to the north and one to the south - spanning the possible positions of the plane about seven hours after take-off. |
| This was based on its last faint signal to a satellite - an hourly "handshake" broadcast even when the main communication systems are switched off. | This was based on its last faint signal to a satellite - an hourly "handshake" broadcast even when the main communication systems are switched off. |
| Malaysia says search efforts are continuing in both corridors, involving a total of 18 ships, 29 aircraft and six ship-borne helicopters. | Malaysia says search efforts are continuing in both corridors, involving a total of 18 ships, 29 aircraft and six ship-borne helicopters. |
| Meanwhile, relatives of those on board are still waiting for concrete news. | Meanwhile, relatives of those on board are still waiting for concrete news. |
| Bimal Sharma, a merchant navy captain whose sister Chandrika was on the plane, told the BBC he had experienced "hope and then despair and then hope and then despair". | Bimal Sharma, a merchant navy captain whose sister Chandrika was on the plane, told the BBC he had experienced "hope and then despair and then hope and then despair". |
| "I have been very hopeful because it was intentionally diverted, so I don't believed it was crashed," he said. "It's been a very, very difficult time, and very emotionally stressing. | "I have been very hopeful because it was intentionally diverted, so I don't believed it was crashed," he said. "It's been a very, very difficult time, and very emotionally stressing. |
| "The area where Australia is looking - I was a captain at sea - I have been through that area several times. This area has got a concentration of garbage - plastics and wood. I don't know, I don't want to believe it as yet." | "The area where Australia is looking - I was a captain at sea - I have been through that area several times. This area has got a concentration of garbage - plastics and wood. I don't know, I don't want to believe it as yet." |
| Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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