LIVE UPDATE ON #MH370 MISSING FLIGHT: No Sightings Reported Search Ended For Today

Royal Australian Air Force crew members from an AP-3C Orion arrive back in Perth after completing the first search mission to an area where possible debris from the missing Malaysia Airline was detected. The mission failed to locate any debris. Photograph: Stringer/Reuters

So far four aircraft, and and up to seven ships have failed to locate the debris detected in those satellite images, according to the Australia Government. 

A statement from the Australian Maritime Safety Authority confirmed that the search operation has finished for today and will resume again on Friday. No sightings were reported. 

Here’s the statement [pdf]: 

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.

 The Australian authorities have confirmed that the first search plane to reach the area where possible objects from the missing plane has returned to be base without spotting anything significant. The AP-3C Orion was unable to locate the possible debris through clouds and rain, but other planes will continue the hunt.

Culled From: theguardian UK