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Missing Malaysia Flight MH370: French satellite image of possible debris boosts search for missing plane Missing Malaysia Flight MH370: French satellite data backs ‘evidence’ that jet crashed in Indian Ocean
(about 2 hours later)
Heavy cloud cover over parts of the southern Indian Ocean is hampering search efforts as rescue teams continue their desperate efforts to locate missing flight MH370. Evidence that Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 ended up in the vast, desolate waters of the southern Indian Ocean appears to be mounting – but the quest to find the doomed aircraft itself is still proving tortuously difficult.
Australian military aircraft were unable to find anything of significance as heavy cloud cover reduced the onboard crew's ability to see the ocean on Sunday. They have concluded their search for the day. French satellite pictures handed to Malaysian authorities on Sunday show possible debris from the missing Boeing 777, photographed in broadly the same area as objects picked up by Australian and Chinese satellites last week.
Malaysian authorities offered distraught relatives yet another slim glimmer of hope today when they revealed they have received new satellite images from France showing possible further sightings of debris from missing flight MH370 in the southern Indian Ocean. A plane scouring the search area, about 2,500km south-west of Perth, spotted a wooden pallet and other objects late on Saturday, including what looked like variously coloured straps or belts. However, it was unable to get up close or take photographs, and other aircraft dispatched to the site on Sunday could only see seaweed.
Malaysia immediately relayed these images to the Australian rescue co-ordination centre, Hishammuddin Hussein, Malaysia’s defence and acting transport minister said. Nonetheless, the Australian Prime Minister, Tony Abbott, expressed cautious optimism about a possible breakthrough in the 16-day hunt for the plane, which vanished off civilian radar screens with 239 passengers and crew during a night flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing.
A total of eight planes, including four military aircraft and four civil jets, supported by the HMAS Success, took part in today’s search effort, covering a total of 59,000 square kilometres across two areas to the south-west of Perth. “Obviously we have now had a number of very credible leads, and there is increasing hope – no more than hope – that we might be on the road to discovering what did happen to this ill-fated aircraft,” he said.
Flight lieutenant Russ Adams and his crew returned earlier today without finding “anything of interest”. An Australian aviation expert, Neil Hansford, said he believed there was a “high likelihood” that the satellite photographs show wreckage from the plane.
He said the weather conditions had deteriorated since their last outing, but that other aircraft involved in the operation were getting better visibility. A Malaysian statement about the French images gave no details about the number, size or precise whereabouts of the objects, merely describing them – in a reference to one of two broad arcs identified as the plane’s likely final location – as “potential objects in the vicinity of the southern corridor”. The Australian Prime Minister, Tony Abbott, expressed cautious optimism about a possible breakthrough in the 16-day hunt for the plane
The search will resume again tomorrow with the addition of two Chinese Ilyushin IL-76s and two Japanese P3 Orions. The photos have been relayed to Australia, which is co-ordinating the search which began last Thursday deep in the southern Indian Ocean, after the first grainy images emerged of objects floating in the churning waters.
But the threat of bad weather still looms, with a cyclone reported to be heading towards the search area at the moment, which will cause difficult conditions with strong winds, though it is expected to lose its strength over the next few days. One large object, photographed by Australian and Chinese satellites, could be an aircraft wing – or a lost shipping container.
Earlier today France released its own satellite image, believed to have been taken on Friday, showing possible debris. Mike Barton, from the Australian Maritime Safety Authority, said wooden pallets were commonly used in the airline industry, “usually packed into another container which is loaded in the belly of the aircraft”. Pallets were, however, also used in shipping, he noted. The agency has requested a cargo manifest from Malaysia Airlines.
It marks the third satellite image released since the flight carrying 239 people went missing three weeks ago. Both Australia and China have released their own satellite images showing potential objects that could be related to the missing flight. The Australian Maritime Safety Authority map of the planned search area for missing Malaysian Airlines Flight MH370 on March 21, 2014
The French foreign ministry has said that echoes from its satellite place the possible objects spotted at around 2,300km (1,430 miles) from Perth, and AMSA said the western boundary of the current search area is located 2,500km from the city. The eight aircraft searching on Sunday – which included two Chinese Ilyushin IL-76s and two Japanese P2 Orions – focused on two areas covering 59,000 square kilometres.
A Malaysian official involved in the search operation told the Associated Press the new French satellite image showed possible objects spotted around 930km (575 miles) north of where the Australian and Chinese images of objects were seen. A marker buoy was dropped at the site where the pallet was spotted so that its movement could be tracked. The air search is being supported by several ships in the area.
The official, who declined to be named, said one of the objects was estimated to be about the same size as one captured on Tuesday by the Chinese satellite, which appeared to be 22 meters (72 feet) by 13 meters (43 feet). Mr Abbott said of the hunt: “We owe it to the almost  240 people on board the plane. We owe it to their grieving families. We owe it to the governments of the countries concerned to do everything we can to discover as much as we can about the fate of MH370.”
