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Missing Malaysia flight MH370: Chinese planes spot 'suspicious objects' in search area Missing Malaysia flight MH370: Chinese spotters make first possible debris sighting with naked eye in search area
(35 minutes later)
A Chinese plane crew spotted a white, square-shaped object in an area identified by satellite imagery as containing possible debris from the missing Malaysian airliner. A Chinese plane crew has spotted two white, square-shaped objects in the southern Indian Ocean, in what could be the first sighting of plane debris made with the naked eye in the search for missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370.
The development came as the United States prepared to move a specialised device that can locate black boxes into the region. Spotters aboard the search plane have reported coordinates to a Chinese icebreaker ship on its way to the area, as well as to the central Australian command centre.
The crew aboard an IL-76 plane sighted the object in the southern Indian Ocean search area today. As well as the two larger floating objects, the searchers also report seeing a range of smaller, white debris scattered over several square miles, according to China's Xinhua news agency.
It reported the coordinates to the Australian command centre, which is leading the multinational search, as well as the Chinese icebreaker Snow Dragon, which is on its way to the area, Xinhua News Agency reported. The sighting was made in the area identified in previous satellite images from Australia and China, but it is the first time such a potential breakthrough has been made by spotters in planes.
Satellite images from Australia and China had earlier identified possible debris in the area that may be linked to the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 on March 8 with 239 people aboard. The Chinese crew was on board one of two IL-76 aircraft searching the area, and has now returned to base in Perth to report its findings in more detail.
The US Pacific command said it was sending a black box locator in case a debris field is located. The development came as the US prepared to send a specialised device that can locate black boxes into the region.
The Towed Pinger Locator, which is pulled behind a vessel at slow speeds, has highly sensitive listening capability so that if the wreck site is located, it can hear the black box pinger down to a depth of about 20,000 feet. The US Pacific command said the Towed Pinger Locator, which is pulled behind a vessel at slow speeds, has highly sensitive listening capability so that if the wreck site is located, it can hear the black box pinger down to a depth of about 20,000 feet.
Commander Chris Budde, a US Seventh Fleet operations officer, said: "This movement is simply a prudent effort to preposition equipment and trained personnel closer to the search area so that if debris is found we will be able to respond as quickly as possible since the battery life of the black box's pinger is limited."Commander Chris Budde, a US Seventh Fleet operations officer, said: "This movement is simply a prudent effort to preposition equipment and trained personnel closer to the search area so that if debris is found we will be able to respond as quickly as possible since the battery life of the black box's pinger is limited."
There was no sign the move was because of any break in the mystery of the plane, but rather as a preparation. The two Chinese planes joining the search today increased the number of aircraft to 10 from eight a day earlier.
The Chinese plane was one of two Ilyushins that joined the search today from Perth, increasing the number of aircraft to 10 from eight a day earlier.
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority's rescue co-ordination centre said the weather in the area, about 2,500 1,550 miles from Perth, was expected to deteriorate with rain likely.The Australian Maritime Safety Authority's rescue co-ordination centre said the weather in the area, about 2,500 1,550 miles from Perth, was expected to deteriorate with rain likely.
Australian transport minister Warren Truss said "nothing of note" was found yesterday, which he described as a "fruitless day".Australian transport minister Warren Truss said "nothing of note" was found yesterday, which he described as a "fruitless day".
"It's going to be a challenge, but we'll stick at it," he told Australian Broadcasting Corporation radio before the first aircraft left Perth at dawn."It's going to be a challenge, but we'll stick at it," he told Australian Broadcasting Corporation radio before the first aircraft left Perth at dawn.
"We're just, I guess, clutching at whatever little piece of information comes along to try and find a place where we might be able to concentrate the efforts.""We're just, I guess, clutching at whatever little piece of information comes along to try and find a place where we might be able to concentrate the efforts."
Satellite images reveal the large lumps of floating debris
A cyclone bearing down on the Australian north-west coast "could stir up less favourable weather," he said.A cyclone bearing down on the Australian north-west coast "could stir up less favourable weather," he said.
Flight 370 vanished while en route from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to Beijing, setting off a multinational search that has turned up no confirmed pieces and nothing conclusive on what happened to the jet.Flight 370 vanished while en route from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to Beijing, setting off a multinational search that has turned up no confirmed pieces and nothing conclusive on what happened to the jet.
The latest French satellite data came to light yesterday as Australian authorities co-ordinating the search sent planes and a ship to try to locate a wooden pallet that appeared to be surrounded by straps of different lengths and colours.The latest French satellite data came to light yesterday as Australian authorities co-ordinating the search sent planes and a ship to try to locate a wooden pallet that appeared to be surrounded by straps of different lengths and colours.
The French data came after Australian and Chinese satellites earlier identified suspect objects.The French data came after Australian and Chinese satellites earlier identified suspect objects.
The pallet was spotted on Saturday from a search plane, but the spotters were unable to take photos of it.The pallet was spotted on Saturday from a search plane, but the spotters were unable to take photos of it.
In Paris, French foreign ministry spokesman Romain Nadal said that the satellite radar echoes "identified some debris that could be from the Malaysian Airlines plane".In Paris, French foreign ministry spokesman Romain Nadal said that the satellite radar echoes "identified some debris that could be from the Malaysian Airlines plane".
A Malaysian official involved in the search said the French data located objects about 575 miles north of the spots where the objects in the images released by Australia and China were located.A Malaysian official involved in the search said the French data located objects about 575 miles north of the spots where the objects in the images released by Australia and China were located.
One of the objects located was estimated to be about the same size as an object captured on Tuesday by the Chinese satellite that appeared to be 72 feet by 43 feet, said the official.One of the objects located was estimated to be about the same size as an object captured on Tuesday by the Chinese satellite that appeared to be 72 feet by 43 feet, said the official.
The southern Indian Ocean is thought to be a potential area to find the jet because Malaysian authorities have 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.The southern Indian Ocean is thought to be a potential area to find the jet because Malaysian authorities have 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.
One is a northern corridor stretching from Malaysia to Central Asia, and the other a southern corridor that stretches toward Antarctica.One is a northern corridor stretching from Malaysia to Central Asia, and the other a southern corridor that stretches toward Antarctica.
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.
Authorities are considering the possibilities of hijacking, sabotage, terrorism or issues related to the mental health of the pilots or someone else on board.Authorities are considering the possibilities of hijacking, sabotage, terrorism or issues related to the mental health of the pilots or someone else on board.
In the U.S., Tony Blinken, President Barack Obama's deputy national security adviser, said on CNN: "There is no prevailing theory."In the U.S., Tony Blinken, President Barack Obama's deputy national security adviser, said on CNN: "There is no prevailing theory."
"Publicly or privately, we don't know," he said. "We're chasing down every theory.""Publicly or privately, we don't know," he said. "We're chasing down every theory."
PA Additional reporting by AP