'Pings could've come from other sources'
Published: Apr 22, 2014 9:36 AM | Updated: Apr 22, 2014 8:35 PM
DAY 46
MH370
Updates and latest coverage as search for MH370 continues.
Latest developments:
Follow us as we bring the latest updates and coverage for the search of Flight MH370:
Several ships leave search area, but Ocean Shield remains
6.21pm: IHS Maritime 360 reports that two ships previously involved in the MH370 search and recovery operations in the Indian Ocean have left the search area.
It states that HMAS Success and HMS Echo have left the area for the naval base at Freemantle while Dong Hai Jiu 101 has also left the area, heading back up through the Java Sea.
Meanwhile US replenishment ship Cesar Chavez has returned to the search zone to support the vessels there while ADV Ocean Shield and HMAS Perth continue to scan the seabed in the northern part of the area.
On the western front, Seahorse Standard, HMAS Toowoomba, Hai Xun 01, Nan Hai Jiu 101 and Malaysian warship KD Lekiu are continuing with their search.
Families object Malaysia's plan to issue death certs
2.04pm: American Sarah Bajc, whose partner Philip Wood was on board Flight MH370, objects the Malaysian government's plan to issue death certificates for the missing passengers, reports news.com.au.
"We are in utter outrage, despair and shock," says Bajc in an email on behalf of the ‘United Families of MH370'.
“Until they (Malaysian government) have proof, they have an obligation to make regular prepayments to the families in need, and they have an obligation to exert themselves beyond dozing and snickering in resolving this case," she says.
Bajc, in the email, further criticises Malaysia for allegeldy not seeking an independent review of the analysis and calculations that led investigators to determine the plane ended up in the south Indian Ocean and that all lives were likely lost.
Five planes carrying on with SAR
1.30pm: Five aircraft will continue to scour the Indian Ocean even though aerial operation have been suspended, says the Joint Agency Coordination Centre (JACC).
JACC explains that prior to the decision to call off the aerial search, four military aircraft from the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Base Pearce, and a RAAF E7 Wedgetail, which functions as a mobile control tower from RAAF Base Learmonth, had already departed for the search zone.
"These aircraft will continue with their missions, however, individual aircraft captains will assess the conditions once on station and use their discretion as to whether they continue their planned search activities or return to base," it says in a statement.
The aerial search was called off due to poor weather as a result of tropical Cyclone Jack but 10 ships are continuing with the search.
Oceanographer: Lack of debris unusual
11.05am: Germany's Feomar Helmholt Centre for Oceanographic Research executive director Peter Herzig adds to the chorus that searchers may be looking for Flight MH370 in the wrong place, reports Bloomberg.
He warns that the optimism surrounding the pings searchers picked up on April 5 and April 8, which they believe to be from a plane’s black boxes, could prove ill-founded as the transmissions can also originate from other sources.
With all the planes and ships combing the Indian ocean for signs of debris, it’s unusual to draw a total blank, Herzig reportedly says.
Cyclone Jack hampers air search
10.05am: The Joint Agency Coordination Centre (JACC) suspends aerial search for Flight MH370 in the Indian Ocean due to Tropical Cyclone Jack.
"It has been determined that the current weather conditions are resulting in heavy seas and poor visibility, and would make any air search activities ineffective and potentially hazardous.
"The 10 ships involved in today’s search will continue with their planned activities," it says in a brief statement.
Some 10 aircraft are to have taken part in today's aerial search.
Vest can record pilot's physical and mental state
10.02am: China is mulling using military technology to monitor pilots' in-flight physical and mental state on board commercial aircraft following the MAS Flight MH370 incident, reports South China Morning Post.
The report says China's People's Liberation Army developed the system in 2005 and it is already being used by its air force.
"Its core components are contained in a lightweight vest which is worn by the pilot.
"The 200-gram vest gathers various data, including the pilot's pulse, respiratory rate, muscle movement, body temperature and seating position, constantly relaying the information back to controllers for detailed, real-time assessments of the pilot's physical and mental status," it says.
The report notes that pilots in the international aviation industry have fiercely opposed this idea on privacy grounds.
