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| Malaysia Flight MH370: French and Chinese satellites spots Indian Ocean debris as search enters third week | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Malaysian authorities said today they have received new satellite images from France showing possible further sightings of debris from missing flight MH370 in the southern Indian Ocean. | Malaysian authorities said today they have received new satellite images from France showing possible further sightings of debris from missing flight MH370 in the southern Indian Ocean. |
| Malaysia immediately relayed these images to the Australian rescue co-ordination centre, Hishammuddin Hussein, Malaysia’s defence and acting transport minister said. | Malaysia immediately relayed these images to the Australian rescue co-ordination centre, Hishammuddin Hussein, Malaysia’s defence and acting transport minister said. |
| The rescue co-ordination centre in Australia have deployed eight aircraft to the southern corridor today to conduct visual searches, while two Chinese Ilyushin IL-76s have arrived in Perth, Australia to join the operation tomorrow. Two Japanese P3 Orions today left Subang airport in Malaysia for Perth. | The rescue co-ordination centre in Australia have deployed eight aircraft to the southern corridor today to conduct visual searches, while two Chinese Ilyushin IL-76s have arrived in Perth, Australia to join the operation tomorrow. Two Japanese P3 Orions today left Subang airport in Malaysia for Perth. |
| Australia, China and France have now released satellite images showing potential objects that could be related to the missing flight. | Australia, China and France have now released satellite images showing potential objects that could be related to the missing flight. |
| A Malaysian official involved in the search operation told the Associated Press the new French satellite image was taken on Friday and showed possible objects spotted around 930km (575 miles) north of where the Australian and Chinese images of objects were seen. | |
| 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). | |
| The official stressed that the French satellite image is fuzzy and unclear, making it difficult to determine the exact dimensions of the possible debris. | |
| Poor weather conditions are expected to further complicate the situation today, with the Australian Bureau of Meteorology stating that: “Drizzle and associated low cloud and reduction in visibility will continue throughout the weekend. Another cold front forecast to pass through the area today will bring rain, low cloud and poor visibility.” | |
| The search teams are also aware of possible complications from Cyclone Gillian, which is currently in the area around Christmas Island, but could approach the search area. | The search teams are also aware of possible complications from Cyclone Gillian, which is currently in the area around Christmas Island, but could approach the search area. |
| Today the Telegraph reports 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 reports 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. |
| 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. | 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, yesterday 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. | Mike Barton, chief of Australian Maritime Safety Authority's 's rescue coordination centre, told reporters in Canberra, Australia, yesterday 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. | A New Zealand P3 Orion military plane was then sent to find it but failed, he said. |
| "So, we've gone back to that area again today to try and re-find it," Mr Barton said. A merchant ship in the area has also been sent to try to identify the material. | "So, we've gone back to that area again today to try and re-find it," Mr Barton said. A merchant ship in the area has also been sent to try to identify the material. |
| "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." | "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." |
| In Australia, eight search planes departed from a military base near Perth to scour an area about 1,550 miles away in an extremely isolated part of the southern Indian Ocean. Satellite images have showed large objects floating in the area that experts want to check to see if they came from the jet. | In Australia, eight search planes departed from a military base near Perth to scour an area about 1,550 miles away in an extremely isolated part of the southern Indian Ocean. Satellite images have showed large objects floating in the area that experts want to check to see if they came from the jet. |
| Air and sea searches since Thursday have not produced any results. | Air and sea searches since Thursday have not produced any results. |
| Despite the frustrating lack of answers, Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott was upbeat. | Despite the frustrating lack of answers, Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott was upbeat. |
| "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. | "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. |
| The Australian Maritime Safety Authority 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. It said the object's position also fell within yesterday's search area but it had not been sighted. | The Australian Maritime Safety Authority 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. 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. |
| The Australian Maritime Safety Authority map of the planned search area for missing Malaysian Airlines Flight MH370 on March 21, 2014 More than 300 Malaysian cycling enthusiasts rode their bikes to the Kuala Lumpur airport to remember the people onboard the jet. The cyclists decorated the bikes with small Malaysian flags and stickers that read "Pray for MH370." | The Australian Maritime Safety Authority map of the planned search area for missing Malaysian Airlines Flight MH370 on March 21, 2014 More than 300 Malaysian cycling enthusiasts rode their bikes to the Kuala Lumpur airport to remember the people onboard the jet. The cyclists decorated the bikes with small Malaysian flags and stickers that read "Pray for MH370." |
| The latest satellite image is another clue in the baffling search for Flight 370, which dropped off air traffic control screens on March 8 over the Gulf of Thailand with 239 people on board. | The latest satellite image is another clue in the baffling search for Flight 370, which dropped off air traffic control screens on March 8 over the Gulf of Thailand with 239 people on board. |
| "China hopes that these data will be helpful for searching and rescuing efforts," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said in a statement. | "China hopes that these data will be helpful for searching and rescuing efforts," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said in a statement. |
| The missing plane, which had been bound for Beijing, carried 153 Chinese passengers. | The missing plane, which had been bound for Beijing, carried 153 Chinese passengers. |
| After about a week of confusion, Malaysian authorities said pings sent by the Boeing 777-200 for several hours after it disappeared indicated that the plane ended up in one of two huge arcs: a northern corridor stretching from Malaysia to Central Asia, or a southern corridor that stretches toward Antarctica. | After about a week of confusion, Malaysian authorities said pings sent by the Boeing 777-200 for several hours after it disappeared indicated that the plane ended up in one of two huge arcs: a northern corridor stretching from Malaysia to Central Asia, or a southern corridor that stretches toward Antarctica. |
| The discovery of the initial two objects by a satellite led several countries to send planes and ships to a stretch of the ocean southwest of Australia. | The discovery of the initial two objects by a satellite led several countries to send planes and ships to a stretch of the ocean southwest of Australia. |
| Two military planes from China have arrived in Perth, and the AMSA said they would join the search tomorrow. They join Australian, New Zealand and US. aircraft. Japanese planes are also expected soon. | Two military planes from China have arrived in Perth, and the AMSA said they would join the search tomorrow. They join Australian, New Zealand and US. aircraft. Japanese planes are also expected soon. |
| Malaysian authorities have not ruled out any possible explanation for what happened to the jet, but have said the evidence so far suggests it was deliberately turned back across Malaysia to the Strait of Malacca, with its communications systems disabled. They are unsure what happened next. | Malaysian authorities have not ruled out any possible explanation for what happened to the jet, but have said the evidence so far suggests it was deliberately turned back across Malaysia to the Strait of Malacca, with its communications systems disabled. They are unsure what happened next. |
| Police are considering the possibilities of hijacking, sabotage, terrorism or issues related to the mental health of the pilots or anyone else on board. | Police are considering the possibilities of hijacking, sabotage, terrorism or issues related to the mental health of the pilots or anyone else on board. |