Breaking news from Australia – where objects have been spotted in what is called “Creditable Information” by their Prime Minster that two possible objects have been identified in the hunt for MH370.
The objects have been identified by satellite – however, they may not be related to the MH370 incident. One object is approximately 24 meters across.
Australia has deemed it critical enough to divert the search to the new area – approximately 2500km (4 hour) away, south-west of Perth, allowing for a 8 hour flight and 2 hours of search using P3 Orion aircraft.
The location of the objects are south of the current search area in the south of the Indian Ocean.
Australia have dispatched a P3 Orion to investigate, with another to follow. A second Australian P3 Orion is to follow, along with a New Zealand P3 Orion. An US Navy P8 Poseidon will be following. Additional nations may assist due to the distance away from the Australian mainland. An Australian C-130 Hercules will be tasked with dropping datum buoys in the area.
A Merchant ship is on the way to investigate, whilst a Navy ship is days away.
Visibility conditions are meant to not good, which could hamper the search.
The aircraft went down with 239 people aboard.
The Search and Rescue press conference is quick to re-enforce that whilst it is a lead, it is not definite that MH370 is there, until they find them – or they identify if they’re not related to MH370.
Satellite Imagery has not been released yet.
The formal release from the Australian Maritime Safety Authority can be found at https://www.amsa.gov.au/media/documents/20032014MediaReleasePossibleDebrisFoundMH370.pdf
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