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Malaysia MH370 jet hunt will move south, Australia says | Malaysia MH370 jet hunt will move south, Australia says |
(about 1 hour later) | |
The next phase of the hunt for missing Malaysian jet MH370 will move hundreds of miles south, officials have said. | The next phase of the hunt for missing Malaysian jet MH370 will move hundreds of miles south, officials have said. |
The search will focus on an area 1,800km (1,100 miles) off the city of Perth, Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) chief Martin Dolan said. | The search will focus on an area 1,800km (1,100 miles) off the city of Perth, Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) chief Martin Dolan said. |
Nearby areas were previously surveyed from the air, but the undersea hunt was directed north after pings were heard. | Nearby areas were previously surveyed from the air, but the undersea hunt was directed north after pings were heard. |
The jet vanished en route from Kuala Lumpur to Malaysia on 8 March with 239 passengers on board. | The jet vanished en route from Kuala Lumpur to Malaysia on 8 March with 239 passengers on board. |
Experts had hoped that the pings detected shortly after the plane vanished were from its flight-data recorders. | Experts had hoped that the pings detected shortly after the plane vanished were from its flight-data recorders. |
But after weeks of searching the ocean floor, it was concluded that the noises were unrelated to the plane. | But after weeks of searching the ocean floor, it was concluded that the noises were unrelated to the plane. |
Painstaking mapping | Painstaking mapping |
Search teams have now returned to the initial satellite data to frame the new search area. | Search teams have now returned to the initial satellite data to frame the new search area. |
"All the trends of this analysis will move the search area south of where it was," Mr Dolan said. | "All the trends of this analysis will move the search area south of where it was," Mr Dolan said. |
"Just how much south is something that we're still working on." | "Just how much south is something that we're still working on." |
They expect to make an announcement next week on exactly where the search will take place. | |
He said it was unlikely the new focus would be as far from land as the aerial surveys had been. | |
UK firm Inmarsat told the BBC this week that their data had helped to frame the new search area. | |
The firm said there was a "hotspot" that they had calculated was the most likely area for the plane to be located. | |
It's not clear to what extent Inmarsat analysis is being used to define the new search area. Data from other satellite firms is also being used. | |
Before search teams can start looking for the plane, the seabed will be mapped. | Before search teams can start looking for the plane, the seabed will be mapped. |
A Dutch firm has been contracted to carry out a detailed survey of the ocean floor. | A Dutch firm has been contracted to carry out a detailed survey of the ocean floor. |
The sea in the area is 6km deep, and the analysis is expected to take three months. | The sea in the area is 6km deep, and the analysis is expected to take three months. |
Many of the relatives of the missing passengers have been frustrated by the lack of progress in the search. | Many of the relatives of the missing passengers have been frustrated by the lack of progress in the search. |
Crews have not been able to find a trace of the plane. | Crews have not been able to find a trace of the plane. |