This is a media release taken from Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) website on March 23, 2014: 2330 (AEDT)


The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) search operation for Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 has concluded for today.

There were no sightings of significance.

The search area experienced early sea fog particularly in the western areas, however conditions improved during the day.

A total of eight aircraft and HMAS Success supported today’s search effort in a cumulative 59,000 square kilometre search area across two search areas within the Australian Search and Rescue Region south-west of Perth.

The western boundary of the current search area is located 2500km from Perth.

Four civil ultra-long range jets chartered by AMSA and four military aircraft from Australian and the US were involved in today’s search together with the HMAS Success.

Twenty State Emergency Service (SES) volunteers from Western Australia were tasked as air observers today on board the civil aircraft.

Each civil aircraft had five SES air observers on board, as well as an AeroRescue Aviation Mission Coordinator. Aerorescue is AMSA’s contracted provider of dedicated search and rescue services from locations across Australia.

The search will resume tomorrow. Chinese military Ilyushin IL-76 aircraft and Japanese P-3C aircraft will join the search on Monday.


*All times are expressed in Australian Eastern Daylight Saving time. Please note departure times are
approximate.