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| Missing Malaysia flight MH370: 'Two more objects' spotted by Australian plane after Chinese sighting of possible debris in search area | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| An Australian plane searching for missing flight MH370 has spotted two further objects in the southern Indian Ocean search area, adding to earlier possible debris sightings from a Chinese crew. | An Australian plane searching for missing flight MH370 has spotted two further objects in the southern Indian Ocean search area, adding to earlier possible debris sightings from a Chinese crew. |
| According to a statement issued by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (Amsa), "a grey or green circular object and an orange rectangular object" were located by an Australian air force Orion aircraft. | According to a statement issued by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (Amsa), "a grey or green circular object and an orange rectangular object" were located by an Australian air force Orion aircraft. |
| Amsa said that one of its ships, the HMAS Success, was also now on the scene, and that the objects were within the search area being scoured today. | Amsa said that one of its ships, the HMAS Success, was also now on the scene, and that the objects were within the search area being scoured today. |
| Earlier on Monday spotters on a Chinese plane said they had spotted two white, square-shaped objects in the southern Indian Ocean, at that stage the second possible sighting of plane debris made with the naked eye in the search for the missing Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777. | Earlier on Monday spotters on a Chinese plane said they had spotted two white, square-shaped objects in the southern Indian Ocean, at that stage the second possible sighting of plane debris made with the naked eye in the search for the missing Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777. |
| Spotters aboard that search plane reported the coordinates to a Chinese icebreaker ship, Xue Long, which was making its way to the area - as well as to the central Australian command centre. | Spotters aboard that search plane reported the coordinates to a Chinese icebreaker ship, Xue Long, which was making its way to the area - as well as to the central Australian command centre. |
| In addition to 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. | In addition to 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. |
| The sightings were all made in the area identified in previous satellite images from Australia and China. | The sightings were all made in the area identified in previous satellite images from Australia and China. |
| The developments came as the US prepared to send a specialised device that can locate black boxes into the region. | The developments came as the US prepared to send a specialised device that can locate black boxes into the region. |
| 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. | 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." |
| The two Chinese planes joining the search today increased the number of aircraft to 10 from eight a day earlier. | The two Chinese planes joining the search today increased the number of aircraft to 10 from eight a day earlier. |
| An Australian plane scouring the search area 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. | An Australian plane scouring the search area 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. |
| 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 | 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 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 US, Tony Blinken, President Barack Obama's deputy national security adviser, said on CNN: "There is no prevailing theory." | In the US, 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." |
| Additional reporting by AP | Additional reporting by AP |