The official stressed that the French satellite image is fuzzy and unclear, making it difficult to determine the exact dimensions of the possible debris. Relatives are now enduring a third, agonising week of waiting for news.
Wang Zheng, whose parents, Wang Linshi and Xiong Yunming, were among 153 Chinese passengers, told Associated Press in Beijing: “Biggest of all is the emotional turmoil I’ve been going through. I can’t eat, I can’t sleep. I’ve been dreaming of my parents every day.”
Mr Wang, whose parents were among a group of Chinese artists touring Malaysia, last spoke with them on the night of their departure, shortly before they boarded the plane. They were filling out exit cards at the airport, and told him they would call him on their arrival in Beijing.
Like other relatives, he is praying that the possible debris turns out to be a false lead – meaning that his parents could still be alive.
“I will stay here until they give me an answer,” he said, speaking at a Beijing hotel where families attend daily briefings. “I am not leaving until I know for certain where my parents are.”
The search will resume again tomorrow, but the threat of bad weather still looms, with a cyclone reported to be heading towards the search area at the moment, which will cause difficult conditions with strong winds, though it is expected to lose its strength over the next few days.
Today the Telegraph reported the investigation into how the plane carrying 239 people on 8 March went missing is becoming increasingly centred on the two pilots, following an extensive analysis of data from the plane.Today the Telegraph reported the investigation into how the plane carrying 239 people on 8 March went missing is becoming increasingly centred on the two pilots, following an extensive analysis of data from the plane.
According to senior sources involved in the investigation, the paper reports that authorities remain certain the disappearance of flight MH370 was a result of a “deliberate act” by a “person or persons on board”.According to senior sources involved in the investigation, the paper reports that authorities remain certain the disappearance of flight MH370 was a result of a “deliberate act” by a “person or persons on board”.
Malaysian police have denied reports in the Mail Online that the missing flight’s Captain Zaharie Ahmad Shah received a two minute phone call from a woman before take-off.Malaysian police have denied reports in the Mail Online that the missing flight’s Captain Zaharie Ahmad Shah received a two minute phone call from a woman before take-off.
The woman is supposed to have bought a pay-as-you-go phone to make the call with fake ID and the paper claims the discovery raises fears of a possible link between the Captain and terrorist groups who use untraceable SIM cards.The woman is supposed to have bought a pay-as-you-go phone to make the call with fake ID and the paper claims the discovery raises fears of a possible link between the Captain and terrorist groups who use untraceable SIM cards.
Assistant commissioner Datin Asmawati has called the claims “mere speculations.”Assistant commissioner Datin Asmawati has called the claims “mere speculations.”
He said: “Please be advised that the Royal Malaysia Police take no responsibility over the dissemination of such information which originates from unnamed and unverified sources.”He said: “Please be advised that the Royal Malaysia Police take no responsibility over the dissemination of such information which originates from unnamed and unverified sources.”
“Secondly the IGP has never issued any public statement that categorically places the MH370 investigation under any act of terrorism,” he added.“Secondly the IGP has never issued any public statement that categorically places the MH370 investigation under any act of terrorism,” he added.
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority map of the planned search area for missing Malaysian Airlines Flight MH370 on March 21, 2014 Yesterday, planes and ships were scrambled to find a wooden pallet and other debris including apparent strapping belts of different colours, which was spotted by a civilian plane but which had yet to be closely examined. Pallets are commonly used in shipping but can also be used in cargo containers carried on planes.
Mike Barton, chief of Australian Maritime Safety Authority's 's rescue coordination centre, told reporters in Canberra, Australia, that the wooden pallet was spotted by a civilian search aircraft, surrounded by several other objects including what appeared to be strapping belts of different colors.
A New Zealand P3 Orion military plane was then sent to find it but failed, he said.
"We went to some of the expert airlines and the use of wooden pallets is quite common in the industry," Mr Barton said. "They're usually packed into another container which is loaded in the belly of the aircraft. ... It's a possible lead, but we will need to be very certain that this is a pallet because pallets are used in the shipping industry as well."
Despite the frustrating lack of answers, Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott was upbeat when he spoke to reporters earlier today.
"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," Abbott told reporters in Papua New Guinea.
AMSA said it had refined the search based on the latest clue from the Chinese satellite showing an object that appeared to be 72 feet by 43 feet, when it started its mission today. It said the object's position also fell within yesterday's search area but it had not been sighted.AMSA said it had refined the search based on the latest clue from the Chinese satellite showing an object that appeared to be 72 feet by 43 feet, when it started its mission today. It said the object's position also fell within yesterday's search area but it had not been sighted.
Yesterday's search was split into two areas within the same proximity covering 22,800 square miles. These areas have been determined by drift modelling, the AMSA said.Yesterday's search was split into two areas within the same proximity covering 22,800 square miles. These areas have been determined by drift modelling, the AMSA said.
Malaysian Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein put a message on his Twitter account asking those in churches around the country to offer a "prayer please" for the passengers and crew on Fight 370.Malaysian Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein put a message on his Twitter account asking those in churches around the country to offer a "prayer please" for the passengers and crew on Fight 370.