New evidence may pinpoint exact location of missing MH370 plane
It's been 1258 days since Malaysian Airlines flight MH370 went missing and while there's been clues to finding the lost aircraft, new evidence may pinpoint its exact location.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau's latest report uses a combination of drift modelling from debris washed up in the Western Indian Ocean, and previously discarded satellite images of apparent ocean debris in an attempt to draw some kind of conclusion.
That drift modelling initially released late last year identified a new area of 25,000sq km just outside the original search area.
The CSIRO’s reverse drift modelling has now been refined down to an area of 5000sq km, isolating the most likely location of MH370.
The satellite images taken by a French military satellite, which showed apparent debris, were discarded by governments and authorities in late March 2014.
But after the ATSB became involved in the investigation all satellite imagery of the relevant new area has come up for review.
GeoScience Australia has been examining four satellite images taken in the weeks after the loss of MH370 in the area identified late last year as where the plane is.
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Some of the dimensions of the objects are comparable with the debris items that have washed up on African beaches since the disappearance of the aircraft.
Greg Hood, Chief Commissioner of the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, told The Australian they must be cautious with the findings.
“These objects have not been definitely identified as MH370 debris," he said.
“Geoscience Australia identified a number of objects in the satellite imagery which have been classified as probably man-made.
"The information contained within the Geoscience Australia and CSIRO reports may be useful in informing any further search effort that may be mounted in the future."
The search for the missing aircraft, which disappeared in March 2014, was suspended after crews finished their deep-sea 120,000-square search with no trace of the aircraft.
Most recently, Ocean Infinity, a seabed exploration firm with a fleet of advanced underwater search vehicles, confirmed it had offered to resume the hunt last week.
Malaysian authorities have said discussions are ongoing and the firm only wants payment if the aircraft is found.
Families of those on board the plane are urging the authorities to take up the offer.
