MH370: Circular and rectangular objects located, retrieval possible within hours

The Australian-led search and rescue (SAR) operation for the missing Malaysia Airlines (MAS) MH370 aircraft in the southern Indian Ocean has uncovered two objects – one circular and one rectangular .

Authorities said that retrieval of these two objects could be done as early as the next few hours or latest by tomorrow morning.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak who had tweeted about the developments this evening, said he was informed of the find by his Australian counterpart Tony Abbott through phone call.

This appears to be the closest so far authorities have gotten in the search over the waters some 2,000km southwest of Perth.

The operations have been focused in this area – in the southern corridors of the 7.69 million sq km total search radius – after Australian, France and Chinese authorities all reported sightings by satellites of objects near the area since last week.

Over the past few days, new leads have mainly come from satellite data, with more and more air and sea assets from the 26 nations involved in the search being moved to the area.

Acting Transport Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein confirmed the two objects at the scheduled press conference at 5.30pm at Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC), adding that the find was located by an Australian search aircraft.

Hishammuddin said that Australian navy's second largest ship, a Durance class multi-product replenishment oiler, HMAS Success, is in the vicinity.

“It was possible that the objects could be received within the next few hours or by tomorrow morning at the latest, “Hishammuddin told reporters.

Aside from that, two orange objects “approximately one metre in length and one white coloured drum” were also sighted by search aircraft, but Hishammuddin said they remain unidentified and have not been conclusively linked to MH370.

HMAS Success detected two radar targets within the search area, but could not locate the targets on further investigation of the area.

Yesterday, 18,500 square nautical miles were covered in the Australian search area. Another three search areas, totalling approximately 20,000 square nautical miles, have been identified for operations today. Australia anticipates that 10 aircraft will be used.

In another possible clue that MH370 could be in the vicinity, Hishammuddin confirmed that the MAS Boeing 777-200ER plane had being carrying wooden pallets.

Wooden pallets were among the items spotted by aircrafts in the same search area yesterday.

However, Hishammuddin cautioned that there was “as yet no evidence that these are related to the wooden pallets reportedly sighted in the Australian search area”.

Earlier today, a Chinese military plane reportedly sighted objects in the Australian search area, with an Chinese icebreaker heading towards the area.

“These objects are not in the vicinity of those which were identified by the Australian authorities last week,” said Hishammuddin.