A Thai satellite image has discovered a new debris field in the southern Indian Ocean containing around 300 floating objects. In addition, a Japanese satellite has captured about 10 flaring objects, all in the approximate area that French satellite images highlighted with yesterday’s report. However rough seas, high winds and icing have grounded the aircraft searching the area. However ships in the area continue to search for any debris from missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH 370.
Read the full report from Reuters: CLICK HERE
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) which is directing the search in the Indian Ocean from Perth issued this statement today:
[Date]
Today’s search and recovery operation in the Australian Search and Rescue Region for Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 is now underway.
Search activities today will involve a total of 11 aircraft and five ships.
Today’s search is split into two areas within the same proximity covering a cumulative 78,000 square kilometres.
Two Royal Australian Air Force AP-3C Orions, a Chinese Ilyushin IL-76, a Japanese Gulfstream jet, a US Navy P-8 Poseidon and a Japanese P-3 Orion will fly sorties throughout the day.
The first aircraft to leave Perth for the search area was the Chinese Ilyushin IL-76 aircraft around 8am. The two RAAF AP-3C Orions are scheduled to depart before midday.
Five civil aircraft are scheduled to depart between 9.30am and 11am. A total of 34 SES volunteers will again be air observers on board the civil aircraft.
A Japan Coast Guard ultra-long range jet will depart at around 2pm.
A US Navy P8 Poseidon is scheduled to depart around 4pm.
A Japanese P3 Orion is scheduled to depart around 5pm.
HMAS Success remains in the search area about 2500 kilometres south-west of Perth and was joined by four Chinese ships – Xue Long, Kunlunshan, Haikou and Qiandaohu – in the search area.
Weather in the search area is expected to deteriorate later today.
Meanwhile Malaysia Airlines issued this statement today:
1. Chinese Special Envoy
a. Yesterday, His Excellency Zhang Yesui, the Chinese Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs and Special Envoy of the Government of China, met with the Prime Minister and Dato’ Seri Hishammuddin, the Acting Minister of Transport and the Minister of Defence.
b. Following the meeting with Dato’ Seri Hishammuddin, His Excellency Zhang Yesui also received a comprehensive technical briefing by the international working group, led by the AAIB. Inmarsat’s findings – which led to the conclusion that MH370 ended in the southern Indian Ocean – were explained during the meeting.
c. The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) and Aircraft Accident Investigation Department (AAID) of the CAAC were present at yesterday’s technical briefing. The CAAC and AAID have been, and will continue to be, members of the international working group.
d. Today His Excellency Zhang Yesui also met with the Chinese relatives of those on board MH370 who are currently in KL.
e. Malaysia is committed to working closely with the Government of China and to sharing all information related to MH370 in full.
2. Family briefing in Beijing
a. Yesterday, the Malaysian high-level team met with the Chinese relatives of those on board MH370 who are based in Beijing, for the fourth time. Over the duration of the three hour meeting, the relatives received a technical briefing and an update on the search operation. The high-level team also answered questions. Today, the high-level team met relatives again, at 3:25pm Malaysia time. The meeting is still underway.
b. Malaysia is working hard to try and make the briefings to the Chinese relatives in Beijing more productive. Malaysian officials met with His Excellency Huang Huikang, China’s Ambassador to Malaysia, to request the Government of China to engage and clarify the actual situation to the affected families in particular and the Chinese public in general.
3. Operational update
a. The planned area of search today was 16,298 square nautical miles in the West sector, and 6,506 square nautical miles in the East sector.
b. The area identified by the Malaysian Remote Sensing Agency (MRSA) yesterday – where the 122 potential objects were sighted – was also due to be searched today.
c. Today, nine planes travelled to the search area – five in the East sector and four in the West sector. In the East sector, searches by air were conducted by:
– two Australian civilian aircraft.
– one Chinese Ilyushin IL-76.
– one New Zealand civil aircraft.
– one Japanese Gulfstream.
In the West sector, searches by air were conducted by:
-two Australian P-3 Orions.
-two Australian civil aircraft.
d. Today six ships were deployed in the search area – one in the East sector and five in
the West sector.
In the East sector, searches by ship were conducted by:
-one Chinese ship (the Xue Long).
In the West sector, searches by ship were conducted by:
-four Chinese ships (the Kunlunshan, Haikou, Qiandaohui, and Zhonghaishaohua).
-one Australian ship (the HMAS Success).
e. One Chinese ship (the Hai Xun) is expected to arrive in the search area tonight.
f. Today the weather deteriorated in the search area and search operations were suspended at 11:40am.
4. Malaysian team going to Perth
a. Malaysia is in the process of sending a team, comprised of the DCA, MAS, the Royal Malaysian Navy and the Royal Malaysian Air Force, to Perth. This team will work closely with the Australian Rescue Co-ordination Centre to assist with the search operation.
Map: AMSA.