Investigators are yet to determined to the cause of Flight MH370's disappearance, but have not ruled out the pilot’s and co-pilot’s involvement.
'Not the right time to meet us'
9.26pm: Families of Chinese passengers on board missing Flight MH370 in Beijing snubs a high-level government delegation from Malaysia, there to discuss with them the next course of action as the aircraft remains missing for the 46th day today, reports Bernama.
"Unless there is a technical team comprising experts from Inmarsat and Boeing to meet us, now is not an appropriate time for other delegations to meet us," Steve Wang, a family member of one of the Chinese victims, is quoted saying prior to the high-level meeting.
Deputy chief of mission at the Malaysian embassy in Beijing, Bala Chandran Tharman, is verbally abused after informing the Chinese families that technical aspects of the Flight MH370 tragedy will only be discussed at a later time.
The next-of-kin committee had already met with Malaysian families in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday and discussed the technicality of issuing death certificates to facilitate insurance claims and loans settlement.
The high-level Malaysian delegation in Beijing, comprising government and Malaysia Airlines officials, will also be meeting Chinese government officials.
10 aircrafts, 10 ships persist with visual search
8:56am: Australia's Joint Agency Coordination Centre (JACC) said the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (Amsa) is conducting a 49,491 sq km visual search area where the centre is approximately 1,584 km north west of Perth.
The Bluefin-21 AUV has made no contacts of interest as it is completing its ninth underwater mission in the search area. The Bluefin search area is defined as a circle of 10 km radius around the second ping detection on April 8.
Today a total of 10 military aircraft and 10 ships are assisting in the search of Malaysia Airlines MH370 and scattered showers are expected in the area with visibility is up to four km.
Background:
-
Families ask why no independant review of satellite data
-
Oceanographer says not necessary pings came from a black box
-
Air search suspended due to poor weather
-
China mulls monitoring pilot's in-flight physical and mental state
- Chinese families snub high-level M'sian delegation
Follow us as we bring the latest updates and coverage for the search of Flight MH370:
Several ships leave search area, but Ocean Shield remains
6.21pm: IHS Maritime 360 reports that two ships previously involved in the MH370 search and recovery operations in the Indian Ocean have left the search area.
It states that HMAS Success and HMS Echo have left the area for the naval base at Freemantle while Dong Hai Jiu 101 has also left the area, heading back up through the Java Sea.Meanwhile US replenishment ship Cesar Chavez has returned to the search zone to support the vessels there while ADV Ocean Shield and HMAS Perth continue to scan the seabed in the northern part of the area.
On the western front, Seahorse Standard, HMAS Toowoomba, Hai Xun 01, Nan Hai Jiu 101 and Malaysian warship KD Lekiu are continuing with their search.
Families object Malaysia's plan to issue death certs
2.04pm: American Sarah Bajc, whose partner Philip Wood was on board Flight MH370, objects the Malaysian government's plan to issue death certificates for the missing passengers, reports news.com.au.
"We are in utter outrage, despair and shock," says Bajc in an email on behalf of the ‘United Families of MH370'.
“Until they (Malaysian government) have proof, they have an obligation to make regular prepayments to the families in need, and they have an obligation to exert themselves beyond dozing and snickering in resolving this case," she says.
Bajc, in the email, further criticises Malaysia for allegeldy not seeking an independent review of the analysis and calculations that led investigators to determine the plane ended up in the south Indian Ocean and that all lives were likely lost.
Five planes carrying on with SAR
1.30pm: Five aircraft will continue to scour the Indian Ocean even though aerial operation have been suspended, says the Joint Agency Coordination Centre (JACC).
JACC explains that prior to the decision to call off the aerial search, four military aircraft from the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Base Pearce, and a RAAF E7 Wedgetail, which functions as a mobile control tower from RAAF Base Learmonth, had already departed for the search zone."These aircraft will continue with their missions, however, individual aircraft captains will assess the conditions once on station and use their discretion as to whether they continue their planned search activities or return to base," it says in a statement.
The aerial search was called off due to poor weather as a result of tropical Cyclone Jack but 10 ships are continuing with the search.
