Ten aircraft searching for MH370
24/03/2014 15:05
More planes are joining the Australian-led search for the missing Malaysia Airlines jet in the remote southern Indian Ocean.
Ten aircraft from Australia, New Zealand, the US, China and Japan will leave Perth on Monday for different sections of the expanded search zone.
Some will return to the current search area, about 2500km southwest Perth, where debris was spotted in satellite images released by Australian and Chinese authorities last week.
Others will fly to a new area about 850km north, where a French satellite at the weekend detected images of possible aircraft debris.
Despite the bolstered efforts, the operation is likely to be hampered with forecast rain expected to reduce visibility.
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) stresses the search is challenging, both due to conditions and because flight MH370, carrying 239 people, disappeared more than two weeks ago.
'Today's search is split into two areas within the same proximity covering a cumulative 68,500 square kilometres,' an AMSA statement said.
One search zone is based on objects identified by French authorities, while the second continues to focus on finding debris picked up by Australian and Chinese satellites.
'We've got to check out all the options,' Deputy Prime Minister Warren Truss said on Monday.
'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.'
He also warned of deteriorating weather, but downplayed the likely impact of Tropical Cyclone Gillian, which is expected to track at least 1000km north of the search area.
Civil aircraft engaged by AMSA and military aircraft from Australia, New Zealand, the United States, China and Japan will be part of the search on Monday.
Two Ilyushin IL-76 aircraft from China were en route to the search area on Monday morning, and will be joined by two Japanese P-3 Orion aircraft.
Twenty West Australian SES volunteers will work as observers on board three civilian aircraft: two Bombardier Global Express planes and an Airbus.
Two RAAF P-3 Orion aircraft will again join the search, along a US P-8 Poseidon.
HMAS Success remains in the search area, while a number of Chinese ships are en route to assist.
From https://www.skynews.com.au/topstories/article.aspx?id=960768
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