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MH370: Malaysian plane search resumes at first light MH370: Malaysian plane search resumes
(about 3 hours later)
An international search of the southern Indian Ocean has resumed for a second day as authorities try to locate a missing Malaysian airliner.An international search of the southern Indian Ocean has resumed for a second day as authorities try to locate a missing Malaysian airliner.
Four military aircraft are taking part in the search for flight MH370, which had 239 people on board. Five military and civilian aircraft are taking part in the search for debris from flight MH370, which disappeared on 8 March with 239 people on board.
Satellite images released on Thursday showed objects possibly related to the aircraft in the southern Indian Ocean. Satellite images released on Thursday showed objects possibly related to the plane in waters far south-west of the Australian city of Perth.
However, authorities said bad weather had hampered their search efforts, which stopped at nightfall. Bad weather hampered Thursday's search.
Four military planes, including two Orions belonging to the Royal Australian Air Force, are taking part in the search, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (Amsa) said in a statement. Flight MH370 was flying from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing when it lost contact with air traffic controllers and disappeared from radar.
The aircraft will be joined by merchant ships to search a 23,000 kilometre area, about 2500 kilometres south-west of Perth, said Amsa. 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 opposition direction from its flight path.
The Kuala Lumpur-Beijing plane disappeared on 8 March. Malaysian officials say they believe the plane was intentionally diverted. Authorities in many countries have scrutinised the backgrounds of both passengers and crew on board but say they have no substantive leads.
It first lost contact with air traffic controllers and then disappeared from radar. Other reports of debris to date have proved not to be linked to the missing plane.
'Extremely bad' Bad conditions
Four reconnaissance aircraft and six merchant vessels had searched the vast area in the southern Indian Ocean on Thursday without success. The debris which is the current focus of the search was identified on satellite images by Australian experts.
Two Australian Orion aircraft searching the area on Thursday were joined later by aircraft from the US and New Zealand. Prime Minister Tony Abbott announced early on Thursday that vessels were being sent to investigate, but cautioned that the objects found could be unrelated to the plane.
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. Four military planes, including three Orions belonging to the Royal Australian Air Force, are taking part in the search, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (Amsa) said in a statement.
'Best lead' A civilian Bombardier Global Express is also involved. Two Orions and the Bombardier Global Express were due in the search area on Friday morning, with another Orion and a US P8 Poseidon aircraft due there later in the day.
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 aircraft are searching a 23,000 km area, about 2,500 km (1,550 miles) south-west of Perth, Amsa said.
Each aircraft would be able to search for two hours, due to the distance from land.
A Norwegian merchant ship is in the area and has been searching since Thursday. Another merchant ship is en route, as is an Australian navy vessel with recovery capacity.
On Thursday military officials said weather had hampered the search.
The captain of the first Australian air force AP-3C Orion plane to return from the search area described conditions as "extremely bad" with rough seas and high winds.
China says it is sending three navy vessels to the search area. It also has an icebreaker in Perth that could join the search, its National Maritime Search and Rescue Centre said.
Warren Truss, Australia's acting prime minister while Tony Abbott is overseas, emphasised the difficulty of the task.
"Clearly this is a very, very difficult and challenging search. Weather conditions are not particularly good and [the] risk [is] that they may deteriorate,'' he said.
On Thursday, Malaysian Transport Minister Hishammuddin Hussein described the debris sighting 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.
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.
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.
"Until we are certain that we have located MH370, search and rescue operations will continue in both corridors," Mr Hishammuddin said.
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