MH 777 missing - MH370 media statement

[mannej]

If turns out to be true, is Australia now responsible for the recovery?
And would the black boxes be useless, as they only record 2 hrs and then rewrite. So would not have the recording when the plane actually turned first time?
Does anyone know?

I think you are getting the black box and FDR confused with the coughpit Voice Recorder

 

[QF WP]

Some details from news conference: (John Young from AMDA)

Current satellite imagery is indistinct and large (24m piece + others smaller than that). Hi-res satellites are being re-directed to take photos of site and will be available to AMSA as soon as possible. Review is going frame by frame, but waiting on better photos.

RAAF Orion aircraft has arrived onsite - 3 more tasked by RCC Australia still to arrive. NZ Poseidon aircraft arriving now. Data marking bouys will be dropped. This will give actual co-ordinates for satellite (and drift information). Planes flying time is ~4 hours from PER, so about 2 hours capabililty for over-flying before required to return to PER. Weather is not good and may affect viewing object(s).

First ship will arrive ~6pm AEST (3.5 hours) + Australian Navy ship will arrive in a couple of days (HMAS Success).

Site may be several thousand metres deep (but hasn't been confirmed yet by AMSA).

 

[JessicaTam]

The imagery at this stage is not clear enough to determine if the debris is from an aircraft.

Edit: It will be released to the media at some stage (after processing/studying(?))

 

[Mumfreqflyer]

There is quite a lot of activity here in Perth from aircraft from Pearce base.

They have been flying over my house out to the ocean yesterday and today and about 15 mins ago 2 fighter jets flew over so not sure if they have the fuel capabilities to get that far out too?

 

[markis10]

If turns out to be true, is Australia now responsible for the recovery?
And would the black boxes be useless, as they only record 2 hrs and then rewrite. So would not have the recording when the plane actually turned first time?
Does anyone know?

Its well within our SAR responsibility area, recovery of surface debris will occur but that does not mean they will go further re anything on the floor of the ocean.

 

[OATEK]

And adds to suspicion for me as to how much the Chinese knew.The "cargo"ship is still in the vicinity it was 3-4 days ago to the east of Heard island.Seems to be where the ping arc goes through.
HANG SHENG 1 Current position (IMO N/A MMSI 413501228) - Vessel Finder

PS I should add that I think it more likely to be a fisheries mother ship.but?

How close is the ship to the AMSA target? Looks to be in the vicinity.

 

[markis10]

There is quite a lot of activity here in Perth from aircraft from Pearce base.

They have been flying over my house out to the ocean yesterday and today and about 15 mins ago 2 fighter jets flew over so not sure if they have the fuel capabilities to get that far out too?

Not related, they are just doing training.

 

[Major]

a 24 m bit of wreckage is quite big

 

[Flying mermaid]

It has seemed for some days now that this was the only possible outcome. Thoughts and prayers with family and friends. Hopefully if it is true this will at least put an end to the limbo they have been living in.

 

[DrA]

Looking at my global bathymetry maps at work, 2500 km SW of Perth is approximately 6800 m deep...

However it also appears to be proximal to the Kerguelen Plateau, so depending on how accurate that 2500 km number is, it could in fact be in around 1200 m.

 

[cmon0005]

a 24 m bit of wreckage is quite big

What is the wing length on a 777-200?

 

[markis10]

How close is the ship to the AMSA target? Looks to be in the vicinity.

Its about 1000km away

 

[amaroo]

How close is the ship to the AMSA target? Looks to be in the vicinity.

View attachment 26404

There was a question from the media about Chinese assistance (not related to the Hang Sheng) and the answer from the fellow in the above picture was IMO evasive.

 

[cirqueboy]

Nice to see here in the USA they are on the ball:

Earlier Thursday, Australian Prime Minister John Abbot told the House of Representatives in Canberra, "New and credible information has come to light in relation to the search for Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 in the southern Indian Ocean. The Australian Maritime Safety Authority has received information based on satellite imagery of objects possibly related to the search.

http://www.cnn.com/2014/03/20/world/asia/malaysia-airlines-plane/index.html?hpt=hp_t1

 

[JessicaTam]

There was a question from the media about Chinese assistance (not related to the Hang Sheng) and the answer from the fellow in the above picture was IMO evasive.

I agree. From memory it was something like "we are working with those countries involved in the search"

 

[QF WP]

a 24 m bit of wreckage is quite big

According to venk on FT:

Most likely the tail piece/cone. This typically breaks off on any impact and is one of the lighter parts of the plane and has good buoyancy on its side.

The tail height of a 777 is 18.5m. With attached cone, it is in that ball park.

 

[jetlagger]

Hopefully it can provide some solace to the passengers families, inclusive of the grieving ones physically dragged away from the conference in Malaysia yesterday.
What a sad PR image for Malaysia.

 

[cirqueboy]

I agree. From memory it was something like "we are working with those countries involved in the search"

Yes it was evasive.

Do you really think that the US, AUS & NZ will invite China into this? Of course they will not. No way they will share the knowledge of the Group of 5 (US, UK, CAN, AUS, NZ).

 

[moa999]

A very quick map (extremely approx) shows the Chinese boat might be a bit South.

I thought the evasive answer was more referring to other countries offering 'air assistance' - which would presumably require Chinese assets to land at Australian bases.

 

[trungiez]

https://twitter.com/ABC

"JUST IN: @WrightUps from above Indian Ocean says US P-8 crew "getting radar hits of significant size;" trying to get visuals on hits."

How credible are they?