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20th March, 2014: 2300 (AEDT)
Search operation for Malaysian airlines aircraft: Update 7
Search operations in the Southern Indian Ocean for the missing Malaysia Airlines aircraft have been completed for the
day in the Australian Search and Rescue Region.
Four aircraft were tasked by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority on Thursday to a 23,000 square kilometre area
about 2500 kilometres south-west of Perth.
This followed the receipt of satellite data imagery from the Australian Geospatial Intelligence Organisation on Thursday
morning.
The imagery, on analysis by AGO, identified two objects possibly related to the missing aircraft.
The images were captured on March 16..Due to the volume of imagery being searched, and the detailed process of analysis
that followed, the information was brought to the attention of the Australian Maritime Safety Authority on Thursday
morning.
The images have been assessed as being credible but it is possible they do not relate to the search.
The four aircraft involved in Thursday’s search covered an area of 23000 square kilometres.
Two Royal Australia Air Force AP-3C Orions, a US Navy P8 Poseidon, and a Royal New Zealand Air ForceP-3K2 Orion were
utilised, along with an RAAF C-130J Hercules aircraft.
A merchant ship arrived in the search area on Thursday evening. Another merchant ship is en route to the area.
A total of six merchant ships have assisted in the search since a shipping broadcast was issued on Monday night.
The Royal Australian Navy ship HMAS Success is also en route to the search area.
The search will continue on Friday.
Images, maps, videos and other media materials can be found at www.amsa.gov.au
Earlier:
20th March, 2014: 1530(AEDT)
Search operation for Malaysian airlines aircraft: Update 6
Statement from AMSA Emergency Response Division General Manager John Young
*All times express in Australian Eastern Daylight Savings Time.
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority is coordinating the search for the missing Malaysia Airlines aircraft, with
assistance from the Australian Defence Force, the New Zealand Air Force and the United States Navy.
AMSA’s Rescue Coordination Centre Australia has received satellite imagery of objects possibly related to the search for
the missing aircraft, flight MH370.
RCC Australia received an expert assessment of commercial satellite imagery on Thursday.
The images were captured by satellite. They may not be related to the aircraft.
The assessment of these images was provided by the Australian Geospatial-Intelligence Organisation as a possible
indication of debris south of the search area that has been the focus of the search operation.
The imagery is in the vicinity of the search area defined and searched in the past two days.
Four aircraft have been reoriented to the area 2500 kilometres south-west of Perth as a result of this information.
A Royal Australian Air Force Orion aircraft arrived in the area about 1.50pm.
A further three aircraft have been tasked by RCC Australia to the area later today, including a Royal New Zealand Air
Force Orion and United States Navy P8 Poseidon aircraft.
The Poseidon aircraft is expected to arrive at 3pm. The second RAAF Orion is expected to depart at 2pm from RAAF Base
Pearce and arrive in the search area at 6pm.
The New Zealand Orion is due to depart at 4pm and be in the search area at 8pm.
A RAAF C-130 Hercules aircraft has been tasked by RCC Australia to drop datum marker buoys.
These marker buoys assist RCC Australia by providing information about water movement to assist in drift modelling. They
will provide an ongoing reference point if the task of relocating the objects becomes protracted.
A merchant ship that responded to a shipping broadcast issued by RCC Australia on Monday is expected to arrive in the
area about 6pm.
Royal Australian Navy ship HMAS Success is en route to the area but is some days away from this area.
She is well equipped to recover any objects located and proven to be from MH370.
The focus for AMSA is to continue the search operation, with all available assets.
The assets are searching for anything signs of the missing aircraft.
Weather conditions are moderate in the Southern Indian Ocean where the search is taking place.
Poor visibility has been reported.
AMSA continues to hold grave concerns for the passengers and crew on board.
Media materials are available in electronic form here:
http://www.amsa.gov.au/media/incidents/mh370-search.asp