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Flight MH370 search at 'critical juncture'
KUALA LUMPUR, April 19:
Acting Transport Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein today gave his assurance that the search for the missing Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 will continue despite plans to regroup and reassess the operation.
The underwater search for black boxes from the missing Malaysia Flight MH370 was at a critical juncture, Hishammuddin said.
“A lot rests on what the mini-submarine scouring a stretch of the Indian Ocean finds by Sunday after which officials may consider adding on ‘private and commercial assets’ to the search efforts.
He said this at a press conference here to take stock of search operations.
“The search and rescue mission for MH370 will not stop, but we will look into new procedures, like widening the scope of the search area; the use of additional assets and higher technology to scour the ocean bed for the plane.”
The underwater search for black boxes from the missing Malaysia Flight MH370 was at a critical juncture, he said during a press conference held at the Royale Chulan Hotel here.
“A lot rests on what the mini-submarine scouring a stretch of the Indian Ocean finds by tomorrow after which officials may consider adding on ‘private and commercial assets’ to the search efforts.”
He said the search operation team under the Joint Agency Coordination Centre (JACC) set up by Australia and other partners, would, however, consider other approaches.
“This included widening the scope of the search and utilising assets that can be relevant to the hunt which enters its 43rd day today.
“Besides maintaining the deployment of the Bluefin-21 mini-submarine for the underwater search, Malaysian authorities are now looking at the possibility of adding more commercial assets in the operation.”
Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbot had said the search operation would be regrouped and reconsidered if there were no new updates “in the next few days”.
“Companies like Deftech, DRB, Boustead and several Malaysian companies have met and discussed with their foreign counterparts on how we can increase AUVs (autonomous underwater vehicles) to help the search effort,” said Hishammuddin.
He confirmed that the Bluefin-21, an AUV, had captured clear and sharp images of the seabed while conducting its underwater search missions.
“However, from all six missions conducted, nothing of interest has been found to date,” he said, adding that the mini-submarine’s seventh mission started this morning.
He also dismissed media reports indicating that it would take the AUV between six weeks to two months to scan the entire underwater search area.
“This is incorrect. The immediate search area that the Bluefin-21 is now scouring should be completed within the next week.”
The minister noted that it was now timely for the parties involved in the search operation to consider and discuss the use of submarines.
- More to come -