Oceanographer: Lack of debris unusual
11.05am: Germany's Feomar Helmholt Centre for Oceanographic Research executive director Peter Herzig adds to the chorus that searchers may be looking for Flight MH370 in the wrong place, reports Bloomberg.
He warns that the optimism surrounding the pings searchers picked up on April 5 and April 8, which they believe to be from a plane’s black boxes, could prove ill-founded as the transmissions can also originate from other sources.With all the planes and ships combing the Indian ocean for signs of debris, it’s unusual to draw a total blank, Herzig reportedly says.
Cyclone Jack hampers air search
10.05am: The Joint Agency Coordination Centre (JACC) suspends aerial search for Flight MH370 in the Indian Ocean due to Tropical Cyclone Jack.
"It has been determined that the current weather conditions are resulting in heavy seas and poor visibility, and would make any air search activities ineffective and potentially hazardous.
"The 10 ships involved in today’s search will continue with their planned activities," it says in a brief statement.
Some 10 aircraft are to have taken part in today's aerial search.
Vest can record pilot's physical and mental state
10.02am: China is mulling using military technology to monitor pilots' in-flight physical and mental state on board commercial aircraft following the MAS Flight MH370 incident, reports South China Morning Post.
The report says China's People's Liberation Army developed the system in 2005 and it is already being used by its air force.
"Its core components are contained in a lightweight vest which is worn by the pilot.
"The 200-gram vest gathers various data, including the pilot's pulse, respiratory rate, muscle movement, body temperature and seating position, constantly relaying the information back to controllers for detailed, real-time assessments of the pilot's physical and mental status," it says.
The report notes that pilots in the international aviation industry have fiercely opposed this idea on privacy grounds.
Investigators are yet to determined to the cause of Flight MH370's disappearance, but have not ruled out the pilot’s and co-pilot’s involvement.
'Not the right time to meet us'
9.26pm: Families of Chinese passengers on board missing Flight MH370 in Beijing snubs a high-level government delegation from Malaysia, there to discuss with them the next course of action as the aircraft remains missing for the 46th day today, reports Bernama.
"Unless there is a technical team comprising experts from Inmarsat and Boeing to meet us, now is not an appropriate time for other delegations to meet us," Steve Wang, a family member of one of the Chinese victims, is quoted saying prior to the high-level meeting.Deputy chief of mission at the Malaysian embassy in Beijing, Bala Chandran Tharman, is verbally abused after informing the Chinese families that technical aspects of the Flight MH370 tragedy will only be discussed at a later time.
The next-of-kin committee had already met with Malaysian families in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday and discussed the technicality of issuing death certificates to facilitate insurance claims and loans settlement.
The high-level Malaysian delegation in Beijing, comprising government and Malaysia Airlines officials, will also be meeting Chinese government officials.
10 aircrafts, 10 ships persist with visual search
8:56am: Australia's Joint Agency Coordination Centre (JACC) said the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (Amsa) is conducting a 49,491 sq km visual search area where the centre is approximately 1,584 km north west of Perth.
The Bluefin-21 AUV has made no contacts of interest as it is completing its ninth underwater mission in the search area. The Bluefin search area is defined as a circle of 10 km radius around the second ping detection on April 8.Today a total of 10 military aircraft and 10 ships are assisting in the search of Malaysia Airlines MH370 and scattered showers are expected in the area with visibility is up to four km.
Background:
-
The Beijing-bound Boeing 777-200ER aircraft went missing not long after taking off from KL International Airport in the early hours of March 8, with 12 crew members and 227 passengers.
-
Authorities have determined that the plane intentionally turned back and altered its course shortly after cutting communications with tower controllers for unknown reasons and, based on satellite data, have estimated its last position to be in the south Indian Ocean.
-
The autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) Bluefin-21 was deployed on April 14 to conduct an undersea search up to depth of 4,800m, after searchers stopped using the pinger locator as the plane's black boxes beacon batteries have long exceeded their 30-day certified battery life.
- The undersea area being searched now is where ADV Ocean Shield had picked up two pings similar to black boxes on April 5 and two more on April 8 but failed to reacquire them again with the pinger locator.
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