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Missing Malaysia plane: Search 'regains recorder signal' | Missing Malaysia plane: Search 'regains recorder signal' |
(35 minutes later) | |
Teams searching for the missing Malaysia Airlines plane have reacquired signals that could be consistent with "black box" flight recorders. | Teams searching for the missing Malaysia Airlines plane have reacquired signals that could be consistent with "black box" flight recorders. |
An Australian vessel heard the signals again on Tuesday afternoon and evening, the search chief said. | An Australian vessel heard the signals again on Tuesday afternoon and evening, the search chief said. |
Signals heard earlier had also been further analysed by experts who concluded they were from "specific electronic equipment", he said. | Signals heard earlier had also been further analysed by experts who concluded they were from "specific electronic equipment", he said. |
Flight MH370 disappeared on 8 March, carrying 239 people. | Flight MH370 disappeared on 8 March, carrying 239 people. |
It was travelling from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing when it lost contact with air traffic controllers. | It was travelling from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing when it lost contact with air traffic controllers. |
Malaysian officials say that based on satellite data, they believe it ended its flight in the southern Indian Ocean, thousands of kilometres from its intended flight path. | |
"I believe we are searching in the right area," said Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston, who heads the joint agency co-ordinating the search. | |
"But we need to visually identify aircraft wreckage before we can confirm with certainty that this is the final resting place of MH370." | "But we need to visually identify aircraft wreckage before we can confirm with certainty that this is the final resting place of MH370." |
'Clear signal' | 'Clear signal' |
The Australian vessel, Ocean Shield, has been towing a US Navy pinger locator to listen for signals from the plane's flight recorders in waters west of the Australian city of Perth. | The Australian vessel, Ocean Shield, has been towing a US Navy pinger locator to listen for signals from the plane's flight recorders in waters west of the Australian city of Perth. |
It twice acquired signals over the weekend. | It twice acquired signals over the weekend. |
On Tuesday, it located the signals again, the first time for five minutes and 32 seconds, and the second time for around seven minutes, said ACM Houston. | On Tuesday, it located the signals again, the first time for five minutes and 32 seconds, and the second time for around seven minutes, said ACM Houston. |
"Ocean Shield has now detected four transmissions in the same broad area," he said. "Yesterday's signals will assist in better defining a reduced and much more manageable search area on the ocean floor. | "Ocean Shield has now detected four transmissions in the same broad area," he said. "Yesterday's signals will assist in better defining a reduced and much more manageable search area on the ocean floor. |
The signals have been heard in sea with a depth of 4,500 metres (15,000 feet). | The signals have been heard in sea with a depth of 4,500 metres (15,000 feet). |
ACM Houston said it was important to refine the search area as much as possible before sending down the Bluefin 21 underwater drone to search for wreckage. | ACM Houston said it was important to refine the search area as much as possible before sending down the Bluefin 21 underwater drone to search for wreckage. |
"Now hopefully with lots of transmissions we'll have a tight, small area and hopefully in a matter of days we will be able to find something on the bottom," he said. | "Now hopefully with lots of transmissions we'll have a tight, small area and hopefully in a matter of days we will be able to find something on the bottom," he said. |
Experts at the Australian Joint Acoustic Analysis Centre had also analysed the first two signals heard over the weekend, he added. | Experts at the Australian Joint Acoustic Analysis Centre had also analysed the first two signals heard over the weekend, he added. |
Their analysis showed that a "stable, distinct and clear signal" was detected. Experts had therefore assessed that it was not of natural origin and was likely from specific electronic equipment. | Their analysis showed that a "stable, distinct and clear signal" was detected. Experts had therefore assessed that it was not of natural origin and was likely from specific electronic equipment. |
"They believe the signals to be consistent with the specification and description of a flight data recorder," ACM Houston said. | "They believe the signals to be consistent with the specification and description of a flight data recorder," ACM Houston said. |
Search teams have been racing against time to locate signals from the flight recorders before their batteries expire after about one month. | Search teams have been racing against time to locate signals from the flight recorders before their batteries expire after about one month. |
Investigators still do not know why MH370 strayed so far off course, after disappearing over the South China Sea between Malaysia and Vietnam. | Investigators still do not know why MH370 strayed so far off course, after disappearing over the South China Sea between Malaysia and Vietnam. |
The backgrounds of both passengers and crew have been scrutinised as officials considered hijacking, sabotage, pilot action or mechanical failure as possible causes. | The backgrounds of both passengers and crew have been scrutinised as officials considered hijacking, sabotage, pilot action or mechanical failure as possible causes. |
So far, there is no official explanation for what might have happened. | So far, there is no official explanation for what might have happened. |